Tips for Riding in Heavy Traffic

While many motorcycle enthusiasts prefer to ride through the open country or on a deserted road, you’ll eventually find yourself having to venture into traffic on your motorcycle. Whether it’s a short trip through the city or a long ride to Sturgis, an alarming increase in distracted driving has made it more important than ever to stay safe when riding in heavy traffic. In today’s post, we’ll offer you several tips that can help you stay safe when you’re riding in heavy traffic.

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Triple-Check Your Mirrors

That’s right – you should be checking your mirrors not once, not twice, but three times before switching lanes or making turns. Your bike’s mirrors provide you with a way to see if any cars have come alongside you, and checking your mirrors before turning can help you avoid colliding with a car in your blindspot. For this reason, you should always glance over your shoulder before turning as well. You should also ensure that your bike’s mirrors are properly adjusted before you begin riding. Many motorcycle riders adjust their mirrors so they can see as much of the area behind them as possible, but you should be able to clearly see the road behind you as well as the objects in your periphery. 

Be Mindful of Off-Ramps

Off-ramps are one of the most dangerous areas for motorcycle riders, as many drivers entering and exiting the highway aren’t focused solely on the road. It’s never a good idea to pass another driver using the right-hand lane, but remaining in the right-hand lane when cars are coming onto the highway is an easy way to get hit. If you absolutely have to pass someone using the right-hand lane, make sure that you do so away from exits.

Always Have Your Hand on the Brakes

Traffic is dynamic and requires you to be alert at all times. You need to be ready to react to any situations that arise, and a couple of seconds can easily make the difference between life and death. For this reason, you should always keep your hand on the brake lever or foot near the brake pedal. You never know when you’ll have to stop, but being ready for anything will help you maximize your safety on the road. 

Watch the Road

Watching the road for hazards is another one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself safe in heavy traffic. Potholes, oil spills, and debris in the road will create hazardous conditions that you should avoid at all costs. Unexpected objects can often be hidden by the cars ahead of you, so make sure that you leave plenty of room between yourself and the car you’re following. If you haven’t read our previous blogs, be sure to check out some tips that will help you stay safe when riding in the winter.

Wear a Helmet

This tip is last, but it is certainly not the least important. In fact, wearing a helmet whenever you ride is the absolute best way to keep yourself safe on a motorcycle. Motorcycle riding is risky enough on its own, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun! However, your safety should be your top priority whenever you start your bike up, and your helmet should be a non-negotiable element of your riding gear.

We hope that these tips will help you ride with confidence in heavy traffic. RC Components is proud to be your one-stop-shop for custom motorcycle wheels, motorcycle exhausts, and so much more! If you have questions about our products, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly staff!