Here it is, it’s happened - you are the owner of a motorcycle. Your dream has practically come true (after all, it’s not enough to just buy it). All that remains is not to be disappointed and close the season intact, unharmed, uncracked! Even experienced ones make mistakes or, in the farce of experience, forget that the danger has not gone away. What mistakes do beginners, and not only them, make?
- Choose the wrong motorcycle and equipment
- Drive faster than you can react to the situation
- Don't imagine the entire traffic situation
- Thinking that everyone sees/hears you and remembers you as a motorcyclist
- Ignore weather and daylight hours
It will be cold. Choosing the right equipment
When getting on a motorcycle, many people forget that the two-wheeled monster does not have climate control. Without calculating your equipment, you can either get cooked from the heat or turn into a frozen block. Not many beginners are able to correctly assess the weather.
So. If it's hot outside, a mesh shirt worn under a light motorcycle jacket will come in handy. Jackets are usually made of natural material and are able to simultaneously retain heat and allow air to pass through, keeping the body cool on a summer day. Men's polo shirts are the best option for summer, preferred by motorcyclists in most countries.
For cold, windy weather, you should get warm gloves with additional liners and replace your demi-season windbreaker with a warm jacket, even if the temperature is plus ten degrees. Once frozen feet will help you remember to wear warm pants. A good choice would be to purchase Fieldsheer motorcycle pants - these clothes optimally retain heat when riding on frosty days.
Throttle is very sensitive
You've probably seen a video on YouTube where a novice motorcyclist clings to the unscrewed roller gas and crashes into some kind of fence, tree or something else. Do you think this only happens to newbies? Oh no. A small engine with a small flywheel responds to throttle input much more strongly than a larger engine.
Lack of experience means that as a newbie you will often find yourself refueling too much. In some situations you may even lose control of the motorcycle. The reality is that throttle control takes practice, so don't get too crazy and know that it's a difficult art.
Use the front brake moderately
A beginner should not overindulge in the front brake when driving at high speed. They can easily overdo it when braking. This rule is skipped when taking a crash course in motorcycle operation. Many people learn this point directly by experience, trying to make a turn by accelerating well and braking with the front wheel. Over time, as you gain experience, you will begin to feel the main front brake much better, but you still need to combine braking with both brakes. Use the rear brake as an additional brake. "supports".
What will help if your motorcycle falls?
By installing plastic fairings, motorcyclists often save their motorcycle frame from damage. It's not common among experienced bikers to admit to stupid mistakes when their bike falls down. But the statistics are stubborn - everyone drops their motorcycles, regardless of experience, and accidents have nothing to do with it.
See also: A real biker's equipment for any weather
If the motorcycle is sports, then repairing pieces of plastic that fly off during a fall, so insignificant at first glance, can have a significant impact on your wallet. Therefore, by installing sliders that will take the brunt of the impact when the motorcycle falls, you can save on repairs and maintain the beautiful appearance of your “iron friend.”
Sliders mounted on the frame will allow beginners to quickly learn the intricacies of riding when learning at low speeds (without fear of killing the paint and frame of the motorcycle) and will protect the base of the motorcycle from damage. The continued use of sliders is also mandatory - some motorcycles have standard holes for mounting protective fasteners.
Don't imagine the entire traffic situation
Firstly, stop looking under the wheel and only straight ahead. Beginners are always scared, but you have to fight it. A motorcyclist is obliged to watch the road even more carefully than a motorist, because you and I do not have a safety cage, a belt will not hold us in the saddle and an airbag will not jump out of the steering wheel.
Secondly, if you don’t have a complete picture of the traffic, then at least you won’t wait for surrounding traffic to change lanes or turn; I’ll say nothing about pedestrians. You may object:
- I can’t know the road maps of the entire city by heart, but what if I find myself in an unfamiliar place?
