Are you new to the motorcyclist world? If that’s the case, then you’re going to love the fun you can have with this vehicle.

It’s incredibly freeing and feels more like a thrill ride than being behind the wheel of a car. However, you also need to be prepared for the potential dangers and mistakes here. You don’t want to slip up and end up with an injury that could have been avoided.

Learning From Hollywood

Motorcycles have always been a big deal in Hollywood. Arnold Schwarzenegger made the Harley iconic in Terminator 2 and Tom Cruise has completed some truly insane stunts in the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise. These are just two examples, there are many, many more. However, just like everything in Hollywood, what is shown on screen just isn’t realistic. You should not learn how to ride based on what you see in Hollywood films. This may sound obvious but it can be tempting to try and emulate what you see on screen. Particularly, when you hear that someone like Cruise completes their own stunts.

Watch a backstage video though and you’ll find that doing your own stunts actually means being attached to a rig. That’s no slight against Cruise and other Hollywood actors or indeed the stunt men and women who work on these films. It’s still dangerous and you do have to be quite brave here. However, it’s not the same as being in a real road environment. It’s remarkably different and a far more controlled setting.

It’s for this reason that you shouldn’t try and replicate what you see. A classic example would be turning the bike by leaning so far over that your knee is nearly scraping the side of the road. Now, it’s true, this looks undeniably cool on film, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. You’ll have less control over the bike and there’s more of a chance that you slip off. Again, this is where Hollywood gets it wrong. When Ethan Hunt swerves and crashes he gets his leg torn up and is seen walking two minutes later. If you lose control at high speed there’s a very strong chance you might lose your leg.

Fashion Over Safety

This is another lesson that you might have picked up from Hollywood. But it’s also possible that you worry about how you look on your bike. It’s the whole jeans over leather riding gear question. It’s the ‘let your hair flow free or wear a helmet’ conundrum. For us, there’s really only one right answer. Wear the right riding gear and if you do fall off your bike, you’re not going to have to worry about you tearing up your leg. If you don’t it can get cut to shreds in a collision. Similarly, if you wear a helmet, you can avoid a potential neck or brain injury. You could come off your bike and not have to worry about the deadly ramifications that could be apparent if you’re not wearing the right gear.

The other thing to be aware of is that the full riding gear actually can look great. You can get custom made suits that look fantastic and the same goes for driving equipment. So, if you are keen to make a killer impression, it might be worth exploring this possibility. You’ll probably be amazed just how great you can look when you’re wearing the right level of protection.

Staying Still

It’s a common misconception that motorcycles should be ridden in the same way that you would drive a car. This just isn’t the case. A classic example would definitely be a question of whether you should stay still or keep moving. This is the case when you’re in congestion or heavy traffic. Now, you might think it’s best to stay still. But actually, experts agree that riders are more at risk of staying still on their bike on a busy road. Instead, what you should do is slowly but surely move forward.

The issue here is that you’re going to get a lot of looks and glares from drivers. There are also going to be a few that will move to try and block you in. Be patient because you are in the right here and if an accident does happen, they will usually be at fault. There are many lawyers helping victims of motorcycle wrecks who were injured when a driver tried to stop them from passing their car in traffic. If you have encountered this issue or been a victim of this type of action, it’s important to get the support and compensation deserved.

Be aware that in gridlocked traffic, you do need to be careful about drivers potentially opening their doors and getting out. It will be up to you to watch out for this issue, but if an accident happens, they will typically be liable.

Terrible Conditions

You need to make sure that you are being realistic about when it is safe to ride your motorcycle. It can be tempting to ride it all the time, but it’s always going to be more dangerous in wet conditions. In torrential rain, you are more at risk of a car hitting you or losing control of your bike. As such, if the weather has taken a turn for the worst, then it might be best to keep your motorcycle in the garage. Wait for things to clear up before you take it out for a spin.

Trusting Other Drivers

Finally, it’s common to hear drivers talk about how wreckless motorcyclists are. The reality is that drivers are often more of a threat on the road. The classic danger to watch out for would be a driver not checking their blind spot. You just can’t trust them to do this. So, when you are overtaking be sure to give them plenty of room. Remember, there’s a crucial couple of moments where to them it will be like you don’t exist. This is when an accident can and often does happen. Treat every driver with caution and you will have a far greater chance of avoiding an accident.