Learning how to ride a motorcycle the correct way is vital. In 2017, there were 5,172 motorcycle passengers and riders who died in crashes. Deaths from motorcycle accidents have doubled since 1997.
You might wonder how to ensure that you’re riding your motorcycle the correct way. This article will take a look at the correct ways to be safe while riding your motorcycle. Read on to explore how to ride a motorcycle and stay safe today.
- Take Motorcycle Classes
While it’s exciting getting your first motorcycle and buying accessories from companies such as americanlegendrider, you’ll want to make sure that you learn to ride safely. Once you buy your motorcycle and gear, you can work with certified instructors.
They’ll be able to teach you about the different laws in your area. When you’re riding a motorcycle, you’ll know how to abide by the rules, and stay safe on the road.
- Buy High-Quality Gear
One of the top motorcycle tips out there has to do with your gear instead of the bike itself. Make sure that you have top-of-the-line motorcycle safety gear in order to stay safe out there.
Ensure that helmets and other items fit you snugly or else they might be useless in an accident. Choose a strong motorcycle helmet to protect your head while you ride.
- Stay Alert
Owning a motorcycle can mean excitement, but you’ll need to be on alert at all times. Keep in mind that not everyone on the road will pay attention to the rules of the road.
When you’re first starting, it’s best to avoid commute times, and instead, take paths with less traffic. Once you feel more comfortable, you can better handle reckless drivers.
- Know Motorcycle Controls
Before you check out different types of motorcycles, you’ll want to know the different symbols and controls. First, there’s the throttle.
The right footrest has the rear brake lever. Press it with your foot to brake your rear wheel.
This is located in the right handlebar and controls your speed. In order to go faster, you’ll roll on the throttle. To slow down you’ll twist it away.
Your handlebars are to steer the vehicle. The starter button starts up your bike after the ignition. You’ll want to first turn on the ignition.
The front brake lever is at the front of the throttle where the right handlebar is. You’ll want to squeeze the lever to brake the front wheel.
Shift levers are for changing the transmission’s gear. They’re by the left footrest. Move the lever up and down with your foot to choose the desired gear.
Hopping On
If the bike has a kickstand, you’ll want to get onto the bike from the left side and use your foot to push the kickstand up. Make sure that you straighten the bike with your handlebars.
Raise your kickstand before you move. Your feet need to be on the ground in order to make sure that it’s the right size motorcycle for you.
Engage the clutch lever next. Have your left foot press down and shift the motorcycle to first gear. Don’t touch the throttle during this.
After this, you’ll want to release the brake lever. Keep your hand placement steady since you might need to break.
Release the clutch slowly until your motorcycle starts to move forward. Ride in a short and straight line and have your feet hover over the payment to avoid falling.
In order to come to a stop, you’ll want to pull in the clutch lever and grip the brake lever. Repeat this process until you feel safe and ready to ride.
Shifting
In order to shift using a motorcycle, you’ll need to move the lever up or down with your left foot. The sequence is normally 6th gear, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, neutral, and then first gear. Not every motorcycle will have the option of a 6th gear.
Similar to manual on a car, you’ll first disengage the clutch. Next, you’ll shift gears and then re-engage the clutch. Don’t over-rev the gear and force the motorcycle to work too hard.
Before you start moving, it’s important to give your engine time to warm up. This can take 45 seconds to many minutes. This will depend on the oil capacity, engine displacement, etc.
Many bikes today will turn off if you don’t put up the kickstand. Pay attention to whether or not this is a feature of your motorcycle. If you don’t, it can be a safety hazard if you forget to put it up and start driving.
Driving
First, pull the clutch lever and press the shifter down to the first gear. Once you do this, you can release the clutch. Next, twist the throttle.
Place your feet on the pegs when your bike starts moving forward. In order to steer, your bike is turned by counter-steering when you hit a certain speed.
Counter-steering is where you push the handgrip on the side to where you want it to turn. Take your time and use a gentle touch when handling your motorcycle.
Exploring How To Ride a Motorcycle
Now that you’ve explored this guide on how to ride a motorcycle, you should have a better idea of what to expect. Take your time learning to ride, and make sure that you keep safety in mind.
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