Just like it’s not true that bulls get angry when they see red color, so is untrue that a motorcyclist’s helmet blocks the full view of the road. This is far from misinformation, as there are a lot of things that both a newbie motorcycle rider and an experience one must know to safely enjoy their preferable hobby. Spreading a little bit of wisdom or just giving a piece of vital advice to all keen motorcyclists can not only help you master some motorcycling skills but even save your life on the road. Without further ado, here are some of the most common motorcycle myths passed down by the word of mouth, analyzed, and debunked so you could maximally set out on a fierce adventure without a worry.
1. Helmets utterly block your view to see potential danger
This is one of the most common myths in the entire motorcycling world. It’s more of an excuse rather than a myth as there are still numerous riders who don’t want to wear helmets. Every helmet manufacturer has to follow detailed protective standards to produce cutting-edge helmets that offer a vision of an average of 200 degrees, and the human’s peripheral vision is a maximum of 180 degrees. Hence, every motorcyclist can see everything around them without any disruption. Plus, the helmet enhances the vision, provides adequate protection from wind and debris, and enhances safety.
2. Helmets disrupt hearing as well
Another common myth regarding helmets and motorcycling is that they also block your chances to predict and hear danger. Rest assured that this is not true and certainly not supported by any official statistics. Wearing a helmet decrease the noise, but that goes utterly in favor of a motorcyclist, as by decreasing the noise as well as the wind pressure on the head, you will be able to focus on the road, reduce any chances of experiencing road fatigue, and reducing the risk of having an accident.
3. Racing tires are far faster than road tires
As it’s essential to have a quality bike, it’s equally important to have good tires. For finding a top-notch motorbike you should not hurry, but rather explore all the machines, read some of the reviews, and click here to discover the latest trends and fantastic motorcycle designs. And when it comes to tires, you just have to get the ones your motorbike needs. Never mix and mingle motorcycle racing tires with road tires, they are simply way different and they will not make you go faster, on the contrary. You have a greater chance of falling off your bike if you mix tires rather than going faster as you can never get the racing tires up to the designated racing temperature out on the highway.
4. Loud pipes make riding better and safer
Again, this is totally untrue. Even if this myth sounds rather logical when said, the evidence against it is just so strong, that most riders just don’t want to accept it. Loud pipes don’t do much for the functionality of the motorbike nor do they serve as a safety feature, they merely exist because riders reckon they are cool. What’s more, it has been proven that riders with loud pipes crash more often than those with stock pipes as they fail to adequately hear and predict danger. Load pipes just draw attention, upset cars stuck in the traffic jam, scare people and pedestrians.
5. Lay the bike down if you’re about to crash
Most motorcyclists don’t want to admit it, but “laying the bike down” when you are about to crash is the wrong choice. This doesn’t make anything better, but it can truly make things worse. If a motorcyclist has had an accident it’s usually because they haven’t had enough time to slow down, they didn’t see how to avoid the obstacles, or they just were going far too fast. Hence, forcing yourself to lay down and automatically crash the bike won’t save you from injury. Yes, it might be safer to go down rather than being thrown up in the air, but hitting the break will slow your bike better than hitting the metal on the ground. The fact goes – when you sense danger, reduce the speed, hit the break, and (maybe) jump off the bike rather than laying it down as you can never know where you can slide into.
6. It’s better to stop with conventional brakes rather than anti-lock brakes
It’s true that no matter how experienced a motorcyclist you are, you can never know when the person in front of you will stop. But, unless you use the anti-lock brakes (ABS) you might lock up your tires and have an accident. Therefore, this is an absolute myth. You shouldn’t apply the front brake while the handlebars are turned as this will make the bike pitch forward and to the side, and if you do this at speed, you’ll fall in an instant second. However, in all other cases, you simply must use ABS. ABS instantly reduces brake pressure when a lockup is about to happen, and it increases that pressure after the traction is restored. This means that ABS makes riding safer, enables shorter stopping distances, and produces fewer crashes, so every driver, newbie or professional, should use them.
7. Expensive gear is the best gear
Just as traction control won’t help you go any faster, having crazy expensive gear won’t make you go any faster as well. This is a myth and a fact. When it comes to buying gear, you must consider all characteristics of the products, analyze all competitors, and determine your budget and personal preference. There’s good gear for every budget, and each of those products uses quality materials, focuses on establishing good CE ratings, and applies adequate construction methods to deliver fanatic protection. The only thing you should pay attention to is spending more bucks on buying quality and high-rated helmets, than wasting money on a good-looking leather jacket.
All motorcycling myths should remain a fun tell-tale. Sharing false information or “testing” certain myths can lead to serious safety hazards, so get acquainted with all facts before you hit the road.