The Rider's Mindset
You'll always find people who disapprove of riding, dismissing it as dangerous and even deadly. But is there truth behind this?
The answer is in the way you ride.
Your safety is YOUR responsibility.
A new reality on a motorcycle
As a Learner motorcycle rider, you'll find life on the road is totally different to driving. It's great fun, but far more risky. What appears to be a simple intersection to a car driver is not so simple for the motorcyclist. The rider must scan and analyse everything: every intersection, every lane, every driver's action.
It's not simply hop-on and ride. The right mindset involves being 100% aware of the risks, constantly improving your skills, never making assumptions, and always scanning your environment with all of your senses.
The right attitude
For the rider, attitude is everything. If you can pick this up as a Learner then you're already ahead of the pack.
- Be proactive – Never expect other motorists to get out of your way just because the law says they have to. Sometimes they will be completely in the wrong but you'll still end up in hospital. Take action and protect yourself!
- Be seen – It is your own responsibility 100% of the time to make sure other motorists can see or at least notice you. What gear you're wearing and your actions affect the chances of a crash happening. Get into the habit of asking yourself questions like these:
- Am I in someone's blind spot?
- Does my speed affect how easily I can scan the road ahead?
- Observe – As a Learner motorcycle rider, you'll find there are so many things going on around you. What makes a good rider is your awareness of everything on the road around you. Be observant, keep your eyes moving and scanning, and take action. Soon, this skill will become a habit and one of your greatest assets! But don't limit the scanning to your eyes. Open your ears to the things you may not have seen. Use your nose even.
- Improve your skills – Actively improving your skills (through Stay Upright training courses and practice) may help you in an emergency. For example, knowing the correct way to make an emergency brake and to corner.
- Be your own rider – Know your limits. If you're riding with friends don't let the pack rule your head. If you ride a few Kph slower than the rest it shows you are smart enough to know your limits.
Watch out for yourself every time you ride.
For Enjoyment
For all of us, we're out riding to have a good time. A good time to some riders though is pushing their limits when taking corners at inappropriate speeds. Unfortunately, this is where riders become statistics. The challenge of these corners to some is their source of enjoyment, but often a greater source of pain.
Treating public roads like a race track carries a lot of risk. Race tracks don't have trees, gutters, poles, or oncoming traffic. If there are track hazards, riders are warned of them. Public roads have no such warnings and are always unpredictable.
To other riders, there's more enjoyment in riding a motorcycle at the right speed for the situation, enjoying the scenery, and knowing that your bike is completely under your control on the corners, applying the right techniques.
How is riding different?
Learner bike riders may assume riding correctly simply means learning basic skills. But riding a motorcycle involves much more than just physically controlling a bike.
You're on two wheels instead of four. Staying balanced and upright on a bike is now a far more important factor than driving a car. Things you may not have thought about can affect your traction (road grip) on a bike (like wet roads, gravel, corner speed).
You have no metal shell around you to protect you from impact – Correct riding gear is what protects you from further injury. The severity of an impact from a crash when riding compared to when driving in a car are two very different scenarios - One can injure you a lot more, depending on what gear you're wearing at the time and other factors.
You need more co-ordination when riding. You'll be operating the Learner bike, steering, and keeping it upright whilst scanning the environment, all at the same time.
You are far less visible on a motorcycle. Collisions between cars and bikes typically involve drivers claiming to never having seen the rider. Part of the Rider's Mindset is being responsible for your own visibility, by wearing the appropriate gear and riding appropriately.
A motorcycle functions and reacts differently to a car. Taking on the same traffic, speed zones, road surfaces, and corners on a bike vs. a car is a totally different experience and requires a completely different attitude and awareness.