For the lovers of speed and outdoor adventure riding a motorcycle is one of the most thrilling experiences. The feeling of strong gush of air on your face while gliding and zooming along roads is just of the thrills motorcycle lovers would like to have. But all these comes with precautions because no matter how satisfying motorcycle riding could be, it’s very dangerous and could lead to fatal accidents. Before and while riding a motorcycle you should have the following in mind:
Know the functions and body parts of your motorcycle. It may be surprising but most motorcycle owners and riders don’t know the basic body parts and their respective functionalities. For me this is ignorance because is dangerous to you and also other people because this can be the major cause of accidents. Take time to know them.
Have good training. Appropriate motorbike riding skills and knowledge are important before starting to ride your own bike. Go to a good driving school to be trained, be tested and have a driving license to endorse you a motorbike rider which should be periodically updated.
Always wear protective gear and a helmet. Safety first before the thrill, should you meet an accident, a motorbike rider is exposed to more danger because you are out there in the open without any protection above your head and your body is in direct contact with harm and danger. A good helmet will protect you from head injuries, to protect your knees and elbows wear other protective gear like protective caps and rider’s vest.
Start the motorcycle using the key. To start and give the motorcycle a spin turn the key in the ignition switch. Igniting it will not automatically start it since the starter and ignition aren’t located in the same area. Also for new models turn the clutch to start the bike while for old ones starting the bike means kicking the lever on the right.
Take good control of the bike while riding. Use your right hand to accelerate and brake, use your right wrist to rotate the hand grip on your right when you want to speed up. This should be done gradually since some motorbikes have very sensitive accelerators. Apply the brake using your right foot and tug the lever towards you in front of the brakes when you want to stop.
Change gears with the clutch. To change speed while riding the bike, shift gears without failing otherwise you will dumped to the roadside. To slow down the bike pull the clutch gently.
Use gears to adjust speed. To move to a higher gear, squeeze the clutch and release the lever by gently lifting up your foot, if you prefer a lower gear push down your foot on the lever.
Halt the bike using foot pedals and handlebar. To completely stop the bike, apply foot pedal and handlebars, clutch, left handlebar, front brake and rear brake. Next turn off the key in the ignition switch.
