Safety tips you should know before riding a motorbike

Wearing the right protective riding gear greatly reduces injury risk. Motorcyclists should wear a DOT-certified helmet on every ride. Get a full-face helmet that provides the most coverage. Wear a motorcycle jacket and pants made of durable, abrasion-resistant materials with armour padding. Reinforced gloves, proper eye protection, and sturdy over-the-ankle boots also minimize road rash. Don't risk severe injuries by skipping safety gear.

Take a motorcycle safety foundation training course, even for experienced riders. Quality instruction develops critical skills for vehicle control, swerving, braking properly, and handling road hazards. Practice is key. Extensive training builds muscle memory, reducing panic reactions in emergencies. Refine control and decision-making to be prepared for diverse situations encountered on public roads.

Obey posted speed limits, traffic signals, and lane markings at all times. Drive defensively, watching surrounding vehicles to identify possible threats early. Don't make unsafe lane changes without signalling properly first. Come to complete stops at signs and lights before proceeding through cautiously. Follow all state helmet and licensing laws to avoid unnecessary fines. Responsible riding and decision-making keep riders safer. Yamaha genuine parts can give you a safe riding.

Consistent bike inspection and maintenance prevents dangerous mechanical failures, especially on critical components like brakes, suspension, drive trains and tyres that impact vehicle control. Clean the chain regularly and lubricate per manual specs to reduce wear and runout. Frequently check tyre tread depth and pressure. Replace worn-out consumable parts like brake pads before they lose effectiveness. Keep all controls and cables properly adjusted according to manufacturer guidelines for optimal functioning.  

Adjust speed and technique appropriately for environmental riding conditions. Wet roads create very slippery surfaces, so reduce speed and increase the following distance to prevent skidding out. Hot temperatures diminish tyre grip, so take turns with added caution. Gusting winds affect the handling, requiring extra steering corrections mid-corner. Debris-covered roads demand vigilant scanning farther ahead to navigate around hazards. Always ride at a limit, allowing safe reaction to unexpected conditions.  

Scan ahead constantly to identify road hazards like potholes, debris, and railroad tracks early enough to take proper evasive action. Signal intentions clearly surround traffic before changing the position to avoid obstacles. Release the brakes and accelerate slightly if hitting an unavoidable pothole to prevent loss of vehicle control. Applying brakes or turning suddenly over debris risks crashing. Carefully scan farther ahead to strategize safe paths around dangers.  

Minimize visibility challenges from riding at night, sunrise or sunset by using high beams toggling between low as traffic allows. Equip bikes with auxiliary safety lighting for increased conspicuity like LED strips, strobes or hazard blinkers. Keep visors clean and scratch-free for clarity. Use eye protection suited for day or night riding. Reduce speed in low visibility situations and increase following distance, unable to see as far ahead. Avoid blinding oncoming traffic with brights.

Never operate a motorcycle while intoxicated, overly tired or otherwise cognitively impaired, unable to respond quickly. Consuming alcohol, marijuana, or certain medications slows reaction time and affects decision-making abilities, increasing the odds of crashing. Riders must remain fully alert constantly evaluating complex traffic situations and surrounding conditions to identify possible hazards requiring evasive maneuvers. Mental sharpness and split-second reflexes keep motorcyclists safe.

Start riding slowly, getting acquainted with motorcycle controls and handling dynamics in low-risk environments without hazards before going faster on public roads. Practice braking, swerving and scanning techniques in empty parking lots. Build cornering skills on controlled courses, slowly upping the pace. Gain experience in less aggressive traffic conditions before riding at peak hours. Work up incrementally to handle higher speeds and challenging situations. Master fundamentals first.  

 

If possible, avoid riding in hazardous conditions like snow, ice, heavy rain, and dense fog, which multiply the risk substantially. Slippery surfaces make braking and swerving very difficult, often causing loss of traction and control. Impaired visibility prevents identifying road hazards soon enough to react properly. Cold temperatures reduce tyre grip and dexterity in operating controls. High crosswinds also impact stability. Bad weather magnifies dangers to riders greatly. Exercise the best judgement, delay trips, and wait for conditions to improve if able to avoid unnecessary risks.

Help drivers see you by wearing brightly coloured protective gear, using headlights, and avoiding blind spots. Signal turns early for surrounding traffic awareness. Don't dangerously split lanes between tight spaces, upsetting other motorists. Pass carefully when appropriate gaps in traffic allow. Wave cars through intersections first if they arrive before you. Follow at safe distances so vehicles ahead can see you in their mirrors. Building positive awareness helps prevent collisions. 

 

Practice safe braking techniques to avoid accidents in emergencies, avoiding target fixation on hazards. Grip tank with knees for stability, applying smooth, firm pressure to brake levers, not locking either wheel. Keep vision focused ahead toward escape paths not just obstacles. Squeeze both brake levers simultaneously, distributing stopping forces for straight deceleration. Gradually add in more front brake pressure, shifting weight forward as needed scrubbing speed. Stay off abrupt handful squeezes, pitching riders suddenly. Learn proper emergency braking response controlling reactions to maximize stability getting stopped quickly. This avoids panic crashes.

With more motorists distracted by phones and technology, riders must maintain extra vigilance, watching surrounding vehicles closely to identify wandering ones not holding lane position properly veering into motorcycles. Never make assumptions cars see you coming. Carefully monitor their wheel angles and driver head placement to predict changing path deviations when turning into your space suddenly. Being seen and identified early allows manoeuvring defensively from this frequent crash cause.  

Rain, gravel, debris, and uneven pavement make roads far more treacherous, throwing traction qualities off instantly if riders fail to adjust speeds and corner lean angles to suit. Be exceptionally cautious traversing railroad crossings, metal covers and construction zone plates avoiding leaning or abrupt speed changes over them. Hitting rain after long, dry spells turns dusty accumulation into ice-like slickness without warning, demanding extra caution as the grip suddenly vanishes.

 

Motor cycle riders can take important steps to protect themselves. Wearing helmets, Yamaha Genuine Parts, and high-visibility clothing greatly improves safety. Proper training, gradually building skills in low-risk environments first, helps develop critical vehicle control, hazard perception, and crash avoidance abilities reducing accidents. Obeying all traffic laws, properly maintaining bikes, adjusting for conditions, and avoiding impairment also prevent many crashes. While some hazards prove unavoidable, prudent precautions minimize dangers.

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