Are You Making These Motorcycle Mistakes?

Taking your bike out for a ride is always an exhilarating experience, but it’s important to ensure that you’re staying safe at all times. In today’s post, we’ll look at a few common mistakes you might be making on the road. While many of these mistakes are most commonly made by new riders, it’s always important for veterans to brush up on the fundamentals. When you’ve finished reading this post, don’t forget to head over to our online store and browse our catalog of custom motorcycle parts. You’ll find custom chrome motorcycle wheels, custom exhaust pipes, drag racing wheels, and other custom motorcycle parts that can help you create a truly one-of-a-kind bike.

Forgetting the Kickstand

Many riders are more interested in getting on the road than dealing with their kickstand, but you should always be in the habit of putting your kickstand up as soon as you get onto your bike. Many bikes are designed to stay put when the kickstand is down, which could lead to an embarrassing situation as you try to take off, but tip over instead. Many riders try to work around this feature by tampering with the wiring that connects the kickstand to the ignition, but we don’t recommend that you do so. Rather than risking your safety by altering your bike’s wiring, just get into the habit of raising your kickstand every time you hop on your bike! Whether you’ve just purchased your first bike, or you’ve outfitted your bike with custom chrome motorcycle wheels, you can’t brush off the basics.

Ignoring Your Bike’s Fuel Range 

There’s nothing quite like taking your bike out for a ride on your favorite route. Maybe you enjoy going for long-distance rides through the country, or perhaps you enjoy going for a long ride through certain areas of your city. No matter where you enjoy riding your bike, you should always pay close attention to your bike’s fuel range. While some high-end bikes come with fuel gauges, the majority of bikes on the market do not have them.

In the absence of a fuel gauge, you’ll need to work with your bike’s trip meter to determine how many miles you’ve traveled. You probably know your bike’s fuel efficiency, so use those two numbers to determine when you should pull over and refuel. At RC Components, we recommend that you fuel up frequently to ensure that you’re never left stranded on the side of the road.

Following Too Closely

We noted at the outset that both veterans and new riders alike make these mistakes, and there’s perhaps no mistake more common than following another driver too closely. You bought your motorcycle because you enjoy the wind in your face and the thrill that comes from riding with your close friends, but you should always remember that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous.

Never follow another vehicle too closely, and always be sure that you have plenty of room behind you, and on both sides. You never know if you’ll have to suddenly move out of the way of a foreign object, collision, or other unexpected event, and it’s always best to leave yourself plenty of room to maneuver. To put the point more simply, always ensure that you have an escape route. It just might save your life.

Keep an eye on our blog page for future posts in which we’ll continue to provide you with tips, information, and other resources that can help you improve your skills as a rider. Stop by the RC Components store today to pick up the custom chrome motorcycle wheels your bike deserves!