5 Motorcycle Safety Tips for New Riders

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This week on MCrider, we're focusing on brand new riders and some essential motorcycle safety tips that are often forgotten shortly after leaving the new rider course. These aren't just beginner mistakes—they're habits that can make or break your riding experience.

Tip #1: Perform a Pre-Ride Routine

Many new riders get into motorcycling to commute more efficiently or to enjoy weekend stress relief. But the idea of simply hopping on and riding off isn't reality.

Creating a consistent pre-ride routine helps reduce stress before you throw a leg over the bike.

Start with a Pre-Ride Safety Check

Every rider should be doing a T-CLOCS inspection. It’s a simple acronym used by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) to remember key items to check:

Tires and Wheels
Controls
Lights and Electrics
Oil and Fluids
Chassis
Stands

You can find a detailed checklist at MCrider.com/tclocs. At a minimum, check your tires and tire pressure before each ride.

Gear Up Every Time

Your motorcycle doesn’t care how far you plan to go. You’re at the same risk in your driveway as you are 50 miles from home.

Before your seat hits the saddle, wear your protective gear. My everyday riding gear looks like this:

Full-face helmet
Riding jacket
Gloves
Over-the-ankle boots or shoes

Tip #2: Learn to Use Both Brakes Properly

It’s common for beginners to favor one brake—usually the rear. But both front and rear brakes serve different purposes, and using them together gives you smoother, safer stops.

The front brake is your main stopping power.
The rear brake helps with control and balance—especially in slow-speed maneuvers.

Practice stopping with both brakes every time you ride. Building that muscle memory now helps ensure you use both in an emergency.

Tip #3: Master the Friction Zone

I’ve seen it time and time again—riders who’ve been on bikes for years still don’t understand or use the friction zone. Especially during slow-speed riding like u-turns, many try to control the motorcycle using the throttle alone.

So, what is the friction zone?

The friction zone is the area of clutch lever travel where the engine power begins to connect with the rear wheel. It’s the sweet spot that allows for smooth and controlled low-speed maneuvers.

New riders should continue practicing with the friction zone even after their course ends. It’s crucial during:

Moving forward in stop-and-go traffic
Parking lot maneuvers
Pulling into gas stations
Making tight, slow turns

Neglecting this skill is one of the top reasons new riders drop their bikes at low speeds.

Tip #4: Scan 10–12 Seconds Ahead

Many new riders treat riding like driving a car, but the risks are completely different.

Here’s a Scenario:

A car follows another vehicle closely and both straddle a chunk of blown tire on the road. The car might make some noise as it rolls over it—but it's no big deal.

Now imagine a motorcycle doing the same thing.

That same chunk of tire could cause a crash
It could strike the rider’s leg
It could get caught in the chain or jam a wheel

The same situation—but much higher risk for the rider.

To stay safe:

Look 10–12 seconds ahead on the road
Adjust your position so you can see that far ahead
Always maintain visibility to react in time

For car drivers, limited visibility might increase risk. But for motorcycle riders, it can be deadly.

Tip #5: Never Stop Learning and Practicing

In the classes I taught, there were always a mix of riders:

Complete beginners
Experienced riders without a license
Riders returning to class to improve their skills

The ones who came back to keep growing? They were always the better riders—regardless of experience.

Here’s why:

Riding and training are not the same.

In just 30 minutes of practice, you can do:

Multiple emergency stops
Swerving drills
Brake-and-escape maneuvers
Dozens of u-turns

You’ll do more in that short session than most riders do in five years on the street.

The problem? You never know when those skills will be needed. If you don’t train them, they won’t be there when you need them.

Keep Growing

Take a class with a professional instructor
If that’s not possible, join MCrider
Use the MCrider Field Guide or Road Strategy books
Make skill development a regular part of your riding

Whether you’re brand new or have years in the saddle, we can all improve.

Become a Member for immediate access to the MCrider Field Guide.

Below is some gear that I ride with on a daily basis…if you are in the need of good riding gear, the products below have worked well for me.

KLIM Jacket – https://www.MCrider.com/KLIM
Shoei Motorcycle Helmets – https://www.MCrider.com/Shoei
Windshirt/Jacket Liner – https://www.MCrider.com/Liner
Lee Park Sumo Gloves – https://www.MCrider.com/LeeParks

The best source for guiding your practice session is the MCrider Field Guide.
If you are not a Member join for immediate access to the forums and Field Guide

Resources

Road Strategy Videos
Road Skill Videos

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