2Wheeltips

You hear a lot of ideas about making yourself seen while riding.  Well, one very simple tip is to turn your high beams on during the day.  High beams will not blind oncoming drivers during the day since our eyes are adjusted to daylight already.  And high beams will give you that extra bit of visibility that is so important.

Remember, high beams still should  be used selectively at night.  Just like high beams on a car, your motorcycle's high beams can blind an oncoming driver.

How often have you heard the slogan “loud pipes save lives”?  It is a common explanation by riders who either purchase bikes with loud exhaust pipes or replace the original exhaust pipes on their bike with loud ones.  Before you put loud pipes on your bike, consider the following:

    •    In some towns, you may be fined for riding with loud pipes.
    •    Motorists may still not hear you until you are right on top of them.
    •    Loud pipes can irritate drivers and pedestrians.

Accident avoidance is your goal, and you should practice the following tips:

    •    Wear bright clothing during the day.
    •    Wear retro-reflective clothing at night.
    •    During the day, ride with your high beams on.

Headlights on later model bikes come on whenever the bike is on but riding with the high beams during the day will make your bike more visible and it does not blind drivers as it can during the night.

   •    Use your turn signals!  Using hand signals will not help you be seen; lighted turn signals can.
    •    You can tap your brake to show drivers that you are slowing down before you actually start to brake completely.
    •    Use your horn!

  If you see a potentitally dangerous situation coming up, use your horn to get someone's attention.  Remember that your horn is not a substitute for maneuvering around a dangerous situation.  But, in some cases, it is all you need to get the attention of a driver or pedestrian who may be about to cut in front of you.  Don't hesitate to use your horn in the two most dangerouss situations:  oncoming vehicles making a left turn, and cars pulling out from side streets (never assume that others see you).

A common response from people who collide with motorcyclists is “I never saw him....he  came out of nowhere...”  By understanding that many motorists and pedestrians simply do not notice motorcyclists, and making yourself more visible to them with what you wear and what you do when approaching them, you can help prevent many accidents.

Rather than paying a lot of money to upgrade the pipes on your bike, consider upgrading the horn on your bike.  It will cost significantly less and you can bet that people will hear it!