To discourage automobile drivers from trying to share your lane, ride in the center portion of the lane.

Because tires have less traction when a motorcycle is leaning than when it is upright, always try to position your motorcycle in an upright position before braking. If you must brake while in a curve, apply the brakes more smoothly and gradually than if your motorcycle was traveling on a straightaway.

A motorcycle carrying a passenger will sit differently than usual due to the additional weight. You may need to adjust the tire pressure, suspension, shocks, headlight, and mirrors to compensate for the shift.

The cornering characteristics of a three-wheeled motorcycle or a motorcycle with a sidecar differ from those of a two-wheeled motorcycle.

A following distance of at least four seconds is recommended for beginning riders. Increase your following distance any time conditions are less than perfect.

There is no one lane position that is always best and no one lane position that should always be avoided. Adjust your lane position in response to changes in road and traffic conditions.

To ride safely on a slippery surface, you should use both brakes when slowing or stopping, reduce your speed, and avoid making sudden moves. Be alert to oily areas, dirt, gravel, shaded areas, and bridges, as these surfaces are more likely to be slippery than others.

When riding, sit so that you can use your arms to control the motorcycle rather than to hold yourself up. Your arms should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips. To help maintain your balance, keep your knees against the gas tank and your feet firmly on the footrests.

It is safest to wear long pants and a jacket to fully cover your arms and legs while riding. Clothing made of leather can provide the highest level of protection.

Always use both brakes any time you slow or stop. It is safe to use the front brake, which is more powerful than the rear brake, as long as you use it properly.

Motorcycles have blind spots just like any other vehicle. Always turn your head and look over your shoulder to check for traffic in your blind spot before changing lanes.

Do not try to accelerate out of a wobble because doing so will only make the motorcycle more unstable. Instead, grip the handlebars firmly, slow down by gradually closing the throttle, move your weight as far forward and downward as possible, and pull off the road as soon as you can. Avoid applying the brakes, as this may also worsen the wobble.

Intersections present the greatest potential for conflict between motorcyclists and other drivers. Riders should use extra caution when approaching and riding through intersections.

Instead of or in addition to mechanical turn signals, operators may use hand signals to indicate turns or stops. If an operator's left arm is bent at the elbow and pointing downward, it means the operator plans to slow down or stop.

The single most important thing you can do to help others see you at an intersection is to ride with your headlight on. Your headlight should be on whenever your motorcycle is running.

At any speed, wearing a helmet will make you three times more likely to survive head injuries in the event of a crash than you would if not wearing a helmet.

Trying to accelerate out of a wobble is dangerous and will only make your motorcycle more unstable. Instead, grip the handlebars firmly (without trying to fight the wobble), gradually close the throttle to slow down, and move your weight as far forward and downward as possible. Pull off the road as soon as you can.

A number of surfaces can provide poor traction for tires. Wet pavement; roads covered in loose gravel or sand; muddy, snowy, or icy areas; painted lane markings; and metal covers and plates in the road can be more hazardous for a motorcyclist than dry pavement.

To swerve, apply a small amount of pressure to the handgrip located on the side of your intended direction of escape. To swerve to the left, press the left handgrip, then press the right to recover. To swerve to the right, press the right handgrip, then the left.

The cornering characteristics of a three-wheeled motorcycle or a motorcycle with a sidecar differ from those of a two-wheeled motorcycle. The best path for a three-wheeler to take through a curve may not actually follow the curve. For example, you may need to move from the outside of the curve to the inside of the curve before straightening out your path.

Most motorcycle crashes happen on trips that are shorter than five miles in length at speeds slower than 30 mph.

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.

Open up your following distance if your motorcycle will require a longer distance than normal to stop. Additionally, if you are riding in heavy traffic or if you cannot see through the vehicle in front of you, you should also increase your following distance.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield provides protection for the wearer's entire face in the event of a crash. Goggles may protect someone's eyes, but not the rest of their face. A windshield is not an adequate substitute for either.

While some people worry that wearing a helmet may dangerously limit their field of vision, this is not the case. Any approved helmet will let the operator see as far to the sides as is needed for safe riding.