Motorcycle Riding Safety Tips and Tricks

As boys grow older, their toys tend to get more expensive. Moreover, when the specific toy happens to be a motorbike, it is a bigger, meaner and more powerful machine than the bicycle many began their two-wheel escapades on. Motor biking culture in the UAE is growing steadily year on year and it is imperative that riders know their machines well and ride safe by not just keeping themselves safe but also others on the road.

Riding a superbike, or any bike for that matter, is a responsibility and it is important to keep oneself safe out there. Here are few basics on safe riding, dos, and don’ts as well as proper riding gear, while you are out there enjoying your motorbike around the city.

Riding Gear

The most important investment one makes apart from buying a motorbike is investing in proper riding gear. The bare minimum recommended gear for riding a motorcycle safely are:

• Helmet – There are couple of options in the market for one to pick from and can broadly be categorized into Half Face Helmets, Full Face Helmets and Flip Helmets. Research the Safety Rating of the helmet you are interested in and go for a snug fit (it shouldn’t shake on your head while riding).
• Jackets – There are leather jackets / half leather & half textile ones / just textile ones available in the market from various brands. The most important is to get a jacket with a CE Level 2 Certified Back Protector with arm and shoulder guards.
• Gloves – There are leather gloves / textile gloves available in the market from various brands. Get the reinforced ones with knuckle protectors. Some gloves even come with finger felt to operate smart phones.
• Riding Pants – There are Leather / Textile / Jeans options available in the market from various companies. The ones with reinforced Kevlar provides projection against the engine heat as well as protection in case of a slide. Here too, a CE Level 2 Certified knee protector is a must have.
• Riding Suits – One Piece or Two Piece, Leather or Textile with all CE Level 2 protectors installed is another option – possibly for those who will take on the weekend rides to the mountains.

Note: Most riding gear available in the market comes with reflective strips, in case the ones you pick do not , then it’s important to get reflective strips inserted in prominent places on the helmet and jackets so that motorists can spot you easily at night.

Safe Riding – Safe riding is not just about personal safety but also of one’s fellow riders. The worst thing to ever happen on a weekend ride is a mishap to any one of the fellow group’s riders.

Key to safe riding –

1. Wear proper riding gear – The bare minimum of a Helmet, Jacket, Gloves and Riding Boots should always be worn while riding, irrespective of how short a ride one might be taking.
   
2. Inspect the Bike before Riding – Before sitting on the saddle, it is important to do a visual inspection of the motorbike.
   • Tire - Check the tire pressure by pressing the tire with your hand (if the bike doesn’t come fitted with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
   • Chain - Chain Lubrication (A well lubricated and clean chain is key to a healthy bike) and Chain Play (play should be 10 ~ 14 mm from idle position)
   • Indicators & Lights – Turn on the lights and indicators to check they are working perfectly before heading out.
   • Adjusting the Mirrors – Adjust to make sure that the mirrors are where they should be and that you have minimized your blind spots.
3. Starting the Bike & Merging on the Road – Let the bike idle for a few minutes especially if doing a cold start (starting a bike with a cold engine) and do not rev up till the engine settles down. This ensures proper oil flow into the system. So, once you are set on the bike, look around before merging on the road.
4. Drive within the speed limits – One might be tempted to speed on a motorbike (especially a sports bike), but always stay within the speed limit.
   
5. Maintain Safe Distance & Ride in formation – While riding in a group, always try and maintain the staggered pattern of riding, this ensures that riders behind have enough time to stop in case of an emergency.
6. Don’t Ride in the Blind Spots – This is the most critical aspect and one should be careful of this while on the road. Larger vehicles have bigger blind spots and so it is the responsibility of the rider to ensure they do not ride in a vehicle’s blind spot.
7. Stay Hydrated – Take breaks and drink plenty of water to ensure your muscles do not spasm / cramp. This can be extremely dangerous while riding.

One may be a solo rider (AKA THE LONE WOLF) or a group rider, and these tips may just be a refresher to the seasoned riders or for the novice ones, but all are to ensure you remain safe out there. So, remember, ride safe and make the most of the cooler months until they last.