I've given a few tips out over the last couple of weeks but to put things in there correct perspective, I reckon a tip on what to do before you ride could be more important than all of them.
I'll no doubt open a can of worms here but from personal experience, from reading much material and sharing with others.... before you go out and ride (for some, the first time) the following points should be noted:
1. Buy the best gear you can afford and the best is not necessarily the most expensive. No point having a multi thousand dollar bike and cheap, crap gear.
If you can afford it, get leather. Sliding down a Kiwi road will cost you 5 millimetres of skin and muscle for every second you slide at 100kmh. Where there is no muscle you are into bone
Get tight fitting leather as it stretches and loosens up with wear. Also get armoured leather as even thick leather won't help prevent broken bones in a decent highside. Good chance you will break some bones if you highside anyway, but tight leathers with good armour, won't move around much when you need it most.
Good gloves with armour protection to help mimimise knuckle and palm damage.
Good boots. The more protection and ankle support the better. All the ratchets and side supports on fancy looking boots aren't for show. They work.
There are many good helmets on the market. You don't need to spend a fortune to get a good quality helmet but there are well known "better" brands.
2. Check your tyre pressures before every long ride and at least once a week if using your bike every day. Severe handling problems result from wrong tyre pressures and braking can be severely affected too.
3. Check all fluid levels, such as oil, water, brake and clutch reservoirs if hydraulic. If you run your engine out of oil or water for any reason and the motor locks up, grab the clutch straight away to disengage the rear wheel lock up and coast to the side of the road as safely as you are able.
4. Check all lights work... headlamp, rear light, brake light, indicators etc.
5. When setting off, test your brakes, both front and back.
6. Always ride with all your gear. Murphy's law says that when you think you need it the least (short trip to the shop) you will more than likely need it the most at that time. Most accidents occur within 5kms of home.
Those reading this, feel free to add anything else.
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Originally Posted by Gubb
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