Motorcycle Safety Foundation

With cooler temperatures creeping in, it's a good time to think about changing road conditions, and how they change the riding environment.

Cold tires may offer less traction, so give them time to gradually come up to operating temperature. Start your ride smoothly, avoid abrupt acceleration, braking or steering inputs, and give yourself extra time and space while you and your bike warm up.

And remember: cold weather can also mean wet, or frost-covered pavement can mean less available traction too.

Keep your inputs smooth, give yourself time and space, and keep using SEE — Search, Evaluate, Execute — to respond to the conditions around you.

Understanding a manual transmission might make the concept feel familiar, but it definitely isn't a prerequisite!

What does make a big difference? Knowing how to ride a bicycle.

Balance, steering, and being comfortable on two wheels give you a great foundation.

Clutch and throttle coordination? Those are skills you'll start developing in the Basic RiderCourse. Find a course near you below -

msf-usa.org/start-your-ride/basic-ridercourse/

Your first great motorcycle road doesn't need to be the most technical one on the map.

Look for manageable speeds, good visibility, predictable curves and a route that matches your current skill level.

We're sharing three U.S. locations that give newer riders something to look forward to, and somewhere to put those developing skills to use!

RIDERCOACH TOUR: THE PHOTOS ARE IN!

Indianapolis ✅
Albany ✅
Next up: Dallas + Jacksonville!

We’ve loved seeing RiderCoaches come together at each stop to reconnect, ride, learn, share stories and celebrate the community that makes rider education possible.

We’ve just added our Indianapolis and Albany photo albums to the page — take a look at the links below, find yourself, tag your fellow RiderCoaches and share your favorites!

And if you haven’t joined us yet, there are still two chances to be part of the RiderCoach Tour:

📍 Dallas | October 2-4
📍 Jacksonville | October 16–18

Register now and come be part of the Tour! The invite is in your email.

https://www.facebook.com/motorcyclesafetyfoundation/posts/pfbid02UrwpwNCcZCT4moh1pdYhJPqTTwTpfXWSbjUMkRR29wLxGoCQ7Uo1ehP8yUaU3a1xl

https://www.facebook.com/motorcyclesafetyfoundation/posts/pfbid0pekAFPj1KAHgHm6RKZKoYGde6aRuJkMjCmA1fsy9jNNQbGXNcVxRAgiyQJwKrgf7l

The road doesn’t always stay paved and that’s part of the fun!

MSF AdventureBike RiderCourse is designed to help riders develop the techniques and confidence needed for riding on unpaved roads and mixed terrain.

You’ll practice skills like:

🏍️ Body positioning
🏍️ Braking and turning on loose surfaces
🏍️ Low-speed control
🏍️ Terrain awareness

Whether you’re new to adventure riding or looking to improve your confidence off pavement, AdventureBike RiderCourse gives you a supportive environment to learn.

Find a course near you at the link below.

https://msf-usa.org/advance-your-ride/adventurebike-ridercourse/

A motorcycle doesn’t magically go where you look, but riders should absolutely look where they want the motorcycle to go.

When approaching a turn, make sure you physically turn your head, focus on where you want to go, and let the bike work with you.

We teach these skills in our MSF courses. Come improve your ride with us!

Not ready to commit to a motorcycle course?

That’s exactly why MSF created RIDE Day: a chance to experience riding for the first time in a relaxed, beginner-friendly environment and see if it’s something you enjoy.

It's completely free and we provide:

🏍️ The motorcycle
👨‍🏫 The RiderCoach
🪖 The gear

All you need to do is show up and give it a try!

Find a RIDE Day near you at the link below.

msf-usa.org/ride-day