Here are some basic highway riding tips and advice for motorcyclists – immensely helpful so that you enjoy your ride to the fullest..
Hi everyone. Off late I have been travelling a lot on highways and I have witnessed a lot of accidents right in front of my eyes. So just wanted to share a few riding techniques which I use while I open the throttle of my red beast.
STUFF TO CARRY
First of all, let me put down a list of necessary things that you need to carry along with you or check-up right before hitting the highways.
- Carry all the necessary documents – The DL, Vehicle documents, Insurance papers, emission test certificates, etc.
- Carry enough water along with you and lot of tissues (to wipe the helmet visors and for other purposes.)
- Carry a basic tool kit and a puncture repair kit if you are riding a tubeless tyre bike.
- Keep the emergency contact numbers handy, just in case.
- Check up the bike’s engine oil, brakes, brake oils, tyre pressure and all the electricals, including tail lamps, break lights, indicators along with the headlights.
- Just give a little more attention for carrying a plane visor instead of a tinted one, to get a better road and surrounding detail.
- Make sure you fuel up enough before hitting the next pit.
- Mirrors are as important as your eyes while hitting the highways.
- So you think you are ready for the ride?
Not really..! Here comes the most important thing, Riding Gear. Never ride without a proper riding gear, and make sure you keep yourself warm and are ready to accept that unexpected shower as well. Well so once you do all of this you are almost ready for the most exciting part of our life – Ride a BIKE!
Highway Riding TIPS
Here are few tips which I follow and suggest you all to consider…
- Maintain enough distance between other vehicles, specially the lord of the roads – the Trucks, Lorries and Buses. Respect them and never mess with them. Trust me, messing up with them is as good as digging your own grave.
- Look deep before overtaking. Look what is ahead of the vehicle which you are overtaking and intimate the rider or driver before doing it. Never overtake during a corner! NEVER!
- Don’t forget to use your indicators while shifting lanes. Use it whenever necessary and don’t forget to switch them off once the act is complete.
- Find shelters..! Well yeah, u read it right. Find shelters behind a car or a heavier vehicle than yours who match you’re riding speed and stay behind them (Maintain enough distance so that you don’t bump into his rear, when he brakes!).
- Keep an eye on the tail lamps of the vehicle you may be following. You will realize it earlier where there are road humps, pot holes or any other kind of a hazard. And also make sure, the bigger brother of yours, whose shelter you are seeking, has a tail lamp which works perfectly (and that he follows basic riding/driving rules).
- While riding in night, accept the fact your head lights are not as efficient as your bike’s engine and be extra cautious. Again, try and follow a car or an SUV, which matches your speed.
- Do not be afraid to use high beams when necessary to have the complete view of the road during night times. But ensure you are not blinding the oncoming traffic. This holds true specially on 2-lane highways.
- Sometimes your horn may not be audible enough for the vehicles travelling ahead of you. Use the head light flickering to indicate your next move. Never do it, without intimating them.
- On single lane highways, you may be blinded by the head lamps of the oncoming vehicles. Mark the corners of the road in your mind, indicate them to shift to low beam. Have a clear mind set of the track you are going to take and look there – ON THE MARKINGS ON THE ROAD, and not into the headlight of the vehicle approaching you.
- Never ever overtake when there is a gap in the divider. A friend of mine tried it and was too late to realise, he had to get back to his track and bumped into the divider. (Luckily no damage to the rider, but a slight hurt to his ride came as a lesson for him).
- Never attack the corners at high speeds. Sharing my personal experience, I was doing a high speed run of a Pulsar 220 with a pillion and had to attack the corner at 145 kmph when I was sure, there were no vehicles ahead of me on the road. But right at the half way, saw an old, drunk pedestrian crossing the road. I had almost zero time to react or even brake. Thank God, I managed to pull it behind him and passed by.
- When you enter village areas, slow down. You have no idea when does that little kid decide to jump in search of his ball!
- Always look into your mirrors before shifting lanes.
- When you realise there is a road bump and you are too late to brake, do not panic. Stay relaxed, stand up a bit (to let your legs absorb the shock), and keep the handle bars straight.
- Try not to enter into any kind of brawl with anyone on the road. Don’t panic, stay calm and stay cool. That’s the best approach in any situation.
- Never push your machine to its maximum. Ride it at a speed that gives you the best comfort. It won’t strain you much (and your motorcycle) and helps to ride longer.
So, there we have it – quite a comprehensive check-list and to-do list for everyone to follow. Do let me know if you have something more to add.
Here are a few guidelines for those who ride in groups..
- Assign yourself the position you ride in.
- Have experienced riders as leaders and sweepers.
- Stay in the group and follow the decided design and ride in the same.
- Never over take the leader and don’t fall behind the sweeper.
- Leaders use riding signs and lead the group well.
Hand Signals for use in Trips
Next Read: Monsoon Riding: 9 Basic Tips To Keep in Mind During Rains
– Sharat Aryan
