With motorcycle accidents on the rise, every motorcycle enthusiast needs to learn how to ride a motorcycle safely.
No one wants to become another statistic, so it’s good to equip yourself with the best advice to keep out of danger during every ride. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, safety precautions are vital.
That’s why we’ve collected the top motorcycle safety tips so that you’ll always have the knowledge to protect yourself from potential harm.
1. Invest in a Good Helmet
How many times have you gone on a ride without your helmet? Even the shortest of rides is a big risk to your health. Helmets might be cumbersome, but they save lives.
If you were to get into an accident, that helmet could be the difference between minor injury and tragedy. This is why you must always wear a helmet no matter your destination. Make sure it’s a high-quality helmet with a faceguard for the best experience.
Wearing a helmet deserves the top spot on any list of motorcycle riding safety tips because it gives the most protection for very little effort.
2. Wear Protective Gear
It’s not only your head that needs protection from potential dangers. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got a proper set of riding gear to keep the rest of your body guarded.
Thick gloves, boots, and a sturdy jacket are things all motorcyclists should have on hand. These materials are strong enough to take the brunt of a fall if you were to get into an accident. Instead of scraping up your skin, the thick material receives the damage.
High-quality gear is a necessity for all motorcyclists.
3. Keep Headlights On
One of the best ways to ensure safe motorcycle riding is to keep your headlights on at all times. Many accidents happen because a vehicle doesn’t see the motorcycle in the mirror. This leads to dangerous situations where the vehicle starts to cut off or get too close to the motorcycle.
Make yourself seen well ahead of time by using your headlights as a defense mechanism.
It’s much harder to miss a nearby motorcycle when the bright headlights reflect in the mirrors. This makes a difference even during a sunny day since the headlights still reflect a stronger light in the mirror to catch the driver’s eye. By making yourself seen, you’re giving the vehicle a heads up that you’re nearby and they’ll be able to accommodate.
4. Put an Emphasis on Comfort
Riding requires a certain amount of balance to keep upright. If you fidget and try to find more comfortable positions, you’ll end up distracted during a dangerous situation. That constant shifting from discomfort could cause you to twist the handles in the wrong way at the wrong time.
Find ways to make your ride more comfortable so that you never need to wiggle around. One of the best investments any motorcyclist can make is a good high-quality Motorcycle Seat Pad. This gives you extra cushioning that makes even the longest of rides feel like a luxury.
If this is a hobby that you love, then don’t settle for an uncomfortable seat that doesn’t let you enjoy the ride to the fullest.
5. Carry Emergency Supplies
When the worst happens, you need to ensure that you’ll have the supplies to deal with anything that comes your way. That’s why you should equip your motorcycle with an emergency kit. Even a small set is enough to make a big difference in a bad situation.
A good emergency kit includes things such as:
- Bandages
- Pain killers
- Duct tape
- Basic tools
- Repair kits
- Non-perishable foods
- Thermal blanket
- Charged emergency cell phone
- List of emergency phone numbers
Never leave home without these essential supplies packed away on your motorcycle, because they could save your life!
6. Avoid Storms
It’s difficult to steer clear from bad weather at all times. Sometimes we have to head out for an errand that we can’t put off, or maybe the weather makes a sudden change when we’re on the road.
Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid any kind of stormy weather. Heavy rain and wind mess with your ability to ride a motorcycle safely. The wet roads become slick and slippery, and strong winds push a motorcycle around like it’s a toy.
Don’t put yourself in this kind of dangerous situation if you’re able to avoid it.
Before you head out for your next ride, check the weather. It’ll give you a chance to figure out your plan of action if a storm is heading your way.
7. Always Look for Escape Paths
Every time you rev up your engine and hit the road, you need to be on the lookout for potential dangers. Always think a few steps ahead so that you can spot a dangerous situation well before it reaches you.
At the same time, you need to come up with escape paths in response to these situations. Where will you turn your motorcycle if the car in front of you suddenly stops? What if something falls off the truck up ahead and obstructs part of the road?
Get into the habit of always looking for a way out of a tricky situation. Most of the time, it’s as simple as veering off to the side of the road. Other times, you’ll need to get creative in case the road is narrow or blocked.
It’s difficult to come up with the correct escape paths at first, but it’s a skill that you should practice every time you head out on your motorcycle.
Learning How to Ride a Motorcycle Safely Enriches the Experience
With all of these tips, you’ll know how to ride a motorcycle safely and stay out of dangerous situations. Memorizing this kind of advice gives you a huge advantage on the road.
Make sure to read through these tips again every couple of months. Even the most weathered of motorcyclists can do with a safety refresher once in a while. Keep reminding yourself of this important information until it becomes second nature.
Putting safety first makes every motorcycle adventure even more enjoyable.
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