Stay Safe

STAY SAFE Safe riding is all about good skills on the bike. Here’s what you need to know for every situation

Good riding starts long before you sling a leg over your motorcycle or pull on your helmet. From the first moment you contemplate getting on the bike, you need the right mindset to stay safe and enjoy every moment of the journey, even if it’s the daily commute to work.

The right attitude means you will be bright, alert and ready to adapt to any situation as it unfolds. This means a bit of planning ahead, from checking your bike is in tip-top conditioning to having the right riding kit for the weather. Know your route and where you can fill up with fuel or have a break if it’s a longer ride. PRACTISE EVERYDAY SKILLS

Just because you do the same ride every day, it doesn’t mean you can’t improve your riding. If anything, regular rides are a chance to brush up on essential skills as you already know the route ahead. Take the opportunity to be sure you make every lifesaver check, you perfectly position the bike for maximum visibility, and look further up the road to predict what hazards might lie in wait so you’ve already got a riding plan in place. This can be anything from covering the brakes or slowing down if you think there’s a potential hazard ahead, all the way to stopping or changing route if the road is blocked.

ROADS SCHOLAR

A biker needs to be able to read the road in an instant and know where to place the bike and how much brake, throttle or steering can be applied. This comes with experience, but you can start learning from the moment you get on the bike. Treat every ride as a school day and think about how the road and weather affect you. You’ll soon develop Jedi-like knowledge to make your riding smooth and safe.

“MAKE EVERY LIFESAVER CHECK, POSITION THE BIKE FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY, AND LOOK UP THE ROAD TO PREDICT HAZARDS“

COUNTRY JOY

Rural roads are some of the most thrilling for bikers, but they also present many of the biggest challenges. Variable road surfaces, tightening bends, inattentive drivers, and changing speed limits all combine to make the countryside very challenging. This also makes it very rewarding to ride well on rural roads, which is where advanced, or predictive, riding is key. Take nothing for granted and constantly assess the road and conditions.

Use road position to make yourself as visible as possible to all other road users, and be prepared to slow as you approach junctions, hidden driveways, and villages. Single-vehicle collisions are most common on rural roads, so adjust your speed and braking to suit. ➩ firstcar.co.uk 29

URBAN COOL

Keeping a cool head is vital to safe riding and smooth progress in the city. A motorcycle is the perfect way to get through congested streets, so long as you plan and adapt all the time.

Filtering (overtaking queuing traffic) is one of the great perks of riding a motorcycle, but only ever pass when you know there’s a safe gap to overtake and another to pull into. Never filter where the space between traffic lanes is tight, and go no more than 5-10mph quicker than the queuing traffic.

The Shiny Side Up campaign points out one of the major causes of biker crashes is a vehicle emerging through traffic to turn right or go straight over. Even at lower city speeds, this can cause serious injury to a motorcyclist.

Ride like the tortoise rather than the hare. Smooth, progressive riding will get you there just as quickly as aiming for every gap.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE VANISHING POINT

The vanishing point, or limit point, is where the two sides of the road in a bend meet at the furthest extent of your vision. If this intersection seems to be coming towards you, the corner is tightening. If it is moving further away, the bend is opening up and you can apply more throttle.

Using the vanishing point is a brilliantly simple and effective means to judge your speed, gear, braking and road position. For a right-hand bend, moving to the left of the lane will give you better vision and earlier warning of any hazards.

SEEN SETTING

Being seen and being able to see on a bike are two very different but interlinked elements. Give other road users every chance to see you by wearing high-visibility riding kit. Position the bike where it can be spotted as early as possible, which is also where you will have the best view ahead. Slow down if necessary to give others time to see you, such as when you’re approaching junctions. Make eye contact with other road users.

Always position the bike to give yourself the best forward vision. If you’re coming up to a left-hand bend, get over to the right of the lane – early detection is always better than heavy braking. Give yourself more space behind larger vehicles, such as trucks and buses, so others have time to see you.

THE RIGHT SPEED

The right speed in the right situation is always good. Most bikes are blessed with strong acceleration, which you can use to ride away from potential danger, such as traffic lights as they turn green or pulling out of junctions.

Always make sure you can stop within the limit of your vision. If you can’t, you need to adjust your speed.

SHINY SIDE UP The Shiny Side Up road safety partnership has been working to make the roads safer in the East Midlands for more than 20 years. The partnership has lots of useful advice, facts and resources that can help you become a safer rider wherever you live. shinysideup.co.uk

“POSITION THE BIKE WHERE IT CAN BE SPOTTED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS ALSO WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST VIEW AHEAD“

TWO’S COMPANY

Riding with a pillion lets others enjoy motorcycling. Remember to adjust your riding to give a passenger the best experience, so smooth acceleration, braking and cornering are vital. Also make sure your bike is set up to deal with the additional weight, plus any luggage you might carry.