Advice for New Motorcycle Riders

Buying your first motorcycle is one of the most exciting experiences you’ll have in your lifetime. You’ve just invested in a piece of machinery that can be fully customized and will provide you some of the most adrenaline-filled moments of your life. There’s nothing quite like taking your bike out on an open stretch of road that you have to yourself, and in today’s post, we’ll give you some tips and tricks that you can use as your riding skills develop. When you’re ready to take your bike to the next level, shop RC Components for an amazing selection of custom motorcycle wheels and exhaust pipes that will catch the eyes of everyone who sees your bike!

Steer With Your Eyes

You’re probably accustomed to steering your car using your steering wheel, but steering a motorcycle is actually quite different from a car. Unlike cars, which can be controlled using only your hands, motorcycles will often turn with your gaze. Your body naturally turns along with your head when you observe the cars and scenery around you, so make sure that your gaze is planted on road ahead of your when you’re riding. Of course, you’ll have to check your mirrors and blind spots when turning, but your attention should be pointed ahead in most cases. 

Practice Defensive Driving

Though motorcycles are a blast to ride, we have to face the fact that riding a motorcycle is much riskier than driving in a car. Distracted driving is increasingly common, and you can’t rely on other drivers to see you when you’re riding. When you’re riding with other vehicles around you, make sure to stay out of the blind spots of the drivers on either side of you. Either ride ahead of the cars ahead of you or allow them pass you, but don’t ride alongside them. Give the vehicles ahead of you plenty of room in case you have to stop quickly, and always be on the lookout for obstacles and potholes in the road that will require you to switch lanes.

Know Your Bike’s Fuel Capacity

Many motorcycle models come with fuel gauges, but many models don’t, and this is often a stylistic choice on the part of the manufacturer. It can be tempting to take your bike out for a beautiful country drive, but the last thing you want is to run out of gas and be stuck on the side of the road. Your owner’s manual should be able to provide you with an estimated MPG number, and you can use your bike’s odometer to calculate where your fuel tank is at. It’s better to be safe than sorry if you bike doesn’t have a fuel gauge, so make sure that you’re stopping to gas up frequently if you’re going to be on the road for a while.

We hope that these tips will help new motorcycle owners become seasoned veterans quicker than they anticipated. Shop RC Components online when you’re ready to begin customizing your bike! We carry an unparalleled selection of custom motorcycle wheels, custom exhaust pipes, and so much more!