SAFE RIDING TIPS FOR MONSOON

Monsoon has begun on a positive note in the country, while it gives great pleasure to ride in rains and see the scenic beauty of nature; it is also an important part to ride safe. Here are some tips that will help you ride safe in rains.

BEFORE THE RIDE

Riding in rain can be dangerous but it is defiantly worth it, so even before you go on a ride make sure you check the below things.

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Tyre conditions: Check the condition of your tyres. If they're near the end of their life, it's best to just replace them before the rains really kick in, even if you believe they can run for few hundred kilometers.

Tyre pressure: It's generally a good idea to run tyre pressures one or two PSI below the manufacturer's recommendation. The increased contact patch gives slightly improved grip on wet roads. Just make sure that you don't drop the pressures too much, as that has a converse effect on grip.

Gear-up: While you might prefer darker colors, it might be a good idea to invest in some brightly colored rain gear as it makes you more visibly in rainy conditions.

Visibility: in rains you should avoid using dark or tinted visors on your helmet in the rains. Clear visors give you much better visibility in the gloomy conditions of the monsoons. Also, make sure the visor is clean and scratch-free before you start riding.

DURING THE RIDE

During the ride you need to be extra careful as your sudden action or movement may lead to a crash.

Have Better Control – Avoid using sudden action as rain on the road means your tyre will have low traction. Avoid actions like rapidly opening the throttle, applying the brakes really hard or steering the bike aggressively. Such sudden movements can very easily overwhelm the traction available to your tyres, causing you to crash.

Right techniques: Proper braking techniques become all the more critical in wet conditions. While a bike with ABS will let you slam the brakes hard on wet roads safely, if your bike doesn't have ABS, you have to be extra careful.

Kill speeds: You need to be extra careful when riding during the first rains of the day, as these tend to leech out the oils and grime from the road surface, making it extra slippery. Keeping a lower speed than normal in such conditions is recommended.

Headlights on: Ride with your headlight on (not just your parking lamps), even if it's just an overcast day. The gloomy conditions in the monsoons reduce contrast, so running your headlights helps to make you more visible to other road users.

Monsoon safety tips brought to you exclusively by Shriram Automall, India’s No.1 largest platform for buying & selling used vehicles & equipment.