There are certain facts you have to accept when you decide to begin riding a motorcycle. First, you have to accept that you’re going to look quite cool. However, from there, we also have to understand that riding one raises our risk level on the roads. It’s a shame that this is the case, but unfortunately, it’s the reality. If you’re willing to take that risk, then it’s important to minimize it as much as possible by committing to absolute best practice.

This involves a range of preparation, of ensuring that you plan for the future, and of making sure you hold yourself to a high standard. Furthermore, it involves making sure that you know there are no real ‘safety catches’ you can rely on. At least in a car, a bulky frame, wider wing mirrors and an airbag can be used, the latter in the most unfortunate of circumstances. On a bike, we have limited safety considerations that serve as a protective net in the event of a difficult road situation.

So, we need to plan ahead. Let’s consider how:

Wear The Proper Gear

Of course, safety comes first, always. As such, it’s essential to wear the best motorcycle gear you can. This includes high-quality motorcycle boots, a fresh helmet with good visibility and protection, gloves, a leather suit, and pads on your knees or elbows. Make sure it fits well, and that you go for practicality over looks. This way, you can protect yourself and reduce the impact should you ever fall off your bike.

Proper gear also includes making sure the bike is carefully setup so that it doesn’t preclude visibility. Custom decals must not take away from your reflectors at night, for instance, or be blocked by additions such as a back storage box. In this light, your great should contribute well to your safety, and help you remain more confident and protected on the roads.

Plan Your Journeys Responsibly

Perhaps the strongest possible protection a motorcyclist can have is knowing what roads are suitable for him to drive on, where junctions are, how long a route will take, and what amenities or facilities are there for him to maintain his bike on the way there. 

lanning your journeys responsibly means accounting for traffic, weather conditions, and of course, the time it will take for you to get there so that you never even feel the urge to speed, which should never be acted on in the first place.

If you can achieve this, then you’re much more able to focus on the good and worthwhile elements of staying safe on your motorcycle. It can also help you avoid putting yourself in harm’s way, such as by needing to use overly busy intersections, being stuck in traffic, or perhaps misjudging the distance to another junction exit or entrance.

Trust No Other Road User

Be sure not to trust other road users or even give them the benefit of the doubt. This might sound somewhat sad and rather misanthropic, but the truth is that most other road users will be in vehicles that can damage you and your bike quite easily, while you cannot return the same level of force and damage to them. Furthermore, not all road users are great at looking out for bikes.

For this reason, it’s important not to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Understand that any car can pull out of any corner and miss you, so it’s up to you to make sure you lower your speed when passing one, and to keep track of the vehicles around you, and to use your horn when necessary. This isn’t to say that other roads users don’t have a responsibility to you, they do, but unfortunately, you can only have control over your own driving practice. 

Attend Junctions Carefully & Limit Speed

Vehicles pulling out of junctions or speeding are the biggest contributors to road accidents involving motorcycles, and you can find yourself at either end of this difficult situation. For this reason, make sure that you moderate your speed, that you never feel intimidated by cars tailgating you, and that you pull off the road if you feel that a road user isn’t abiding by good driving practice.

Look continually when pulling out of junctions, and always triple check. Assume that vehicles haven’t seen you, and so moderate your bike control to make sure you’re central and the easiest to spot. This kind of approach can help you limit all potential risk factors, which you can never really avoid, but you can reduce.

Stay Careful Around Corners

While it may seem that junctions are the threat to be concerned with most, corners are also important to consider. Vehicles can often take corners too widely or at too much speed, and that can be a problem. This is why keeping to the inside track of the road when moving around a tight corner can keep you safer, as well as moderating your speed. Try to keep aware of that which is in front of you as well as how you wish to tackle the corner yourself, and what your bike is capable of.

Ensure Passengers Know How To Behave

Some bikes have room for secondary seating, which can be quite nice when transporting a friend or relative. However, this isn’t quite the same as having your passenger hop into the seat of your car. They must also be wearing fitting safety gear and the aforementioned boots, as well as knowing where to hold you by the hips, and how to keep close to you to ensure proper weight balancing.

They must also do their utmost not to distract you on the road, so that you don’t have your focus shifted elsewhere. In other words – they must be as competent as you on the bike in order for you to drive safely. Keep that in mind when accepting passengers.

With this advice, we hope you can stay safe on a motorcycle as you deserve to be.