Road Safety on a Motorcycle Road Trip
>> Jun 6, 2012
Any road trip requires a certain degree of
preparation, proper mechanical maintenance and a good understanding of road
safety. This is especially true on a motorcycle because of the increased
vulnerability you can face from road accidents. When on a motorbike you are not
protected by air-bags and you most definitely shouldn't be using a mobile phone
to avoid accidents.
There are, however, ways to make your trip
safer and more secure. You can install hands free phone options for your
motorcycle such as helmet speakers. This can also help you
keep in touch with other members of a group if you plan on travelling with
others.
Read this also : How to avoid common motorcycle accidents
Pre-Trip Maintenance
Having your motorcycle properly maintained
should be a priority at all times but it is best to have a check up before your
trip. If you are familiar enough with your bike and its safety, you could
probably service your bike yourself. However, if you only know how to check the
oil then make sure you send it off to a proper mechanic.
The most important things to have checked
will revolve around your safety more than the smooth running of your bike. Make
sure that the brakes are all working well and, even more important, have the
tyres looked at as well. A standard service should be sufficient prior to short
road trips though a full service is recommended if you will be riding a long
way.
Ongoing Safety Checks
Checking your bike along your trip will be
important to avoid accidents or break downs. Whenever you stop to fill up on
fuel make sure you have a tyre check and a quick look at the overall state of
your bike. It goes without saying that if you are experiencing problems while
riding be sure to stop and check out the issue before it gets any worse.
Staying in Touch
Staying in touch on a road trip is very
important for your safety. You will have to make sure friends or family know
where you are going and where you are at any given time. Luckily this is very
easy to do with modern mobile phone systems and even mobile internet.
If you are travelling with other
motorcyclists then you should also look into getting a motorcycle intercom.
This will not only assist in your communications while riding but it can also
be a huge help if anyone is in trouble. You can also advise each other if you
spot something wrong with another person's bike.
Avoiding Fatigue
Avoiding fatigue on a motorcycle is just as
important as avoiding fatigue while driving your car. It is even harder on a
motorcycle, as riding is simply a lot more physical than driving. You will also
have less time to react from a lapse in concentration than you would in a car.
Make sure that you plan your motorcycle
trip well and allow for as many rest stops as possible. It is a great idea to
mark out some interesting landmarks along the way to stop at so that you are
not just wasting time on your rest stops. Just the act of getting off the bike
for a bit can be the difference between an amazing motorcycle road trip and a
terrible accident. Be safe and enjoy your next motorcycle road trip!
