What Should Motorcyclists Do In An Emergency?

You must have heard and read a lot about rider safety on motorcycles, but there are certain situations in which you cannot simply avoid an accident. Even if you are not the one at fault, someone else might knock you over, causing serious injuries to you. You can take an example of Moto GP riders, who are always on the limit and trying to do the best they can in order to avoid making mistakes. However, there are times when one rider is having a smooth race, but another one spoils the party by hitting him.

Similarly, you can be a victim of someone else mistakes on the road, which can prove to be extremely costly for you. Therefore, Riderwear.net and the staff brings you some key points which should be considered in an emergency situation. Although we suggest our customers to take precautionary measures by wearing all of the protective gear, yet we don’t want them to be involved in accidents frequently. The best thing for them is to avoid any trouble if possible.

So, what exactly are the things that motorcyclists should consider in case of an emergency? Most people would say that applying brakes would be the first priority, but there is something you need to consider even before that. Whenever you sense danger, you should keep control over your nerves and try not to panic. If you are able to do that, things will naturally be fine.

Subject to whether you are calm and relaxed, you can look for the second step, which is looking for changing your lane. If there is a stationary object or vehicle in front of you, try changing your lane. That can only be possible if you are in your senses and are not over speeding. This way, you can get out of the situation safe and sound. Even if that does not help, you should then look for applying both the brakes hard. Most of you would be wondering why this step was not mentioned earlier. Well, the answer is quite simple and a logical one. If you hit the brakes all of a sudden, you can be caught up by another faster vehicle from behind. This can be even more dangerous, as you might get sandwiched between two objects.

Despite doing all these things, you will still not be guaranteed safety, as anything can happen. Moreover, a person in such a situation might lose control of everything, as one can simply not think of too many things in case of an emergency. Therefore, you should mentally prepare yourself for a tumble. It might sound a bit silly, but falling with the right angle can help you avoid serious injuries. Try shifting the weight on your hands and do your best not to bang your head into something. Moreover, you have to keep your muscles loosened in order to cause lesser damage to them. You will definitely sustain injuries, but they will not be much worse.

Other than that, ensure that you don’t roll over, as that can hurt your spine. Despite all these actions you take in case of an emergency, never forget your safety gear, especially the helmet. According to recent studies, most of the deaths caused in motorcycle crashes are mainly because of the fact that the rider is without the helmet.

What Should An Aged Rider Look For In A Motorcycle?

You might have ridden the biggest and the most powerful machines in your youth, but you should not try any of those motorcycles now, especially if you are above the age of 50. There is no doubt that your reflexes tend to get slower with every passing year. Some people are fit enough and look younger because of the extra attention they give to their health, but that does not mean they have the same level of energy as that of a 20-year-old.

Therefore, you have to start compromising on a lot of things. Some aged men believe that they are good enough to ride powerful bikes because of the experience they have. However, they end up hurting themselves in the end, which is not ideal at all. One factor about aging is that it does not allow you to recover from injuries quickly.

So, it is ideal to be on the safer side rather than being adventurous. The first thing you need to do is always put on your protective gear before hitting the road on a motorcycle. That way, you will feel confident and safer. Even if you do get involved in an accident, there will be chances that you sustain lesser injuries.

This is not the only thing to take care of though, as an aged rider should focus on a lot of other things related to the motorcycle. In case you don’t have an idea of what to look for in a motorcycle, you should not worry at all. Riderwear.net understands your needs and is concerned about your safety. As a result, we have come up with some important points that will help you buy the ideal motorcycle for you.

Light weight motorbikes

One of the most important things to look for when you are buying a motorcycle for an aged man is the weight. Since the technology has become advanced over the years, the manufacturers have come up with some wonderful machines that can go faster than a normal four-wheeler. However, these bikes weigh too much for the liking of an old man, so you have to consider the ones that have got lesser muscle. This way, the elderly rider will be able to handle the machine easily in case there is an emergency situation. Although the reflexes will be slow, the lighter weight of the bike will compensate for that.

Auto transmission

There are motorcycles with auto transmission these days, which make them quite user friendly. The youngsters will certainly not like them, as they cannot be pushed to the limits, but they are really ideal for the elderly.

Self start

Just like the auto transmission, there are motorbikes which do not need a kick to start. All you need to do is push one button and the engine will rev up. Once again, this is such a wonderful feature for old aged bikers, who don’t have enough power in the legs to continue starting their machines in the old fashioned manner.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

This system was first introduced in the cars and proved to be a success. With the passage of time, motorcycle manufacturers felt the need of bringing this technology into the motorbikes as well. It helps the riders to prevent locking wheels while applying the brakes hard. As a result, there are lesser chances of them taking a tumble.

