Common Motorcycle Taboos to Avoid

When it comes to riding a motorcycle, there are many things you must be aware of so that you don’t end up in an accident. You don’t want to injure yourself, nor do you want to cause damage to your bike. Here are some of the more common mistakes, or taboos, that new motorcyclists make to help you out.

Riding on Bad Tires

If you’ve done a pre-ride inspection and your motorcycle’s tire treads are balding or the pressure level seems low, you need to address these issues promptly. Replacing tires isn’t cheap, but it’s necessary to ensure that you have sufficient tread depth to gain purchase on the highway.

Overburdening Your Motorcycle

While many bikes can support a great deal of weight, this doesn’t mean you can bring everything but the kitchen sink along for the ride. Make sure you’ve checked the weight limits of your motorcycle in the owner’s manual so that you don’t overburden or unbalance your bike with too much stuff.

Assuming You’re Visible

Motorcycles are pretty small and tend to be dark in color, so they can be hard for car and truck drivers to see, especially if you’re trying to pass a long semi truck or a fast-moving car on a two-lane. Wear reflective riding gear and ensure your bike’s lights are functional so that you can be seen, but make sure you’re ready to move out of the way of a driver that doesn’t see you.

When you’re ready to check out new and used motorcycles for sale in Southern California, stop by our dealership in Marina Del Rey to see what we have to offer. Bartels' Harley-Davidson® is proud to serve all of our SoCal customers in Malibu, Santa Monica, and Brentwood, California.