Top 10 Essential Bike Riding Tips for Beginners

Motorcycling is  inherently dangerous; more so, when you aren’t careful enough or are distracted. However, that shouldn’t make it stressful. In fact, when done properly, riding a motorcycle can be a stress-buster. Here are top 10 bike riding tips for beginners, that will help you better enjoy motorcycling:

Look Where You Want To Go

We can’t emphasise this enough. Your vision is the key to good riding. Look as far as you can, and if you are turning, look in the direction you want to go. This will help you ride safer and better.

Hold The Bike With Your Legs

To have better control on your bike, grip the fuel tank with your knees, and lock your ankles on the heel-plates if your bike has them. As soon as you do this, you will feel the weight of the bike disappear from your shoulders, back and wrist. This goes a long way in reducing fatigue, and helps you steer the bike effortlessly. You will need to do this voluntarily for some time before it becomes second nature.

Keep Some Flex In Your Elbows

Don’t keep your hands and shoulders rigid while holding the handlebar. If need be, lean forward a bit so that you have a slight bend in your elbows. Not only will this help you completely turn the handlebar, it will also stop the impact of road bumps from transferring to your shoulders and body – another way to reduce fatigue.

Keep 2 Fingers On Front Brake And Clutch Levers

When you keep your fingers over the levers, you reduce your reaction times, especially when riding in crowded areas or where you expect to frequently brake/change gears. This can help you slow down or stop quicker than if you didn’t cover your levers. Again, you’ll need to practice this till you start doing it naturally.

Avoid Using Helmet Bluetooth Systems

This is at least til the basics become second nature, and you have a decent enough riding experience. Listening to music while riding is distracting, and you don’t want that. Focus on riding, and the environment around you. This will keep you alert and safe. Talking on call while riding is a strict no-no even for experienced riders. 

Clean Your Helmet Visor Regularly

This is in relation to the very first point. A clean visor will give you a clear view of the road up ahead. Dust and grime on the visor is common when riding, but start your ride with a clean visor. An unclean visor can be dangerous, especially at night since it can distort light and impair vision.

Give Your Bike A Thorough Check Weekly

This is very simple. Every weekend, give your bike a walkaround. Check if all the lights are ok, check the tyres – air pressure, punctures, and tread depth, the brake pads, and the chain slack and lubrication. Check the engine area for signs of oil leaks. This can help you notice problems that can be resolved before you get stranded on the road. 

Read The Bike’s Manual

The bike’s manual is your bible. It will help you understand your bike properly, the maintenance schedule, things to check periodically, and even how to troubleshoot simple problems. Reading a manual is quite underrated, and can massively improve your riding experience. 

All The Gear, All The Time

While it may sound too tedious, you never know when something can go wrong, so it’s always better to save your skin. It can sound like a chore at first, but when you get used to riding gear, it becomes your second skin, quite literally. Remember, sweating is much better than bleeding.

Ride Within Your Comfort Levels

Ride at speeds you feel comfortable at. When you start to feel uncomfortable, it's a sign from your brain that it can’t process data fast enough, and you need to slow down. Take a break if need be. If you are riding in a group that’s riding faster than you, let them know. Most sensible riders won’t mind riding behind you. If they don’t, you can always break away and ride at your own pace, or head back home. 

Only you are responsible for your safety, and nothing beats coming back home from a ride feeling happy and relaxed. That can only happen when you aren’t stressed while riding. All these tips will not only make you a better rider in the long run, but will also keep you safe on the road.