Exploring the Freedom and Thrills of Motorcycling
Few experiences can compare to riding a motorcycle. After spending some time on a bike, you fully understand why dogs like to stick their heads out the windows when they’re going drives with their humans. There’s something about the wind on your face and the open road that lifts your spirits and makes you truly appreciate the world around you. Of course, the speed and rumble of the bike certainly add to the thrill as well.
Familiarize Yourself With the Bike
To really understand the exhilaration of riding, getting comfortable on your motorcycle should be a top priority. After all, you can’t fully enjoy the experience if you’re unfamiliar with the bike. Trying to figure out the controls, learning to balance your weight, and getting a feel for the bike itself are crucial, but they tend to detract from the ride. With that in mind, get familiar with your motorcycle before taking off on a long ride.
Respect the Dangers
Keep in mind that riding a motorcycle comes with certain unavoidable risks. Motorcycle crashes happen every day, and they’re often much more serious than passenger vehicle accidents. Some of those accidents are caused by a lack of experience on the part of the riders. Others are due to recklessness and distractions. In most cases, though, they’re caused by people in passenger vehicles. Those drivers aren’t exactly diligent about watching for motorcycles. Though riding a motorcycle is an incredible adventure, it also requires experience, respect for the rules of the road, and an understanding of the potential dangers.
Have the Right Gear
Another thing to remember is that your riding gear is just as important as the bike itself. Helmets, leathers, and boots may be bulky and uncomfortable, but they’re a necessity. Don’t forgo the gear in an attempt to make riding more comfortable. It just doesn’t work that way.
When you ride without a jacket and chaps, or at least a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, the wind can be chilly even on a warm day. On top of that, bugs hitting you at high speeds hurt. If they happen to fly into your clothing, there’s little you can do to remedy the situation. Furthermore, raindrops slamming into your skin while you’re riding tend to sting.
Boots protect your feet and ankles against heat, flying debris, and footpegs better than sneakers. Impact-resistant glasses keep bugs, wind, and dirt out of your eyes. The importance of helmets really needs no explanation, but suffice it to say that cranial trauma can be detrimental even at low speeds. You can always shed the gear for a little while once you get where you’re going.
Fully Enjoying Your Rides
Riding a motorcycle is an unparalleled experience. It makes you feel free and alive. It gives you a rush you won’t get from a high-end vehicle or even a classic muscle car. On a bike, even the most mundane routes can make for a thrilling ride. When you venture out on the highways and wind your way along mountain roads, it’s even more amazing. Long-distance trips are incredible adventures on a motorcycle too. When you’re riding, you see the world around you from an entirely different perspective.
Fully enjoying the thrills and freedom of riding takes certain measures, though. Get familiar with your motorcycle. Equip yourself with the right gear because it’s always best to dress for the ride, not the destination. Don’t let the potential dangers of riding detract from the experience, but always be aware of them. These efforts can help you make the most of every ride.
