Motorcycle Riding – Branded Biker Tips And Advice Given

Pre Ride Checks

Use the acronym B E S T C O P S. Brakes, Electrics, Steering, Tyres, Chain, Oil, Petrol, and Suspension.  After the winter lay off, a good inspection and all round check will ensure you get the best from your machine, remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Prevent winter corrosion

The wet British climate, road salt and winter weather can cause havoc on the finish of your motorcycle.  Wurth Dry Chain Lube sprayed over the top of nuts/bolts etc. Can prevent water affecting their finish.                                                                                    Julian:  Freelance

First ride after the winter weather?

The sun is out, the roads are dry and salt free, it’s time for the first blast of the season.  The bike may be rust free, but what about you?  It’s been 5 or 6 months since your last ride, take your time, ease yourself in, and build up slowly.  Don’t become an early season statistic. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Slow speed riding and control

Your last U turn was on your riding test, and you are never doing another one as long as you live, right?  Slow speed riding and good clutch control is an art and if you don’t practice, it won’t get any better!  Try riding at a walking pace using clutch control; maybe even try ‘dragging’ the rear brake.  It will get better and practice makes perfect!                                    Trev: Ace Moto Training

MOT & Tax your bike in the same month

You get insurance and tax reminders but you don’t get a reminder for the MOT.  MOT your bike in the same month as either the insurance or tax, as a reminder for you; this may mean the difference between riding legally and illegally.                                                         Julian:  Freelance

Carry spare cables

An old despatch rider’s trick of the trade was to ‘zip-tie’ spare cables to the existing ones (i.e. throttle, clutch).  If a cable was to fail you could attach the new one on the side of the road – hopefully                           Julian:  Freelance

Tyres

On your bike it’s the only thing in contact with the road.  Don’t buy cheap, don’t trust ‘used’ buy recognised brands, watch the tread depth, 1mm is the minimum depth on a motorcycle.  Keep an eye on the pressure and replace in good time.  Trying to squeeze an extra 100 miles from a bald tyre is not only illegal, it could end in tears and an insurance claim!  Trev: Ace Moto Training

T.W.I

Means Tyre Wear Indicator and is written with an arrow on the side wall of your tyre.  Follow the arrow to the treaded part of the tyre and a ‘bar’ of rubber should be across the tread.  When this bar is level with your tread it is under the legal limit – Change it.                 Julian:  Freelance

Relax

To get the best out of your bike, you must ‘be at one’ with the machine (remember star wars?) feel the force, I mean, feel the machine, relax, and get an idea what the bike is doing, arms locked solid will only add to your fear. Remember, you are riding the bike, it’s not riding you, you are the master! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Blind Spots

Remember your CBT and pre test training?  All vehicles have blind spots as well as the occasional blind driver!  Do not ride in blind spots; position the bike in order to be seen by the vehicle in front.  Solid vehicles such as lorries and vans have no interior rear view mirrors, make sure you can see their wing mirrors or they can’t see you.                     Trev: Ace Moto Training

Controls

New bike?  First ride in a while?  Over the years, motorcycle controls have become standardised (apart from Aprilias and BMWs).  Familiarise yourself with the controls on your machine.  Not a lot of good if you cancel your indicators whilst trying to hit the horn in an emergency situation.  If fitted, know where the reserve fuel tap is and how it works.   Trev: Ace Moto Training

Emergency braking

Your last emergency stop was your riding test and you haven’t needed to use the skill since, right?  Find a safe and well surfaced section of road, practice braking from 30, 40 maybe even 50mph, get a feel for emergency braking, know your limits, your bikes limits, when you have the opportunity, practice your braking.  You can always get better at it.           Trev: Ace Moto Training

Track Days

As a newly qualified rider, or even a veteran, tracks are one of the safest places to ride, run off areas, qualified instructors, no white vans, drivers on mobiles or diesel spills and everybody going the same way!  Acceleration, braking, cornering and track reading skills will all translate to the road and remember…  No points or fines for speeding!  Book one soon, learn and enjoy! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Separation Distance

‘Only a fool breaks the two second rule’. Keep your distance from other vehicles; your bike has no metal shell, airbags or seatbelts to keep you safe. Any contact with other vehicles could result in a paint job for them and a plaster job for you! Don’t tailgate, give yourself space and time to ride in, ‘2 seconds apart is smart’. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Observations

‘I use my mirrors a lot more now I ride a bike’…. A phrase we hear a lot whilst training new riders. Take your newly learnt skills into your car driving and become a better driver, but don’t bring your bad habits from the car when riding your bike. Remember, you have to think for yourself and every other driver when riding your machine. Just be better. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Overtaking

Look, Assess, Decide! Be assertive, be decisive, make sure you are in the right gear for the job, accelerate quickly and smoothly, leave a good space between you and the other vehicle, conduct a left shoulder check before returning to your original lane. Don’t tailgate prior to overtaking; remember…you have the power! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Night Riding

It’s dark for 50% of the time so it’s going to happen!  This is where you find out how good your headlight is, how your perception of things change in the dark, how important the 2 second rule is and finally, how clear your visor is.  A scratched or damaged visor will badly affect your view in the dark, if you suffer from a ‘starburst’ effect from other headlights when night riding…change it! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Carrying a Pillion

