Basic riding habits
Build habits around mirror checks, turn signals, looking to the sides, and braking readiness so basic controls do not consume attention when traffic becomes complex.
Signaling should become automatic
Signal before turning, making a U-turn, or changing lanes, even in an empty parking area, a practice area, or where no one is around. This helps make signaling a habit sooner.
Cancel the signal afterward
Many motorcycles do not have self-canceling turn signals. After turning or changing lanes, briefly check the indicator and cancel the signal so others do not think you are about to turn again.
A mirror check and a head check
Before moving sideways, check your mirror and briefly turn your head to check the blind spot. Do this even when you are sure nobody is beside you.
Look ahead again after checking
Keep checks of your mirrors, blind spots, and side traffic brief. Before changing lanes, turning, accelerating, or starting to move, look at the road ahead again and make sure your path is clear. Do not continue a maneuver while looking in a mirror or to the side for a long time.
Look around again after the maneuver
Check who is now behind you, whether anyone is changing lanes after you, and whether you have enough following distance and space to the sides.
When the situation is unclear, slow down first
You do not necessarily need to brake hard: first lose excess speed and give yourself more time. Brake more gently on wet asphalt, sand, ice, or at a large lean angle, using only as much braking as the available grip allows.
Two fingers on the front brake
You cannot always identify a hazard in advance. Where possible, keep two fingers on the front brake lever so you can apply it immediately when needed. If that grip does not let you brake confidently on your motorcycle, use one that gives you the necessary force and control.
Do not delay braking
Practice emergency braking so that, once you notice a hazard, you immediately begin building brake pressure smoothly. The aim is to remove an unnecessary pause before your first brake application.
Practice emergency braking separately
During practice, feel the front suspension compress, the deceleration increase as you apply the lever, and ABS intervene if fitted. On a motorcycle with a manual clutch, practice pulling the clutch lever fully in almost simultaneously with the start of braking. These actions should be familiar before you need them on the road.
Be ready to brake before a hazard area
Before an intersection, side entrance, pedestrians, or a dense queue, reduce speed and cover the brake with your fingers in advance. Do not leave yourself searching for the lever at the last moment.
Always look to the sides at an intersection
Even at a green light, briefly look to the sides for a vehicle or person that could appear: an ambulance, police vehicle, a vehicle whose driver has not stopped, a bicycle, or a scooter. This check should become automatic.
Watch behind you after stopping
Keep glancing in the mirror until the car behind has stopped. Do this whether you are stopped in a normal lane or between lanes.
Look for an escape route early
While everything is calm, identify where you could move if conditions changed suddenly. For example, the car ahead brakes and you stop in time, but the driver behind cannot. At that point, it is better to know in advance where to move: left, right, or into a clear space between lanes.
Do not hang on the handlebars
Your arms are for control, not for supporting your body weight. A death grip transfers body movements to the bars and interferes with the motorcycle's ability to damp small oscillations.
Support yourself with your legs and torso
Lean slightly forward under acceleration and grip the motorcycle with your knees. Under braking, support yourself with your legs and torso, moving slightly rearward if necessary. Keep your elbows bent and avoid gripping the bars tightly.
On bumps
Hold the motorcycle with your legs and keep your grip relaxed. Do not try to force every handlebar movement to stop: rigid arms transfer the jolts to the bars even more strongly.
Pay particular attention to your hands
- during hard acceleration or when rolling off the throttle
- under braking
- while avoiding an obstacle
- on a poor road surface
- in a gust of crosswind
- if the handlebars start oscillating