You’ve been contemplating it for some time now, and you’ve finally made up your mind. It’s time for you to learn how to ride a motorcycle! It’s something you’ve wanted to do, but you know there’s a lot to learn.
Now that you’re finally ready to take the plunge into the motorcyclist world, it’s time to get down to business. Riding a motorcycle can be one of the most thrilling and liberating experiences but without proper motorcycle safety knowledge, it can also be quite dangerous.
Rather than letting the fear of motorcycle dangers stop you from enjoying your new bike, educate yourself on all the motorcycle riding dos and don’ts. Below, in our guide, is a list of motorcycle riding tips that you need to know about before getting on your bike for the first time.
Continue reading to find out more!
1. Ride Defensively
When riding your motorcycle, always ride defensively. Ride as though you can’t trust a single driver on the road, because you can’t. Pay close attention to what the cars around you are doing.
If you believe there may be a distracted driver on the road, then be sure to keep your distance from them. You’ll need to practice some accident avoidance skills. Learn how to stop quickly while maintaining control of your bike.
You should also learn how to swerve last minute while maintaining control as well. Always ride with the mindset that the other drivers on the road can’t see you.
2. Switch the Choke Off
Not all motorcycles have a choke, but if yours does, you want to get into the habit of turning it off after the engine is done warming up. You’ll want to switch the choke on if your motorcycle’s engine hasn’t been on for an extended period of time.
Once the engine is warmed up, be sure to turn it off. Leaving it on is a common mistake new motorcyclists make. If you forget to turn it off, it’ll use up more gas than needed.
If you continue to leave it on and it becomes a bad habit, then it’ll cause problems for your bike down the road. Turn the choke off.
3. Keep a Loose Grip
When riding a speed bike, you’ll need to keep a tight grip on the bike with your legs but a loose grip on the handles. Keep the upper portion of your body loose when riding to prevent bad handling.
If your grip is too tight and your upper body is tense, you could have trouble making turns or reacting quickly on the road. Make sure your elbows are nice and loose. You can give them a good wiggle here and there to ensure they’re not tense.
When riding a cruiser, you won’t have to worry about keeping a tight grip on the bike with your legs. The best cruisers in 2020 will allow you to enjoy the open air without the need to keep your legs wrapped around tight. Still, you’ll want to keep your upper body loose while riding your cruiser as well.
4. Don’t Brake While Turning
Although you can brake while turning in a car, you’ll want to avoid braking while turning when riding your motorcycle. If you feel the urge to break while you turn, then you risk the chance of your bike straighten out and sending you off the road.
Instead, learn to brake before you begin your turn. Bring the bike down to a comfortable speed for you to turn with and then ride out the turn without pressing the brakes. You should also make it a habit to look through the turn.
Tilt your head and look as far into the turn as possible. Keep an eye on all your other surroundings as well. This will give you the best idea of what to expect on the other side of the turn.
5. Practice in All Conditions
Take your bike out and practice before riding in traffic. When you do take it out for practice, practice in all sorts of conditions. You’ll want to be comfortable with riding on wet roads, in the rain, up inclines, downhills, and more.
Empty parking lots with a good amount of space are ideal for practice. During these practices, learn how to control your bike, maneuver it properly, ride at low and high speeds, and make those sharp turns. Once you feel comfortable doing this in the parking lot, you’ll feel more comfortable doing it on the actual road.
6. Wear the Right Clothing
Remember to wear the right clothing and gear. Layer your clothing when possible and purchase motorcyclist clothing as well. Leather pants will help prevent burns from the motorcycle’s hot chrome and road rash burns in case of an accident.
A Leather jacket will prevent road rash as well. A helmet and eye gear are also essential as are boots. All these items have one important job: keeping you safe.
7. Choose an Outside Lane
Once you start riding in traffic, a good tip to follow is to avoid riding in the middle lane. If you need to use the middle lane to switch lanes, then this is fine. Don’t ride in the middle lane, however.
Choose either the left or right lane to ride in. This way, you’ll only need to worry about cars and traffic on one side of you rather than both sides.
It’s Time to Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle
You’ve waited this long, and now it’s finally time to learn how to ride a motorcycle! Keep these helpful safe motorcycle riding tips in mind when getting on your bike for the first time. With the help of this guide, you’ll be riding like a pro shortly.
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