It is not necessary to know every gateway, it is enough to understand the principle of movement on your site and the approximate plan for the development of events ahead, which can be read from the markings and signs. Beginner motorcyclists sometimes concentrate only on their lane, without even realizing that danger may come from the other side. Or they begin to frantically change lanes when they realize that they are turning from another lane.
And as for other cities... It’s better to look at the map before leaving, at least along the main streets and avenues, so as not to get into a stupid story. And if you know drivers, why not chat with them? Would it really be difficult for your friend to warn you about a dangerous intersection or turn that is easy to miss?
"The feeling of speed while riding a motorcycle"
“What do you need to remember during the opening of the motorcycle season?”
Good tires
It’s not enough to buy good tires - it’s important to change them on time. Many motorcyclists exceed the service life of rubber by three to four times. By driving on bald tires and trying to save money in this way, you can lose much more. And while driving on worn tires is simply dangerous for a car, it is deadly for a motorcyclist.
Michelin Pilot Road 4 is considered the best option for off-season tires; these wheels are quite resistant to aggressive driving and experimentation. Dunlop Q3 is considered a sports tire. It is better to put such tires on the front wheel, and the traditional Pilot Road on the rear. This way you can get optimal grip on the road. According to experts, it's better to lose some grip at the rear of the bike but maintain a solid front. If it's the other way around, you might end up with "Big Trouble in Little China."
Practical lessons.
Some people believe that passing the Category A test makes them an experienced racer. Nothing could be more wrong. This is just the beginning of a long and exciting journey to winning this title. Exercises will help you with this. Find a safe place - a supermarket parking lot, a closed road, a driving school maneuver area. Practice dodging, overcoming obstacles and other simple maneuvers. This will allow you to develop appropriate habits and develop muscle memory. The more time you spend behind the wheel of a motorcycle, the better.
Training model
Before purchasing the main motorcycle, you should purchase a cheap “iron horse” model. Why? Only practice riding a motorcycle will show whether you really need this particular vehicle, whether you are ready to spend hours on city streets, whether it is convenient, etc. In addition, the first bike will become a training model - according to statistics, 93% of the first motorcycles go to the dump after a year of driving. Once you learn how to ride and answer all your questions, you can buy the motorcycle of your dreams.
Insurance
Along with purchasing a motorcycle, it is time to purchase any type of insurance. It would be ideal if the motorcyclist did not require these payments, but, unfortunately, such riders practically do not exist in nature.
See also: How to buy your first motorcycle
At the same time as purchasing insurance, good biker equipment is selected. Optimally selected clothing, a helmet, gloves, elbow and knee pads will not only last a long time, but will also provide protection in case of a fall. It is better to spend once on quality equipment than to buy equipment constantly.
A set of Alpinestars leather gear is a universal motorcycle gear that will last for many years. Moreover, bikers are very attractive in leather jackets from the famous brand.
Get used to higher engine speeds
Motorcycles with a red box at 14,000 rpm are not special in the two-wheeler segment, but many newbies are afraid to ride at higher speeds. It is worth remembering that motorcycle engines are designed in such a way that they can easily withstand heavy loads for long periods of time.
Simply put, if you're not conserving fuel, you don't have to fear high speeds on the highway or expressway. You also have to get used to it and drive a few kilometers to make sure everything is ok.
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Coach's choice
No one likes to admit that they were taught how to ride a motorcycle by a professional trainer. Beginners find it as easy to master a motorcycle as a scooter. This is a misconception that can be very costly.
There's no shame in getting riding lessons from a professional and learning some tricks. All serious bikers have mentors and they are proud of it. In addition, training will help you much faster master both the principle of driving a motorcycle and its maintenance, which, most likely, you will have to do yourself.
Author: Sergey Vasilenkov
How to ride a motorcycle: useful tips
Modern motorcyclists often ask questions regarding the correct way to ride their bike. Some believe that the main thing is safety, others are sure that they are not afraid of accidents, speed and comfort come first.
