Ride Safe. 10 top motorcycle safety tips.

Safety starts before you press the starter button.

• In case the worst happens you need proper protection. Wear a quality helmet and fasten it properly. You also need gloves, boots and protective outerwear. Yes, even in hot and humid Singapore. You hope you don’t need them, but it’s too late to start thinking about it when you do.
• Saving money on tyres is a false economy. Good quality tyres can mean the difference between being upright and not.
• Follow the recommended maintenance schedule, and don’t forget to pay attention to the chain. Without the chain, you’re going nowhere, which is not a good thing when you’re trying to move out of danger.
• Inspect your motorcycle for anything untoward. Is there an oil leak? Is the chain loose? Do your indicators and brake lights work? Spotting problems before you’re on the road could save your life.
• Squeeze the brake levers. Do they feel spongy? Does the lever come right back to the bar? Get it fixed. Does the throttle snap back from fully open of its own accord? If not, it needs attention.

On the road.

• Assume everybody is out to get you. Most drivers barely notice motorcyclists, and too many who do still carve you up. There’s no gain in arguing about who is at fault when you’re on the way to hospital.
• Avoid riding in blind spots. As a rule-of-thumb, if you can’t see a driver’s face in their rear-view mirror, they can’t see you either. Better still, ride alongside the driver where they can’t fail to notice you.
• Lane-splitting – or riding between lanes of other vehicles – is discouraged, but not illegal in Singapore. Lane splitting between moving vehicles is inviting disaster and is best avoided. Proceed with caution between stationary vehicles. Be aware passengers can open car doors unexpectedly and pedestrians can appear apparently from nowhere
• Wet roads demand extra care on two wheels. Light rain can make roads more slippery than heavy rain as it brings oil to the surface without washing it away. Avoid riding in the centre of the lane where oil is likely to have accumulated. The right side of the lane is your best bet for visibility to others and grippy tarmac.
• You need almost twice the distance to stop in the wet as in the dry, so adjust the gap between you and the vehicle in front to compensate. And slow down – braking distances increase exponentially with speed.

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