These golden rules have been put together by expert motorcyclists with many years of safe riding. If you follow them, they’ll help keep you safer on the road.
A motorcycle tends to go where you’re looking, so it’s important to look ahead to where you want to ride. This technique can help you ride more safely.
For example, if you’re riding around a corner, don’t look towards the edge of the road or at lamp posts, but look up the road where you want to go. As long as the tyres don’t lose grip, that’s where you’ll go.
The further away you are from a potential danger, the safer you are. You’ll have more time to react to avoid a crash. For example:
Always be thinking What if …?
If in doubt, always give these hazards more space and slow down so you can stop more quickly if necessary.
Professional motorcycle riders know that going into a corner fast doesn’t increase their overall speed. In fact, it’s more likely to decrease it.
Fast entry complicates cornering and can even cause riders to crash. Any corner may hold a patch of recently dropped oil or unexpected dangers, so it’s important to travel at a slow enough speed.
Don’t accelerate out of a corner until you can see the exit is clear.
A motorcycle is very unforgiving if ridden poorly or carelessly. The better you can ride, the more enjoyable a motorcycle is.
Learn all you can about riding and practise the skills until they become automatic. Continuing to practise will make you a better rider.
