Motorcycles are great fun to ride. They give you a tremendous feeling of freedom and help you appreciate travel in a much different way. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being out on the road with nothing between you and the scenery.
That doesn’t mean that they are perfectly safe to drive, however. In fact, if you aren’t careful, they can be dangerous. After all, there really isn’t anything between you and the scenery so you don’t have much protection.
Riding a motorcycle means having to take extra precautions to make sure that you stay safe while out on the road. In this article, we will go over several things you need to do to make sure that you are riding a motorcycle with safety in mind.
1. Make sure it is road worthy
When you are about to hit the road on a motorcycle you need to make sure that the motorcycle itself is in good condition and isn’t going to pose a problem while you are riding it. If you buy one used make sure it is inspected before you hand over any money to make sure that it is actually rideable.
Your best bet is to buy a new motorcycle that has a warranty from a dealer like Glenwood Springs Powersports Dealer that stands by their vehicles. It also makes sense to have your bike brought to a specialist in the type of motorcycle that you have when you need repairs. This is usually the place where you bought the motorcycle.
Before every season when you are getting ready to start riding regularly, bring the bike into a shop to get inspected and make sure there aren’t any mechanical defects that can compromise your safety.
2. Wear the right gear
Riding a motorcycle in shorts and flip flops is a recipe for disaster. It is essential to wear the proper motorcycle attire as it adds a level of safety in case of an accident. For instance, if you aren’t wearing chaps and a leather jacket and wipe out on the road, you’re going to have massive skin damage. When you do wear that protective gear, the material will hold up and take the brunt of the damage and minimize your injuries.
Make sure to always wear high boots for footwear that cover the ankles. It should also go without saying that you should also wear a helmet. There are states in which it isn’t required by law, but it is a good idea to wear one anyway.
3. Be visible
One of the reasons that motorcycles are dangerous is because they are hard to see. Make sure that you are visible to the car drivers around you to avoid an accident. You should wear bright colors and always have your lights on when the sun is just rising or setting.
In addition to that, make sure to also stay out of driver’s blind spots where they can’t see you when they check their mirror to change lanes. Stay well behind or well ahead of a car driving in an adjacent lane to avoid not being seen.
4. Check the weather
Riding a motorcycle in bad weather is a bad idea. It is hard to maintain control when the conditions are not ideal. Rain will cause slick roads that make it easy to lose control and end up crashing. The same goes for snow and ice so avoid riding in winter.
Even high winds can make it difficult to stay in control of your motorcycle. It is a good idea to always check the weather conditions before setting out to avoid any dangerous driving situations.
5. Don’t drive distracted
Many motorcycle helmets come with the ability to make phone calls and even listen to music these days. It is not a good idea to take advantage of that technology, however. It is very important to always be aware of your surroundings and talking on the phone, even hands free, can lead to problems.
If you can’t hear a siren, for instance, you could end up in a situation that you can’t avoid. The same goes for a car honking to alert you of its presence. Riding a motorcycle is unlike driving a car and you don’t have the luxury of a momentary lapse of attention like you do when behind the wheel in a safe car.
Avoid looking at a phone or trying to listen to music and you’ll be safer for it.
