Be careful when riding past petrol stations as often there is diesel spilled on the road by the entrance and exit. 

Practice e-stops 

Look further away from you and you'll ride smoother 

Dress warm when it's cold. You need to think about riding, not the fact that you've lost feeling in your hands/feet.

Keep an eye on your chain tension. A Scottoiler saves you having to do this as often. 

Before a long journey, make sure your kit is perfectly comfortable with no rubbing etc... That gentle pinch on your left thumb when you start ends up feeling like your hand is in a vice. 

On a cold day, load the bike, then go back indoors and put all your gear on, including lid & gloves. Then go back out, fire up and f*cough*. 

Slow in, fast out. 

Look as far ahead as you can see and use the information thus garnered. 

Ride as if you are invisible - NEVER expect anyone to see you, react to your presence, take avoiding action on your behalf.  BUT do not expect them to ignore you if you do something daft . . . 

Never push hard when trying to stay with someone: you'll push harder than you would if you were by yourself and either scare yourself silly or crash. 

Treat every other road user with respect. 

Don't rise to the bait of badly driven vehicles doing daft things in front of you, just get past as soon as it is safe to do so, and clear off sharpish. 

Keep an eye on what's going on behind you - whatever your situation (but it's about 5th on your priorities... ) If you're stopped in the road, traffic lights, pedestrian crossing etc, move this up to number two, maybe even joint number one. 

Keep your visor clean. Do NOT scrape it clear with your gloves, they're covered with dust and road grit and will scratch it. Vision is the no 1 most important thing in keeping you safe. (imho anyway) 

The 'Farmer Brown' Test: If it looks stupid, it probably is. So don't do it! 

In hot weather, be very aware of dehydration. 

In any weather, remember that coffee is a diuretic. Go for a pee before starting the ride (esp. if you're riding position on the bike includes a petrol tank pressing against your bladder . . . ) It's the caffeine - so watch out too for drinks like Red Bull or similar that contain loads of the stuff and will have you stopping every few miles to water the nearest hedge. 

Does your bike have a screen? In wet weather, duck down behind it a moment or two before the truck going the other way passes you - let the screen take what would otherwise have been a face-full of spray. 

On a really long run, remember to take a break before you start to feel tired. 

If you take the bike to the pub, draw the line at six pints. Or switch to shorts for the last couple of hours. 

Rather than thinking of your fellow road users as incompetent idiots out to get you, think of them as ordinary people who cock things up now and again. A lot like you, in fact. Now think how often you make mistakes and get away with it .. .

If it feels fast, it's probably too fast. 

Have several pairs of gloves. They never dry overnight. 

Trust your ability to see the near future and don't hesitate to act on what you can see. 

Look through both eyes when watching for traffic. 

Make sure the side stand is properly down, before you try to use it. 

If a car turns off the road to the left, be aware that often the car behind will swing out wide to the right to get round it. 

Try to suss-out what sort of person is driving the car in front/behind of you and try to predict how he may behave. i.e When the opportunity to overtake that lorry you've been stuck behind for the last 2 miles finally arises. Watch out for the XR3i being driven by an 18 year old wearing a baseball cap, because he'll probably try and overtake at the same time you do. While most drivers are reasonable people that will move over so that you can overtake and allow you cut in front of them in heavy traffic etc, etc. Don't expect everyone on the road to be so forgiving, there are some real awkward buggers out there who wont give you an inch. Can't really stereo type these sorts of drivers but there usually male, the only way you can really spot these people is by the way they drive. Do not try to take liberties with these people because if it goes a bit pete tong they will show you no mercy. Best to ride by the book till they've gone. 

Watch for junction signs (Red triangles) telling you what side of the road junctions will be on and position your self so you can be seen more easily by drivers waiting at the junctions. i.e If junction is on the left move over to the centre of the road or as close to the centre as is safe to do so, then the driver at the junction can see you at the earliest opportunity. Always slow down for junctions, you can easily pick up your speed once you have passed the junction. 

Don't overtake just for the sake of it or just because you can. Sometimes this can put you in very vunerable position especially if there are lorries involved, sometimes you're just best off where you are. 

If you are behind a lorry with a car or two in front of you, don't overtake the two cars and sit behind the lorry waiting to overtake it. The best thing to do (providing you have a powerful enough motorcycle) is to wait for enough clear road and overtake the cars and lorry in one go. If you're stuck right behind a lorry you can't see the road ahead, if your further back behind the cars you can get a better view. 

