Over 1.5 million households in America now own a motorcycle and this figure is only set to rise. Riding a motorcycle is a fantastic experience and that feeling of the wind hitting you while you cruise past everyone never tires. But while riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience, it’s also one of the most dangerous. Motorcycles account for more than half of the crashes that happen on U.S. roads. Riding a motorcycle is very different from owning a car, and even the most experienced biker needs to take extra care when out on the roads. For beginners, it’s even more important to take the right precautions to ensure you enjoy a lifetime of motorcycling bliss without any of the pain. If you are new to motorcycling, what do you need to know?
Invest In A Quality Motorcycle
Choosing the right motorcycle that best suits your needs as a beginner, is crucial to ensuring you have a great and safe experience on the road. While it’s important to listen to recommendations, remember, everyone is different, so you’ll need to find a motorcycle that suits your experience, height, weight and perhaps even age. In the U.S., Harley-Davidson is still the most popular manufacturer. When you are a beginner, it’s best to focus on safety features instead of looks and badges. While a huge part of the motorcycling experience is the ability to shift gears yourself and control your speed and breakdown. But many riders opt for an automatic motorcycle to avoid the hassle. An automatic doesn’t need levers to be pulled or the gears to be manually shifted. This can often be a popular choice with beginners as they getting the experience of a motorcycle.
Never Ride Your Motorcycle Without a Helmet
Around 4,700 people were killed on a motorcycle in 2016, a staggering 800 of these lives could have been saved if they had just worn a helmet. Heading out on your bike without a helmet is one of the most dangerous things you can do. It’s impossible to know what might happen when you are out on the road and it can be what makes all the differences in ensuring you are here tomorrow for another ride. Your helmet also protects your eyes from dust particles and bugs, while helping you be more focused on the road. Never ride without it.
Always Wear The Right Motorcycle Gear
If you come off your motorcycle, especially at high speed, you will be relying on your clothing to take the brunt of the impact. Not your skin. If you don’t wear the right gear you could end up with badly scraped arms, legs, bruised or broken fingers along with badly scraped or broken knees. It’s a good idea to invest in clothing that isn’t too light or too heavy. A well protective biker’s jacket and double layered pants should give you good protection. Make sure you try before you buy as you’ll need your new gear to fit you well, allow for easy movement and be comfortable.
Many motorcycle riders remember their first time being out on the road on their very first bike. Invest in a good motorcycle and always protect yourself with a helmet and proper motorcycling gear, and you are set up for years of fantastic motorcycling experiences to come.