Comfortable seat

Last but certainly not the least, the seat of an old man’s motorcycle should be highly comfortable, especially if he has to travel longer distances. Therefore, you should test a few bikes first in order to finalize the one that suits you more.

Why Should Motorcycles Be Preferred Over Cars?

There is no doubt that both cars and motorcycles have got their own benefits and one should own both if the budget allows. In case you can only afford one vehicle, what would you opt for? This is quite a difficult question and one needs thorough understanding of both the machines before making up one’s mind. Even before that, you have to analyze a lot of other factors otherwise you will be unable to come up with a better solution.

One of those factors is the weather in your country, which might not be suitable for motorcycle riders. For example, you will be looking for a shelter every other day if it rains a lot in your area annually. In that case, it would be ideal for you to go for a car. On the other hand, the infrastructure also plays an important role in finalizing your vehicle.

If the roads are narrow and there are traffic jams usually; you should then opt for a motorcycle instead of a four-wheeler. For once, let’s put all of these factors aside and assume that the weather conditions in your country are normal with the infrastructure also being good. What choice should you make in that case?

Well, there is no doubt that there are plenty of advantages of owning a car, but I will recommend you start with a motorcycle to have fun. It will give you more freedom, entertainment and will meet your traveling requirements quite easily as well. Since most of the people might still be confused over making a decision, Riderwear.net has come up with a few points that give motorcycle an edge over cars. These factors will help you get to a conclusion pretty easily.

Motorcycles are inexpensive

The biggest advantage of owning a motorcycle is the price difference it has compared to a car. Although there are some two-wheelers that are highly expensive, yet they are not developed for common users for daily traveling. So, you will not have to spend much if you want a motorbike whereas a car will be far more expensive even if you purchase a used one.

Traveling can be easier on motorbikes

There is nothing more irritating than waiting for the road to clear when you are stuck in a traffic jam. However, bikers always find a way of getting out of such a situation. Since their vehicle does not occupy much space, they can easily move ahead and eventually get the clear road ahead.

Maintenance cost

Other than being inexpensive, the maintenance cost of motorbikes is quite low compared to that of cars. This means that you will be able to save more at the end of the month easily. In case there is some technical fault in your vehicle, it will still not cost you much in the end. On the other hand, even the smallest of faults in a car can put you in a difficult situation, especially if you are not that financially strong.

Fuel efficiency

Since the power of a motorcycle is way less compared to a car, the engine burns lesser fuel overall. Once again, this helps you make some savings at the end of the month and you can buy some other cool things instead of having to burn all of your money in shape of fuel.

You can feel the fresh air

While traveling in a car, especially if you are going on a long journey, you might get suffocated. However, that is not the case with motorbikes, as you always get a chance to feel fresh air. Although the riders are wearing helmets most of the times, yet they can enjoy by flipping the visor backwards.

Bikes don’t require a bigger parking space

Parking can be an issue for car owners, but that is not the case with motorcycle riders. Their vehicle does not require much space, so they can easily park it somewhere and secure it with locks before leaving.

Motorcycles To Buy in 2014

Are you looking to buy a new motorcycle in the coming year? If that is the case, you need to do a bit of research in order to find out the correct machine for you. The internet has made life easy for everyone these days and you can do all of your basic homework by sitting at home easily. 

While buying a motorcycle, you have to consider quite a few factors. One of them is your budget, which will really decide what type of vehicle you will buy. There is no doubt that you can get the best machine by spending more, as it will be more powerful, will have additional features and will definitely bring in more value in your life.

However, there are people who simply cannot afford expensive vehicles, so they have to look for the best available solutions in their available budget. On advantage these people get is that the lesser expensive motorcycles are generally easy to ride, look extremely cool and have got a better resale value for being more in demand compared to the expensive machines.

Every year, all of the top motorcycle manufacturers design new models in order to entertain the users. You can get a glimpse of those machines easily on the internet, but you might still be confused over which one to buy. As a result, Riderwear.net and the staff has brought to you some of the coolest motorbikes, which will be seen on the roads in 2014. After analysing all of them, you can purchase the one that meets your requirements.

However, don’t forget to buy your safety equipment no matter which machine you select at the end of the day.

Honda Grom

Honda are well on their way to become the Moto GP champions this season, but that is not their only focus. They are also concerned about developing machines for common users, thus they have come up with their latest model, Grom. If you look at this wonderful machine, you might feel that it has come right from the garage of any racing champion. That is not the case though, as you should not get puzzled by the looks of this motorbike. It is powered by a 125cc engine and can hit a maximum of 55 miles per hour. This lovely bike is available at only $3000 and is really good for starters or old age riders.

