Every aspect of our lives, from our favourite pastimes to the people that we interact, has its own set of stereotypes and myths that become so widespread that many people believe that are true, and this no different with motorcycles. Those that ride them know that the myths are all nonsense, but for everyone else, it doesn’t take very much to be convinced.
Here we will take a look at some of the more popular misconceptions associated with bikes and break down why they simply aren’t true in the least.
Full-Faced Helmets And Visibility
One of the most common myths around regarding two-wheelers actually revolves around the headgear that the rider wears, specifically full-faced helmets, or helmets that cover the entire head. as opposed to half helmets or 3/4 helmets. The belief is that these drastically reduce the rider’s line of sight to the point where they can only see in front of them. Fortunately this is an easy myth to dispel as almost all countries in the world ensure that helmets are made to certain standards, and one of those standards is allowing for as much vision as someone who wasn’t wearing a helmet. It’s possible that after-market helmets are available that do, in fact, limit total visibility, but these are not legal and anyone wearing them would most likely be heavily fined.
Laying The Bike Down During a Crash
Next is the belief that a rider can reduce the amount of damage to themselves, their bike, as well as the other people involved by laying their bike down flat against the road once they are aware that they’re heading for a collision and have no way of stopping it. The fact is that putting a bike down actually increases the amount of damage that expect to be done, as well as make it more dangerous for everyone involved. Experts agree that if a rider is unable to avoid an accident, it’s better to try and slow down and keep the bike as straight as possible.
The Look of Leather
Leather is possibly the most common material used by bikers. Most people would assume that the only reason they wear it is because it makes them look as cool as those in party outfits. And while there’s no denying that leather is a great look, most bikers will opt for it because of its durability and versatility. Leather can keep a person warm in cold weather, cool in hot weather, it’s resistant to rain, and it’s one of the best materials to wear to protect the skin against wind chill, and it’s great entertainment to watch everyone else shivering in the cold.
Loud Exhaust Pipes
Another common myth that makes sense on paper but doesn’t really play out the same in real life. It’s a very popular belief that having loud exhaust pipes on a bike is safer for everyone around due to the amount of noise that they produce, letting everyone know exactly where the biker is. The problem with this myth is that the noise generated by an exhaust always goes backward, meaning that anyone in front of the bike will think that the bike is actually much farther back than it really is.
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