What differentiates a beginner two-wheeler rider from a professional two-wheeler rider? Ask any professional and you will get the answer that it is not how fast a person writes a motorcycle which makes him a professional, but instead how well he or she rides the two-wheeler. If you thought that going at breakneck speeds is what differentiates a newbie from a professional, then you would be wrong. Here are 5 skills that will help you graduate from being a complete novice to any expert two-wheeler rider.

1. Learn to ride slowly and sensibly: Expert riders do not write very fast, Instead, they ride very sensibly and at a slow speed. imagine two riders going at two different speeds of 100kmph and the other one at 80 kmph. With the help of simple mathematics, you can come to the conclusion that the one going at 100kmph speed will cover 100 kilometres in 60 minutes, whereas the other rider will cover 80 kilometres in the same amount of time. To cover the remaining 20 kilometres the slower rider will need another 10 to 15 minutes at most. But what's important to note here is that the slower rider will save more on the fuel cost as well as take a lot less risk because he or she will have a manageable speed, and that will allow the two-wheeler to be completely stopped in case of an emergency situation. Whereas someone going at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour will find it much more difficult to bring the motorcycle to a stop if an obstacle suddenly appears on the road. The difference of 10 to 15 minutes does not make a huge difference, but what does is the fact that the slower rider will stay safer and save more money in the process. Learn how to ride sensibly and at a speed that takes you to your destination without any problems.

2. Trail braking on a two-wheeler: Trail braking is an expert technique that will help you to become better at navigating corners and sharp turns. This requires you to apply the brakes in a gradual fashion, applying the maximum amount of braking force in a straight line and then gradually coming off the brakes as you enter the turn. This is useful because when you suddenly brake on turns, the wheels are more likely to lock up and skid off the road. Even with the presence of ABS safety systems, trail braking has been found to be more effective in keeping the motorcycle in a straight and manageable line, thereby ensuring the safety of the rider.

3. Emergency braking techniques: A lot of accidents involving two wheelers happen because of panic braking. When an obstacle suddenly appears in front of two-wheeler rider it is common for them to suddenly grab a handful of the brakes and apply a lot of pressure on the lever which immediately locks up the wheels and tosses the rider out of the motorcycle and into the road where oncoming traffic can become a serious cause for concern! Panic braking never helps, instead it creates more problems. In order to learn how to manage your brakes, start experimenting on your two-wheeler even when there is no obstacle around you. The right way to brake and bring a motorcycle down to a stop is to be very gradual and gentle with the brake lever. Even in the case of an emergency situation, never apply too much pressure on the breaks, instead, evaluate the situation in front of you and find out if you can avoid it. Check for traffic behind you on your rear-view mirrors and find a way to avoid the obstacle in front of you. If that is not possible, do your best to bring the motorcycle to a stop as gently as possible. If there are no logical ways to stop the motorcycle on time, be prepared for the impact and just before the impact bring your arms close to your chest and lower your head towards the chest. This is the reason why you must always make sure to wear all of your riding safety gears at all times. A good quality branded motorcycle helmet along with riding gloves and boots can protect your body from injury in such situations.

4. Master your body movements: If you have been riding a two-wheeler for a while, then you already know about the concept of ‘counter-steering’. When you lean into a turn, your body automatically provides gentle inputs to the motorcycle which helps you turn properly instead of going straight and hitting a wall! But as you become more proficient with your riding skills, you will find out that even very gentle body movements are enough to steer the motorcycle in the right direction. The handlebar of a motorcycle is not meant to get huge inputs directly from your hands because that will only make things worse. The right way to steer into a corner or navigate your way in traffic is by gently moving your body from side to side and using your thighs to coax the two-wheeler into following a certain path. Heavy input on the handlebar will suddenly cause the wheels to turn immediately and throw you out of the bike into the road!

5. Avoid target fixation: Target fixation is a real psychological problem that challenges many new Riders and even some experienced ones. What this essentially means is that you are going to reach the target that you fixate upon. in simple terms, if you keep on looking at an oncoming car when you are riding a motorcycle, then there is a very high chance that you are going to hit the car instead of taking the safe route to avoid it. There is a very simple solution to avoid target fixation. Just don't look at where you don't want to be! Always keep your eyes focused on the gaps and spaces in the road where you can easily navigate your two-wheeler without any problem.

Finally, never leave your house without a helmet!

Last but not the least, the most important skill that you must practise in order to become an expert rider is to always have your safety riding gear with you at all times. Visit any helmet shop near you and invest in the best helmets in India. While you are at it, make sure to purchase riding gloves and a jacket as well.