10 Bad Riding Habits to Avoid
Bad habits. We all have them to some degree or another. There are some that don’t do any major harm, like biting your finger nails (eww, gross), while other bad habits can have major consequences, especially for us as motorcyclists. We’ve assembled a list of ten bad habits that put riders at risk. Making just a few small changes will make you a better, safer rider right away.
Stop Assuming Other Motorists See You
To ride safely is to ride defensively, and the easiest way to do this is to build the mindset that you’re invisible to everyone else on the road. If you assume nobody can see you, it means you have to anticipate that other motorists are going to do unpredictable things, like merge into your lane unexpectedly. Anticipate what everyone around you is likely to do, and be prepared to get out of the way. Is it your fault? Probably not, but in an argument between your bike and an SUV, the odds aren’t in your favor.
Not Maintaining Proper Lane Positioning
Give an inch and they’ll take a mile, or so the expression goes. That’s true on the road, and if a motorist next to you sees you in the middle of the lane instead of riding defensively in the side of the lane, they’re more likely to try to squeeze into your lane, putting you into a tight spot. Or even worse, forcing you off the road or into oncoming traffic. Plus, the middle of the lane is also most susceptible to debris and slippery stuff that drips from cars and trucks like grease and oil that doesn’t get worn away from the parts of the lane where the treads of vehicles typically travel.
Not Using Your Eyes… and Ears
Keep your eyes moving when you ride, and keep your ears open to what’s happening around you. Being vigilant in front of you, to your sides and behind you keeps your mind actively engaged in the ride and should, even subconsciously, keep you planning escape routes if something unexpected happens. Maintaining spatial awareness lets you anticipate what is, and isn’t about to happen around you, helping you avoid trouble. This is especially crucial when approaching intersections. Not blaring tunes in your helmet means being able to hear an approaching emergency vehicle siren, or someone honking to bring attention to something that could save your bacon.
Not Leaving Enough Space
Your motorcycle likely has serious stopping power with really darn, good brakes. The trouble is, many riders don’t utilize their bike’s braking to its fullest potential, fearing a loss of traction when panic braking. Couple that with having only two, fairly small contact patches (versus a car’s four larger ones touching the pavement), and it can be a startling surprise to see just how much space you actually need when you’re riding at speed and traffic ahead comes to an abrupt halt. Keep your eyes moving to watch out for that slowing traffic, but also, leave more space to slow and stop.
Not Wearing All the Gear, All the Time
If you’ve bought the gear, wear it. If you haven’t bought the gear, get it. We’ve all heard the excuses: it’s too hot, it’s too constrictive, you don’t plan on crashing. They’re all lame, and not worth skipping your own safety (let alone anyone who chooses to ride with you on your bike). The fact is, even a minor, low-speed wipeout can turn the asphalt into a cheese grater for your flesh, your head into a cracked melon. Ask someone who’s spent weeks picking gravel out of their skin or endured a skin graft what their thoughts are on wearing proper riding gear. It has likely changed.
Riding Impaired
Thankfully, for most riders, this one’s become a no-brainer, but there are still some who’ll have a few too many brews at the bar or backyard barbecue, then hit the road. But it’s not just alcohol that can dramatically impair your riding, but marijuana, prescription or non-prescription drugs, and even a lack of sleep can dramatically slow a rider’s reaction times and impair their judgement. A split-second delay in reaction time can be the difference between making it to your destination safely or a trip to the hospital, so be at your sharpest when riding.
Putting off Maintenance
It’s easy to forget, but even the most rudimentary maintenance can have a big impact on your bike’s safe operation. Checking the tire pressure (and treads) regularly will help bring a tire problem to your attention before a blow-out at speed. Confirming your lights all work can mean the difference between fellow motorists seeing you or not. A poorly maintained chain that snaps at speed can give you one heck of a scare, so give your bike a regular check-over.
Succumbing to Pack Mentality
Group rides can be one of the best parts of motorcycling since you get to share the fun and passion with others who are enthusiastic about riding too. The trouble is, not everyone rides at the same level or pace, and if you set out with a group who rides much faster or more aggressively than you do, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the pack mentality, pushing you to ride beyond your capability. Don’t be afraid to let others ride ahead.
Using Your Feet Too Much
This one may seem like a noob-only habit, but I’ve seen a few experienced riders who drag their feet, or somehow think their boots are going to stop their bike like Fred Flintstone does his car. Motorcycles are inherently more balanced when underway, and are generally easier to control on the road when your feet are on the pegs when travelling at anything quicker than a stopped state. Don’t drag your feet or walk your bike. You’re just wrecking your boots and throwing off the bike’s balance.
Complacency
Finally, this habit applies to every rider at some point or another. As we ride more and become increasingly comfortable on two wheels, we tend to get comfortable – sometimes too comfortable for our own good. It’s that complacency that lulls us into lazy habits, or makes us take unnecessary risks. It’s also what prompts us to arrogantly believe that we don’t need more riding courses or training. No matter how good you are, or how long you’ve been riding, there’s someone who’s better or more experienced from whom you can learn something. Who knows, it might not only make you safer on two wheels, but help you have more fun too.
Jeff Wilson
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