Safe Riding Tips
1. Attend a Safety Course
No matter what your skill level in riding motorcycles, a safety conscious mind will work wonders in keeping you safe while riding. Whether a veteran or a novice itching to attend your first motorcycle run, you should make it a point to sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Course.
2. Locate the Kill Switch
Know where the kill switch is on your bike. This piece of information may one day save your life if you have to suddenly drop your bike.
3. Avoid Rush Hour Traffic
Choosing a time to ride when the traffic is low is a smart choice. Rush hour traffic can easily lead to accidents, and for your first ride, you don't want this to be your lasting legacy.
4. Avoid Road Rage
Leave the aggression at home, and never allow yourself to take anger out on a car or truck driver. In road rage situations, they'll win every time. If you're being tail-gated, do the smart thing and change lanes or pull over.
5. Wear Visible Clothing
Wearing black might seem cool, but it's not the best color to wear when lighting or visibility is poor. Wear clothing that's easy to spot in the dark. Making use of reflector tape on your bike or helmet is a good idea.
6. Keep Visibility in Mind
Check your lights for maximum visibility and brightness, especially if you have an aging motorcycle. It wouldn't hurt either to be up on the latest technology in motorcycle lighting. Install lights that are easy on the eyes of approaching traffic. This allows a truck or car to read your position on the road.
7. Choose Your Training Area with Caution
Some of the best places to learn how to ride are the parking lots of closed businesses, or areas that have very little traffic. Riding on the street can be dangerous for both you and pedestrians. Take a skilled rider with you until you feel comfortable enough to trek it on your own.
8. Lookout for the Blind Spots
Watch out for the blind spot in a driver's mirror. A motorcycle can be completely hidden in the blind spot of a vehicle, and this is often true no matter how rowdy or loud a biker and his or her machine are.
9. Keep You Eyes on the Traffic
Watch out for the car turning in front of you. Vehicles will turn in front of you whether they have a turn signal on or not.
10. Be on the Defensive
Above all things, plan for safety. Being aware and defensive is the best bet when it comes to anything in life.
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