There’s no denying that motorcycles are cool, fun and fuel-efficient. Whether it’s a quick trip to the corner market for a few things or a two-week touring trip with friends, there are plenty of safety measures you should ensure to travel by bike.
It would be nice if the road was always smooth, and without bumps, but those bumps, potholes, breakdowns, lost riding moments and more are out there. The best way to avoid trouble from these instances is to be prepared about the safety measure to travel by bike.
You can learn a lot about safety measures to travel by bike from a safety course, and we at Backpackclan certainly suggest every rider take one. However, there’s a lot to be learned from experienced riders that you might not pick up on a course of safety measures to travel by bike. That’s why we’ve compiled this list for you that includes safety measures to travel by bike from some of the industry’s top professionals, as well as seasoned riders. Keep reading…they may just change the way you ride.
Biking Safety Tips
Gear Up
- Contrary to popular belief, looking cool is not the top priority when getting on your bike. No matter what the weather is outside, you should always go for clothes that provide extreme protection. So, for this, you can go with a leather or reinforced jackets, pants and boots.
- Glasses or Goggles are a must if you have an open-faced helmet and to protect your hands, you should always wear gloves.
Use Your Head
- While mirrors are there for a reason, you can’t solely rely on them to remain aware of what is in your immediate riding space. Indeed, to travel by bike you need to use your head to keep cognizant of your surroundings and your position.
- Experienced riders know that it’s important to keep your head and eyes up while rounding corners and the safest way to change lanes is to actually turn and look over your shoulder to make sure you are clear.
Be Defensive
- To travel by bike you need to be extra alert, especially in this age of epidemic phone use and texting behind the wheel. Keep an eye out for cars suddenly changing or pulling out from side streets.
- Always ensure you have enough stopping distance from another vehicle so that you have the time to react to obstacles on the road.
- Choose Your Bike With Antibrake Lock System.
- To travel by bike always choose a bike equipped with Antilock Braking System (ABS). ABS prevents wheels from locking up and helps avoid skidding.
- The reason is simple: When you are traveling by bike and locking up the brakes in a panic stop robs the rider of any steering control. That can easily lead to a skid and crash, which can result in serious injury. ABS helps you retain steering control during an emergency stop, and it can be especially valuable in slippery conditions.
To travel by bike always watch Your Condition
- Make sure your bike is working properly, it shouldn’t give you nasty surprises when you are underway, the brake pads shouldn’t be worn out, the lights should be working and the tire should be in the right condition.
- Keep yourself in shape, eat on time, drink on time and most importantly, keep yourself comfortable.
Avoid Bad Wheather while travelling by bike
- Slippery conditions reduce your margin of error. Rain not only cuts your visibility but reduces your tires’ grip on the road, which can make cornering tricky. If you need to ride in the rain, remember that the most dangerous time is right after precipitation begins, as the water can cause oil residue to rise to the top.
- To travel by bike always be gentle with the brakes, throttle, and steering to avoid sliding. When riding in strong side winds, be proactive in anticipating the potential push from the side by moving to the side of the lane the wind is coming from. This will give you some leeway in the lane.
- Know The Forecast Before Travelling By Bike:
- Weather is a regular foil to perfect driving conditions and the dangers of wet or icy roads multiply when you’re on two wheels.
- Lack of visibility is a rider’s worst nightmare and until you’ve been caught on your bike in the rain you will never understand just how much being pelted by raindrops at 50 or even 30 miles per hour can hurt.
Practise Braking
- Just because you’re on a motorcycle doesn’t make it any easier for you to see other motorcycles. Always double-check when changing lanes or turning. You also need to practice braking in all sorts of conditions.
- To make sure that a quick stop won’t result in tragedy, always give extra space to the vehicles in front of you and know how to stop on a dime without locking your brakes. In fact, you might want to upgrade to anti-lock brakes.
- Tips For All Drivers To Travel By Bike:
- Be respectful and courteous; share the road.
- Use turn signals to change lanes or merge into traffic.
- Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
- Watch for motorcycles with turn signals flashing. Wait until they turn or the driver turns the signal off because unlike cars, motorcycle signals don’t always have auto-cancel.
- Watch for sudden moves by motorcycles due to road hazards, such as potholes or debris.
- When following a motorcycle, travel at a safe distance, recommended to be three or four seconds. They can stop quicker than a car, and you need to be ready to stop, too.
Ride with courtesy, care, and awareness that you are representing motorcycles for those around you. Don’t let an urge to prove a point or retaliate against an inconsiderate driver overwhelm your better judgment – after all, that takes away all the joy, which is why you’re riding in the first place and following all the safety measures to travel by bike.
When all is said and done it boils down to this: wear your gear, know your bike, and know your abilities. You can’t control your environment but you can control how you react to it.
