Riding a motorbike requires the right attitude. You have to remember that you are not the only vehicle on the road, but there are many others. These have four wheels and you might be the only one on two wheels. It is your responsibility to look after yourself in the traffic, as these drivers are often not aware of the fact that you are there.

A high beam headlight would be a great way of making your presence known to others. A reflector jacket is a good idea for nighttime riding. You could also just get a belt with reflective tubing, but you must make yourself visible at all times.

You can never dare to ride your motorbike without a helmet or protective clothing. The helmet is an extremely important protection against head injuries. It is important that you visor has no scratches, as it radically impedes your vision especially if you ride into the sun. You could also have it tinted for better vision.

To protect your visor, you could use tear-offs. However, you must replace it if it has been scratched. The visor also helps to protect your face against the wind, insects and any flying objects.

Taking care of your motorbike in general, will also assist with being safer. If you have a chain or belt-driven bike, you should check it quite often for any slack. It should be replaced if it shows any slack as it can cause you to have a major accident.

The tires keep the bike on the road and you therefore need to keep it in good condition as well. Both front and rear is important, but the rear always show deterioration sooner and should be replaced to keep traction. The tire pressure is vital, as blowouts are responsible for many accidents.

A little hint is that, when you ride along, try to avoid the road markings, as this can be slippery especially when it is wet. You do need to be extra careful when the road is wet as you are on two wheels and your chances of slipping and falling are far greater.

If you are a brand new motorcyclist, you need to take some Brisbane motorcycle lessons if you reside in Brisbane and if you reside in the Gold Coast, you need to take Gold coast motorcycle lessons – they’ll teach you those rights and wrongs.

2. Pre-ride checks: P O W E R……..Petrol, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber (tyres).

3. Attitude and Aptitude and Action. Don’t be Drinking, Drugging or be in a Hurry.

4. Continuous improvements eg. safety courses. You are never too old to learn new tricks and never assume you know it all just because you have been riding for the last 30 years.

5. All the gear, All the time. Always wear the correct safety clothing, stick to the rules, maintain your bike and never have a day off from this rule.

TRAINING TIPS:

1. One – on – One. Most people get more out of individual lessons; this is a no-brainer. The trainer can help you out and give you more time, in fact all the time you need to feel confident and safe while riding.

2. Communications. A continuous communication between the trainer and rider so that you can receive all the advice necessary as you are actually riding and not just be left to ride off and then hear the feedback.

3. Incremental training. This means Offroad, Onroad, Quiet roads, etc. A wide variety to get you started on your riding safety in different situations.

4. The chance to use someone else’s motorbike, ie: the trainer’s, so you can learn to adapt easily and safely and put your training into action.

Thirdly are the economic reasons to ride and not drive. It is simpy cheaper to own and run a motorbike than a motorcar. Less fuel to pay for and more economy in running it. Fourth reason is very shallow and vain: with a little bit of planning you can look pretty good riding down the highway in your leather gear all shiny and matching the colour of your motorbike. Even the boys care what they ride and wash their bikes regularly so they always look good to anyone observing them; and that is usually everyone when a motorbike is involved.

The fifth reason is linked to the fourth; how else could you dare to wear your choice of leather without the general population thinking you are a bit weird. When you ride a motorbike it is almost mandatory that you wear leather if you wish to keep your skin intact in the awful event that you should fall off the bike. So what a wonderful excuse to go out and finally buy your leather coat and pants and know that by doing so you are giving yourself the best chance of minimal skin tears should you fall off and you will always look great as you ride along.

Take the time to instruct your pillion.

As part of your motorcycle lessons in the Logan and Brisbane area riders are instructed in pillion etiquette. Inexperienced motorcycle riders may not really appreciate how easily a pillion can upset the stability of your bike.  Pillions need to be instructed on when and when not to wriggle around in their seats. Pillions need to be instructed in how to sit on a motorcycle and where to put their hands. A pillion will also need to have an agreed signal with the rider which indicates that they need to stop etc.

Take the time to instruct your pillion.

Protect your skin by applying moisturiser.

