Handling Threats on Your Touring Motorcycle

While riding your touring motorcycle is fun, you do need to be responsible about it. Motorcycling can be dangerous if you’re careless, especially because of other motorists. Car and truck drivers can be reckless and pay less attention because they feel like they’re safer, so you’ll need to watch them carefully and be prepared to react. Here are some tips on how to handle threats on the road to keep your touring trips safer.

Distracted Driving

Whether they’re tired, sick, angry, or using their phones, car drivers have plenty of potential distractions that can pull their focus from their surroundings. As a touring motorcyclist, you don’t have the luxury of a big steel enclosure to protect you, nor do you have distractions like the radio or food, or your phone to worry about, so you’ll need to be vigilant for drivers who seem like they’re going at erratic speeds or swerving between lanes of traffic.

Animals

If you ride out in the country, you’re bound to encounter some wildlife at some point. This is particularly true if you’re riding after dusk, as many nocturnal animals will try to cross the highway. Be mindful of yellow signs that indicate animal crossings and be prepared to slow down or take the shoulder, since hitting an animal on your bike is going to be extremely dangerous.

Ready to buy a new touring bike for your upcoming adventures? Stop by our New York dealership in the city of New Windsor to take a look at our wide stock of new and used touring motorcycles for sale. Jim Moroney's, Inc. serves our customers in Newburgh and Cornwall, NY.