10 safety tips that you should follow when riding a motorcycle

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Pure freedom – that’s what makes motorcycling so appealing and unique. A carefree day on the bike brings fun and adventure. So that you can enjoy your tours to the full and reach your destination unscathed, we have a few tips for you here.

Motorcycling – our passion

Bright sunshine, magnificent Alpine landscapes pass you by and the deserted road lies before you. At the same time, you can feel the power of your bike beneath you and enjoy the feeling of freedom. There is no better way to describe the unique feeling of riding a motorcycle.

But this passion also comes with an increased risk. Unlike when driving a car, bikers are not protected by their vehicle – you are the crumple zone. A small slip on a wet road or slippery leaves can quickly lead to a fall. It is therefore important to minimize the risk as much as possible. The following safety tips can help you to minimize your risk. In addition, protection can help in an emergency.

Bright sunshine, magnificent Alpine landscapes and a deserted road

Safe on the road: tips and rules of conduct when riding a motorcycle

The journey is the reward – this saying is perfect for motorcycling. You can increase your safety on the road with the following tips:

Protective clothing

What is essential for safe motorcycling? Exactly, the right protective clothing. This includes:

  • Helmet – preferably flip-up or full-face helmets in accordance with ECE standard 22/05
  • Well-fitting jacket, gloves, trousers and boots that are abrasion-resistant and have well-fitting protectors
  • Back protector, ideally as a vest or turtle
  • Airbag vests, these can offer additional protection

Physical and mental fitness

Especially on long tours, it is important to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. Listen to your body and take plenty of breaks to catch your breath. To help you plan your breaks, the POIs on Kurviger provide you with lots of tips on where to stop, such as biker hangouts and viewpoints. This way you can always keep your concentration at its maximum. Sports such as jogging or swimming are suitable for training the physical endurance required for motorcycling. Targeted strength and coordination training can also help to strengthen your neck, upper arms, shoulders and legs.

Motorcycle check

You shouldn’t neglect your motorcycle either: A regular check of brakes, lights, batteries and tires is an absolute must to ensure your safety on the road. Before and after every tour, you should therefore give your bike an extra dose of care and attention in order to notice any defects early on.

Correct braking

You also need to learn how to brake properly on a motorcycle. Most new motorcycles have ABS – an anti-lock braking system. This prevents the wheels from locking in the event of emergency braking and significantly reduces the risk of falling.

Motorcycle safety training is a good way to practise braking correctly and learn about the enormous forces at work here. There are different types of driving safety training, from beginners and those returning to the sport to advanced training courses such as cornering training.

Tips for riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic

The traffic situation can quickly become confusing, especially on busy roads and junctions. This is why you need to pay particular attention and think ahead.

Stay visible

Make sure you are visible to other road users. High-contrast clothing with reflectors is helpful here. You should also always position your bike so that you are visible to drivers in the rear-view mirror and do not disappear into the blind spot. The rule of thumb here is: if you can’t see the car’s mirror, then the driver can’t see you either. Before junctions, make sure you are clearly visible to turning traffic.

Sufficient distance

Keep a sufficient distance from other vehicles. This will give you more time to react in a dicey situation and allow you to take better advantage of evasive action. Do not position yourself in the middle behind a vehicle, but rather to the side, so that you can more easily avoid the vehicle in front of you in an emergency.

Keep an overview

Always keep an overview of the situation. Anticipatory and defensive driving are the be-all and end-all here. Always keep your eyes on the road ahead of you. This allows you to keep an eye on other road users and monitor the condition of the road at the same time.

Tips for motorcycle tours in alpine landscapes

Driving in the mountains has a very special charm: beautiful landscapes, bends and hairpin bends. But here, too, there are a few tips to follow in order to reach your destination safely.

Motorcycling in the Alps is a special pleasure

Cornering on mountain roads

Movement follows your gaze – this is why it is particularly important to keep your eyes on the road when cornering on mountain roads. On blind bends in particular, it is important to enter the bends slowly and only increase your speed when you can see the exit of the bend. In the Alps, there are regularly buses on the road that protrude into the oncoming lane on tight bends. Here you need to pay particular attention to the line and allow enough space for oncoming traffic.

Route planning

As already mentioned, sufficient stamina is required for longer tours. Especially when you are out and about in the mountains, you should adapt your daily workload to your individual stamina level. In addition to the usual breaks, don’t forget to plan in any stops to enjoy the view. In the Alps, there can always be unplanned road closures that sometimes cause long detours, so it’s better to plan a little more breathing space.

Loaded machine

Another peculiarity of riding on mountain roads is the different handling of a loaded machine. You should take into account the delayed reaction of your machine, especially when taking evasive action or braking on inclines.

Conclusion

Safe handling of a motorcycle needs to be learned, so it is advisable to regularly work on your own riding safety. For regular exercises, we recommend the exercise book“Motorcycle training every day“, for example. It contains many exercises that can be integrated into your daily motorcycle routine and help you to ride even more safely.

We wish you a safe and accident-free motorcycle season and always a hand’s width of asphalt under your tires.