Honda CTX700N

Just like the previous mentioned model, this motorbike is also not suitable for seasoned riders. However, it offers a great deal of value to the people who want better handling. Despite having a powerful engine, this lovely machine can be tamed as per your ability. You can live your dream by running it on the highway at a quick speed with the help of its 670cc engine. It is available at under $7000 and you can get the ABS installed for an additional $1000.

Yamaha FZ-09

If you go by the look of it, this machine will appear mighty expensive. However, that is not the case, as it has been designed for common riders, who cannot afford the luxurious machines and still wish to travel at a great speed. You can buy this beauty at less than $8000 and it will certainly be worth riding. It has got fantastic handling and great reliability as well, which is a feature of all Yamaha machines. The Yamaha FZ-09 is powered by an 850cc engine.

Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS

This is another terrific bike available at just $8500. It has been in demand since it launched a couple of years ago and the manufacturers come up with something extra with it every time. Despite that, the price has not really been affected much, which is quite a good thing. Other than being affordable, this bike is quite adventurous, as you can travel long distances on it.

Star Bolt

At first sight, you might feel that you are looking at a Harley Davidson, but the Star Bolt is different. It is quicker, more stylish, has got better suspension and is easy to ride. With all of these features, it almost feels like a dream machine, but the good news is that it is available at just $7990, so the common user can buy it and hit the streets to have fun.

How To Ride A Motorcycle In Traffic

Riding a motorcycle in traffic can be really challenging no matter how much experienced you are. You never know how people in other vehicles are going to act under pressure, so their mistake can really cost you dearly. As a result, you don’t only have to ensure that you commit minimum mistakes, but you have to watch out for other inexperienced riders and drivers on the road.

Some people believe that driving a car in traffic is more difficult compared to riding a motorbike. However, that is not a valid argument at all. Since there are always plenty of open spaces for the bikers despite the traffic, they get tempted to continue moving from the narrowest of places. This can result in problems for them.

On the other hand, people driving cars don’t face such a situation. All they have to do is continue moving slowly in their lane. When they see the traffic moving, they can accelerate slowly and as soon as the vehicle ahead of them stops; they have to apply the brakes instantly. There is nothing else they have to do in this scenario.

Moreover, the bikers have to rest one of their feet on the road in order to maintain the balance of their vehicle when they are not moving at all. Compared to them, a car driver can relax in his seat while listening to songs, as he does not have to worry about the balance of his vehicle once he has pulled the handbrake.

Looking at this difficulty of a motorcyclist, Riderwear UK ltd has come up with some useful tips that can really help in easing the pressure when you are stuck in traffic.

Do not panic

First of all, you have to keep your mind relaxed in such a situation. Sometimes, motorcycle riders get nervous when they see so much traffic ahead, thus end up making a mistake. Even if you are in a hurry, never try to do anything silly and stay calm.

Accept that you will be late

If you are getting late from work, college/university or some event, accept the fact that you will be unable to reach in time. Some things are literally out of your control, so there is no need to worry about them. You should only focus on stuff that can be controlled by you.

Obey the rules

This is one of the most important tips, as it enables you to stay out of trouble on most of the occasions. Regardless of what happens, you will be able to avoid trouble if you are following the rules properly. The people who breach such rules and regulations often cause problems for others too, but they get penalized for their actions at the end of the day. So, you should not try copying them no matter what.

Get rid of distractions

If you are listening to songs or doing anything else that distracts you, there might be trouble on the way. Since you have to keep your focus on the road when there is a traffic jam, you cannot afford to divert your attention towards other things.

Keep a fair distance from other vehicles

In order to stay safe while riding a motorcycle, you have to ensure that there is a fair distance between you and the vehicle in front. This will keep you out of trouble and you will get plenty of reaction time in case of an emergency.

Try and alternate route

Last but not the least; you can always try an alternate route when you sense any trouble.  Even if you have to travel more that way, it will save you plenty of time in the end. It is always ideal to choose the quicker route instead of the shorter one.

Motorcycle Riding - Learning How To Brake

Brakes are a vital part of any vehicle and need to be applied with perfection if you wish to stay out of trouble. Many people don’t take this seriously and feel that there is nothing technical about braking no matter they are riding a motorcycle or driving a car. However, that is not the case at all, especially if you own the former of the two vehicles.

When you are on two wheels, there is always a risk of you falling down even if one of the wheels loses grip. Therefore, you have to be extremely careful. You might have noticed even cars slipping under different circumstances, which has got a lot to do with the driver’s inability to apply the brakes properly. Similarly, a motorcyclist should also be aware of how and when to brake properly in order to avoid an accident.

