Are you thinking about learning to ride a motorcycle? Perhaps you have already passed your test with flying colors and you’re eager to get out on the road. Well, while it’s understandable that you are itching to go, there are some issues that you need to be aware of. As a beginner, it’s common to make these mistakes but you do need to avoid them where possible.
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Don’t Forget Countersteering
You’ve probably seen in movies where motorcycle riders lean over on the bike to the point where their knee is almost scraping the side of the road. It might look quite dangerous, but it’s actually a key, albeit, exaggerated part of riding. This is countersteering and it’s basically using your body to steer the bike. What most people don’t realize is that the impact is actually fairly minimal. It’s not going to cause you to make a sharp turn unless you make sure that you are pressing right on the handlebars to go right or left to go left. Do this and you’ll notice a more substantial difference. A motorcycle turns by leaning and it’s easy to forget this. If you do forget at an inopportune moment, it could lead to an accident so it’s worth keeping this in mind. Nevertheless, if you do get indulged in an accident, make sure to check for the injuries and consult your attorney immediately. Or, you can Go here to learn more about the accident and personal injury cases.
Buying Your Bike
Most firstime riders are going to lean towards purchasing a secondhand bike rather than one that is brand new. There are a few reasons for this but the main ones are the cost of the purchase as well as the insurance. Second-hand bikes tend to be cheaper to insure and buy on a budget.
There’s nothing wrong with buying a secondhand motorbike but you do have to make sure that you are making the right decision. It’s easy to end up with what is basically a fixer-upper that is going to need a lot of expensive repairs. In some cases, bikes sold by private sellers can even be dangerous. According to the typical motorcycle accident attorney, a lot of crashes occur because of a technical fault with the bike rather than the rider’s error.
Riding With Someone
You might have decided to learn how to ride to impress a partner, win over a girl or boost your dating game. Perhaps you already have a partner who is anxious to hop on the back and go for a spin. It’s important to be careful here because riding solo is different compared to riding with someone on the bike with you. If you’re not careful and don’t understand the shift in both handling and dynamics then you could definitely end up crashing. This is why it’s worth making sure that you are riding alone until you feel completely comfortable with your bike. Even then you should take riding with someone else slowly and not rush into anything.
Don’t Stop
You might get a few looks when you skirt around stationary traffic on your bike. However, this is actually the right move. It’s far more dangerous for you to remain still in traffic. This is why bikes are encouraged to keep moving through congestion, albeit at a slower speed. Ideally, with the exception of traffic lights and roundabouts, you should never have to stop fully on your bike, particularly when riding on busy roads. You might find that drivers are frustrated when you continue to move while they are gridlocked however it’s important to realize that you are in the right here. They are actually in the wrong and you must always watch out for drivers who might take matters into their own hands. Some will close gaps that you are using which is why you need to go slow.
Thinking About Fuel
Finally, fuel is a little trickier with a motorcycle than a car. It’s not always easy to check how much fuel you have. Some bikes don’t even have a fuel gauge and this will definitely be true if you are buying an older model. The easiest way to keep a check on your fuel is to actually take a look in the tank. You should be doing this on a regular basis. This will give you a feel of how much fuel you are using based on how you are riding your bike. It will guarantee that you don’t have to worry about your motorcycle running out of fuel at an inopportune moment, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. It’s a little trial and error work here but you’ll soon figure out what your bike needs and when you need to refill it.
