Motorcycle riding in the UK can be very rewarding if you know where to go and what to do. There are some best places to visit and some not so good places to go and vice versa. So, let’s start with the good places. Some of the places to visit in the UK where you can learn to ride are; Whitacre Park, Basingstoke – Lincolnshire, Southport – North Yorkshire, Coleshillen – East Riding of Yorkshire, Widnes Cathedral, Glasmere – Norfolk and Alton Towers – Hertfordshire. Now, let’s get back on the topic of places to not go. Well, places such as; Staines, Chatteris and Birsthead in England and the Isle of Wight in the UK are not good places to go to for motorcycle riding.
Why? Well, the roads here are not suitable for motorbikes and even if they were, there are too many motorcyclists around that it would be dangerous for them to see anything other than the oncoming traffic, which is what they are doing in the first place! Also, the visibility is not good and most of the roads in the UK have at least three lanes of fast moving traffic going past them which is a bit much for the average motorbike rider. The best thing you can do here is to wear reflective clothing that you can wear on the motorbike trip and on any other trips that you take.
The best way to find out what roads you should avoid while riding is to take part in a motoring poll or participate in a rider poll. This will enable you to see the areas where other riders do not wish to ride and areas where you can ride without being seen by other road users. These types of surveys can be found online and are a great way to prepare for your pre-ride safety check.
One thing that riders do not like to do is to change tyres because of the visibility issue. If you don’t wish to change your tyres here are some tips that you can follow to ensure that you see everything underneath when you change your tyres. When you change your tyre, the tyres will soak up some of the oil and this will ensure that they remain visible and give you the confidence to change them quickly. If you wish to change your tyre, first pull back on the lever handle and then pump the air into the tank. Next, pull the pin out of the tyre well and wipe it down with a rag to remove any dirt or dust that might be stuck inside.
Another area that many motorcycle riders in the UK do not like to ride on is the motorway. There are many motorways in the UK that have been built many years ago when there was no motorway network and so you will find that there are many blind bends and tight turns as there are not any roads that can be seen from the road. For this reason, motorway riding can be quite dangerous and is not recommended for inexperienced riders. When travelling on the motorway, make sure that you are with another motorist who knows how to drive on the motorway and can assist you at any given point on the journey.
Another important area of motorcycle riding in the UK that people do not want to see happen is when they are travelling on a bike with no helmet. If you are riding without a helmet you risk the chance of head injury or even death. It is absolutely essential that you wear a helmet when you are on a bike anywhere in the UK because it is the law. When you are wearing your helmet, you are much more likely to see anything than if you are not wearing a helmet.