Over the years, motorcycles haven’t lost their cool with riders. It’s a fast, efficient, and fun way to get around. If you don’t want to deal with all the space a car takes up, a motorcycle is a great alternative. However, being a motorcycle rider comes with its set of vulnerabilities you should prepare for. So here are some tips for staying safe while riding a motorcycle.
Dress Appropriately
One of the great things about being inside a four-wheeled vehicle like a car, RV, or truck is you don’t have to worry about your clothes. For all the other drivers know, you may be wearing pajamas while behind the wheel. Plus you can turn on the AC or heat. However, with motorcycles, you’re exposed to the elements, which can be both good and bad. Sure, you can feel the breeze on your skin and be exposed to nature as you hit the highway on your bike. However, when the weather turns bad, you’re still exposed to those elements.
What happens in the event of an accident? If you get into a collision, especially with another car, you could easily get thrown off your bike and have a heavy impact on pavement or grass. That’s where your motorcycle gear comes in to help protect you. With the right helmet, jacket, and gloves, you have a stylish way to protect yourself from a more devastating injury or extreme weather conditions. So put as much effort into your riding gear as the bike itself.
Follow the Road Rules
Being a rebel without a cause is great on the movie screen. However, acting as a rebel isn’t appropriate when on the road with other vehicles. Those same traffic laws and signals that car drivers must abide by are the same rules that motorcycle riders must also adopt. In other words, don’t use your bike to swerve and switch lanes illegally, tailgate, or avoid making turn signals. Doing so can result in a catastrophic collision in which you will be far more devastated than any car you would crash into. When you don’t observe the road rules, you put pedestrians crossing in danger.
Make yourself visible
It may seem obvious but making yourself visible is important when on the road. This applies to your riding gear but it can also apply to your motorcycle. Bright colors can help other vehicles on the road see you clearly and avoid accidents, so you can opt for a paint job, which can be costly and time consuming, or you can choose a simpler solution: decals for your bike. For this you need a graphics kit which will not only help you be safer on the road but it will also give your bike a makeover and protect it’s original paint.
Practice Riding
Operating a motorcycle is a different beast from driving a car. That’s why you need a specific license to operate a motorcycle. Once you get your motorcycle license, you may still need more time to truly get comfortable maneuvering it around. Don’t be afraid to take the time to give yourself that extra practice by finding a local empty parking lot to do so. You could set up a makeshift obstacle course using cones to practice making turns, sudden stops, backing up, and so on. Depending on the town you’re in, you may also join a fun motorcycle riding club, so you can have a group of other motorcycle enthusiasts to practice with and learn from.
Owning a motorcycle can be a badge of coolness. After all, whether you have a Harley-Davidson or lesser known brand, you have a sleek, fast ride that’s bound to gain attention wherever you go. However, even by practicing the tips above, you may still find yourself on the losing end of a collision. If you’re in such a situation, don’t hesitate to contact your local motorcycle accident law firm for assistance.
We are not lawyers and this is in no way intended to be used as legal advice . We cannot be held responsible for your results. Always do your own research and seek professional legal help.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.