Most Common Mistakes Among Novice Riders

Most Common Mistakes Among Novice Riders...taken from the MSF web site 3/13

Five Ways to Ruin Your Ride

There are a number of mistakes that novices make that can put them at risk. Here are five of the most common ones:

1. Selecting a motorcycle that’s too large or heavy. Many riders find it more comfortable to start on smaller motorcycles on which to gain experience before investing in larger, more powerful motorcycles.

2. Getting into complex situations too soon. Dense traffic, tricky intersections, and hairpin curves are integral parts of the real world, but they shouldn’t be an integral part of the early miles you put under your belt. Build your skills on less-traveled backroads, sedate neighborhoods, and country roads with gentle curves.

3. Failing to maintain a 360-degree mental picture of traffic. Motorcycling is more a skill of the eyes and mind than of the hands and feet. If you don’t know that traffic has come to a standstill a few seconds a head of you, or that a sleepy commuter is drifting into your lane from your right, or a distracted driver behind you hasn’t noticed that the traffic light ahead has turned red, you can't adequately prepare for the threats. Scan near-to-far, side-to-side, and periodically glance at your mirrors.

4. Overestimating one’s own visibility. This is the flip-side of number 3. While you need to pay attention to other road users, you need to realize they may not be paying attention to you. One mental trick is to assume you’re invisible. That puts you in a frame of mind where you won’t expect others to yield to you. Instead, expect them to violate your right-of-way, and ride defensively. For example, cover your brake lever and pedal, to give your reaction time a head start.

5. Carrying passengers or participating in a group ride too soon. You need to be comfortable with your motorcycle and confident in your skills before adding these additional factors and responsibilities. Carrying passengers can reduce your maneuverability or upset your balance. Riding in a group means paying attention to all the other riders while trying to focus on your own ride. Novices don’t need this sensory overload.

The best way to approach motorcycling is to take a formal training course and practice on your own, progressing at a reasonable pace. Be a lifelong learner and seek out a variety of MSF RiderCourses.