Whether you’re an experienced rider with 1000’s of miles under your wheels, or you’ve just passed your test, you don’t need me to tell you how much pleasure you get from riding your bike. What you also know is that biking can be dangerous if the right care isn’t taken. Whether that’s due to not wearing the right gear, other road users or your motorcycle headlights being defective, here are 10 ways to increase your safety AND enjoyment.

1. Staying safe on your bike means standing out from the crowd. It might be tempting to go for the all-black look, but the fact is, bright colours and reflective clothing are far easier for other people to see both during the day and at night.

2. Your motorcycle headlights play a huge part in ensuring your safety at night and in overcast conditions. Upgrade halogen bulbs to HID motorcycle headlights. Not only are HID lights cheaper to run and longer lasting but they’re 3 times brighter than regular bulbs. Their blue-white arc is more visible and produces a wider, road-spanning beam.

3. How many bikers do you see in the summer without a helmet and wearing shorts and a t-shirt? How’s that going to help in a crash? It won’t. Cover up: full trousers, a protective jacket and a helmet are bare essentials – don’t leave home without them.

4. Approaching a bend? Slow down when coming into it and accelerate when coming out – but stay within the speed limit!

5. Got a cruiser? If you don’t have crash/safety/roll bars, install them as these protect your legs (and your motor) in a rollover or when engaged in light contact with another vehicle.

6. Before ANY journey, check petrol, oil and fluids as well as the overall condition of your bike. Motorcycle headlight bulbs, controls, wiring, tyres, forks, frame and shocks all require a once over.

7. Check your gloves regularly for signs of wear and tear and make sure the grip is as good as it was when you bought them. Worn grips won’t allow you to maintain control.

8. Distribute weight evenly and don’t exceed the manufacturer’s recommended limit. Luggage should be placed as low and as close to the bike’s centre as possible. Make sure it’s securely tied and doesn’t interfere with your ability to control the bike.

9. Maintain your headlights. If your lenses are made from polycarbonate they may turn yellow or cloudy. Remove discolouration with specialist products such as ‘Wolgang’ or ‘Diamondite’ – both available online. Dull lights, whether halogen, HID or LED headlight bulbs should be replaced at the first sign of dimness.

10. Carrying a passenger? If they’re not as an experienced rider as you, don’t be afraid to lay it on the line. They need to keep their feet on the foot pegs, sit as still as possible and, crucially, lean into the angles with you, not against you.

Riding is a way of life for many but the fact is that, compared to cars, biking has a much higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled. Make EVERY journey ~ however short ~ a safe and enjoyable one by doing everything you can to increase your safety and that of those around you.

Are you really the best rider you can be? If you have a sneaking suspicion you can’t answer that with a resounding ‘yes’, consider taking an advanced rider training course.

LED and HID motorcycle headlights can be found all over the web and are an easy way to heighten your safety, as well as making you more visible to other road users who can sometimes be oblivious to your existence. Check them out now and make your next trip a safer one.