Important Habits for First-Time Motorcycle Riders To Build

There’s nothing quite as thrilling as riding your motorcycle for the first time. Feeling the breeze against your body and being so close to the road at fast speeds can be an eye-opening experience. Motorcycles are certainly one of the most underrated vehicles around and it’s incredibly unique when compared to a regular vehicle. However, as exhilarating as it is, it’s also important for first-time users to realize that it requires extreme amounts of discipline to be safe on the road.

If you’re a first-time motorcyclist or think that you’re a little rusty, then here are some important habits that you should focus on building.

Wear a helmet

There’s a bit of rebellious attitude that comes with riding a motorcycle. It can feel liberating compared to a car and it often causes us to skirt the rules and laws of the road a little. For instance, if you’re on a long stretch of empty road then you might temporarily break the speed limit just to get that thrill of the wind rushing through your hair. However, it’s important to follow the law for your own safety.

In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that universal helmet laws could save more than 1,500 lives each year. A helmet is effective at reducing the number of deaths and reduces the likelihood of suffering a serious injury. However, it’s also an important step that many first-time riders actually avoid because they want to feel that rush when they ride their motorcycle for the first time.

You’re invisible on the road

Make sure you consider yourself invisible on the road. When riding a motorcycle, people will often forget that you’re even there. This means that you need to be extra careful of drivers around you to ensure that they don’t accidentally crash into you or even open their side doors while you’re passing them. The best advice here is to pretend that you’re invisible and just assume that nobody notices you. That way, you’ll be extra careful on the road and ride incredibly defensively.

Taking turns properly

Turning on a motorcycle is extremely different from turning in a car. Every turn needs to be approached correctly or else you’ll find yourself bumping into other vehicles or crossing into other lanes.

The general rule of thumb is to ensure that you line up for a turn from the outside if possible. This allows you to see more as you turn which reduces the chances of danger, and also lessens your lean angle so you can approach the corner faster.

Keep your visor down

Make sure you wear a helmet and make sure the visor is down. The last thing you want is to get insects, dirt and even rocks flying into your eyes when you’re riding a motorcycle. You go incredibly fast on a bike and you’re exposed unlike in a car. You need to protect your eyes, so don’t go on the road without keeping that visor down.