Clothing for riding should provide protection while keeping you comfortable. Jackets and pants should be snug enough that they do not flap in the wind, but not so snug that they restrict your movements.

When being passed, the center portion of the lane is generally the safest lane position for a motorcyclist. Riding on the side nearest the passing vehicle increases the risk of colliding with it. Riding on the side farthest from the passing vehicle can also be dangerous because it may prompt the driver to return to your lane before it is safe to do so.

Following too closely, or "tailgating," can be a major factor in collisions caused by motorcycles. When riding behind another vehicle, maintain a safe following distance.

Frequent mirror checks should be part of your normal scanning routine. Additionally, make a special point of using your mirrors before changing lanes, when stopping at an intersection, and before slowing down.

In California, it is illegal for a person age 21 or older to operate a motorcycle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. For a person under the age of 21, it is illegal to operate a motorcycle with a BAC of 0.01 percent or higher. It may be unsafe to operate a motorcycle even if you are under the legal limit.

When making a normal, non-emergency stop, use the front and rear brakes simultaneously and downshift.

In general, the best way for a group of motorcyclists to maintain close ranks while still allowing each rider an adequate space cushion is to ride in a staggered formation.

Because a passenger will place additional weight on your motorcycle, you will probably need to add a few pounds of pressure to your tires before riding. Check your owner's manual for details regarding the appropriate pressure settings to use.

It is important to consistently check vehicles approaching your motorcycle from behind to determine if drivers are paying attention to you and your movements. Use your mirrors when stopping at an intersection to make sure approaching drivers are responding appropriately to your actions.

Riding alongside a vehicle in the lane next to you is dangerous because you may be riding in the driver's blind spot. Additionally, the vehicle will block your escape route if you need to react to a hazard that arises.

Improper braking is a significant contributing factor to many motorcycle crashes. Using a proper braking technique is an important part of riding safely.

Octagonal signs that are colored red are always stop signs. When approaching one of these signs, you must come to a complete stop, yield to any other traffic or pedestrians, and proceed once it is safe to do so.

If the front wheel locks up while you are braking, release the pressure from the front brake. Immediately re-apply pressure to the brake with controlled gradual pressure.

In Idaho, all motorcycle operators and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets while riding. It is strongly recommended that all operators and passengers wear helmets, regardless of age.

Because a motorcycle's brake light is not as noticeable as the brake lights of a car, it is usually a good idea to flash your brake light when slowing or stopping so others will be more likely to notice that you are decelerating. This is particularly important if you are slowing down more quickly than others might expect.

Long-term exposure to wind and engine noise can damage your hearing, even if you wear a helmet. It is a good idea to use hearing protection every time you ride to help prevent hearing damage.

A small technical fault can have much more serious consequences on a motorcycle than on a car. To avoid these consequences, inspect your motorcycle before every ride.

Pavement can be particularly slippery after it has just started to rain. Oil from vehicles will have not yet washed away from the surface of the road, forming a slippery mixture with the water.

Roads become slippery when it first starts raining, especially in the center strip of a lane. When rain starts, it is generally safest to ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles. The left tire track is often best.

To create more space and minimize the harm of any hazard, communicate your presence to other road users by using your horn, lights, and/or signals. Adjust your speed to be appropriate for the situation and adjust your lane position and/or direction of travel as needed.

If you approach an intersection that is not marked with signs or traffic lights at the same time as another driver, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.

A motorcycle's horn is not as loud as the horns of other vehicles. Motorcyclists should use their horns where appropriate but should not rely on their horns to keep them safe.

It is almost always more difficult to judge distances when traveling in the dark than it is when traveling in daylight. Shadows and light contrasts are important cues to the distance of an object. When you must rely on artificial lighting to see the roadway at night, natural contrasts and shadows may be distorted or entirely absent.

Many drugs, including legal prescription and over-the-counter medications, have side effects that can impair your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. Always talk to your doctor about how a new medication may affect your driving or riding abilities.

Before mounting, you should ask your passenger to look over your shoulder in the direction of any turn or curve that you may take. Doing so will help you and your bike to lean in the appropriate direction.