5 Reminders for Tet Motorbike Adventure

Safety should always be prioritized on every journey, especially for the motorcycle enthusiast community who enjoys 'phượt' during Tet.

5 Reminders for Tet Motorbike Adventure

So, before every trip, what should we pay attention to make the PKL motorbike adventure safe and enjoyable?

1 – For the 'Century Love'

Every route, weather, and timing of the journey have specific considerations for adventure enthusiasts. However, there are common regulations that most bikers should understand as outlined below.

Before embarking on a long journey, bikers should adhere to the T-CLOCS principles for their 'century love,' recommended by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

– T (Tires): thorough inspection to avoid blowouts or flat tires while riding. Adjust if there are signs of over or under-inflation, as it can affect the bike's performance.

– C (Controls): bikers should pay attention to gears, brake pedal, clutch lever, brake lever, cables, and hoses. Special attention should be given to brakes, clutch, and throttle.

– L (Lights): check headlights with both high and low beams, turn signals, and taillights (especially essential when riding on highways at night). Additionally, bikers should inspect the battery, rearview mirrors carefully.

– O (Oil): if nearing the scheduled oil check date, bikers should change the engine oil earlier. Also, pay attention to the brake oil reservoir.

– C (Chassis): thoroughly check the frame, shock absorption system, chain… it helps the bike function well and maintain stability during turns or high-speed riding.

– S (Kickstand): Bikers often think that the kickstand only helps support the bike when stationary. However, it becomes inconvenient and troublesome if the kickstand (both standing and horizontal) has issues.

2 – Essential Items for a PKL Biker Adventure

Helmet: Bikers should equip themselves with a high-quality, genuine helmet. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injuries by 69% and the risk of death by 42% in unexpected incidents. Bikers should choose a full-face helmet with an anti-fog and water-resistant visor, avoiding uncomfortable helmet types.

Jacket, Pants, and Accessories: Must provide comfort, made from high-quality, abrasion-resistant materials. Jackets should have reflective stripes, bright colors to ensure visibility at night for other vehicles.

Gloves and Boots: Choose the right size and high-quality materials. Gloves should be thick, waterproof, and have rubber inside for grip. Boots should be high, oil and water-resistant to minimize burns and foot injuries in case of accidents.

In addition, you should carry items such as raincoat, flashlight, personal medicine bag, phone charger, rope (to tow the bike in case it gets stuck), water bottle, documents, ATM card, and just enough cash.

Limit carrying bulky and cumbersome items, and be mindful of expenses.

3 – Adhere to Safe Riding Practices

Avoid pressuring yourself to keep up with other vehicles in the convoy, especially when lacking experience and confidence in handling. Stay in the correct lane and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.

When riding, direct your gaze upward, avoiding direct focus on the road ahead. This way, bikers can control speed and easily observe obstacles, recognizing potential accident risks.

Develop the habit of always placing a finger on the brake. Balancing between the throttle and brake is crucial when maneuvering through curves. Practice braking on various terrains: sand, gravel, at different speeds. When stopping, choose a spot with a flat surface, free from water, dirt, etc., to prevent the bike from losing balance.

Always position your feet correctly on the footrest, helping the shock absorption system work better. Avoid running in the blind spots of other vehicles. On the flip side, always observe the road, avoiding clinging or colliding with the tail of other bikes.

Especially, bikers must strictly adhere to traffic safety laws (not exceeding the allowed speed, improper lane changes, running red lights, going against traffic, drinking alcohol while driving).

4 – Adhere to the 'phượt' rules in a convoy

Do not overtake the leading vehicle in any situation and do not independently detach from the convoy. In case of any issues, it should be reported to the convoy leader. When passing through residential areas, bikers should maintain a consistent speed, not exceeding 40km/h.

The distance between vehicles must comply with regulations, ranging from 20-40m on national highways and expressways, to 10-20m in residential and urban areas.

Avoid overtaking on the left, especially when navigating hills and passes. Refrain from sudden braking when descending; instead, use intermittent braking to control speed and prevent overheating of the brake system. Do not keep the brake engaged continuously.

When entering a curve, reduce speed, shift gears, and especially avoid braking during the curve. When passing curves, do not accelerate suddenly; only increase speed gradually and steadily. Ensure the brake lights are illuminated when slowing down.

The convoy leader must be the one at the rear, ensuring no vehicles are left behind and maintaining proper spacing between them.

5 – Recognizing hand signals in adventure riding

These signals come from the lead rider and serve as instructions for actions such as slowing down, warning of road obstacles, requesting single-file formation, signaling a stop, or turning on signal lights. When the lead rider communicates effectively with the convoy members using hand signals, the overall safety of the entire convoy improves.

According to Tuoitre

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour