A Complete Guide to Motorcycle Safety

It is often said that there are two types of people in the world; those who have seen the Taj Mahal and those who have not, and this simplistic division of people also applies to the view on motorbikes.

Some people see motorbikes as dangerous and cannot imagine being so exposed on an open road. Still, if you are a member of the other group, who has just bought your first motorcycle, or intends to purchase one soon, you have come to the right place.

Continue reading for a complete guide to motorcycle safety.

Check the Weather Forecast

When getting ready to set off on a long car journey, you probably check the weather conditions for the area around your destination. In contrast, when planning a long journey on the bike, the weather conditions are far more important.

Icy roads or surfaces covered in puddles of water can be extremely dangerous to motorcycle riders, even more so than for car and truck drivers, mainly due to the simple fact that your overall stability is halved. Even a simple rainstorm can cause injury, as flying through the rain at fifty miles per hour can be more than a little painful.

Thoroughly Check Your Bike Before You Leave

Driving instructors often tell their pupils to always check their car’s oil and water levels before they start the engine. Still, once qualified and with experience, you can usually get to know your car and therefore need to check such components much less frequently.

However, taking a quick and simple walk right around the back of your motorcycle to check that there are no loose connections, nuts, or bolts and that no visible leaks are coming from anywhere on the machine could save your life on a bike.

It would also be worth pointing out that, should you be in the unfortunate situation of being involved in an accident on the road and suffering injuries, then you should familiarize yourself with brain injury law and other routes to compensation should this be appropriate.

Don’t Rely on Your Mirrors

When riding your motorcycle, using your mirrors is essential, especially when indicating and changing lanes and when you come to a roundabout or junction.

However, you also need to be constantly aware of what potential hazards could occur in your peripheral view, so using your head to look over your shoulder and actually turning your head, rather than relying solely on the mirrors, makes for a much safer ride.

Protective Wear is a Must

Hopefully, you are already fully aware of the importance of wearing the correct protective gear whenever you ride your motorcycle, even if you are just nipping a couple of blocks away to visit a friend.

If you choose to wear a helmet with an open face and no visor, you should wear specifically designed motorcycling goggles or glasses, and no matter the weather, you must always wear durable gloves. In the warmer months, you can switch out your regular driving gloves for special summer gloves that aid cooling and ventilation.

Finally, you also need to wear your helmet and ensure that the helmet you choose is tested and approved by a regulated safety body.

Concentrate on the Here & Now

When driving, people often remark that they have arrived at their destination with no real, distinct memory of how they got there, showing clearly that they were driving on ‘autopilot’.

Even though it is probably true that they were so in the moment that all their concentration was on the road, it is still worth remembering that the safest way to ride is when you are both physically and mentally focused on what you are doing and stop your mind when it starts to drift.

Furthermore, be incredibly careful should you choose to listen to music as you ride your motorcycle. Not only can this lead to distractions, it could even pose a problem when wanting to file an insurance claim.

Choose Your Passenger Carefully

Finally, it is undeniably stylish and cool for you to carry a passenger around with you on your bike, but unlike in the movies, whereby everyone seems to instantly be an expert at motorbike etiquette, it is considerably harder than it looks.

Make sure that anyone you pick up on your motorcycle knows exactly what to do from their side and that they also wear the right protective clothing, helmet, gloves, and any other riding gear.

For those passengers who have never ridden a motorcycle before, either as a passenger or a driver, it is an excellent idea to practice in a safe, secure, and entirely legal area prior to riding on the open road, just so they are aware of how it feels to be on the back of the bike and what it is like to take corners. This way they will not be surprised by anything when you’re taking them out on the road.