You may feel intimidated if you are considering taking your first steps into the world of motorcycling because there is a lot of knowledge to take in and mistakes will occur, but these are not the be-all and end-all of your experience.
Here, we look at some of the most common mistakes made by newbie motorcyclists and how you can avoid them. After all, no one wants to need to call the motorcycle accident lawyers in their first few weeks or months of being free on the roads!
Not keeping up with basic maintenance tasks
When you first start riding a motorcycle, you will also learn the basics of motorcycle maintenance. If you don’t, you may expect to make frequent and costly trips to your local motorbike technician.
Maintaining your bike in proper working order makes it safer for you to ride on. It will also help to increase the longevity of your motorcycle. When you are out cruising, you can rely on a bike that has been properly maintained. The result of failing to properly maintain your bike is that you will be always concerned that something will go wrong.
It is a good idea to have your motorcycle inspected on a regular basis. Examine the tires, the motorcycle chain, and the fluid levels in the motorcycle before riding.
Letting your fuel levels drop too low
Some older models of motorbikes – and it is highly likely that if you are a younger and new rider you may well be riding older models – do not come with a fuel gauge. Because of this, it is conceivable and shockingly easy, to run out of fuel while riding a motorcycle. This can be dangerous if you are on a busy highway or in the middle of nowhere.
You will have to keep track of your gasoline level if you do not have a fuel gauge. Once you begin riding, you will have a better understanding of how far your bike can travel before it is necessary to refuel.
Reset the odometer after filling it up with gas. The next time you stop for gas, write down or make a mental note of the distance you have traveled. This will give you an idea of how far you can ride on a single tank of gas before stopping at a gas station.
Overconfidence when overtaking
Overtakes in fast lanes are responsible for many accidents involving motorcyclists. One of the attractions of riding a bike is the ability to save time by avoiding traffic bottlenecks. Try not to go too fast – but make sure you have enough speed to get around any vehicles in front – try to see if you can see the eyes of the motorist in front in their rearview mirrors to check that they have seen you and use your signals. Above all else, check your own mirrors and blind spot before pulling any moves and if you are not entirely sure it is safe and clear, don’t do it.
