On a motorcycle, prevention is your best protection!
It’s a matter of maintaining a close relationship with your motorcycle, which requires plenty of care and attention. It is also a series of preventive actions which will make all the difference for your safety and that of others.
After the winter: check the condition of your motorcycle
Among the important points to consider after storage and during the season:
- Tire pressure: to be checked at least 4 or 5 times during the season
- Proper functioning of brakes, headlights and signal lights
- Oil: change the oil at the start of the season and anticipate a second change, especially if you travel a lot.
Before “hitting the road’, make sure to protect yourself!
Wear an approved helmet, because it’s the law! In Quebec, you must wear a helmet that complies with DOT, CSA, ANSI, SNELL, BSI or ECE standards. If you have had a previous fall which could have damaged your helmet, it must be changed. Even if you don’t see anything abnormal, it may have lost its shock absorption qualities. For this same reason, you must be careful about wearing used helmets.
Protect your eyes! Being hit in the eye by an insect or a pebble can make you lose control of your motorcycle. On the road, always lower your visor or wear protective goggles.
Wear protective clothing, designed for motorcyclists, because it makes sense! Even while travelling at a low speed, falling off a motorbike can cause injury to the skin and joints. Among the most frequent injuries: burns, wounds with the presence of foreign bodies and injuries to hands and feet.
You should choose abrasion-resistant materials for your jacket, trousers and gloves (such as Gore-Tex or Kevlar) which are specially designed for motorcyclists. Wear boots, if possible, which are strengthened at the most exposed locations (ex.: gear selector).
On the road, be aware at all times
On a motorcycle, the best way to protect yourself is to predict what those around you could do or might do… like open a door or swing over to the left lane while you are passing them.
In short, when riding your motorcycle:
- Announce your intentions: use your signal lights and your horn.
- Keep your distance: consider the time it will take for you to brake in an emergency situation. The faster your speed, the longer braking distance you need.
- Adapt your speed to the surrounding traffic and to the location where you are driving, as well as to weather conditions.
Remember, you can always contact your insurance broker for advice – he is there to help you in matters of loss prevention. Enjoy the season, and stay safe!
