Everything Motorcycle Riders Need to Know

Nothing feels quite like finding the perfect bike. As the weather continues to warm up  these nasty,

more people are choosing to ride a motorcycle for the first time. This is great, but when you’re a new

rider, there’s a lot of information to take in.

Destination:
Target fixation is a major problem when you first start riding. The single most important thing you can learn about piloting that bike is this: you'll go wherever you're looking. So if you're looking at the ground up ahead, that's where you're going to go. Look far into the distance and observe what's going on around you, and you'll keep going that way.

Ride more defensively:

You can't do anything about other people on the road, except maybe tell everyone you know to pay more attention to motorcycles when they're driving. What you can control is how you ride. Pay absolute attention before and at every single intersection. We're not just talking street corners. We also mean alleys, parking lots, drive-thrus, gas stations, anywhere a vehicle is going to try to enter moving traffic from a stand-still. Scan ahead with your eyes to note any possible traffic dangers in your way. Is there a lane merge up ahead? Construction? A utility truck doing some work? An accident? Does a cop have someone pulled over? All these possibilities may lead to someone who wasn't paying attention suddenly deciding that they have to merge into your lane RIGHTNOWRIGHTNOWRIGHTNOW without looking first. Just a second's inattention can mean someone sideswipes you because they didn't see you. By anticipating potentially dangerous situations up ahead, you'll be ready to move out of the way or brake as necessary.

Also, don't draft semis and don't ride in anyone's blind spot. Ride up ahead of them or far enough behind that if they suddenly switch lanes without signalling, you won't get hit. These are good rules to prevent being sideswiped.

Adjust your mirrors before you start moving:

Unlike a car, it's not always possible to adjust motorcycle mirrors without a wrench. That's why you want to check their positioning before you start riding. It's simple. Just get on the bike in riding position and check that the mirrors are where you need them to be able to see as much as you can around you. If your bike has a center stand, this is especially easy to do while it's sitting on the center stand. If not, get on the bike and point it straight ahead. Hold the front brake lever if you're on a downhill incline. Adjust as necessary.

 

Know your  MPG and fuel capacity:

Some bikes have fuel gauges. Others don't. It's not a new bike vs. old bike thing, either; it's often just

a style decision by the manufacturer, regardless of the age or type of your bike. If you know your 

bike's estimated MPG and its fuel capacity, you can set a trip odometer on the bike to tell you when 

you need to start looking for a gas station. If you're out riding some fun, twisty back roads in the

middle of nowhere, this makes a huge difference. If you're only going to be riding in the city, this 

doesn't matter as much. 

 

Know local motorcycle laws:

 Different states have different requirements of motorcyclists. Many states require you to wear a DOT-certified helmet while riding a motorcycle, including New York. Some states have rules that say only riders aged 17 and under must wear a helmet, while others require no helmet at all, such as Illinois. For the most current helmet information regarding any state in which you'll be riding, check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's page on the subject.

Helmets aren't the only thing you need to be concerned about. Even states that don't require helmets might have other requirements instead. For example, Illinois requires you to wear some type of eye protection if you choose to wear no helmet (this means that sunglasses are legally acceptable). States may also have different rules about whether mirrors are required on your bike. You can't go wrong if your low beam, high beam, and turn signals are all working, and if you have both a right and a left mirror on your bike. 

Check tire condition:

 

Since you're rolling on two wheels, you need to be especially careful about slow leaks, nails, screws,

glass, or anything else that might be stuck in one of your tires. Do a thorough visual check to be sure

 your tires look like they're in good condition, with no cuts or nicks or foreign materials lodged in

them. Even sharp rocks can cause serious tire damage
.
Spin the wheels around so you can see the tire from all angles. It may seem like a small thing, but

you're trusting your life to your rubber. A sudden tire blowout on a car is inconvenient. A sudden tire

blowout on a bike can result in serious injury or death, especially if it's your first time out and you

haven't gotten used to riding yet. Take a couple minutes to check, and there shouldn't be any reason

you can't have an awesome time getting to know your bike.

Check your tire pressure:

 

You might not pay much attention to tire pressure on your car. Although you should check it on your

car regularly, it matters a whole lot more when you're rolling on only two wheels instead of four.

Proper tire pressure means you'll get the best handling performance out of your bike. Low tire

pressure can make your bike incredibly difficult and dangerous to control.

Somewhere on your bike, you'll find a metal plaque with your bike's VIN and a bunch of other

information, including the proper PSI ratings for your front and rear tires. Use a good tire gauge

(ideally one with an analog face, not one of those little metal ones you can find in the dollar bin at

any auto parts store; the latter are unreliable) to check your pressure. Then be prepared to add more

air if necessary. Don't forget to put your valve stem caps back on before you head out.