Safety should always be a major concern especially for motorcycle riders. Thinking about getting on a motorcycle for the first time? Maybe you always had a fantasy where you are riding down the road with the wind in your face? It’s never too late to make that dream come true, but a beginning motorcycle rider should take some precautions and take the time to learn about their new hobby first. Here are some tips for the beginning motorcycle rider, to stay safe and have fun at the same time:

Picking a motorcycle

It’s crucial to select the right motorcycle for your needs and desires. Do you want a motorcycle built for speed or maybe you just want a motorcycle that allows you to cruise down the road at your leisure? Maybe you just want to save money on gas and get from point A to point B quickly? It’s important to decide exactly what you want out of the experience and then research different makes and models for your purposes. It may also be helpful to visit local dealers and ask them for recommendations for bikes.

Lessons

So you’ve driven a car for 30 years, does that mean you can jump on a bike for the first time, instantly know what you’re doing and be a safe motorcyclist? Highly unlikely. If you have never ridden a bike before, it’s essential to take a motorcycle safety course. Taking a course can drastically reduce the chances of having an accident on your bike. It’s certainly worth the time and money to invest in taking a safety course for everyone who may ride your bike. You may also consider getting a book to help you brush up on basic motorcycle safety and riding rules.

Practice

Once you have learned the basics of motorcycle safety, it’s important to practice riding first. Whether in your driveway, down a little used street or alleyway, try to practice steering the bike, leaning, using turn signals, the brakes, using the mirrors, stopping and any other controls. Honk the horn a few times. Sit on the bike a while and get comfortable before turning the key. On your first ride, be cautious as you may be prone to falling. Whether or not you choose to learn motorcycle safety, take a course or learn from a book or instructor, putting some time into getting familiar with your bike and practicing basic procedures is a smart thing to do.

Safety equipment

Choosing the right safety equipment and accessories is also essential. A helmet should be your first priority. A good helmet will be comfortable but still protect your head in an accident. For first time riders, also consider extra padding, including padding for the knees. Goggles are also important, a good pair of goggles are important for glare reduction, protection of your eyes in all weather situations and for protection from flying debris like pebbles, rocks, dirt and bugs. Other accessories should include gloves and a jacket.

There are so many covers out there to choose from. Finding the right cover that suite your needs and fits your bike is one of the biggest challenges, when buying a good quality motorcycle cover. Before choosing your new cover there are several things you will need to consider. What, where, and when will you be using the cover? Based on these questions, we can break down the different features that you will want to consider.

If you are buying a motorcycle cover for road trips, then you will want to consider a number of different features. This style of covers is commonly referred to as “half cover.” First and foremost it should provide UV protection and be made of a high quality waterproof and breathable material. It should also be very easy to pack in your saddle bags. Another important feature is it should miss the hotspots of the motorcycle. The ability to get off your motorcycle and immediately put your cover on will be a great asset. Also consider how it will mount to your bike. If the mounting points of the motorcycle cover provide enough room between the seat and top of the cover you can store your gear on your seat. Half covers are usually manufactured by custom motorcycle cover companies.

Other things to consider when choosing a good quality motorcycle cover are the material it is made of, craftsmanship, and price. When choosing a cover you want to make sure that it is made from non-abrasive non-metallic material. Anything that will scratch or blemish your paint job or chrome should always be avoided. The material of the motorcycle cover should be waterproof and breathable. It should also provide a level of UV protection. This is very important especially on those hot days of summer when getting on a sun beaten seat can be really uncomfortable.

The craftsmanship of the cover can usually be determined by how well the company stands behind their product. Be aware of no refund policies. This can be a red flags with any products. When shopping for a motorcycle cover do a search for the company product online and see if anyone has already reviewed the product. These reviews can definitely save you from a lot of poor buying decisions.

Protecting your motorcycle investment is always an overlooked aspect within the riding community. Having a good quality protective motorcycle cover will not only increase the beautiful color and look of your motorcycle for years to come, but it will also help you have peace of mind that you are protecting your investment.