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Returning to motorcycling.
If you are thinking about returning to
motorcycling after a long break you should consider doing a
training course to refresh your old skills and learn new ones.
Getting back on the road.
Do you watch Superbikes on TV and remember the
good times you had on bikes when you were younger?
Riding a motorbike can be exhilarating, but
don't be blind to reality; the bikes you used to ride may have
been slow, didn't corner too well and quite often didn't want to
stop either.
Today's bikes are technological masterpieces.
They're built using lighter materials, have very powerful
engines, large radial tyres, disc brakes and are often fitted
with traction control and anti-lock brakes.
Superbike riders vs. road riders.
Even the expert Superbike riders get it wrong
sometimes. They ride on the limit and are prepared for a fall.
But remember TV doesn't show the agony the rider will be in the
next day. Road riders can't rely on the relative safety of a
gravel trap, they're more likely to hit a kerb, a wall, tree,
lamppost, another vehicle, etc.
Staying out of trouble.
The best riders have developed a higher level of
concentration than the average rider and are continually
scanning around them for signs of possible danger. They don't
wait for something to develop. Everything is planned, they
travel at a safe speed with the bike in the right gear and in
the safest position on the road.
You'll find most of these riders have taken
defensive riding courses and are constantly developing these
skills.
It's a sad fact, but riders returning to biking
after a long period of time without training are more vulnerable
and are likely to be involved in an accident in their first two
weeks of riding.
Motorcyclists are 45 times more likely to be
killed on the road than car drivers, and these figures are
rising.
What can you do?
If you think training is boring, try to look at
it as development. After all, if you were trying to improve your
golf swing or your tennis game, you wouldn't think twice about
taking lessons with a professional.
Don't learn the hard way - the school of hard
knocks can be a very painful way to learn and in some cases you
don't graduate.
Motorcyclists represent less than one per cent
of all road traffic but suffer 18 per cent of deaths and serious
injuries on our roads.
If it's a long time since you rode a bike,
consider taking a basic training course. Talk to a professional
trainer about advanced riding courses. They're all enthusiastic
motorcyclists who are happy to pass on their knowledge.
Advanced training is available from various
organisations. You can get information on these from the road
safety officer at your local council or from the Yellow Pages.
In this section...
About compulsory basic training
(CBT).
Motorcycle practical test.
Clothing and weather protection.
Information for moped riders.
Returning to motorcycling.
Motorcycles you can ride.
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