Animals used to be the primary tool for transportation. There was no gasoline requirement, you just had to take care of them properly. Communication may have been more difficult in those times. However, things were simpler.

Going back to basics promotes good exercise for people. Walking an extra mile just to see someone from the other side of the mountain was a hearty activity to be enjoyed on weekends. Young people going to barn dances on Saturday nights. Church on a Sunday morning. Laughing out loud together, even on dark nights with only lamps enough to lighten up the faces of your friends. No electricity, no vehicles, and water wells used for potable drinking.

Until the emergence of technology, that is. People have come to realize how to efficiently use it, especially in making life effortless, less time consuming and less demanding. The invention of vehicles gave us all the ability to cross miles without difficulty, effortlessly attending to the personal, business and official matters in our every day lives.

Among the most common, most accessible and most affordable mode of transportation for this purpose is the motorcycle. It is multi-purpose. It can travel to distant places with a minimum of gasoline consumption. It can travel fast also, depending on the driver’s preference of speed. It can even carry an additional passenger.

And of course, the most fun benefit of all, even though it sometimes annoys other drivers – in times when there is a traffic problem, motorcyclists can easily get out of the way of it, weaving effortlessly through larger, more cumbersome vehicles. All this together with their low maintenance requirement, and fewer resources used for parts and repairs, and it’s obvious why they’re so popular.

A prudent motorcyclist must be able to observe correct safety measures when using a motorcycle. This includes proper attire such as a helmet; long sleeves as protection for the skin; sunglasses with tinted lenses to shield the eyes from dust and ultraviolet rays that might cause irritation and swelling; and sometimes even knee pads to protect delicate joints.

Secondly, one should know how to use hand signals at all times. Hand signals are important in communicating with fellow drivers and bikers. Failure to read what the other person is conveying may cause an accident for both.

One must also see to it that their driver’s license and motorcycle registration is up to date. In compliance with the government requirement as well as to avoid hassles in the future, it is better not to procrastinate and to renew your registration as often as required.

Also remember to always bring your driver’s license and registration at all times to prepare for situations when there are check points. Normally, in situations like this, the police officers will always confirm one’s paperwork. You can keep the registration certificate in the trunk, together with machine tools.

Having tools with you is the last thing that the safe biker must do. In cases of emergency, tools are very helpful, especially when traveling to secluded places. You never know when a sudden need for repair might arise.

There are many different types of motorcycle to consider based on your interests. Do you want a motorcycle that is known for speed? If you will be taking long road trips on your motorcycle then you definitely want one built for travel and comfort. You may also want one that offers compartments to hold your necessities while you travel. Other motorcycles are designed for riding on dirt or for competition. There are also scooters that are fun for in town.

If you are new to the feat of motorcycle riding, it is recommended that you start with a moderately priced motorcycle or even with a used one. This is because a new motorcycle can cost you $20,000. Do you want to risk scratching it up or having costly repairs from dropping the bike over? Trust me, if you are new to riding that is going to be a part of the experience! You can always purchase a newer motorcycle once you have become a seasoned rider.

Even if you have a particular style of motorcycle in mind, it has to fit your body perfectly. This may be disappointing at first, but keep in mind that if the bike doesn’t fit you there is a risk of an accident. It is also very likely that you won’t be comfortable while riding it, so what fun will that be? Of course you can always have a customized motorcycle made later on of the style you want that fits you perfectly.

The best way determine if a motorcycle is a good fit for you is to sit on the bike with the kickstand on the ground. Can you touch the ground with both feet? If not, then you need to look for a motorcycle that isn’t as tall. If you can reach the ground with both feet, can you reach the handle bars comfortably? How about the brakes and the turn signals?

Of course a very important aspect you need to consider when looking for the right motorcycle is the price. You need something that is going to fit into your budget. Do you want to purchase a used motorcycle for the amount of money you can afford? Are you willing to take out a loan to pay for a higher priced motorcycle on monthly payments? You should decide this before you even begin looking at potential motorcycles.

A motorcycle can provide you with a fun mode of transportation for fun or for commuting. Motorcycles are very inexpensive to operate and allow you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. You will find your motorcycle to be more comfortable if you take your time and select one based on how it feels with your body shape than how the body of the bike looks. Choosing a bike that doesn’t fit well will leave you disappointed as well as raise the risk of accidents and injuries taking place.

How often have we heard that? Zealous four-wheelers are bent on saving us from our own stupidity. Of course our bulbs are dim. Anyone bright wouldn’t go near one of those two-wheeled death machines. “It’s too risky,” they intone piously.

In a small part, they are right. There is risk involved in operating a motorcycle. There’s also risk involved in driving on a freeway, even in a tank. And it’s purely insane to sleep on a waterbed if we have cats. The trick is to manage the risks and to not take dumb risks.

One of the main keys to managing risks is to take a motorcycle rider course, and to keep the mental and physical skills we learn sharp. Many skills are lost in six months if they aren’t practiced. Knowing good cornering and curve-riding techniques doesn’t do us any good if we don’t practice them.

Knowing our limits, the limits of our machines, and the limits of our environment and riding within those limits is also critical. We must remember that those limits change constantly and adapt our riding style to conform to them.

Superior riders never get themselves into situations requiring superior skills. Taking dumb risks is asking for trouble. If we keep pushing our limits, we will eventually exceed them, and the consequences can be devastating or even fatal. Riding faster and faster though a familiar curve can spell disaster when we’ve pushed our traction to the limits and there’s something unexpected in the road halfway through the curve. Riding fast in the rain just because we’re in a hurry makes no sense when we know we can’t stop quickly. Slowing down and putting distances between us and a hazard is sensible risk management. Replacing worn tires helps keep us safely stuck to the road.