Maybe not something you do a lot but when you do, it’s different!
Remember A B C, acceleration should be smoother and slower, braking will be affected by the extra weight, do it sooner, not sharper! And cornering will feel different with the extra weight on the back, no knee down! Keep your pillion happy, we might get another biker!
Trev: Ace Moto Training

Advice to a New Pillion

Make sure they are wearing the good motorcycle clothing and their helmet is securely fastened. They should be comfortable on the seat holding on to you or the grab rails in the bike with their feet on the foot pegs, at all times. Ensure they lean ‘with the bike’ when cornering and sit still when doing slow speeds, a bad pillion will equal a bad ride! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Pillion Adjustments

If carrying a pillion for long periods, such as touring, you may want to consider adjusting the following.  1.  Tyre pressures, increase pressure for the extra weight.  2.  Rear suspension; increase the preload to account for the extra weight and luggage.  3.  Headlight, this may dazzle oncoming traffic, adjust beam alignment temporarily.  4.  Mirrors, looking at tarmac? Give them a tweak to realign.                                                                               Trev: Ace Moto Training

Luggage

If touring or carrying additional items, don’t rely on bin bags and bungee cords. A badly loaded bike will also make the handling strange and ‘interesting’ to say the least. Use properly designed motorcycle luggage, tank bags, tail packs and throw over soft panniers can be bought for a reasonable price. Luggage also keeps all those dangly bits out of the back wheel, which could make things interesting…without warning! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Drinking and Riding

It’s a no brainer.  A couple of pints might turn you in to Valentino Rossi, or so you think.  It will slow your reactions, affect your judgement and increase rider error.  There are no second chances if you drink and ride.  This practice is for the terminally stupid.  Don’t do it, end of. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Drugs and Riding

Suffering from ‘man flu’ or aches and pains? Be careful what you take for it, even over the counter medication may lead to drowsiness. Hay fever season is a classic example. Read the labels, take the advice and be careful, falling asleep behind the bars is not a smart move!
Trev: Ace Moto Training

Speed Limits

At some point everyone will speed.  But the excuse of ‘sorry officer, I thought it was a 40’ when caught at 50 won’t wash!  Speed limit changes are signed at the junction at which they change, when entering a new road, check for the speed change, when approaching a junction, check the speed change.  The decision to obey them lays with you, but sorry, no excuses. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Diesel Gloves

If you are unfortunate to be caught in a downfall and your gloves are not waterproof; petrol stations ‘give away’ diesel gloves which you can put over your gloves and are a good temporary measure. Julian: Freelance

Road Signs

Believe it or not they are there for information, not decoration!  Take time to observe the signs around you, ‘slow’ painted on the road and a ‘bend ahead’ sign could be clue to what’s in store.  It’s not rocket science; learn to read the road and the clues provided on the side of the road to prepare you in advance.                                                                         Trev: Ace Moto Training

Knowledge

Every ride is different; don’t for one minute believe you know it all.  The day you believe you are the master, is the day it bites you in the a**.  Bikes demand respect, control and an ever increasing skill level, your machine is the result of a lot of engineering and artistic work, it’s your baby and you love it!  Get out, ride, smile and enjoy the ride, see you on the road!  Trev: Ace Moto Training

Flashing Headlights

They are telling me to go, giving me right of way, aren’t they?  The Highway Code Rules 110 and 111 say otherwise, the ‘Urban Highway Code’ probably won’t stand up in court, flashing headlights could signal any reason, but have a read of the Highway Code get in good habits and practice what it says.                                     Trev: Ace Moto Training

Head Up

Where you look is where you go, you might have heard this advice more than once. Guess what? It’s true!! Keep your head up and your eyes looking in the direction you want to travel, everything will become easier and smoother, staring at that oncoming vehicle or a big fat tree whilst negotiating a bend is not a good idea. Head up, look up! Trev: Ace Moto Training

Town Riding

Ride defensively, you must adopt this attitude if you want to survive, expect the unexpected, give other vehicles plenty of room, play ‘spot the idiot’ be mindful of courier vans and delivery lorries they have a habit of stopping out of the blue, shoppers and children will have their head in the clouds, think for everybody. Cover your brakes, just in case. Trev: Ace Moto Training

Wet Weather Riding

Not only do you have the normal hazards to deal with, as a motorcyclist we also have the following to think about.  1.  Manhole/inspection covers; these can be slippery when wet.  2.  Diesel spills, these can be fatal, diesel is oil, and will not evaporate, if you smell fuel, watch for the ‘rainbow’ on the road and avoid.  3.  Tarmac over banding, if wide enough these can cause your tyres to slip.  Plan your route!                           Trev: Ace Moto Training

Don’t Ride Angry

Make sure that you are in the right frame of mind to enjoy your ride; don’t get on the bike after an argument with your partner, your dog or your hamster! Take a minute to clear your mind and concentrate on the job ahead, focus, relax and enjoy……do the miles and end in smiles!
Trev: Ace Moto Training

Filtering

One of the joys of biking, but also one of the more dangerous manoeuvres. Take your time; don’t travel at more than 10-15 mph faster than the stationary traffic, watch for impatient drivers and car wheel position. The most dangerous time is when the traffic just starts to move and sudden lane changes occur. Remember, they won’t check blind spots. Think for them!
Trev: Ace Moto Training