General provisions about motorcycles
Motorized transport dates back to the distant end of the 19th century. At that time, humanity saw the first motorcycle. Only, in fact, it was not a motorcycle, but an ATV, since it had four wheels instead of the required two. An engine with a power of 1/2 horsepower somehow set the wooden car in motion.
Today, no one can be surprised by the modern variety of two-wheeled vehicles.
There is a certain classification according to the purpose of motorcycles:
It is easy to guess that sports and racing motorcycles are designed for driving in race conditions, competitions, and so on. The same cannot be said about classic bikes. These vehicles are used every day for routine transportation to work, school, recreation and other places.
About how to ride a motorcycle
The choice of riding style on a two-wheeler greatly depends on the driver. Experienced motorcyclists answer questions about how to ride a motorcycle like this: “It depends on the gasket between the handlebars and the seat.” In fact, there cannot be any gasket between the handlebars and the seat of the bike. This name is assigned to inexperienced motorcyclists, newcomers to the biker business.
In order to start driving in the city, you should train quite a lot. As a rule, such training takes place on busy roads in rural or township areas, country roads, forests and fields.
It would seem that driving a small scooter or moped is not at all difficult. And this is true if you have minimal experience riding other two-wheelers. Riding powerful, heavy bikes (for example, Soviet road motorcycles “Ural”, “Dnepr” and others) is a completely different matter.
Features of heavy motorcycles
The curb weight of such a unit exceeds 180 kilograms, which is why it is classified as heavy. The engine capacity is often more than 400 cm3, which indicates significant power of a two- or three-wheeled vehicle.
Every second Soviet biker knew how to ride a Ural or Dnepr motorcycle. These large vehicles were used as a car. Particular attention should be paid to “Ural”. The brainchild of the Irbit motorcycle plant, as a rule, is used with a sidecar. Some Ural models have a so-called “cradle” wheel drive. The driver of this car has the ability to turn off the wheelchair drive.
To ride any other models of heavy motorcycles, it is important for the rider to have sufficient experience in driving such vehicles. If a bike of this size is used without a sidecar, which makes driving even more difficult, the driver must have a good sense of not only balance, but also anticipate possible braking difficulties and difficult road conditions.
About driving in bad weather conditions
A typical non-standard traffic situation for a motorcyclist is precipitation. Since few people ride motorcycles in winter, let's consider the change in weather during the warm season.
“How to ride a motorcycle in the rain?” – a seemingly trivial question, the answer to which is quite simple. In fact, there are a number of nuances and difficulties that may arise during such a ride.
It is no wonder that simple clothes will quickly get wet, as a result of which the rider can easily freeze. To prevent this, you should use special motorcycle clothing. This could be trousers and a jacket or overalls, boots, gloves and, of course, a helmet.
Driving in such conditions should under no circumstances be harsh or fast. Extreme caution will help the rider maintain control of his bike. The speed mode you should choose is medium rather than fast. Stop at traffic lights or intersections taking into account the doubling of the braking distance. That is, you need to start braking in advance, avoid sudden acceleration and strong leaning of the motorcycle when cornering.
Iron hatches, sometimes road markings, spilled lubricants are especially unsafe areas: in rainy times they have poor grip properties with rubber.
Illegal operation of a bike
It’s loudly said, but cases of illegal driving of vehicles, including motorcycles, occur quite often in the country. It is illegal to drive:
- Without a driver's license.
- Without a technical passport for the vehicle.
- In violation of current traffic rules and personal safety.
- Other conditions.
Almost every biker knows how to ride a motorcycle without a license. It is no wonder that the only difference between a driver with and without a license is the presence of the appropriate document. In fact, the level of skill of the “rider” directly depends on the riding experience.
To the question “how to ride a motorcycle without documents” the answer will be: “Ride with minimal violations.” In other words, you should not attract the attention of traffic police officers, namely:
- Be sure to drive the bike in accordance with the rules of the road, and do not forget about the helmet.
