There are certain rules that we, as motorcyclists, should strive to obey. Things that keep us safe, keep our bikes safe and keep those around us safe. These are the 10 commandments of motorcycling.
1. Thou shalt dress properly
Let's start with the big one. Regardless of what type of bike you ride, where you ride it, when you ride it or how you ride it, you have to dress for it. It doesn't matter if you're commuting through winter on a 125, tearing up Silverstone on an R1 or plugging through mud and sand on an adventure bike; there's appropriate gear for all situations.
The human body is a rough, tough machine, and it can take a lot of abuse, but it has its limits. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are a very quick way of finding out where those limits are. Our gear may not keep us completely protected in all kinds of collisions or accidents, but we wear the best kit we can afford to mitigate injuries as much as possible. Don't ride in trainers. Always wear gloves. Make sure everything you have fits properly and is in good condition.
2. Thou shalt love thy bike before all others
We all love our bikes, right? However, over time it's possible that we'll forget how and why we love it. Maybe we've been a bit sloppy with winter maintenance, and the fittings are looking a bit furry, the chain plates are rusting, and the paintwork looks like the surface of the moon. This is when you need to give it a little love and attention.
Before you start trawling the dealerships looking for the next bike, show your machine a little love. Get out there with Muc-Off, Vulcanet wipes, chain cleaner and lube, and by using a variety of clothes, brushes and scrubbing instruments - along with time, patience and plenty of elbow grease - and your true love will be lovable once more.
3. Thou shalt ride sensibly through towns and villages
When you're out, having a ball on your favourite B-roads, it's so important not to be a d*ck through towns and villages. There are a few riders who don't do the rest of us any favours with their approach to speed limits and noise. Tearing through a sleepy village with your Akrapovic blaring is going to annoy a lot of people. When people are annoyed, they take action, and before you know it, there will be speed traps, speed bumps, police presence and everything else you don't want to be dealing with.
Use the time in those 30 and 40 limits to recover and take stock. Have a breather, get your head straight and then, once you reach the end of the zone, you can pick up where you left off. A wise man in a police uniform once said, very unofficially, "If there's a black number in a red circle, stick to it. If there's a black diagonal line through a white circle, you take your chances".
4. Thou shalt always help brothers and sisters in need
One of the best things about being a biker is the sense of community. Wherever you are, if you park up next to another biker, you can pretty much guarantee a friendly conversation. In fact, sometimes you can end up chatting so much that you forgot the reason you went for a ride in the first place. We like to share our experiences, our tales of awesome rides, and talk of our love for our machines. We are bikers, and we are one.
Furthermore, we help each other when in need. If you see a fellow rider at the side of the road, a quick thumbs up to see if they're ok or need help will always be appreciated. Maybe they're out of fuel, maybe it's something more serious, and they're totally stranded. Always check. One day it might be your turn to need some help.
5. Thou shalt keep thy cool
I probably could've changed this commandment to "thou shalt not punch wing mirrors off white BMWs", but it's a bit more far-reaching than that. As vulnerable road users, there are always going to be occasions where you feel wronged or slighted. It's normally because of an inattentive driver invading our road space and scaring the living daylights out of us in the process.
However, before you consider retaliation or retribution, think about the possible outcomes. If they're in a two-tonne metal box, and you're on a bike, and you start a process of escalation, you'll be the loser if things get out of control. Besides, in the vast majority of incidences, it's a momentary error on behalf of the car driver. While it's not an excuse for inattention, they may have been having a bad day or be driving whilst worrying about something hideous going on in their life. Give them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't set out to try and kill you. Take a breath, wave a hand of acknowledgement and move on with your life. Disarm the situation and get home safely.
6. Thou shalt keep learning
Congratulations, you passed your tests, and now you have a licence to ride a motorcycle! However, that's only the first piece of the puzzle. Gaining your licence just means someone has judged that you know the basics of controlling a motorcycle and that you understand what most road signs mean. There is so much more to the art - and it is an art - of riding a motorcycle quickly and safely.
For riding on the road, everyone, regardless of how long they've been riding, should book a place on a BikeSafe course. The BikeSafe course comprises a classroom session with police motorcyclists and then an observed ride where they'll pick up on any bad habits and help you to smooth them out. BikeSafe represents fantastic value for money, and I believe it's essential for all motorcyclists. If you enjoy the BikeSafe course, you can then look to go on to take part in RoSPA or IAM courses. You can always learn more, and it'll make you a safer, more confident rider.
7. Thou shalt maintain thy bike to high standards
Bikes are machines, and machines need regular maintenance to function at their best. The obvious one is chain maintenance, which can be a bit of a faff, but you really need to keep that in tip-top condition with regular cleaning and lubrication. However, while chain maintenance is probably the most commonly known task, there are many other little tasks and checks we need to stay on top of.
How often do you check your tyre pressures? When was the last time you checked all your lights are working correctly? Are you getting it serviced on time and according to the servicing schedule? Do you deal with any corrosion when you spot it? How are your sprockets looking today? Staying on top of these things results in a healthy bike. A healthy bike means less chance of anything unpleasantly hideous happening while you're out for a ride.
8. Thou shalt nod regardless of machine
We're a small but tight-knit community of enthusiasts, and we like to share with others, regardless of whatever machine they've decided to perch their buttocks upon. We shouldn't be dealing with snobbery or elitism. If you're out for a ride and you spot someone on a CG125, they're equally deserving of a nod or a wave as much as the guy on a Desmosedici RR.
Whatever wheels are underneath us, we should be warm and welcoming to everyone, regardless of their choice. Even if there's no reciprocation of nodding or waving, take solace in the fact you did the right thing. Be friendly to everyone.
9. Thou shalt signal properly
As we've already established, we're vulnerable road users. As vulnerable road users, we don't want to give anyone any excuse to either not see us or misinterpret our signals. The first and perhaps the most obvious point is that you should signal well in advance of your manoeuvre. Two flashes of the indicator before sweeping across three lanes of traffic is horribly inadequate and, rather sadly, gives weight to the SMIDSY crowd's argument.
The second part is to remember to turn your indicators off. Unlike cars, the vast and overwhelming majority of bikes don't have self-cancelling indicators (and even the ones that do work terribly). Nothing is guaranteed to make a following driver more unsure of your next actions than neglecting to cancel your indicator. Don't give people an excuse to misread your intent.
10. Thou shalt be kind and generous
A recurring theme throughout these commandments is that we're a tiny, close community. We look out for each other, acknowledge each other, and help and encourage each other. We should also offer encouragement when people want to join the fold. If you have family or friends who have started to show an interest in motorcycling, take the time to talk to them. Explain how the tests work, talk about the costs involved in buying a bike, insuring it and buying endless pairs of leather trousers. Offer to take them out as a pillion if you're so inclined.
However, also be a voice of reason. As you know, being a biker isn't always sunshine and rainbows, so be honest about some of the harsh realities. You don't need to terrify them to the point they vomit when they see a motorbike, but a little bit of unvarnished truth may not go amiss. Ultimately, you know they'll get the bug, and before too long, you'll be riding to the middle of nowhere for a latte and a sausage roll. That's what biking's really about, isn't it?
