Top 4 Mistakes Beginner Riders Make

 

Top Mistakes Beginner Riders Make

There are a lot of mistakes that new riders make because there are a lot to think about. I believe that you learn best from your own mistakes, but you can learn second best from other people’s mistakes and not repeat them. Here are the most common mistakes that beginner riders make when first learning how to ride a bike.

Stalling

This is one of the most challenging issues for beginner riders when they first starting riding a clutched bike, since mastering the clutch requires very delicate control over the clutch, and each bikes has different clutch friction zone. But worry not, as long as you practice your clutch control and get to know your bike, you'll master your bike's clutch in a day or two. As long as you're not twisting the throttle and dump the clutch at the same time, which may cause the bike to over-accelerate and do a wheelie, you'll be fine!

Forgetting to turn off your signal lights

Unlike cars, motorcycles do not have self-cancelling signal lights which cancels itself after you make a turn. First times riders tend to be focused on the different actions required to just to ride their bike and sometimes miss the little things. A new rider will turn their signal lights on to turn or make a lane change, but then they forget to turn them off. This is not dangerous, but it can cause confusion to drivers or motorcyclists around them. 

Forgetting to lift the kickstand up before riding

Some bikes (especially modern clutched bikes) are designed so that you cannot ride with the kickstand down on the ground. If you engage the first gear with the kickstand down, the engine ignition will be cut off and your bike is shut down. This feature is designed so that you won't be able to ride while the kickstand is still down, which is very dangerous. However, some bikes aren't designed that way. So make it a habit, lift the kickstand up before you even start your bike's engine!

Feet dangling in the air while riding

It is quite common that we see beginner, or even people who have been riding bikes for a long time having their feet off the bike's footrest and hanging in the air during slow speed maneuvers. In beginner riders' point of view, this is because if they do lose balance during slow speed moment such as in a busy traffic, they can always put their feet on the ground to regain balance. But on the contrary, having your legs dangling in the air during slow speed has a higher chance of throwing you off balance, compared to having your feet on the footrest. It is even dangerous to hang your feet off the footrest when you're riding during high speed especially while taking corners as you will most likely scrape your feet on the ground! In fact, it is better to have your legs hugged tightly onto the bike's body if balance is your main issue during slow speed riding, that way you become as one with your bike as a unit and it's easier to maintain balance.