If you have ever been stuck in a traffic jam (and who hasn’t?) you will know exactly how frustrating it can be. You’ll be sitting bumper-to-bumper with dozens of other cars and nothing to do except sit and wait for the queue to start moving.
What’s more, you can virtually guarantee that at least one motorbike will speed past you as it moves through the traffic and gets ahead of the crowd with ease and very little effort. It might be frustrating if you are a car driver, but if you had a motorbike yourself, you could save plenty of time on your commute to and from work every day.
Motorcycling is certainly a great way to travel, but there are some things you should remember if you are going to start using a motorcycle on a regular basis. Firstly you need to make sure you have got all the right equipment to ensure you are as safe as possible when riding. Buy a helmet from a reputable dealer and try it on before you part with your cash to make sure it fits comfortably and doesn’t irritate you in any way.
It’s also worth investing in some waterproof clothing; leathers are the best choice since they will give you better protection in the unfortunate event of an accident, but they can get rather warm in hot weather. Leather gloves are an absolute must though!
As for the motorbike itself, don’t be tempted to buy one that is more powerful than you feel comfortable with. You can always upgrade to a better and more powerful make and model later on if you want to. You also need to think about storage; if you are going to be travelling to work on it and you need to carry a bag or a change of clothes, make sure you have panniers or a top box in which to store everything away safely.
You will also need to buy bike insurance to cover you in case of accident or theft. This should be fairly quick and easy to arrange and depending on the type of motorbike you have, it can often be cheaper than car insurance. You should still buy a heavy duty bike chain to make it more secure when you leave it anywhere though.
If you have never ridden a motorbike before, don’t make the journey to work on Monday morning the first time you ever do it. Take some time out to have a ride around some quieter streets and then build up to try the route you will take to work so that you become a little more familiar with it.
In short, once you get used to your motorbike you will soon realise why so many other people enjoy it so much. It’s certainly an ideal way to beat the traffic.
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