After a long cold winter, there’s nothing like sunny skies and a warm breeze to make you want to break out your bike for a long summer ride. Before you answer the call of the open road, check out our safety tips for spring riding to help keep you and your motorcycle in prime condition.
1. Take a Course
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, there are numerous motorcycle courses available for every level of expertise. Not only can these classes serve as an easy way to fine-tune your skills, it can also double to reduce your insurance rates with many companies. Check with your insurance provider to see if they honor a discount program for motorcyclists that take a driving course.
2. Wear a Helmet
Make sure you always wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet and fasten it properly for optimal protection. While not all states require that riders wear a helmet, it can mean the difference between life and death if you should crash. In short, wearing a helmet should always be a priority for safe riding.
3. Be Visible
While we all love classic black riding leathers they are not ideal for safe riding visibility. Wearing something noticeable, especially in low-visibility conditions is the safest way to go. Whether the roads have a foggy layer, or you’re driving in the rain, brighter is better. When you ride at night always wear reflective gear.
4. Keep Your Bike in Shape
Depending on where you live, your bike may have been stored away for a couple of months, so make sure everything is in proper working order before you take it out for a ride. Make sure a qualified mechanic checks your tires, breaks, battery, fluids, lights, and everything in between.
5. Ride Defensively
As a motorcycle rider, you likely already know to stay safe you need to be more vigilant than other drivers. Because motorcyclists are relatively small they often go unseen, so riders must be constantly aware of the vehicles around them. To keep yourself safe, always make sure you use proper turn signals, change lanes safely, and make it as easy as possible for other vehicles to see you and understand what you are doing. Avoid riding in blind spots and leave a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles.
6. Be Prepared for Any Road Conditions
Spring weather can be unpredictable, so always watch the road for any changes in conditions. You could be riding in the sunshine but unexpectedly encounter wet patches of road from recent showers. Motorcyclists who ride on wet roads run the risk of hydroplaning, where tires spin too quickly over the wet surface, causing a lack of traction that can lead to a potentially deadly situation. Always pay attention and drive cautiously, looking out for wet roads, loose gravel, mud, potholes, and any other potential dangers.
7. Communicate with Your Group
If you ride in a group, make sure you set our your plans ahead of time so every rider knows where you’re going, how to get there, and where you plan to stop along the way. Also, be sure you all know proper hand signals, and know what to do in the event that one rider has bike problems, or is in an accident.
These tips can help you stay safe, but sometimes everything you do still isn’t enough. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, our personal injury attorneys can help you. Contact McNabola & Associates, LLC today to schedule your free consultation.