During spring, your desire to get on the road and feel some wind in your face is overpowering. However, before you hit the road, you should slow down a bit and think about getting ready for the new riding season. Here are four safety tips to bear in mind.
1. Get Your Motorcycle Tuned Up
Your bike has been parked for months and needs to be prepped for the new season. Your wheels need air and should be inspected for cracks and leaks. Make sure your battery has a full charge. Check the lights, fluids, cables, belts and brakes. If you're new to motorcycling, take your machine to a good bike mechanic for a tune up.
2. Get Your Riding Skills Tuned Up
Several months of not riding means that your skills are rusty. Take it easy on your first few rides to reacquaint yourself with your bike, the roads and the traffic. It might not hurt to take a motorcycle training course to get those reflexes and skills well honed.
3. Beware of Motorists in the Spring
What makes motorists different in the spring? The long winter season of driving on roads without motorcycles means their motorcycle awareness is nearly nonexistent. Keep your headlights on, wear highly visible clothing and be extra defensive on the road.
4. Beware of Spring Road Conditions
After several months of winter, the roads will have large accumulations of sand, salt and debris left over from plowing and winter road treatments. This debris will be on road sides, intersections and on corners. You will have to allow more distance for braking because of increased tire slip from the sand and salt. For the same reason, you should take corners at a slower speed. Other road hazards include frost heaves, potholes, pavement cracks and chunks of loose tar. Remember that water puddles make these hazards more difficult to see.
One other preparation for the new season is to make sure your motorcycle insurance coverage provides enough protection. If you haven't reviewed your policy in a while, call your insurance agent today.
Are you covered? Call Low Rate Insurance Agency at (817) 635-0375 for more information