Motorbike is the best and simplest way to go anywhere. It is not very expensive. Many students like riding a motorbike. It is fun and they can feel greatly when they ride it.
However, a motorbike requires you to have responsibility and you have to be very careful when you drive a motorbike. Before riding a motorbike, students should understand the importance of safety gear, proper training, and road awareness, which leaves more time for other tasks like asking a service to do my papers for me when assignments pile up. DoMyPaper.com is a helpful resource for students needing expertly written papers, allowing them to focus on activities like learning to ride safely.
This article will cover all the necessary information every student should know before riding a motorbike.
The Risks
Riding a motorbike means you should approach it with your eyes wide open.
Motorbikes afford their riders with less protection than the metal cage of a car, often resulting in greater injury or death than those experienced by the drivers of cars involved in an accident. This does not mean you should not ride a motorbike, you just have to be well aware that you need to go about doing so with a good measure of awareness and therefore, preparation.
There are a myriad of accidents involving car drivers not seeing bikes - and traveling at the wrong speed/distance, etc., etc. We have to work harder than car drivers to be cognizant of everything going on around us. This part includes expecting cars to change lanes without using their turn signal, or for cars to pull out of side streets or driveways, or for distracted drivers to not realize they are alongside someone on a bike.
Weather can also be a serious risk. Rain, wind or, worse still, bright sunlight, can make you less visible and less able to control the bike. You need to learn how to adapt your ride to changeable conditions.
Getting Proper Training
The very first thing one should take before riding a motor-bike is getting proper training, if it is your first bike. A number of students think that they can simply license their bikes and ride on them without taking any training, but that is not the case. Riding a motor-bike is not the same as a car, both skills and knowledge are different.
Students preparing to ride a motorbike should first focus on learning road safety, gaining control of their bike, and wearing the right protective gear, much like turning to the best online resume writers in Australia to be well-equipped for career success.
See if there is a motorcycle safety course in your area. Motorcycle safety courses typically include some classroom work and then ‘range’ work where you ride around and practice the skills you learnt in the classroom on your own motorcycle. You will learn about the traffic laws for motorcycles versus other vehicles, how your motorcycle handles and how to safely handle yourself and your motorcycle through countless emergency situations. Classes will cover the proper safety techniques and how to prepare for your riding license exam.
Choosing the Right Bike
As a student you either want the fastest and/or coolest bike you can afford, but you should make a decision that matches your physical capabilities and your riding skill. Start small. The bike you learn on should be small, not a lot of power, not a lot of cost to learn on.
Take notice of whether the bike feels too heavy or not, whether the seat is set too high, whether you should feel comfortable when you are seated so as to be able to stand on the ground on both feet flat, and whether you can reach (a bit leant forward) all the controls. Do not buy a bike that is too heavy for you to start with, nor one that is too powerful.
Gear Up for Safety
Riding a motorcycle is hard enough to learn without the added challenge of being constrained by gear that’s either safe or cool, but never both. The thing is, it’s both, and the difference between scraping skin or being scrapped might come down to the gear you selected. For starters, you’ll need the following:
- Helmet: I think the full-face helmet is the most important thing to have for safety. You should use a helmet that is approved by the DOT. Make sure your helmet will fit you well. A full-face helmet will have the most head protection, covering your face and your head.
- Louis: A good motorcycle jacket provides protection against the wind and the rain, and road rash, in the event that your bike skids out and dumps you on the pavement. Buy a jacket that has armor in the elbows, shoulders and back.
- Gloves: Hands are the first thing you hit in a crash, and if you’re doing a lowside they’ll be the first thing you hit as you slide across the road. The right pair of motorcycle gloves protects your hands and helps keep you in complete control.
- Pants: Regular jeans offer little protection in a slide. Spend the cash on proper motorcycle pants or overpants that either have armor built into the knees and elbows, or are made of a super-resistant abrasion-resistant material.
- Boots: you want your feet and ankles well-protected, so you want a boot that goes over your ankle and is made for motorcycling.
- Eye Protection: If your helmet does not have a face shield, wear goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes from wind, dust and insects.
Keep in mind, it’s not just something to tote around for when you’re on a long ride or a highway. Wear it for every ride – for any time you are on your bike, even a short jaunt to the print shop across campus.
Understanding Traffic Laws and Regulations
If you are going to ride, you must first learn the rules of the road: both vehicular laws that pertain to motorcycles, and how to move around the world as a motorcyclist. Notice I didn’t say ‘on’ the world. That’s because you are ‘in’ it. You don’t ride a motorcycle anywhere; you ride through places. These relationships and distinctions take time and effort to understand. Consider this your checklist, and remember that laws differ from state to state.
