Motorcycle Safety Tips: Ensuring a Smooth Ride

By Aghabegian & Associates on June 16, 2021

Taking that motorcycle out for a spin can be an exhilarating experience. Whether you are a newbie to the bike or a motorcycle veteran, summer weather and clear skies make for an ideal riding experience. There are, however, important safety tips to remember while out on the road. These tips can help you avoid injury or even worse, as motorcycle riding can be dangerous no matter who is operating the vehicle.

By adhering to these tips, you can ensure a smooth and fun ride under the summer sky, whether you have a destination in mind or are just out for the joy of riding.

Motorcycle Safety Tips

Obeying traffic laws, grabbing the right gear, and fully educating yourself on how to operate your motorcycle are of utmost importance when it comes to motorcycle safety. Remember to:

• Wear a helmet! It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Too many people, however, fail to wear the most essential piece of gear for motorcycle safety. Blows to the head can lead to devastating personal injury, lifelong disabilities, and even wrongful death. Before you take that motorcycle out for a ride, find a DOT-approved helmet that fits just right.
• Protective clothing. While cars enclose and protect you with seatbelts and metal frames, motorcycles leave you completely exposed. You can be thrown off your bike, which can result in road rash, head trauma, fractured bones, and other types of injuries. To protect yourself, invest in heavy clothing, even if it is warm out. In fact, certain types of clothing are designed with the motorcycle rider in mind and built with cooling materials and other forms of ventilation. Leather jackets, thick boots, gloves, and other similar clothing should be worn while out on the open road.
• Be a diligent rider. Just because you can see an entire car does not mean that the driver can also see you. Did you know that nearly two-thirds of vehicle accidents involving motorcycles happen when a driver violates a biker’s right of way? Make sure you are visible. Keep your headlights on at all times, use your signal far in advance when you plan to make a turn, and stay out of drivers’ blind spots. Most importantly, be alert and aware of any surrounding vehicles. It could just save your life.
• Educate yourself. Even if you have experience with cars, bicycles, or other types of vehicles, motorcycles are their very own type of machinery. In fact, one must obtain a motorcycle license before hitting the streets in California. Riders should also take motorcycle classes, even after they’ve gotten their M licenses, to make sure they are up to date on techniques and safety.
• Don’t drink and drive. You shouldn’t have any alcohol or drugs in your system before going out on your bike – even the prescription kind. Not riding while intoxicated is not only required for safety, it is also the law. Operating a motorcycle requires full control of your senses and strong levels of alertness, meaning that alcohol and riding do not mix.

Maintain Your Motorcycle

Whether you just made your first purchase or own a decades-old hog, proper maintenance is an essential part of motorcycle ownership and safety.

Be sure to make regular checks on the following:

• Tires. Getting a flat out on the road can cause a biker to lose control of his motorcycle. Examine your tires and be on the lookout for any visible signs of wear and tear. Make sure the tread is still deep enough to hold, and replace tires rather than take a chance.
• Signals, headlights, and taillights. These lights keep you visible and indicate turns to other drivers. Keep these in good shape, and replace burnt-out lights immediately.
• Engine. Get tune-ups every year or so to make sure the engine is in good shape. Look out for gas or oil leaks, which you do not want to discover while out on the road.
• Coolant and hydraulic fluids. Ensure that the levels of hydraulic and coolant fluids are full on a weekly basis.

We hope this guide will help keep you safe all year long. But we also know that even if you adhere to all of these tips, you may still get into an accident due to the negligence of another driver. Our team of Glendale motorcycle attorneys and personal injury attorneys at Aghabegian & Associates, PC, can negotiate on your behalf for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (818) 507-4311 for a free consultation.