5 Quick Steps to a Good Ride

Relax and be composed

1. Stay Easy
Remind yourself to relax every single time before you get on the saddle and constantly once you get on it too. It is very critical for the rider to relax all muscles in neck, shoulders and arms. Holding the bars stiffly will increase the stress on the body and also take away a lot of feedback away from what is happening between the handlebars and the front tyre. Grip the bars with very little pressure like you are holding something fragile and see the difference on how much more comfortable, stable and communicative the front-end feels.

Talk to the motorcycle

2. Converse with the motorcycle
Say it out loud! Be it reminding yourself about staying relaxed on the bike or about a certain riding techinique that you newly acquired. Whatever it is, keep saying it inside your helmet or in your head. What it will do is keep you focused and remind you of things to take care of when out on the ride. Continue doing so for enough rides and soon it will be ingrained as a safe riding habit.

Look where you want to go...

3. Vision
The famous biking cliche, ‘Where you look, is where you will go!’ We all know it, we all have seen it work, but so many times when we are out on the road, we find ourselves heading in the direction we don’t want to, simply because we were looking in that direction. So make sure you always tell yourself to look where you want to go and not where you don’t want to go. Carefully locate your entry point for the corner and keep an eye on the exit as you hang on to the predicted line through the corner.

Be smooth and efficient

4. Smoothness
Smoothness is the real key to motorcycling bliss, but it only comes with time and a lot of riding. The entire procedure of getting the bike to turn and then coming back on the throttle needs to be orchestrated in one smooth efficient flow. Any jerky movements or sudden changes that will upset the bike or the rider, will most likely result in hitting the dirt. Fine and precise throttle control, finesse on the brakes and silky smooth turn execution with composed weight shifting, all contribute to a smooth ride.

Come rain, come shine. Don't let it stop you.

5. Ride More
The learning is constant. So don’t let anything stop you from riding. Gear up and hit the road. No matter how the weather is or if there is lack of biker buddies for the ride. Everytime you are out on the ride, there is something new you will discover, learn and find out. It could be about your surroundings, your motorcycle or about the riding style. Whatever it is, no matter how trivial or significant, it will only help you as a rider to be safer, smoother and allow you to ride longer for more years.