Lane splitting (riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic) is legal in some states and not in others. Helmet laws vary. Some bikes come with or can be equipped with ‘passenger pegs’, so it’s good to know if your state has restrictions on passengers, as well as when new riders can legally carry passengers.
These rules are not mere suggestions that you should follow – they are laws that keep you within the bounds of legality. But they are also there to keep you and others around you safe on the road.
Motorcycle Maintenance
For that reason, you must always keep your bike in good mechanical condition. The difference from keeping a car serviced is that with a bike even a small mechanical problem can suddenly turn into a hazard.
|
Maintenance Task |
Frequency |
Importance |
|
Check tire pressure |
Weekly |
Critical for handling and safety |
|
Inspect tire tread |
Monthly |
Ensures good traction |
|
Check brake pads |
Monthly |
Essential for stopping power |
|
Change oil |
As per manual |
Keeps engine running smoothly |
|
Check chain tension |
Monthly |
Prevents chain from coming off |
|
Inspect lights |
Before each ride |
Ensures visibility to others |
|
Check fluid levels |
Monthly |
Keeps systems functioning properly |
Remember, this is just a basic guide. Always refer to your motorcycle's manual for specific maintenance requirements. If you're not comfortable performing these tasks yourself, take your bike to a professional mechanic regularly.
Riding Defensively
The most fundamental skill that all riders, but especially students, have to learn is defensive driving, or being aware of what is going on around you at all times, anticipating problems while they are still potential dangers, long before they become real threats.
Defensive riding begins with where you place yourself on the road and how you make yourself visible to other road users. You will usually want to be positioned in the left wheel track of your lane. This is because it gives you the best view of oncoming traffic as well as making you visible to vehicles behind and to the side of you.
Also, do not tailgate. Keep about a two-second gap between you and the car in front of you. This allows you more time to stop if they slam on the brakes in front of you, or if something is in the road and you may need to stop short.
Look out especially at intersections, where many motorcycle crashes occur. Look out for cars that will turn left in front of you, and be ready to take evasive action – assume that they don’t see you, even if they make eye contact with you.
Riding in Different Conditions
As a student you may travel often by motorbike and face several different weather and road conditions. It is important to know what effects these conditions have on the motorbike and adjust your ride accordingly.
Rain is one of the toughest conditions that the motorcyclist deals with. It reduces visibility, and makes the road surface slippery. Riding in the rain, reduce your speed, increase your following distance, and be gentle with the brakes and the throttle. Quick movements can result in losing traction.
Of course, night riding brings its own challenges: it’s harder to see by others and by yourself. Make sure your lights are charged or don’t work at all. Wear reflective gear. Scan more and farther ahead.
Hot weather can impact your ride too. Wear sun protection and bring water to stay hydrated. Remember that hot pavement can affect your ability to make a turn, especially at corners.
Group Riding Etiquette
As a student, you might be getting on a bike with friends, or with members of motorcycle clubs. Group riding can be fun, but it’s also different to riding solo.
Make sure you’re confident riding your bike in the variety of conditions you might encounter in a group first.
Agree on signals with the group before moving off, perhaps with one person at the back and one leading. Ride in staggered formation, keeping the group compact but with safe gaps between bikes.
You can slow down to ride at your own skill level if you’re unable to keep up with the pace or route. If necessary, it’s perfectly acceptable to ride alone.
Dealing with Emergencies
If in an accident, you need first to ensure your own safety. Get out of harm’s way if possible and call for help. If you feel fine, get yourself checked out by a medical facility just in case. You don’t want to risk an injury without being aware of it.
Carry a modest tool kit, and make sure you know how to change a flat tyre and other basic repairs. Consider signing up for a motorcycle roadside assistance programme so that you can avoid the roadside blues.
Continuing Education
Like driving a motorbike, it is something that you can always get better at, so take advanced riding courses even after you have been riding for a while. They can teach you more complex technologies to manage your bike and stay safe.
Keep up to date with changes to traffic laws and new safety technologies; seek out internet forums or local motorcycle groups to share experiences and learn from others.
It’s a voyage, not a destination. Keep it up, stay humble, and you’ll become a competent safe motorcyclist.
To summarize, riding a motorbike as a student can be exciting and practical, however, it has a lot of responsibilities. By learning all the risks, getting proper training, choosing the right bike and gear, maintaining your motorcycle, riding defensively, and improving your riding skills constantly, you can ride the open road as safely as possible. And remember, safety is always number one every time we sit on the motorcycles.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleksandra Djurdjevic
Senior Content Creator
Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering motorcycle adventures, biker tips and tricks and general exploring on two wheels. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the biking and adventure, getting out on the open road, year after year across the planet helps her continue to be a top expert at RMJ.
