When riding an unfamiliar motorcycle, what should you do to ensure safety?

When riding an unfamiliar motorcycle, allowing extra room for stopping is essential for ensuring safety. This approach helps accommodate the bike’s handling characteristics, braking ability, and weight distribution, which may differ significantly from motorcycles you are accustomed to. An unfamiliar motorcycle might have different braking performance, so having extra space can give you the time and distance needed to stop safely in various situations, such as encountering traffic or obstacles.

The other options can compromise safety. Increasing speed immediately when not familiar with a bike could lead to loss of control. Riding close to other vehicles reduces your reaction time and limits your escape routes. Ignoring traffic signals is dangerous and illegal, putting you and others at risk. Therefore, allowing extra room for stopping is the safest and most responsible approach when learning to handle a new motorcycle.