IF YOU'RE A NEW RIDER, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The first time on a motorcycle is exhilarating, and there's nothing like riding a Harley-Davidson®, ever. Motorcycle riding is one of the few things in life that just gets better as time goes by and you get more comfortable in the saddle and familiar with your ride. Get there faster by building good safety habits from the very beginning.
If you haven't gotten your motorcycle license yet, we encourage you to come by our Garland dealership and take a test ride on our JUMPSTART™ demo. We'll help you start, shift and rev a Harley® even if you've never ridden one before. If you've passed the test and received your motorcycle license, follow these safety tips for new riders.
WEAR A CORRECTLY FITTED, UNDAMAGED HELMET
If you have a $10 grape, buy a $10 helmet. If you have any brains, your brains are worth protecting.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information published this report stating not only does wearing a helmet keep you from dying in a crash, it also reduces your risk of neck injury.
Plus a helmet protects your face and eye sockets, which are also pretty important.
Your helmet should fit well and not show any signs of damage. If you're not positive your helmet provides the protection you need to stay safe, bring it in and we'll take a look at no charge to you. We also have helmets in store that were designed for new rider safety.
WEAR THE RIGHT SHOES
No one should attempt to handle between 500 and 1,000 pounds of chromed-out Harley® wearing anything on their feet other than closed-toed shoes that go over the ankle. Rubber soled boots provide the best grip.
We have some in our store that will protect your feet and ankles and keep you from slipping when you have to come to a sudden stop on uneven terrain. That way you won't injure your toes or drop your baby. You should also wear a protective jacket, long pants or riding jeans, protective eye-wear and gloves.
LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO
Instructors sounded like a broken record at your basic motorcycle training course when they kept saying to turn your head, but you may have already forgotten their words. When you turn a corner, focus your eyes on where you want your bike go. If you look at the ground right in front of you, that's where you'll end up.
DON'T FRONT BRAKE FIRST
People react with their hand when startled. Train your muscles to always apply foot pressure to the rear brake first or at the same time as you work the front brake when you stop.
Otherwise when something jumps in front of you your hand will squeeze in panic and both you and the bike will be thrown forward. That's not what you want when someone cuts you off going 65 mph around DFW.
TRUST NO ONE
You're the only one who can look out for you. Don't trust other drivers to follow traffic laws, stay out of your lane, use extra care because you're more vulnerable than they are or watch for you in their blind spots.
Ride with your lights on, signal well in advance and always leave a wide space between you and everyone traveling around you. Never make assumptions about how other traffic will behave.
RIDE A MOTORCYCLE THAT FITS YOUR FRAME
At our Garland dealership, we can tailor our Harley-Davidson® motorcycles to almost any body type. Sometimes new riders think their dream bike is too big or heavy for them. Talk to one of our experts about how you can make your bike safer and more functional for the way you ride. See also -- How to Avoid Blind Spots for New Motorcycle Riders.
If you're a new rider, you might be looking for your very first Harley-Davidson®. Check out our inventory or get in touch and we'll help you find what you're looking for today.