What should you not do while riding a motorcycle?

Riding a motorcycle is an amazing hobby. Some would even call it a passion. Not only does it serve as one of the most efficient forms of personal mobility, motorcycling also makes for an excellent release from the stresses of daily life. On top of this, riding in a group opens doors to new friendships and valuable connections that could come in handy in the future. 

That being said, getting on a motorcycle isn’t all peaches and cream. There are a few things to consider before swinging a leg over your two-wheeled steed, such as gear, maintenance, and a whole plethora of other things. We’ve covered all of these extensively in our other articles. This time around, let’s talk about a few things you should definitely not do if you plan on going for a ride, or if you find yourself on the road aboard your motorcycle. 

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Become overwhelmed by your surroundings

Riding a motorcycle is one of the most involved activities out there. Literally all four of your limbs have an important role to play in operating your two-wheeled stallion. The fact that you’re exposed to the elements with nothing but your riding gear protecting you from all the harsh elements on the road, becoming overwhelmed, especially in heavy traffic situations can be all too easy. 

When riding your motorcycle, it’s important to stay focused and alert. However, it can be detrimental if you become overly fixated at the things around you, causing you to enter a state of panic. Whenever you ride your motorcycle, be sure to stay calm, catch your breath, acknowledge the things around you, and of course, enjoy the ride. 

Disobey traffic rules and regulations

Contrary to the belief of all the kamote riders out there, motorcycles are not exempted from traffic rules and regulations. Yeah, that pedestrian crossing? No, that isn’t a quick and easy u-turn slot for you to skip having to wait at a stoplight. Whenever you ride your motorcycle, it’s important to obey traffic rules and respect your fellow motorists. 

Not only does obeying traffic rules and regulations keep you and those around you safe, it also gives motorcycle riders a better reputation—something which is very much needed, especially given the rise in popularity of affordable, easy-to-own motorbikes. 

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Ride when you are physically and mentally exhausted

As mentioned above, riding a motorcycle, especially a high-performance big bike, is one of the most physically involved activities out there. Similar to playing a sport, riding a motorcycle involves quite a bit of physical exertion, and just as much mental focus. That said, it’s important to consider your physical and mental condition before swinging a leg over your bike. 

Did you have a hard day at work, and are you mentally exhausted? Or are you physically tired from not getting enough sleep last night? It may be best to reconsider going on that ride, as even a one-second lapse in concentration can lead to disaster. 

Succumb to road rage

When on a motorcycle, it can be all to easy to succumb to road rage, especially when inattentive drivers fail to notice you and your motorcycle. That’s just the way it is, unfortunately, as motorcycles occupy a much smaller space than cars. Because of this, the tendency for the human eye to glance past a motorcycle on the road is much greater than that of a car or SUV. 

While there’s no excuse for inattention behind the wheel, as a motorcyclist, it’s your responsibility to adapt to the situation—play the cards you’re dealt, so to speak. That said, succumbing to road rage ends well for nobody. Staying cool, however, pays dividends both in terms of safety and the overall enjoyment of your journey. 

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Ride in a heightened emotional state

Last but not least, it’s highly recommended that you ride your motorcycle with a positive mindset. Hopping on your motorcycle after a long stressful day can be quite the release, and is indeed a good way of destressing. However, it’s important to leave your stresses behind, either at work or at home, and devote 100-percent of your attention to piloting your motorcycle. 

Riding your motorcycle while you’re angry, sad, or very agitated could result in these emotions spilling over to your riding style. As you’re probably aware, riding with your ego instead of your logic can, and most often ends in disaster. That being said, be sure to keep a level head, and focus on riding everything you hop aboard your beloved motorbike. 

Harley-Davidson of Fort Wayne is your Indiana motorcycle dealer and we want to help you stay safe on the highway however we can. To that end, we’ve drawn up this list of taboos that you won’t want to break when riding your motorcycle — that is, if you want to remain injury-free and keep your bike out of the shop.

1. Overloading Your Bike

Motorcycles aren’t really made to transport cargo; that’s what trucks and trailers are for. You may feel that you can get away with loading up the back of your bike with a lot of items, provided you strap them all down, but you’re going to seriously unbalance your motorcycle, limit your visibility and reduce your handling. All of this will make you more likely to get into an accident. Keep your cargo to a minimum and use proper storage compartments like saddlebags to stash it safely.

2. Riding on Bad Tires

When you notice that your tires are starting to skid and not grip the road as well, that’s a sign that you need to promptly repair or replace them. It is not a sign that you should just keep riding until it becomes impossible or you suffer from a blowout. Some riders might be complacent and decide that balding tires just aren’t that big a deal, but bad tires are extremely dangerous, especially when the weather isn’t good.

Do yourself and your bike a favor and keep an eye on your tire pressure and condition. Check the treads often and when you notice anything that needs fixing or any bald patches, get those tires off your bike! New tires might be costly, but so is a trip to the hospital or the repair shop.

3. Rushing Corners

You know you need to be patient when riding, but sometimes people take corners fast because they don’t want to slow down. However, you’re more likely to end up colliding with oncoming traffic or sliding out if you rush a corner because of the angle at which you have to tilt the bike. Slowing down in advance of the turn and ensuring that your speed remains constant while looking around the bend for traffic is the best way to take a corner safely.

4. Wearing Shaded Visors at Night

Shaded visors are generally worn by riders during the day to prevent the glare of sunlight from distracting them or blinding them temporarily. Riders might wear a shaded visor because they just like the look or want to mask their identity, too. You might think that a shaded visor will help to minimize the light from oncoming vehicles at night. 

However, riding while wearing a shaded visor at night is a recipe for disaster because visibility will be too severely reduced and it’s easy to skid on debris or not see a pedestrian when you’re wearing a shaded visor.

5. Assuming That Other Motorists Can See You

Many, many motorcyclists assume that they are much more visible on the road than they actually are. Assuming that drivers can see you is a very bad mistake to make, because drivers may be distracted or they may simply fail to see you if you’re not wearing bright colors or you don’t have lights on. Even if it’s broad daylight, it’s easy to be missed on a motorcycle. Riding defensively will help to keep you safe.

6. Weaving Through Traffic

Because of the smaller size of a motorcycle, it can fit into narrow spaces, such as the gaps between cars and trucks on the road. Many unscrupulous riders try to take advantage of this in heavy traffic by weaving in and out between vehicles. This is not only rude to those drivers, but it’s dangerous, because a car may suddenly move or try to change lanes and you’ll be hit. Do not ride on the shoulder of the road, either.

7. Wearing Insufficient Gear

People don’t like wearing safety gear, but wearing the right gear is the only way to keep yourself safe on the highway. A helmet is the most crucial piece of safety gear for a rider to wear, but protective thick clothing made from leather and denim is also necessary to protect the skin in the event of a slide-out or collision. Gloves and boots are also needed to protect hands and feet. Riders who try to go without these items are going to end up severely injured in an accident.

We hope this guide helps you to avoid some of the worst practices when riding your motorcycle. When you’re in the market for a new bike, visit our website to see the stock of new and used motorcycles for sale at our Fort Wayne, IN, location. Harley-Davidson of Fort Wayne proudly serves the cities of Auburn and Kendallville, IN.