Your Bike Safety Equipment Essentials

You might not have years of experience behind you when riding your motorcycle. Therefore, you might face a few extra safety risks brought on by this unfamiliarity. However, here’s a hint. No matter how many years of experience you have, you’ll always face driving risk. So, it is in your best interest to start taking safety precautions from your first day riding. What are some of the most-essential safety devices you need to carry on your bike.

Sometimes, you need to wear personal safety gear while riding your motorcycle. In other cases, you should keep a few essential items stored in your cargo bins. Therefore, if you were to face any problems on the road, you’ll have protection and help available.

The Safety Risks of Motorcycling
You cannot ride a motorcycle in the same way that you drive a car. Motorcycles have two wheels, a different control surface and unique engine assemblies. They also are not enclosed, leaving the rider exposed to the weather, and to impact risks. In other words, if you were to have a bike wreck, you might have more risks of injuries and other personal losses.
people riding on motorcycles

As a result, you must carry motorcycle insurance. Having a policy will ensure that you comply with local insurance requirements. Furthermore, it will help protect you, the rider, from the personal losses you might sustain in a wreck or other accident. That’s financial protection for the hazards you don’t want to deal with, but that happen nevertheless. The more coverage you have, the more help you might have available after an accident.

However, motorcycle insurance can only help you clean up the messes that motorcycle wrecks create. They cannot help you prevent accidents from occurring. Therefore, you are always going to face injury and safety risks, regardless of if you have coverage. Keeping safety gear and maintenance items on hand will help you protect yourself in case of problems.

Essential Items to Keep on the Bike
Most motorcycles come with some form of cargo hold. Sometimes these are removable, while others are permanent features. Make sure your bike’s cargo bag always contains the following items.

Your motorcycle insurance cards

The bike’s registration documents
Any emergency medical information, such as allergies to medication or lists of prescriptions
Jumper cables to help you crank the bike’s battery in case it dies
A spare bulb or two for the bike’s head or tail lights

Don’t forget your driver’s license and motorcycle endorsements whenever you ride. You usually must have proof of licensing on you at all times. Keep your cargo area locked at all times.

Important Safety Items for All Riders
Every state has different motorcycle safety rules. Most have some form of law that requires riders to wear safety gear. Sometimes, only certain riders have to use these materials. However, while some bikers might have the option to go without, that doesn’t mean they should.

The more safety gear you wear, the better you can protect yourself from serious injury while you ride your bike. Think about the benefits of each of the following items.

Helmets: These are among the most-essential safety devices any biker can use. The helmet will protect you from significant head injuries, which could prove deadly even in seemingly-minor circumstances. Many states require all riders to wear helmets. Others only require them of riders under a certain age. However, regardless of requirements, you should always wear a helmet.
Shoes: Some states require bikers to wear shoes while riding. Others don’t, but shoes remain critical safety devices. Many bikes’ major systems, including the ignition and brakes, have foot pedal controls. Therefore, if you wear shoes, you’ll be able to keep better control of these items. Wearing strong shoes can also help you keep balance when mounting or dismounting the bike.

Eyewear: You don’t have the benefit of a windshield to protect you from debris (and bugs) on the roadway. Without the glass in front of you, you have a risk of debris blowing into your face. If these items impact your eyes, they could cause severe injury. A good pair of goggles, or a helmet shield, can help keep the dirt and debris out of your eyes. That can help increase your line of sight as you ride.
Knee and Arm Pads: Just like children who learn to ride bikes, adults can also benefit from knee or elbow pads on their motorcycles. Should you fall off the bike and land on an appendage, these items can protect your joints from direct injury risks.
Face shields: Some bikers find it helpful to wear a face mask or full-face shield over their helmets. These items can help keep dust, bugs and other debris out of your mouth. No one wants to swallow a bumble bee, after all.
Insulated clothing: Depending on the weather, you might need to wrap up in insulating clothing. The right coverings could protect you against sunburn or hypothermia depending on the temperatures. Take care of yourself to prevent exposure risks while you ride.

The more safety gear you wear on your motorcycle, the better you can protect yourself. Therefore, you’ll be able to worry less about something bad happening to you when you are trying to have fun.

Your Bike Safety Equipment Essentials

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