As the weather starts warming up, many motorcycle aficionados are pulling the covers off their bikes and heading out for some pre-spring rides. With this in mind, we want to give riders, both the experienced and those that may be firing up a bike for the first time in the coming months, a few tips to stay safe as they hit the open road.
Plan Your Route Carefully
Must-Have Motorcycle Gear
Helmets aren’t fun. They heat up. They can be heavy. And they look a little less than cool.
They will also save your life. Most motorcycle deaths and disabilities are caused by head injuries, which should encourage anyone to wear a helmet. By getting on a motorcycle, you’re already 16 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries in an accident than someone in a car, so it's incredibly important to minimize risk as much as you can. Also, it may be more convenient or “cooler” to ride without a helmet, but really, it's a needless risk. Even the Hell’s Angels tend to wear helmets.
The other thing to consider is proper coverage to prevent road rash. It’s no secret that laying a bike down and getting exposed skin scraped along the asphalt can cause some serious damage, but wearing full padding or riding leathers can lead to heat-exhaustion and dehydration. It's important to not only select something that’s heavy-duty enough to afford you some protection in the event of a crash. We recommend a heavy-duty long sleeve shirt, jeans, and boots at minimum. Of course, modern motorcycle gear tends to be well ventilated, so you can also look there. You should also make sure you have at least one pair of gloves, as well as goggles or impact-rated glasses if you have an open-faced helmet.
Keep Up on Motorcycle Maintenance
One of the most important things you can do to keep yourself safe on a motorcycle is to keep your bike well maintained, and in good shape. Some things to look out for regularly are:
● Oil Changes
● Tire Wear
● Fluid Levels
● Rust
● Steering Bearings
● Clutch Cable
● Brakes
● Spark Plugs
● Shocks (particularly rear shocks)
● Idle Speed
It’s important to become familiar enough with your particular motorcycle that you can recognize when something isn’t right. If something feels, or more often sounds wrong, there’s no shame in asking a more knowledgeable friend or more experienced rider for their opinion. There are also numerous forums and other online hangouts that can point you in the right direction when it comes to fixing that squeaky bearing, or chasing down that mysterious rattle.
You should also consult the manual that came with your bike, or find a copy online if you bought second-hand, and make sure you’re replacing, changing, and otherwise maintaining things according to factory recommendations. And remember, especially as you get into high-mileage ranges, you’re not likely to cause any harm if you change the oil too often, but letting maintenance lapse can quickly become an expensive, or even deadly mistake.
Keep Emergency and Repair Supplies Close
Keeping a supply of emergency materials on hand can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a potentially dangerous situation. Whether you’re riding by yourself or in a group, you should always have a cell phone, CB radio, or other communication device to call for help if something should go wrong. You should also carry basic motorcycle gear such as a bottle of water, any medications you need (particularly something like insulin that needs to be taken regularly), and a basic first-aid kit. We also recommend keeping a few roadside emergency tools on your bike, such as LED road flares, a flashlight, and a basic toolkit. You’ll also want something like Fix-a-Flat to repair a puncture and get you back on the road. Finally, a small fire extinguisher is never a bad idea, and can keep a bad day from becoming much, much worse.
Insurance is just as important as a helmet or first aid kit. Contact Allstate today for the most comprehensive motorcycle insurance coverage on the market.
