The 10 Most Common Mistakes Made by Street Motorcyclists

With more than 200,000 miles of riding experience, I’ve seen street motorcyclists make the same mistakes over and over again.

I’ve selected the top 10 mistakes riders make.

Not Wearing Full Gear

“It’s too hot.”

“I can’t afford it.”

“I’m just going for a short ride.”

These are just a few of the excuses riders give themselves and others to justify not wearing full gear. Regardless of the temperature, price, or distance, the consequences of wearing just a t-shirt and jeans will be much worse if you crash. The weather shouldn’t dictate your safety. If you can’t afford full gear, you can’t really afford hospital bills. You can have an accident at the first stop sign of your block or at an intersection 100 miles away; no matter what, wear full gear.

Not Practicing

I know riders who have been riding for 30 years but are still at a beginner level in terms of skills and understanding. Riding is not practicing. Practice is focused attention on a specific skill to gain an experiential understanding of how or why something works. I often ask riders before a group ride through twisties: “When was the last time you practiced emergency braking?” Nine times out of 10, the answer is “I don’t practice.” If that’s the case, you’re not riding behind me. How can you expect to improve any learned technique if you don’t practice? Track braking, line selection, low-speed turns, body positioning, vision, throttle control, braking, etc.? Find time to practice weekly.

Putting the Bike in Neutral at Traffic Lights

While at a traffic light, you notice the car behind you doesn’t seem to be slowing down quickly enough. Are you ready to act? Putting the bike in neutral is just laziness. Several times since I started riding in August 2013, I’ve had to move out of the way to avoid being rear-ended by someone not paying attention. You won’t have time to pull the clutch, downshift to first, find an escape route, and then move quickly if necessary. Whatever reason riders give themselves for doing this, it’s not worth getting hit from behind. Keep the bike in gear, check your mirrors, and have an escape plan, always being aware of your surroundings.

Not Anticipating Cross Traffic

As I approach a green light, I see too many riders not checking left and right to ensure the path is clear before crossing the intersection. Three times I’ve noticed a car not slowing down, only to blow completely through the red light in front of me. If I hadn’t checked and slowed down, I probably wouldn’t be alive today. Check and double-check both directions at every intersection and be prepared to respond.

Not Using Turn Signals

You want to be predictable in traffic. Others should know your intentions and expect you to behave as you would expect others to. When riders change lanes without using their indicators, it increases stress and risk for everyone around. Now you’re unpredictable. Right-of-way violations by others are exactly what happens when traffic around you cannot reasonably predict what you’ll do. And it doesn’t matter who’s at fault, you are vulnerable.

Riding in Blind Spots

I hear it over and over: “This car just cut me off.” “This truck cut me off the other day.”

Look at yourself in the mirror before blaming others. Many times I see riders in cars’ blind spots. Then they blame the driver for not seeing them. We are the smallest vehicles in traffic. We need to make ourselves visible, and I’m not talking about wearing a bright yellow banana suit to get attention. Be more intentional about where you’re riding, position yourself so you’re not hidden in traffic, and give everyone around you the best opportunity to notice you’re there.

Not Looking Far Enough Through Turns

When you’re out riding through twisties, your eyes should always be well ahead of your bike. This way, if you see a hazard, you have time to think about what to do and react. Too many riders often look only 20 feet ahead of their front tire. Keeping your eyes up and looking through the turn where you want to go is the goal. Use your peripheral vision to manage lane position.

Don’t just move your eyes. Imagine taking an eye out and sticking it on the chin of your helmet. Point your chin where you want to go. This is head turning. This keeps your pupils centered in your head, causes less fatigue, and offers a wider perspective.

Getting Too Close to Yellow or White Lines

During left-hand turns, too many riders get too close to the yellow line. If a car comes from the other direction and you need to change lines, you’re too close. Your body or bike should never cross that line.

There’s only one circumstance where it’s acceptable to get very close to the line and use all the available pavement to your advantage: when there’s no oncoming traffic and it’s an open corner. Since this is very rare on your favorite twisty road, a new way of thinking about line selection is needed. Outside-middle-outside makes more sense. Start from the outside of the turn as you normally would, but go only to the middle of the lane instead of the inside. By middle, I don’t mean the dead center, but somewhere in the three-foot margin of the middle third of the lane is where your tires should be. This way, even while leaning into the turn, your head or bike will never cross the yellow or white line. Also, with this approach, you’ll have more options mid-turn if something happens. You’ll be able to slow down, speed up, turn left, or turn right. If you’re fully inside, you’re limiting your options and therefore adding risk.

Not Understanding Countersteering

Ask 10 motorcyclists what countersteering is, and you’ll probably get 10 different answers, along with some who don’t even believe it’s real or relevant. If you want to go right, push forward on the right handlebar and the bike will lean right, then go right. Same with the left. Pushing down is a myth. The more parallel your forearms are to the ground, the more efficient you’ll be in turns. You’ll keep pushing until you reach the necessary lean angle to turn based on your speed and radius.

This isn’t something you have to believe on faith or authority. Go try it and see for yourself.

Additionally, the two grips are connected, so pulling the left grip is exactly the same as pushing the right. Many times going right, I pull left instead of pushing right because my right hand is already managing the throttle and brakes, and I don’t want to overload it by having to do steering as well.

Riding Faster Than Your Skill or Comfort Level

When I lead a group of friends on twisty roads, I tell everyone before the ride starts that the goal is to get to the gas station at the end of this road. It will take 45 minutes to an hour to get there. Your goal is to make it. No one will get a trophy for getting there faster. If I want to take the turn at 40 mph and you’re behind me and want to take it at 30 mph, go at 30 mph. You are responsible for your safety, and only you should dictate your pace.

Trying to keep up with other riders comes down to ego. Trying to prove something to others or yourself. Trying to fit in. Be one of the guys. Show others you’re a good rider, etc. None of these attitudes have positive results. “Ride your own ride” is an old saying for a reason.

Speed comes naturally with better technique. Keep pursuing higher-level training, practice what you’ve been taught, and you’ll naturally be able to take turns a bit faster without adding much risk.

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