Essential and Advanced Bike Riding Skills Guide

Posted on: Nov 14, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Essential and Advanced Bike Riding Skills Guide

Whether you've been driving for some time now or just learning, you need to practice and acquire the right skills. Having basic and advanced bike riding skill can play an important role in creating a positive, smooth and safe riding experience.

The riding skills aren't only about maintaining balance, brakes and throttle, but also about being alert and responsive to the road situation. As you start riding, you must be confident about your skills. It is best to get bike insurance that offers coverage for your two-wheeler while you're still brushing up your skills.

Basic Riding Skills Every Biker Must Master

It's the basic riding skills that play an important role in helping you be safe on the road. As a biker, you should know this, but as a beginner, you must have mastered the art of basic riding. These skills often include:

1. Braking technique

This is one of the most important skills to learn, considering it will help you control your vehicle's speed. You'll need to practice your braking technique frequently to prevent the risk of overusing your rear brake, sudden braking or underusing your front brake. Although modern-day bikes have in-built ABS, it is crucial to learn how to brake properly.

2. Clutch control

To prevent the wrong usage of the clutch, you need to work on your clutch control skills. It is important to understand the friction zone- when the clutch lever changes from disengaged to engaged. As a rider, you must know what a friction zone is.

3. Downshifting

Not a lot of people pay attention to downshifting, but it is an extremely crucial skill to have as a biker. The riders must be aware of how to smooth the downshift. The easiest way to do so is to ensure that the engine speed corresponds to the relevant lower gear.

4. Be Alert While Riding

You can't ride on the road if you're not alert at all. It is extremely crucial to practice alertness before starting to ride on the main road. At the same time, you need to wear safety gear. For additional safety, you must have comprehensive bike insurance. In case of any unforeseen situation, the insurance will offer sufficient financial protection to cover damages.

5. Hand Signals

Reading hand signals is one of the most basic riding skills to have. Although bikes have headlights, taillights and indicators, a lot of bikers communicate through hand signals. Not understanding hand signals can lead to miscommunication and eventually accidents, where you may end up damaging third-party vehicles. Therefore, to avoid this, not only must you learn about hand signals, but you must also purchase third party bike insurance for extra safety.

Advanced Bike Riding Techniques for Safer Journeys

As you master the basics, you will have to learn advanced bike riding skills as well. This includes:

1. Situational Awareness

While driving, you have to be aware of your surroundings, right from any human/animal crossing the road or any vehicle coming from behind. Similarly, you have to be extremely mindful of the traffic signals.

Do not ever talk on the phone while you're riding. You should be extremely focused on riding and ensuring safety. One moment of being unaware on the road can lead to potential hazards. Moreover, if you violate any road rules, the bike insurance will also not cover it.

2. Advanced Braking Techniques

After learning the basics or braking, it's time to learn the advanced ones too. While you may have learnt how to throttle initially, you also need to focus on understanding the different parking scenarios. You have to prepare for different ones, which you do by learning the advanced techniques.

As a biker, you should learn how to throttle during a downshift. At the same time, you must maintain consistent pressure. Regarding advanced braking techniques, you need to learn about both your bike's front and rear brakes. Practice the art of braking, especially at high speed.

3. Riding at Low Speed

If you're going to use your bike mostly for a daily commute, you should learn how to ride at low speeds. Most of the time, you are to ride at a low speed rather than a high speed. This is mostly the scenario when you are driving in congested city traffic.

You will have to turn, change directions and even change your motion while driving. When you're driving at low speed, you should avoid using the front brakes. Moreover, you must maintain proper driving posture while riding.

4. Making Sharp Turns

Making sharp turns is an essential and advanced bike driving skill to have. If you plan on driving on the hills, you will have to take extremely sharp turns. Therefore, in situations like these, you'll have to practice well.

You must balance your accelerator and be very smooth while you make sharp turns. Be very alert and ensure that your bike is facing a 90-degree direction. As a rider, you need to be careful when you take sharp turns- do not look away from the road, as it increases the risk of accidents.

5. Counter Steering

Countersteering refers to when you apply additional pressure on the handlebars while driving at a high speed. Not steering properly has often been one of the leading causes of accidents. You can practice countersteering at empty parking lots.

You must practice countersteering thoroughly before you start applying it. A lot of new riders often become confused about which side to learn while pushing the handlebars. Therefore, you should practice the basics of the gyroscope before bringing it to you.

Why Riding Skills and Bike Insurance Go Hand in Hand?

Riding smart often reduces the risk of accidents. This has a significant impact on lowering the premiums for two wheeler insurance. Moreover, if you're not filing claims often with your insurance provider, you can also avail special rewards and offers.

Lower risk eventually translates to lower premiums. It is best to get comprehensive bike insurance for additional peace of mind. When you have comprehensive coverage against your own damage and for third-party damage, you can actually ride peacefully. After all, you wouldn't have to be worried about the financial implications since your insurance will take care of it.

Conclusion: Ride Safe, Ride Smart

You don't become a master of riding on your first day- it's all about consistent efforts. You should practice, ride smart and be aware of your situation so as to have the best riding experience. Additionally, you must not miss out on getting a third party bike insurance as mandated by law. With the right insurance coverage, you can safeguard your vehicle, financially cover the third-party damages and also avoid penalties.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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