Getting to Grips: Fine-Tuning Your Motorcycle Skills

Driving is a skill that we all need, but if you want to go one step further, riding a motorcycle is something that’s very similar with a lot of fundamental differences. If you want to improve your riding skills, whether you are a novice or a veteran, here are some of the best ways to do it. 

Practice Your Braking

It’s the most important part of your motorcycle skills, but also has carry over into your car driving. It’s so important to stop suddenly, yet safely. And the best way for you to do this is to go and find an empty space, and work your way up from a low speed. When you are riding a bike, you need to squeeze the front brake lever until you feel the front tire almost locking up, but you’ve got to be careful not to flip the bike. And this is why you should make sure you are wearing the right motocross apparel, such as helmets and elbow pads. Once you can confidently achieve a solid braking force at a low speed, increase the speed by 5 miles until it’s a fully embedded skill. 

Lane Splitting 

It’s a very difficult thing to get right, primarily because other motorists don’t give a hoot about other people on vehicles with two wheels! By getting better at this, it’s going to save you time, while also making your riding much safer. The best way to do this is to find a red light location where cars will back up into two lanes or more. When you are on approach to a changing red, make your way to the front of the queue, but calculate the time the red light is going for. When it feels natural, you can work your way up to more complex scenarios, but just make sure that you pick slow roads because the consequences could be dire. 

Carrying a Passenger

It’s something we don’t think about when we are driving a car, but it’s something that we can all benefit from on a motorcycle. Whether you are going for a quick ride through town or heading on a long trip, carrying a passenger is a fine art. Just make sure you start slow and simple. Ensure they have the same protective gear- take them just around the corner, and gradually build your way up. Make sure to go slow, because the dynamics of the bike will change because of that extra weight. 

Navigating Corners

Navigating corners on a bike is one of the biggest challenges, but also the biggest reward. The best way to do this is to try your local riding track. The first time out there should be about you getting a good idea of the corner and getting through it safely. It’s important to build up your confidence and check your body position. 

When we are starting to drive, we are not necessarily considering the important lessons we should carry over into our driving experience. It’s important to have a wide variety of knowledge when it comes to driving vehicles, which is why if you want to improve your experience behind the wheel, get yourself a motorcycle too.