- It is not advisable to drive a challenging motorcycle, since compliance with the technical passport of some of the vehicle’s upgrades (if any) may raise doubts among traffic police officers.
- In the city, in traffic police patrol areas, do not drive a motorcycle provocatively.
No license plate
How to ride a motorcycle without license plates, and is it possible to drive a bike without a state license plate? The answer to the question is obvious - this directly contradicts the current traffic rules. Driving a vehicle without a license plate is only permitted if it has recently been lost. Undoubtedly, such motorcycles will definitely attract the attention of traffic police officers.
If the motorcycle is operated far from the city or in an area where traffic control is rare or does not occur at all, riding without license plates is quite possible.
A smart driver who is well acquainted with traffic rules, has legal knowledge, and even better, if directly related to this, will not have any difficulty convincing the law enforcement officer of the authenticity of all documents and the legality of driving.
In turn, a competent inspector has every right to check the information provided. Therefore, driving without license plates is quite dangerous. Punishment for such tricks can be completely different: from a fine to confiscation of a vehicle in especially aggravating circumstances.
Punishment for illegally driving a motorcycle
Russian legislation provides for penalties for driving a vehicle without the appropriate document:
- For driving a vehicle by a driver who does not have a license or documents with him, punishment is provided in the form of a warning or a fine of 500 rubles.
- For driving without a driving license (if the “rider”, in principle, does not have a license) a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 rubles is provided.
Based on the above points, we can conclude that it is not worth getting caught by traffic police with such violations.
In case of arrest, it is much more cost-effective to convince the traffic police officer that the necessary documents were left at home or in the garage, honestly repent and promise that this will not happen again. In this case, an adequate inspector will limit himself to a fine or even let the rider go unpunished. Oddly enough, but this also happens.
How to ride a motorcycle number two
It is believed that being a passenger in a two-wheeler is somewhat safer. This is not just a rumor or someone's opinion. According to statistics, in road accidents, especially with a frontal motorcycle impact, the first number takes the brunt of the impact.
Most often, the passenger of a sports bike is higher than the driver, which can save his life in case of a sudden stop. In other words, the passenger flies over the driver, while the driver takes the full brunt of the impact on his body.
Regarding control, the passenger should not forget, first of all, about his own safety. This, of course, requires appropriate equipment, feet on the footrests, but not on mufflers or in weight, a strong grip on the first person or on the provided handrails.
During sharp acceleration, turning or braking, the second number should carefully repeat the maneuvers of the first, as this will make it possible to control the balance of the car.
You don’t need to read literature or have any special knowledge about how to ride a motorcycle number two. The main thing is that you should not be distracted, jump off or get on the bike while moving (but you probably won’t even have to be reminded about this).
About driving on the highway
Now let's talk about how to ride a motorcycle on the highway, or how to ride safely on the highway. These points are worth examining point by point:
- A novice biker does not need to give in to the temptation to accelerate his bike to the maximum permissible maximum speed on this road section, not to mention the maximum speed of the motorcycle itself.
- Given the road conditions, it is important for even an experienced rider to be extremely careful.
- Under no circumstances should you drive closely behind other road users; you should always keep your distance.
- Perform overtaking and other maneuvers in the prescribed manner, making sure that this does not create an emergency or dangerous situation on the road.
- In case of unforeseen situations involving the motorcycle itself or without it, if possible, stick to the far right lane.
Let's sum it up
A motorcycle is an effective and economical means of transportation in the modern world of crowded roads and time constantly moving forward.
The choice of motorcycle depends on the driver’s preferences regarding style and riding style. The driving experience of the “rider” is of considerable importance. The more experience, the less likely it is to make one or another mistake while driving a motorcycle.
How to ride a motorcycle in the rain, driving on the highway, without license plates and documents, is described in the sections above, based on personal driving experience. A delicate point will also be mentioned. It's like riding a motorcycle without a license. However, it is better not to do this for your own safety and the safety of other road users.