When approaching a side turning with a car waiting to pull out, if it's safe to do so move sideways in the road left to right - our eyes are attuned to sideways motion more than coming-towards-us so this movement may well attract his/her attention. And never assume that because he or she has looked straight at you, they have actually seen you. 

No matter how waterproof you think your panniers ought to be - they aren't*. Bin liners are, though - so wrap everything up in 'em before packing those panniers. *OK, maybe some are - but I've yet to find them...! 

Riding in bad weather can be fun, Honest, it can! Go on, try it... 

What does a flashing indicator mean?   That the bulb works! Wait until you're SURE they're going to do what the indicator suggests they're going to do. Or better still, wait until they've actually done it. 

Never assume that you're experienced enough to not do a right turn shoulder check. 

If you're going to use a wheel lock: get a blank ignition key, attach it to the reminder-coil and, when you lock up, stick it in your ignition (instead of putting the band around your handlebar) much less chance of trying to ride away with the lock still on (which isn't fun).

Once you have passed your test, never ever do another U turn. Particularly if you have a new bike with expensive bits to break when you drop it.

Make eye contact with drivers likely to pull out on you, or stare at them (not so much you do something silly!). People know they are being stared at and can help them notice you before that fatal happens. But never, EVER asume that they've actually seen you.

Newspaper stuffed inside your jacket is a good insulator in winter. Lighting it does a passable impersonation of a heated waistcoat - the lack of oxygen means that it will smoulder nicely. 

If heading up or down the top end of the M6, don't fill up at a motorway service station, there's a T35co petrol station 400 yards from junction 43. 

Get a book called "Off the Motorway" which lists all these kind of places - supermarkets are good places to get cheap(er) fuel, often have caff and bogs and you can buy stuff at non rip-off prices. 

This website is a great reference on how to avoid the 8 quid fried breaky and 4 quid cuppa at the rip-off Motorway service stations. Well worth a check out before setting off for a longer ride. www.5minutesaway.co.uk 

When overtaking, you don't have to go as fast as possible. Sometimes an extra 5-10mph is all you need, and you end up past the other vehicle in good shape and good time, rather than doing 90 on the wrong side of the road approaching a right hander. 

Learn counter-weighting for slow speed control (preferably in a Grassington bus terminus with an old codger from the neighbouring bowling green barking at you, it adds to the experience)....... :) 

When you go back to the place you lived 10 or 20 years ago you'll feel as if you're on home ground but it will have changed. Treat it as if you've never been there before. If you don't you won't notice the sign for the traffic "calming" chicane and it'll take you by surprise, you won't be expecting the pelican crossing just rouind that corner where everybody said only an idiot would put a pelican crossing and you'll also be taken unawares by all the junctions that have had their priorities changed or mini roundabouts built. Your local knowledge will be useful in one way though: the shortest way into town is now buses and taxis only so you need a new route. 

Put bin bags over your boots before trying to put your waterproofs on as they slide on a lot easier. Thin, free carrier bags work well, and they keep the insides of your over-trews clean too.

Bus stops will usually have quite a bit of oil on, so yanking on your front brake whilst passing over one in the wet will probably result in you doing best superman impression. 

Try not to forget that the barrier (as in toll booth barriers) that you've *just seen* go up for the vehicle in front will then come down.  On your head.

Make sure your vehicle is mechanically sound, including tyres, brakes, oil, water and chain. 

Next visit to a petrol station, collect some of the disposable gloves (for diseasal drivers), keeps your hands clean when checking tyre pressures. In wet weather, wear inside non-waterproof gloves*.

Car drivers' ability to drive diminishes quicker than the weather worsens. IE if it gets rainy - car drivers's ability to drive in a straight line plummets rapidly. Be aware. 

Purchase an anti-fog visor insert, or invest in a rigid regime of cleaning and anti-fog prepping your plain visor.
Riding blind is no fun. 

Wear Ear Plugs! 

# Wear sunscreen . . . Sounds daft, put putting a lid on if you have sun-burnt forehead or ears is unpleasant.  And I knew someone who rode with an 'air gap' betwixt jacket & jeans = sun-burnt small of back! 

Not all speed camera signs mean there will be a speed cameras.

Not all slippery road signs mean that the roads will be slippery

Warning signs are usually put up following accidents, look for the problems

High speed doesn't always mean high risks 

Keep it Simple . . .  Eliminate the unnecessary bits from your riding . . . you eliminate a lot of risk. 

Be very careful if there are wet newspapers on the road. They are incredibly slippery.  As are empty crisp packets.

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