May is here, and hopefully (but who knows with the weather here for those of us in Upstate New York) spring is in full swing—and with it, the weather should be consistently good enough for some rides. However, May is also important to riders for another reason… It's Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. As we get back out on the roads, we wanted to reinforce some safety measures that we hope all of our fellow riders will follow.

What Can Riders Do to Stay Safe?

There are a few things that you can do to better protect yourself while out on the road:

Make a Spectacle

Or, in other words, make sure you’re doing everything you can to promote your visibility. Bright clothes and a light helmet help to catch the eye of the motorists around you. The more easily they can see you, the better. It also helps to always have your headlight on, whenever you’re riding, and to flash your brake light whenever you’re decreasing speed or coming to a stop.

You want to be sure that other people on the road see you, so you should also try to avoid riding in blind spots.

Assume You Haven’t Been Noticed

Yeah, I know, we all know what they say about people who “assume” things, but acting under the assumption that nobody else on the road knows you are there is actually a really smart idea. This mindset implies that you can always be hit—and if you could always be hit, you’ll be especially on your guard. Defensive riding is the name of the game.

Dress to Impress

In addition to wearing bright colors and such, you want to make sure that the gear you’re wearing also gives you the kind of protection you’ll need on the road should something go wrong. A full-face helmet is best for keeping you safe, both in terms of support and, well, keeping your face covered. You should also make sure that your clothing is all made for riding, as these will often be made with abrasion resistance built in. Dress for the slide, not the ride.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

I’d say conditions can change on the road in an instant, but that’s too slow. You need to do everything you can to predict potential dangers and give them a wide berth. Always be proactive with your safety.

Check Your Bike, Every Time

The first thing you need to do whenever you go out for a ride is a quick safety check of your motorcycle. We’ve written about T-CLOCS before, so we recommend that you read that over to find out more. Your bike, as cool and badass as it may be, is still a sensitive piece of equipment and needs a bit of care if it’s going to take care of you.

Trust me, I get it. I’ve been itching to get back out on the road too. I just want to make sure that you do it safely so you can keep doing it.