You've got yourself a brand new bike, and naturally, you can't wait to hit the road and travel to far-off lands.
But, hold your horses!
Have you made sure you're well and truly travel-ready? You don't want to make a mistake that may sour the beginning of your biker journey. Here, we're going to look at a checklist containing five important factors to consider before you think about revving your new bike.
1. Safety
The importance of ensuring rider safety can never be understated. Admittedly, biking is an adventurous experience, but one should also manage certain associated risks. Out of all, safety is the most important.
Safety itself should have a checklist of its own, and a helmet should be at the very top. Once that is taken care of, you can put on your riding gear. A lot of people neglect this part and end up regretting this decision. Proper riding gear includes knee pads, elbow guards, and riding jackets, and are suitable for long rides.
Remembering these little details may be the difference between a light injury and a serious one if an unfortunate incident occurs.
2. Traffic Rules
In a world where people don't follow the rules, chaos definitely ensues. Imagine the chaos if everyone on a two-wheeler or any other vehicle disregards the traffic rules.
Keep yourself educated and informed about all the traffic rules and norms to follow in your area. Maintaining your lane, respecting traffic signals, knowing what different road signs and symbols mean, and following them are some basic rules you must obey without question.
Not following them is detrimental to yourself and the people around you. You would be putting others' lives in danger along with yours. There's nothing more unfortunate than going through pain and suffering at the behest of someone else's mistake. Make sure that the person causing the said pain and suffering is not you. Follow traffic rules to the T. It's possible to be swayed by others not doing the same, but riding around with no care can lead to severe consequences. All it takes is one mistake.
3. Maintenance
Your brand new bike won't remain pristine forever. All machines need to be serviced regularly, and bikes are no exception. If you take good care of your bike, it will take care of you.
Ensuring the brakes are well oiled and performing at their best is of utmost priority. Brakes are also an essential factor in deciding rider safety. When starting out, it's smarter to focus on your brakes more than your accelerator. It also makes for a more controlled riding experience.
When you first inspect your bike, do a walk around. Look for things that may seem unusual and try to figure out their root cause. Regularly check your bike fluids, oil, batteries, tyres, wheels, and your controls like the clutch and throttle. Keep yourself informed about the working mechanisms of all bike parts and stay on top of them.
4. Carry Your Essentials
Make sure you carry your essentials when riding your bike. Many backpacks are made specially to be carried around on your motorcycle. These can hold a decent amount of requirements.
Keep a small first aid box with you because you never know when you may need it. When going on longer rides, carry water bottles, energy bars and electrolytes to keep yourself energised. Additionally, carry your important documents, extra riding gear, and bike equipment.
5. Documentation
Whether you're an experienced biker who has been riding for years or someone new, carrying all your important papers is a must. Not having the proper documentation when riding can lead to legal hassles and subsequent discomfort.
You don't want to give anyone any reasons to penalise you, so here is a list of important documents that you must carry with you when riding -
- Rider's Driving License - Issued by the RTO, your driver's license is the piece of paper that permits you to drive legally on the road. It also states what vehicle you can use, such as two-wheeler, four-wheelers, etc.
- Bike Registration Certificate - Your RC is one of the most vital documents you need to keep with yourself. It shows your two-wheeler's registration with your state's RTO. It has your bike's registration number, owner details, etc.
- Two-wheeler Insurance Policy - In India, it is mandatory to have your two-wheeler insured by a third-party bike insurance provider. Therefore, you must have this document at all times as proof. If you have not done this yet, you can look at cheap and affordable two-wheeler insurance packages that provide you with great value.
- Bike Fitness Certificate - A two-wheeler can only travel on Indian roads for 15 years. If it exceeds this time, it needs a new fitness certificate.
- Pollution Certificate - Your bike must pass all emission tests to be deemed usable on Indian roads. This document is proof that your bike's emission levels are within the permissible limit.
Conclusion
Once you've made sure you've got a green light on all these points, you're good to go! Remember all these points and follow them honestly. It's in your best interest to do so.
Happy riding!
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