Safer motorbike riding during COVID-19

While restrictions on our movement and social interaction may be tightening, if you still need to get around, it's hard to think of a better, safer way than on a motorcycle or scooter.

For a number of reasons, solo motorcycling is self-isolation on two wheels. For starters, you'll be significantly further away from anyone else than the minimum recommended distance of 1.5m. You should be wearing your own motorcycle gloves, so you won't be touching anything with your bare hands. And you probably won't be touching your face (or at least you'll be touching it far less often than when you're not riding a motorbike).

Of course, we're talking about riding your own motorcycle or scooter here.

Anyone whose work requires them to ride multiple bikes, or ride bikes that may be ridden by multiple people – such as postal workers, motorcycle dealership staff, even motorcycle journalists – should take some extra precautions before they ride. These include wiping down common 'touch points' like handlebars with a suitable cleaner.

See our recent article on Buying used amid COVID-19 for more information… Although obviously under the latest 'Stage 3' social-distancing restrictions, ducking out to purchase a second-hand bike probably may not fall under the banner of 'essential travel'.

And when when you're refuelling your motorbike or scooter, take some extra care at the servo. That fuel pump is another common 'touch point', so keep your riding glove on while fuelling up and, if possible, pay via tapping your card, smartphone or wearable, instead of using cash or physically touching a keypad.

Speaking of Stage 3 restrictions, for more information on what is and isn't permitted when it comes to travel, take a look at the Australian Government website to keep up with the latest information.

As of March 31, public gatherings of more than two people are now banned, family groups excluded, while people should stay home for anything other than 'essential travel'. Essential travel includes travelling for medical reasons, shopping for food or other essential items, for medical reasons, and for, to or from places of work or education.

When it comes to getting to work, right now we'd take riding a motorcycle over catching public transport in a heartbeat. Come to think of it, we'd take the bike over public transport at any time, pandemic or not!.

Of course, COVID-19 will eventually run its course and these restrictions, open-ended as they may be, are temporary.

On the upside, if you're in self-isolation now could be the perfect time to finally make a start on that project bike that's lurking in the shed or give your daily ride some TLC.

If you’re not feeling quite so energetic, what about working through our list of classic motorcycle movies, or even just browsing through Bikesales classifieds, which span everything from runabout bargains to vintage exotica?

Our motorcycling lives will resume normal programming in due course. Until then, there's plenty of options to help fan the flames of our two-wheeled obsession…