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Home » Consumer Information » Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Skills

Coexisting on the roadways can be a challenge for motorcyclists and other motorists, but bikers often have a more difficult time with everyday driving tasks due to elements like substandard road conditions and other distractions. The following advice will help motorcyclists excel under the toughest circumstances. Learn how to stay attentive to the task of riding, make excellent decisions, and ride with the safety of others in mind.

Awareness and concentration

Riding a motorcycle requires the motorcyclist to focus their full attention on the task at hand. A variety of symptoms and conditions can detract from this goal including:

  • Fatigue
  • Illness
  • Cold and wet weather
  • Drug, alcohol, and prescription medication use
  • Overwhelming emotions

Losing your train of thought for a few seconds is all it takes for an accident to happen.

Health and physical fitness

Riding a motorcycle can be quite taxing on the body. Before learning to ride, here are some aspects you should prepare yourself for:

  • Coordination - needed to keep motorcycle centered and upright while simultaneously managing a number of controls. Some people have an easier time synchronizing this than others, but with practice, it becomes second nature.
  • Stamina - necessary to handle stress that riding bike puts on arms and upper torso. Traveling through poor weather conditions can make operating a motorcycle even more physically demanding.
  • Vision - accounts for approximately 80 percent of sensory information that your body absorbs while riding, so keen eyesight and superb peripheral vision are essential. It is a good idea to have your vision checked by an optometrist before getting on a bike in case you need glasses or contacts.
  • Wellbeing - very important for maintaining save driving conditions. A health problem such as heart disease may keep you from riding or put yourself and other in danger. If you are skeptical, you should consult a physician to find out if you are in good enough shape to ride.

Eagerness to learn

Taking your first step to becoming a successful rider requires devotion to learning the craft. Set up an educational plan for yourself:

  1. Get a temporary instruction permit for motorcycle operation. You must be able to pass the motorcycle knowledge test issued by the DMV. You will not be able to carry any passengers during this stage.
  2. Find out from the experts. Once you have obtained a permit, enroll in a motorcycle safety course, and receive guidance from a coach. Until you feel comfortable with your ability to turn, switch gears, and brake properly, remain in a safe practice area such as a parking lot. Then, advance to secluded streets until you think you have developed the skills to move on to busier roads and eventually, highways.
  3. Become licensed. When you have gained enough confidence in your ability, take the motorcycle knowledge and skills test at the DMV.
  4. Hone your skills. Once you've gotten your motorcycle license, continue to brush up on your riding talents. Don't be afraid to ask an experienced rider to critique your technique or brush up with another training course.

Predicting what lies ahead

Making a prediction about your surroundings will allow you to make appropriate driving decisions. Take as many clues around you into consideration before deciding what to do; make a mental note of the road conditions, signs, signals, and markings on the road. Also, try to make an educated guess about what other drivers may do.

Mindset of a rider

Knowing yourself and how you will react to various situations can greatly impact your riding experience.

  • Influence of surrounding drivers - as drivers, we feel the tension in the air created by the display of other motorists. Choosing whether to keep your cool or exhibit signs of road rage if someone is tailgating or honking at you can have major implications.
  • Peer pressure - friends have the uncanny ability to bring the worst behavior out of you, and they may also persuade you to ride beyond your ability. You may assume peeling out at stop lights will amaze them, but do you have the self-control to suppress these actions? Going against your friends' wishes may result in an awkward situation.
  • Media manipulation - despite the obvious safety issues, commercials and movies associate riding with speed and daredevil-like stunts. You must stay levelheaded and resist the urge to mimic what you see. Knowing your limitations will keep you out of harm's way.

Protecting yourself and others

Realizing and accepting your riding boundaries in addition to the capabilities of your motorcycle and restrictions of the road will help ensure your own safety. The safety of any passengers also lies in your hands. Insist that they wear a helmet and other protective clothing, and make sure that they understand riding safety rules. Riding with a passenger alters the way a motorcycle maneuvers, so you should have a significant amount of practice on your own before allowing someone to accompany you.

As a motorcyclist, you will be sharing the roadway with cars, trucks, other riders, bicyclists, and even trains. You will also encounter pedestrians and disabled people in wheelchairs or an ambulance that needs you to pull off to the side of the road in order to get through. There even will be times when a pet or a ball rolls across your path. The point is you will not always expect everything that you encounter on your bike, but through practice and education, you can at least prepare yourself for a potentially dangerous situation and make the responsible decision.