Riding tips

Whether you're just starting out, you've been riding for years or you've recently come back to riding, you need up-to-date motorcycle handling skills and some smart thinking to survive on the road. Here's a few expert tips to help you ride safer and get more out of your motorcycle.

Be Seen!

An image of a motorcycle rider in a rear vision mirror

Be seen when riding. Make sure you give yourself the best road position possible, either in front of the car or behind the back window.
Remember to ride within your safety zone. Always keep two seconds between you and the car in front.
Beware of large trucks - they can cause handling problems when they pass. If you can see or hear them approaching, move to the other side of the lane.

Stop yourself in time

When pulling up to a stop, stay in your lane and make sure there's enough room in front of you.
Don't apply your brakes too quickly or you'll risk locking up your tyres.
Safe braking is a two stage process (set up and squeeze) that reduces the likelihood of skidding and provides better control. First apply light pressure on the brake lever (set up), then gradually apply the necessary braking pressure (squeeze).
In an emergency, grip the bike handles firmly, apply the brakes, and look for an area where you can change direction or pull over, away from danger.
If you start to skid, you need to try to keep your wheels moving to provide the traction you need to rectify the situation. Ease off your brakes and make sure you're not applying the throttle so you can bring the bike to a safe stop.
In wet conditions, allow a little bit of extra room for braking.

Road hazards

Always look at the road ahead, especially at night. Scan the road for potholes, loose gravel or speed bumps.
If you need to ride in the centre of the lane, always keep an eye out for oil that's often left there from other vehicles.
When it's raining, try and ride on the tyre tracks left by cars, rather than on the wet bitumen surface.
When riding around bends, be careful that you don't end up in gravel or loose rocks.

Changing direction

If you need to change direction to avoid a crash:

learn how to steer and counter steer the bike
be careful that you don't end up in another crash.

Blow-outs and punctures

Incorrect tyre pressure or weight that's not distributed properly on your bike can cause the 'wobbles' or 'steering shakes' at any speed. So make sure you check your tyre pressure regularly and that you've loaded your bike properly with nothing loose.

If your steering starts to shake or wobble:

do not grip the handlebars too firmly - you may end up oversteering and crashing
keep your wrists and forearms rigid and apply consistent pressure to help you maintain control of the motorcycle and to help use the hand controls, brakes, clutch and throttle
gradually decelerate. Don't brake suddenly. Once the shaking stops, pull over where it's safe.

If you have a blow-out or rapid puncture while riding:

hold the handgrips firmly and try to steer straight
don't apply the brake to the punctured tyre - just gradually close the throttle down
if the front tyre has gone flat, shift your weight as much as you can to the rear of the bike. If the rear tyre's the problem, move forward as much as you can
as you slow down, gradually steer off the road.

It's also a good idea to carry a temporary tyre repair and inflation kit that's specifically for motorcycles.

Cut back the risks

It's a fact that motorcycle riders are at fault in 83 per cent of crashes. The most common causes of crashes are speed, rider inattention, alcohol and drugs. There's plenty you can do to cut back the risks:

Take care. Keep to the speed limit and drive according to the conditions.
Be aware of your environment and other motorists.
Take breaks and survive the ride.
Avoid alcohol and drugs whenever you're planning to ride.

Ride within your safety zone

An image of a safe riding zone

The best protection you can have is space between you and others on the road.

The front: Try to keep at least a two second space between you and the vehicle in front.

The sides: Move from one side of the lane to the other to increase the distance from other cars. Remember to change lane position as traffic conditions change or road hazards appear (for example, potholes and oil spills). Don't ride between rows of vehicles.

Behind: If you are being followed too closely, increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. It will give you more time to stop and the tailgater more time to react. Alternatively, change lanes or slow down and let the tailgater overtake.

What to do in an emergency

Always carry your driver licence and a mobile phone. If you are in an emergency situation, call 000 (or call 112 from your mobile if 000 does not work) and provide details of your location as accurately as possible - state the road name or closest town or suburb and give as many details as you can.

If you have come off your bike you should:

assess the scene - move if you are in danger of being run over by other vehicles, but take your time if vehicles have stopped for you so you can check to see how bad your injuries are. Look for any damage to clothing or obvious injuries where you are bleeding or you have twisted your limbs. If you are in pain, stop and lie down
clear the scene - seek the help of other motorists or passers-by. Two or more people should help you lift your motorcycle
seek medical attention - if an ambulance has been called, wait and get a proper check so you know you aren't suffering from conditions like concussion. If you are not attended to at the scene, you should visit your doctor or the emergency section of your local hospital
recover - keep an eye on your injuries and seek medical attention if you have any concerns. Immediate action will avoid serious long-term damage from injuries that could cripple you for life
evaluate - learn from your mistakes
restock - replace any damaged safety gear.

Helping others

Your actions could help save a rider's life. Where possible, get others to help you.
Switch the engines of any vehicle off - motorcycles have a kill switch on the right handlebar, usually red or orange, with crossed out arrows. You can also pull the keys out of the ignition lock. With cars, make sure the hand brake is on.
Warn others - allow at least 100 metres either side around the injured rider. Park your bike somewhere out of the way of emergency vehicles, but use your lights to warn people of the accident. Try to get others to help you warn other road users, and be careful not to risk your own safety by being in the way if you can't be seen.
Call 000.

Administering first aid:

For more information on first aid, please visit the Queensland Ambulance Service web site

Only move the injured person if he or she is at risk of being burnt by flames. Be careful not to touch anything that has been burnt due to chemicals in vehicle parts.
Only remove a helmet if the rider is unconscious and has stopped breathing, or is in danger of choking. It can be dangerous to remove a helmet from a motorcyclist involved in a crash as they may have received a neck or spinal injury which could be made worse by removing the helmet. If you can, it is best to wait for medical assistance before removing a helmet from an injured motorcyclist.