how to ride your motorbike safely
DESCRIPTION
Riding a motorbike is the most dangerous method of road transport. There are a huge number of hazards motorbike riders should constantly be aware of when cruising the roads. However, there are certain situations which are inherently riskier than others.TRANSCRIPT
How to Ride Your Motorbike Safely
Below we've compiled a list of the three most common causes of motorbike
accidents to show you how you can decrease the risks involved.
Cornering on country roads
On a warm, dry day, heading towards the country to enjoy a long, winding ride is
common amongst bikers. Of course it's a lot of fun leaning into those corners that
seemingly never end, and you can do so safely, as long as you are travelling at an
appropriate speed. It is better to overestimate the sharpness of a turn and
accelerate as the bend unravels, rather than travelling too quickly into a turn and
then having to decelerate sharply to make the turn as it tightens. The road will
offer you clues about the sharpness of the corner, so take particular notice of the
tree line, the path of telegraph poles and of course the road markings.
An uneven road surface
A motorbike accident can be avoided by ensuring you ride according to the
conditions and the road surface. Potholes are one example, with roads
particularly becoming uneven during and after icy winters. Along with potholes,
you may also encounter manhole covers, uneven or loose road surfaces, petrol,
diesel and oil leaks and painted road markings.
The risks resulting from uneven road surfaces can be reduced significantly by
taking a few precautionary measures. You should check your tyres regularly to
ensure they are inflated to the pressure recommended in your handbook. The
tread depth on tyres should also be checked to ensure you are within legal limits.
If the tread is bare then change the tyre. The cost of a tyre is far preferable to
having to make a motorbike accident claim further down the line to compensate
you for injuries you have suffered and damage caused to your bike.
Cut your speed on roads you have not previously encountered. It is important you
have the time to react to, and manoeuvre around, any road hazards that may be
in your way.
Accidents involving other vehicles
A shunt can be the fault of a third party or the biker themselves, but there are
a number of ways of reducing the risk of such an accident occurring. Firstly and
most importantly, do not travel too closely to the vehicle in front. You need
time to react if anything out of the ordinary should occur. Make sure that the
distance separating you is sufficient for you to be able to stop in, and if a
vehicle behind is travelling too closely, give yourself more room in front to
compensate.
Proper care of vehicles is important
You need to understand the proper care of your vehicle is quite important, and
this can be done by using motorbike covers. These help to protect bike from
various harmful things.