In the following blog post, we will develop some basic tips for riding your motorcycle safely in different situations and contexts. We will start from the premise that we must be aware at all times of what surrounds us and have our senses finely tuned so that our safety while riding is always guaranteed. And if we talk about senses, the one we must have more attuned than any other is common sense. 

What to Do and What Not to Do While Riding Your Motorcycle 

At IMTBIKE, we believe that the pleasure of riding a motorcycle and the level of fun it can offer would not be the same if we did not enjoy full safety guarantees at the same time. Our motto is that without safety, there is no fun, and for this reason, we have compiled a list of tips that we instill in the riders who take part in our organized motorcycle tours. 

Safe Distance 

The most important thing when driving any type of vehicle is to maintain a sufficient margin with the vehicle in front of us. If we do not consider an adequate safe distance, not only is our integrity threatened, but also that of those around us. Safety brings confidence, and this contributes to enjoyment. Having enough margin to brake safely and avoid impact is essential to enjoy riding. External factors, such as reflex capacity or weather conditions (where precautions must be heightened and we must be much more cautious and conservative), also play a fundamental role in this regard. 

The Enigma of Roundabouts 

One of the most critical moments, and where we must be most alert, is when riding near other vehicles; logically, this is when there are more chances of collision. Junctions, intersections, traffic lights… and roundabouts, especially roundabouts. They were first implemented in Paris in 1907, and in urban and traffic terms, roundabouts have improved traffic flow. However, in terms of regulations, not all drivers are entirely clear on how to handle the situation when dealing with a roundabout. We must know that when entering a roundabout, we must yield to those already circulating in it. Once inside, and despite historical misconceptions, we will stay in the right lane whenever it is free, using the other lanes only to overtake. This way, it will also be easier for us to exit (always using the indicator). However, if we are taking the last exits, it is most advisable to use the inner lane of the roundabout, gradually move to the outer lane while signaling, and always respect the priority of those circulating in the outer lane. 

Overtaking Manual 

One of the most critical moments in riding occurs when overtaking. For this reason, overtaking should only be done if we are completely sure that there is no risk involved.

• Slow Vehicles. On more than one occasion, especially in rural areas, we will encounter vehicles that are excessively slow (tractors, trucks, buses…) and are not easy to overtake because their volume and length hinder visibility. Usually, the drivers of these vehicles are aware of the situation and tend to help with overtaking: when they signal to the right, they are indicating that we have a clear path, that no one is coming from the opposite direction, and that we can overtake. When they signal to the left, it logically means the opposite: that someone is coming and we should stay in our lane. However, despite this valuable information, we must always ensure for ourselves that it is safe to overtake before making the maneuver.
• Signaling. When overtaking, we must signal correctly when we move to the right lane and when we return to our lane. For this, we must use only and exclusively the indicators. These light devices will communicate with other road users in general and with the rest of your companions in particular if you are traveling in a group. No waving your left arm or sticking out your foot to indicate to others that no one is coming, to follow you, or to indicate the opposite, as this can cause confusion and dangerous situations.
• Speed and Throttle. Another commandment regarding overtaking is that we should spend the least amount of time possible in the opposite lane. The process must consist of several essential steps: ensuring that no one is overtaking us, signaling our overtaking properly, using the gear to have the appropriate power, accelerating decisively, merging back into our lane, and leaving some distance with the vehicle we have just overtaken because we are probably not the only ones who have decided to overtake and we must leave space for others. 

• ‘One by One’. If leaving space between the overtaken vehicle and ours is something we must consider, it is even more important to overtake one by one. When riding in a group, we must be doubly aware and cautious, mainly because sometimes, when riding in a group, we become distracted and less alert.

Therefore, we must be aware that overtaking is done individually, and until the vehicle in front of us has completed the maneuver, we should not attempt it ourselves. Besides, if we did not do it this way, we would be contradicting our advice about leaving a minimum safe distance with the vehicle in front of us. 

Prudence and Anticipation 

As we said at the beginning, common sense is something we must always have in ON mode when riding our motorcycle. In certain situations, it is recommended to be cautiously patient and wait for the right moment to carry out certain maneuvers. For example, when we see the traffic light turn amber, we should stop and not rush; just as when our traffic light turns green, we should not take off immediately, because having a green light and others having a red light does not guarantee that everyone will respect and not rush these traffic signals. Common sense will help us anticipate in these situations. To assess possible consequences in moments of unnecessary risk and even, by taking a look around, to consider hypothetical actions of other drivers that could harm our trajectory. 

Efficient Braking on a Motorcycle 

As is obvious, using both brakes reduces braking distance and increases efficiency, but the order is also important. It is usually recommended to start braking gently with the rear brake and then include the front brake so that the motorcycle’s weight is more supported on both wheels and does not shift entirely forward. Ideally, of course, this braking should be done before entering the curve. Keeping the motorcycle straight, adjusting the speed to start the lean safely. On the other hand, the rider’s weight also plays a role; if we try to contain this weight with our knees so that it does not go directly to the handlebars, we will maintain a balanced distribution of the moving masses, keep the motorcycle’s stability, and therefore the wheels’ grip. 

The Importance of the Curve Line 

The line on the road with the motorcycle should start before the curve, opening towards the outside, improving visibility, the turning radius is wider, and the motorcycle’s lean is less. During the line, we approach the inside of the turn, always being especially careful in left-hand curves where we might encounter surprises, as a large vehicle during the turn could slightly invade our lane, leaving us with little room to maneuver and our body leaning inward. Therefore, looking for an intermediate reference in these cases, and once seeing the end of the curve and with traction assured, we start to accelerate smoothly and progressively.