Tips for Riding Your Motorcycle in the City

If you’ve just bought a new motorcycle, you’re likely eager to rev up your engine and take it for a ride. However, riding in the city is often very different from driving on open roads, interstates, or highways. If you’ve never ridden in the city before, we strongly advise reading through our helpful riding tips below before you try cruising around town with your new bike.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

City streets tend to have a lot more obstacles to avoid than calmer country roads or large highways. As a result, it’s important to pay close attention to your surroundings at all times. Be sure to always scan ahead so you can quickly react to hazards such as vehicle accidents, large potholes, pedestrians, or construction. When traveling through busy intersections or congested streets, remember to always double-check your left side— as that’s most likely where traffic will be coming from, and where you’re most likely to be hit. 

Keep a Safe Distance

City streets can quickly become packed during morning traffic or the late afternoon rush. However, rather than ride bumper to bumper with the vehicle in front of you, we advise you to try and leave plenty of space between you and the cars around you. Not only will this make you more visible to nearby motorists, but it should also decrease the likelihood that you’ll be rear-ended or reversed into another vehicle. If a car nearby does start to move toward you, this extra space should give you the opportunity to quickly move out of the way and avoid an accident. 

Looking for some helpful riding gear or motorcycle accessories to help you get around town on your bike? Here at Horsepower Harley-Davidson® we offer an impressive inventory of motorcycle parts, accessories, and gear for you to browse through, as well as helpful repair and financing services. If you’re located nearby in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, feel free to visit our location here in Williamsport anytime!