It is a good tip to apply moisturiser to any area of skin that may be exposed to wind or sun when riding your motorcycle, even when doing your Queensland motorcycle training. Remember that all year around in Logan and throughout Australia, the sun and wind will “burn” the back of your hands just above the glove line and before the sleeve of many jackets.  Another area often exposed is your neck between the helmet and your jacket.

Protect your skin by applying moisturiser.

Wear sunburn cream on your face when touring.

During our total motorcycle experience awareness and motorbike lessons we consider situations that may detract from your enjoyment. When touring the Logan scenic rim, and beyond, on your motorcycle, your face can get sunburnt if you have a clear visor or even, unwisely, no visor. A sunburnt face can be really uncomfortable and detract from your motorcycling enjoyment and safety.

Wear sunburn cream on your face when touring.

Mirrors only tell you when it is not safe to change lanes or enter traffic flow.

Safety is paramount during our qride motorcycle training. Always perform a shoulder check before you change lanes on any road. Mirrors only tell you when it is not safe to change lanes or enter traffic flow. Only your eyes can tell you when it is safe, so be sure to use them.

Mirrors only tell you when it is not safe to change lanes or enter traffic flow.

Avoid sudden actions.

During our Queensland motorcycle training emphasis is provided on smoothness. A touring motorcycle will rapidly respond to all of your input as well as the environment’s.  To keep your comfort level high- be sure to apply your planned inputs smoothly and to also anticipate environmental inputs so that you can smoothly apply correction.  A well balanced and smooth motorcycle will be more comfortable and will, therefore, reduce the fatigue felt by the rider.

Avoid sudden actions.

Apply brakes with precision.

Our Queensland motorbike training course explains how, in most motorcycles, the braking performance exceeds the tyres ability to provide traction, which can result in a skid. Skids are undesirable as they dramatically affect the stability and therefore predictability of the motorcycle. The stability of the motorcycle is maintained by the spinning wheels, to which the spinning rear wheel contributes approximately 80% and the front wheel 20%. However, the front wheel supplies anything from 80-100% of the braking performance.

So you can get the idea that it is a good idea to keep your wheels spinning, particularly the back wheel, and avoid skids. It is difficult to precisely gauge the amount of traction afforded by various road surfaces, obviously dirty, wet and rough road surfaces would provide differing amounts of traction. The ideal is to apply both brakes in a way that eliminates the chance of a skid of either wheel. So, practise and experience will provide clues as to the performance of your tyres when under braking pressure in various conditions. At the start of a braking action it is a tip to use 80% front and 20% rear under normal conditions, however importantly remember to first let off the rear brake as speed washes off and too then ease off the front brake as you come to a stop. Remember to try and avoid sudden actions and to use 50% front and 50% rear when riding your motorcycle under adverse conditions.

Apply brakes with precision.

Buy a reliable tyre pressure gauge and ensure your tyres are in good condition.

Our Queensland motorbike training course emphasises that your motorcycle’s condition determines your enjoyment. Enjoyable touring relies on good tyres. Good tyres means having good tread, good sidewalls and good pressure. Remember that an inflated tyre will lose pressure even if it is not ridden. The time taken to lose pressure varies between individual tyres, but they do lose pressure, I have had tyres that lose 3psi/wk.

Use your own tyre pressure gauge to inspect your pressures at least twice a week to get a ‘feel’ for their pressure performance. When on tour take your gauge with you as you cannot rely on the accuracy of air pressure gauges at petrol stations.

Check your tyre wear indicators and replace tyres before the indicators reach the road surface.  On a motorcycle tour it is to be expected that your tyres will wear down and you do not want to be caught out with a badly worn tyre during your tour.

Check your tyre casings for signs of damage such as; splitting, flat spots, gouges, or embedded stones/debris, all common on Logan roads.

Remember that a tyre will provide enhanced performance when properly ‘warmed up’. A good tip is to let your tyres warm up before you apply maximum power or need maximum traction for cornering. Also remember that your tyres will be performing at their optimum at the end of a stage of your tour where you have a planned break/fuel stop. The tyres will then cool down while you are refreshing with a coffee, so warm them up before you require again require maximum traction.

Buy a reliable tyre pressure gauge and ensure your tyres are in good condition.