Motorcycle Lessons - Preparing To Ride Part 1

The first thing you need to do before you start motorcycle lessons is to be sure that your wearing the right gear. The right gear means wearing an approved helmet, face or eye protection and protective clothing.

Selecting the right helmet firstly involves a choice between two different types of coverage, a full face helmet or a three quarter helmet. Whichever you choose make sure that it meets US Dept of transport and state standards. Also make sure that it fits nice and snug and that it doesn't have any obvious defects like cracks, damaged padding or straps. My personal choice is the full face helmet as it provides a bit more protection in the event of an accident and always remember that whenever you ride make sure your helmet is securely fastened to your head because you don't want it flying off in a crash before your head hits something!

Eye and face protection requires a bit of a common sense approach when you purchase a motorcycle helmet. With full face helmets its not really a problem as they have the required plastic shatter resistant face shield and meet US Dept Of Trans standards but always check they do before you buy. If you get a three quarter helmet try to get one with a full face shield which will provide you with better protection than goggles or glasses. The problem with goggles is that while they protect your eyes, they don't protect the rest of your face from dirt, dust, rain, insects and pebbles. Glasses won't do much for your either and they might even blow off when you turn when riding your motorcycle at speed. The features you should look out for in an effective face shield or eye protection are - make sure its free of scratches, is resistant to penetration, gives you a clear view, fastens securely so it doesn't blow off, lets air pass through to reduce fogging and make sure it has enough room your glasses or sunglasses if you want to wear them at the same time.

Wearing the right clothes is an essential part of being safe on your motorcycle and especially during your motorcycle lessons. The right motorcycle clothing can be broken down into 3 parts - Jacket and Pants, Boots or Shoes and Gloves. When you select your jacket and pants get a set that covers your arm and legs completely and that it fits snugly enough to give you good freedom of movement, but doesn't flap in the wind. The Boots or shoes you select should be high and sturdy enough to cover your ankles and give them support. The soles should be made of hard, durable slip resistant material. Remember to tuck in your laces so that they don't catch on your motorcycle. Gloves can give you better grip and protect you r hands from injury. You should get gloves that are made from leather or a similar durable material.

I hope this helps you understand just some of what you need to know when you are preparing to ride your motorcycle, stay tuned for more motorcycle lessons.

Cheers

Steve Mcless