With the advancement in technology, there are many new functions in motorbikes that are aimed at improving rider safety. One of such things is the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which prevents your motorbike from skidding no matter how hard you apply the brakes. Despite that, you cannot eliminate the risk completely.

In order to avoid accidents on a motorcycle, you have to keep the technology and skills side by side. Only this way, you will be able to stay out of trouble. If you wish to learn how to brake properly on a motorcycle, go through the following tips provided by Riderwear.net.

Adjust the brake

Before starting your journey on the motorbike, make sure to adjust the brakes according to your liking. Some riders want the brakes to be hard whereas others want the opposite. Check what you are comfortable with and then make a choice.

Know where to transfer the weight

Transferring the weight properly is quite important when you are applying the brakes on a motorcycle. Naturally, you will be forced forward when you hit the brakes hard, so it is ideal for you to make it smoother by transferring your body weight forward before hitting the paddle.

Do not brake hard on corners

There are a few quick corners on the road, which can be taken without braking hard. Despite that, some riders do not have a clue of what they need to do under such circumstances and they simply keep the brakes applied while taking the corner. This can be extremely dangerous, so make sure that you are gentle on the brakes under such circumstances.

Use engine braking in wet

If there is plenty of snowfall or rainfall in your area, the most ideal thing would be to use engine braking instead of anything else. If you are new to riding motorcycles, you must be wondering what engine braking actually is. It refers to slowing down the speed by shifting the vehicle into lower gears rather than using the conventional paddle brake in a motorcycle.

Try braking early

Whenever you see an object in front of you and you are at a decent speed, try braking earlier to slow down before you actually reach the object. Sometimes, when you are nearing something at a quick speed, you actually get the feeling that the vehicle or object is moving at a slower pace, which is not the case. The vehicle could actually be stationary, so you have to slow down in order to find out the reality and stay out of trouble.

Practice braking off road

They say practice makes a man perfect. So, use the brakes time and again off road until you feel accustomed to it. Only then would it be wise for you to travel at the main roads.

Tips On Handling A Motorcycle While Taking Corners

One of the most common single vehicle accidents are caused when a motorcycle rider fails to take a turn properly. This matter is quite a serious one and should be addressed in the right manner in order to reduce the number of single vehicle accidents every year.

There are plenty of things that can be done on a personal level in order to reduce such risks, but people simply don’t care. If they only realize the value of their lives, they will definitely start working on improving their riding skills. Of course there are things such as safety wear found on online stores such as Riderwear.net, which are really important. You should never go out on a bike without those things otherwise you will put your life in danger.

However, the first thing you need to ensure is that you don’t have an accident at all. Even though things like helmets have reduced the number of deaths in motorcycle crashes, yet the risk has not been eliminated entirely. For this, you have to make sure that you stay out of trouble.

You don’t need to be an expert to figure out that most of the motorcycle accidents are caused while the rider is taking a sharp turn. There are cases when even the riders have crashed on a straight road, but that sort of an incident is mostly linked to some other factors and occurs rarely.

Therefore, you have to focus on some key factors while taking a turn on a motorcycle which will keep you safe even if you are not an expert. These tips are as follows.

Analyze the corner

If you are on your usual route, you will not be surprised by any new corners at all. You would have experienced all of the things before, so there will be nothing to get alarmed. However, that will not be the case when you are on a new path. You might come across some extremely sharp turns and they might even be bumpy. Before you reach the corner, you have to analyze how sharp it is and whether the road is clean or not. During daylight, this will be quite an easy task for you, but there can be a few issues at night.

Reduce speed immediately

Whenever you see an alien corner, the first thing you need to do is reduce the speed of your motorcycle. Some of the corners do not actually appear to be steeper, but they are in reality. If you are late to realize that, you might get into serious trouble. So, it is always ideal to lower your speed and stay on the safer side.

 Release the clutch while taking the turn

When you are taking a turn, remember not to hold onto the clutch, as that can put your motorcycle at a risk of slipping. As soon as you reach the corner, release the clutch and allow your vehicle to turn smoothly.

 Don’t brake hard

Braking hard is important when you see an object in front of you and there is no choice at all. However, there are some problems in doing that on a corner, as your motorcycle can slip, causing you to take a tumble and sustain some serious injuries. Therefore, avoid braking hard at a corner.

 Transfer your body weight properly

It is extremely important to transfer your body weight properly when you are taking a sharp turn on your motorcycle. When you are going right, try leaning forward and slightly in the opposite direction in order to improve the balance. Similarly, you will have to adjust in the same way when turning left.