Part of the challenge of motorcycling is risk management, and the sport wouldn’t be very enjoyable if we wrapped ourselves in cotton and surrounded ourselves with a cocoon of safety devices. However, the sport is more fun if we don’t have to worry about dangers we create for ourselves.

But perhaps the problem is that you are so good at avoiding using emergency maneuvers that you’re out of practice. If you ride properly, you don’t get to practice some of your skills on the street. That doesn’t mean you should let them deteriorate until the next time you take a rider course.

That’s why they make parking lots. And you thought those painted yellow lines were just there to corral the cars. Their real purpose is to provide a marked area to practice so you can keep all your skills sharp—not just the ones you use every day. The same skills which degrade in a few months can be retuned in a few minutes of practice.

Quick stops are easy to practice on a good parking lot with a good surface. Bring your speed up to 15–20 mph, look at a distant object straight ahead, and squeeze the front brake while you press on the rear brake. You squeeze quickly, progressively and hard. Do not grab the front brake. If you keep the speed the same for several tries while you start braking at the same yellow line, you can measure your progress.

Now comes the fun part-swerving around an object. Recently, one study found that an expert rider could swerve as sharply on his Gold Wing as he could on a much smaller bike. You won’t believe just how quickly you can swerve. Try swerving around an eight-foot wide obstruction (tennis balls cut in half) at 15 mph. Remember, do not brake or downshift while swerving.

Once you bring these two skills up to par, it’s time to put them together. Quick stops on a curve require you to (1) straighten up before you (2) brake hard to stop. Let’s look at that order again. First press on the handlebar near the outside of the curve. (If you’re turning right, press left.) Press until the bike is completely vertical. Be sure to straighten the handlebars as the bike straightens up. Once you are straight, all your traction is available for stopping. Look at a distant object straight ahead, and quickly and progressively squeeze the front brake while you press on the rear brake.

You have just put two skills (swerving and stopping) together (but not too closely) to practice quick stops on a curve. Now you’re ready to go out and face the world again, much better prepared than when you rode into that parking lot. You’ve tuned yourself up for another few months.

DECIDE WHICH BIKE IS BEST FOR YOU

Notice here, I avoided the word ‘want’, because what you want, and what suits you best are totally different animals. It’s all very well finally aspiring to the bike of your dreams only to find that you fall off at every junction because your legs are too short, or it’s so fast that it scares you to death, so retain a modicum of common sense when making your purchase. There’s also the question of what you can afford. You may scrape together the money to buy the bike in the first place, but can you really afford to run it. Don’t forget; fast bikes are costly to insure, especially if you are young or have no ‘no claims’ bonus.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Right, you’ve decided which bike to buy and you’re off to get your eager hands upon the beauty, but wait, hold on a minute. Before you jump in, ought you not to test the water? It’s time to survey the market. This is an important point, because it could save you a lot of money. You’re going to have to decide whether you’re going to buy privately or from a dealer. Of course, buying privately is cheaper, but if you go down this route, make sure you know what you’re doing. Buying from a dealer will offer more protection should there be a problem with the machine after you’ve owned it for a week or two. Shop around and see who’s offering the best deal. If necessary, hold back and wait until the bike you want is available.

BE METICULOUS WITH THE PAPERWORK

You may find a motorcycle that is just the thing for you, suits you down to the ground and is reasonably priced, but that price won’t look so good if you buy the bike, only to discover a few weeks later that the person who sold the motorbike didn’t actually own it. If the seller cannot provide the documentation for the motorbike, don’t touch it. Make sure that the address on the registration document is the same as the sellers.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Alright, we’ve ascertained that the person who’s selling the motorcycle is the rightful owner; well he thinks he is anyway. The fact is that if the motorcycle was bought on finance by someone who overstretched themselves and failed to keep up with the payments, the bike could well be the property of the money lenders. Firstly, ask the seller if the bike is paid for; unless he’s an out and out liar, he’s going to come clean and save you a lot of hassle. If he seems to be a decent chap and you believe him…don’t. Invest in a vehicle check. It could be the best money you ever spent.

THE VIEWING

Never, ever, ever, ever view a vehicle at any other place than the seller’s home. Believe me; even if you have to travel a long distance to see the motorcycle, it’s worth going that extra mile or two. Don’t be tempted by offers to meet half way at a road side cafe or some such place. I hardly need to say this, but don’t go at night. All vehicles look better under street lights. Now here’s a really good idea; if you’re not too hot on the mechanical side of things, take someone along who knows about bikes.

DOES IT GO

And more to the point, is it going to keep going? I refer back to the point about taking someone along who is knows about motorbikes. If you don’t have a friend who fits into this category, it may be well worth paying someone who does. In the grand scheme of things a little extra on the price of the bike isn’t too much to bear. The alternative could be unthinkable.

BARGAIN?

The motorcycle is a few years old, but according to the clock it must have been sitting in a garage, but hold on a minute, it looks a little worn in places. Watch out for ‘clocking’. Ask the seller to produce test certificates from previous years and check to se if they tally with the recorded mileage.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

Check it. It’s not only humans that suffer from identity theft. Make sure you’re not buying a ringer. Every vehicle carries a unique number; do your utmost to ensure that the number hasn’t been changed.

THE TEST RIDE

Before you take the bike out for a ride, explain to the owner that you’re going to be gone for at least half an hour. It’s no good just going down the road and back and hoping to get a feel for a bike that you’re going to be living with for a while. Take more care choosing your bike than your partner (most people do).

SOMETHING FISHY

If something doesn’t seem right, if there’s a little niggles in the back of your mind, go home and think about it… no, just go home, leave it. Another bike will come along in due course.