Unfortunately, your motorcycle won’t offer you the same safety coverage you need on the road as your car. That’s why you must take all possible measures to stay safe while riding your bike. Our experts at Sky Powersports Lakeland have created this accident prevention guide to help you familiarize yourself with a few safety practices. Keep reading to learn more, then visit us for more advice. We’re in Lakeland, FL, where we happily welcome our friends from Tampa and Orlando.

Keep Your Bike in Working Order

One of the best ways to prevent a motorcycle accident is to service your bike regularly. Doing this lets you identify hidden issues that have the potential to become major problems on the road. Fix them before you hit the road, and make sure your bike is ready for a safe journey to your destination.

Ensure your tires are in good shape and your motorcycle’s lights and turn signals are working. Also, make it a habit to test your brakes before each ride.

Watch Your Speed

Though you love riding your bike at full throttle, you must ride the posted speed limit. Excessive speed can make you lose control of your motorcycle, leading to an accident. Also, faster speeds mean increased braking distances and decreased reaction times, which might make it harder to notice a pothole or notice it later than you should. In either case, it’ll be a dangerous situation you’ll want to avoid at all costs. 

Pay Attention

While riding your motorcycle, you’ll want to be vigilant of the road conditions ahead of you and constantly be on the lookout for hazards coming your way. Be aware of distracted drivers using their smartphone while driving or the vehicle behind you that isn’t slowing down even when approaching an intersection. To avoid being in a collision, you’ll want to flash your brake lights well in advance and keep your bike in gear until the cars behind you come to a complete stop.

Don’t Ride Between Cars

Many motorcyclists try to ride between gridlocked cars, making them more prone to getting hurt than someone in a car. For example, a driver may choose to change lanes suddenly, open his car door, or a hand could come out the window. In these cases, you’ll probably hurt yourself more when you crash. To avoid this, you’ll want to give plenty of space to the vehicles around you and maintain a safe distance from them at all times.

Ride Sober

Riding your bike when under the influence of alcohol is dangerous. Alcohol delays your reaction time and impairs your judgment, making you more prone to getting into an accident. Also, drinking and riding is a punishable offense that can lead you to pay heavy fines or lose your license.

We hope these tips help you ride your motorcycle safely. If you need more advice or want to upgrade your bike to the latest model, visit Sky Powersports Lakeland. Our friendly team can address your concerns and give you a complete tour of the available options. We’re in Lakeland, FL, where we proudly serve those from Tampa and Orlando, so stop by today.