When spring and summer finally arrive, the number of motorcycles on the road drastically increases. It’s more ecological, it’s more fun, and it’s more efficient than riding a car. However, staying safe on two wheels is a big concern. We cannot always be 100% safe, no matter how careful we are. This is because our safety depends on other drivers’ actions as well. What we can do is decrease our chances of getting into trouble by following several safety rules.

Here are our motorcycle safety tips that you should definitely incorporate into your riding.

Never Ride Without a Helmet

Putting a helmet on before riding your bike should be a reflex motion. Wearing a helmet is the best thing that you can do to protect yourself from more serious injuries in case of a fall. Statistics show that you are five times more likely to sustain a critical head injury if you are not wearing a helmet.

Preferably, you should choose a helmet that has eyewear as well. If not, put on a pair of good-quality eyeglasses with a strong UV protection. It will protect your eyes from harmful sun rays and protect you from bugs and other tiny foreign objects.

Wear Motorcycling-Specific Gear

Wearing a proper motorcycling jacket and pants will offer you a lot of protection when you hit the ground. These usually come with elbow, shoulder, and knee guards which will save these critical joints in case of a fall. The jacket and the pants are made from durable material usually laced with Kevlar which protects your skin from abrasion injuries.

A good pair of gloves is also absolutely crucial as your hands are usually the first thing that meets the ground if you sustain a fall.

Follow Traffic Rules

It is tempting to break the traffic rules when you are riding a motorcycle because it seems that doing so for some of them is quite innocent. However, you should always make sure to strictly obey them, especially the speed limits. The contact surface your bike makes with the ground is much smaller than that of a car. Therefore, it will take you longer to brake than you would need riding a car. The faster you go, the longer you will need to stop.

Ride Defensively and Educate Yourself

You should never assume that a driver has seen you until you establish eye contact with them. Always be prepared to brake or perform a maneuver to protect your integrity on the road since most motorcycling accidents are caused by car drivers violating the right of way of riders.

Even when you think that your riding skills are good enough, never stop learning and educating yourself. Go to an empty parking lot and practice basic safety maneuvers so that you are always ready to perform them when necessary.

Prepare Before You Ride

Both your bike and you should be in the best possible condition for riding before you put your helmet on and ride away. For you, this means that you have slept well and that you are not tired. Moreover, never ride if you are not sober, no matter how confident you feel.

Before riding, make sure that your bike is functioning properly. Check tire pressure, oil levels, gas, lights and signals, and so on. If everything seems right, only then you start your ride.

When they were first invented, cars were not very complicated. Of course, they were thought of as sci-fi technology but they were actually quite simple. Today, cars are becoming more and more complicated as more and more high-tech parts are put inside.

Even so, some things never change, so there is no excuse not to know the basic things about the parts of your vehicle. This will save you a lot of money from visiting mechanics and allow you to take better care and understand the machine you drive a lot better.

Save Money on Mechanics

If you know absolutely nothing about the vehicle you drive, even the tiniest thing that needs to be done on it will seem like rocket science to you. You would need to take the car to a mechanic for something that would have taken you minutes or half an hour to do. These simple interventions are usually not cheap, so you might end up paying a hundred dollars for something that you could have easily done yourself.

Take Better Care of Your Vehicle

By knowing the parts of the vehicle you drive, you will understand better how they need to work. This will allow you to notice when something is off and to take the necessary actions to fix it. You can read a lot about the basic parts of your car online and quickly pick up the basics. This knowledge will allow you to know when the oil needs replacing when the tires need more air, and when you should immediately take the car to the mechanic.

Develop a Passion and Help Others

Learning about car parts has many practical benefits. However, cars are intricate machines and it is very interesting to figure out how each part of the puzzle fits in and adds to the bigger picture. We can often see how cool car mechanics can be in Hollywood movies, and trust us, that is not far from the truth. Remember how your parents see you as a tech God when you simply restart the router? The same thing will happen when you show off your basic car knowledge since people generally know very little about the vehicles they have.

Moreover, look at it from an altruistic viewpoint. You will be able to help a friend in distress and possibly save them hundreds of dollars that they would spend on a mechanic’s bill.

Become a Better Driver

By learning how your vehicle operates, you will definitely be able to use it much more efficiently. Race drivers do not just know how to drive, they also know every single detail of the car they drive. That is a big part of why they are so good on the track – they know how each part works, so they know how to use it and what to expect from it. The same translates to everyday freeway driving and brings many benefits.

Summer is here, so we can relax and drive carefree because there is no snow, ice, or frost on the road. However, these adverse traffic conditions will come sooner than we think, winter always seems to be just around the corner. That’s why it is important to review safety tips about riding in bad weather and always be prepared. We’re sharing our list of the absolutely essential tips that we always follow to stay safe on bad weather days.

Plan Ahead and Drive Slowly

These two tips are complementary and since riding in bad weather usually takes longer than riding under the sun. By planning your trip ahead and leaving your home earlier than you think is necessary, you will not have the urge to drive fast to make up time.

When you’re running late, you will naturally feel more under stress, which will make it more difficult for you to make good, rational decisions. Moreover, check the weather forecast before you leave. If it is possible, postpone the trip if it seems like the weather is going to be a problem.

Hold the Distance

Don’t drive too close to the car in front of you. If there is snow or ice on the road, the distance necessary for a complete stop is much longer than usual. Make enough room in order to have time to brake or perform a safety maneuver if the car in front of you suddenly decelerates. Rule of thumb is to double the usual distance that you hold between you and the car in front.

Maintain Your Vehicle Properly

This rule goes for any driving conditions. Whenever you sit in your car, you should be 100% certain that it is in good working order. However, it is worth emphasizing it when we’re talking about driving in bad weather.

You should check your oil level and your tire pressure more frequently in winter. Make sure your wipers work well and that all of your lights are functioning. If there is frost on your windshield or your mirrors, make sure to clean them before beginning your trip.

Use Low Beams in Fog

No matter if you’re driving at night or during the day, turn on your lights in fog. Make sure to turn on low beams because your visibility will be much higher. Other drivers will be able to see you much more easily as well and have time to avoid you in case it’s necessary.

Finally, listen to the radio to hear the latest weather updates and stop if you feel that it is necessary. It is better to lose a little bit of time than get yourself in trouble.