Learning to ride a motorcycle takes practice and a lot of patience. It’s much different than driving a car and comes with a few extra safety precautions as well. Before you hop on your motorcycle and hit the road, there are a few motorcycling tips you should know about.

Once you know all the best motorcycling tips for beginners, you can then begin to feel more comfortable on your bike and eventually become a natural at riding! Not sure where to even begin?

In this guide below, you’ll learn several helpful motorcycle tips to get you started. Continue reading to find out more.

Become Comfortable First

Before you take your motorcycle out on a busy highway or on main roads, you should become comfortable riding first. Not only should you become comfortable riding, but you should become comfortable handling the bike in all different ways.

Do you know how to excel with ease, stop with ease, and make sharp turns as well? You can practice riding on empty parking lots. This will give you plenty of space to practice different riding techniques without the worry of other drivers on the road.

Be sure to practice riding on the parking lot in the rain, snow, and all other weather conditions as well. You should also take motorcycle safety classes. Complete a search for one in your area and sign up for it before riding on the roads.

You’ll learn lots of safety and riding tips in this class.

Wear Your Gear Every Time

You’ve most likely seen riders here and there no wearing the proper safety gear. You’ve also most likely seen riders wearing regular clothing or shorts while riding as well. This is something you want to avoid each time you ride.

The risk you take to ride without the proper gear isn’t worth it. Your body’s more exposed while on a motorcycle than while driving inside a vehicle. If you were to be in an accident or if you were to crash for any reason, head injuries are high-risk and your skin can suffer from road rash easily as well.

No matter where you’re going, how short the ride is, or what time of day you’re riding, always wear all your safety gear. This includes your helmet, glasses, gloves, leather jacket, jeans, and boots.

Look Beyond the Vehicle in Front of You

When riding a motorcycle, it’s essential you look beyond the vehicle in front of you. You need to know what’s up ahead. Look further down the road and know what’s coming.

You should also take note of the roads themselves. What are your escape routes in case something were to happen? If a car were to swerve into your lane, where can you direct your motorcycle to escape the situation and remain safe?

Look for road shoulders, bike lanes, and other ways to avoid accidents.

Ride to the Sides of the Lanes

You never want to ride directly in the middle of your line either. When riding down the middle, you won’t be able to see further down the road as advised above. It also places you in a bad predicament if the car behind you were to stop too late.

If a car were to stop too late and you’re in the middle of the lane, then you could be pinned between two cars. If you ride to the side of the lane, then you’ll be pushed ahead rather than pinned.

Ride on either the left or right lanes as well. Try to avoid any middle lanes unless you’re using it to switch lanes. This way, traffic is only to one side of you.

Purchase a Full-Coverage Insurance Policy

Once you have your permit, it’s time to start shopping for good motorcycle insurance. Shop around and get a few quotes from several different companies to ensure you get the best deal. You’ll also want to purchase a policy with full coverage.

There are several different insurance policies you can purchase and different add ons as well. Take your time to find the best insurance policy that’ll meet all your needs. If an accident were to happen, you want insurance to cover the damages to your bike and the other person’s vehicle’s damages as well if it’s your fault.

In some situations, you might find you need a lawyer. Having a good motorcycle accident lawyer by your side will come in handy as well. Do your research before an accident happens and have a great lawyer picked out in case you ever need to contact one.

Know Your Hand Signals

Motorcyclists use certain hand signals when riding to let other drivers know what their next move will be. This helps prevent accidents. You won’t always need to use your hand signals when riding, but they can come in handy.

Some signals let drivers know which way you’re turning or which lane you’re switching into. Other signals let drivers know when you’re slowing down or coming to a stop. Although you have your blinkers and brake lights, it doesn’t hurt to use hand signals as an extra boost in your communication.

Drive Defensively

When riding your motorcycle, always drive defensively. You could be the best rider in town, but you can only control yourself when on the road. You have no control over the other drivers and whether they’re paying attention or night.

You should drive with the thought that every driver’s distracted and that no one can see you. In many cases, drivers can’t see you, so you need to ride with this in mind.

Keep These Motorcycling Tips in Mind During Your Next Ride

When it’s time to hop on your bike again, be sure to remember these helpful motorcycling tips! Use the advice given here in this guide to become more comfortable riding your bike and taking the journey to become a professional.

For other general topics, be sure to come back on a regular basis!