Motorcycle Safety For New Riders

Spring is finally here, and that means many people who are new to riding motorcycles will be grabbing the handlebars for the first time. The vast majority of them will be good, thoughtful riders, but some of them will not. Motorcycle safety, however, is important for everyone. As an added benefit, motorcycle insurance companies notice and reward safe riders with lower rates.

First of all, a new motorcyclist would be smart to sign up for a rider safety course. The highway patrol holds these classes and staffs them with trained and qualified instructors who are veteran motorcyclists that having been riding them for years.

The course covers material such as starting and stopping the bike properly, braking and maneuvering in an emergency, and how best to make a turn safely. The course will be applied to the driver’s license test and waives the behind-the-wheel portion.

Driving a car is not like riding a bike, and there are many new ideas that each rider will need to get used to. Shifting body weight in either direction can send a motorcyclist off course, resulting in a panicked rider. Panicking while riding a bike can cause the rider to lose control, which in turn causes a crash.

Each rider has to maintain a clear awareness of the situation around him. One thing to do is picture a cushion or bubble around the motorcyclist. Cars have blind spots, and riders have to be aware of them, particularly because motorcycles have such bad profiles.

Often, a rider gets hit by a car turning left. Often, the car turns immediately into the path of the rider and the driver says that he or she never saw the motorcycle. One of the biggest dangers to motorcycles, it has been estimated, is the left-turning car.

Driveways are also dangerous, and cars backing out of them may not always see an onrushing motorcyclist. Lighting conditions, weather and assorted other variables all affect how visible a rider is. Therefore, a rider has to be super-aware of the situation around him or her and then decide how best to maneuver through traffic.

Proper attire is another important part of rider protection. Some riders wear nothing but jeans and a t-shirt, particularly during summer. Crashing on a bike is just like pressing your bare skin against a high-revving belt sander, and clothing shreds very quickly. The well-dressed rider prepares for the crash instead of the ride and therefore chooses leather clothing, solid gloves, and a helmet that covers the whole face.

It is recommended that the rider ride as defensively as possible. Be very careful when coming up on intersections, because getting hit on a bike is very different from getting hit on a car. Watch out for road conditions, as bumpy roads can send the bike careening off its line.

Bike riding is one of life’s great joys. However, the only person who is ultimately responsible for motorcycle safety is the motorcyclist, and they cannot expect other drivers to be looking out for them, particularly since bikes are so tiny relatively. Ride safely and arrive alive.