It would be hard to tell you in one page how exactly to be safe on your motorcycle. For this reason, it’s incredibly important for you to enroll in an actual hands-on class in motorcycle safety. There’s really no substitute for instruction by a trained professional. In addition, these classes can also save you money on your insurance premiums, so there’s no good reason not to get signed up right away. However, the following are few tips to help keep you safe until your class:

Although helmets aren’t mandatory in all states, consider them to be essential equipment. Seriously – if you crash (and your chances of doing so are higher than they are in a car), your helmet will provide the necessary protection to help you avoid head trauma. Look for a helmet that complies with DOT impact requirements – compliant helmets will have a sticker on them showing this fact.

However, you also need to be sure that your helmet doesn’t affect your ability to see. After all your ability to be aware of what is happening around you is one of your most important safety tools. Full face helmets are probably best avoided for this reason. Eye protection is a personal choice, whether you choose goggles or a shield on your helmet. Some people consider this mandatory, while others argue that an unrestricted view matters more.

What no one questions are a motorcycle jacket and pants. These don’t just look cool – they offer real protection against abrasions. If you lean your bike over while riding, good pants will help protect you from serious skid injuries. Think about it – do you really want to spend the day of your crash at the doctor’s office having pieces of gravel picked out of your skin? Go ahead and get the jacket and pants instead.

The same is true of quality leather gloves and boots. Typically, your boots should come up over the ankle and your gloves should come up over your jacket sleeves. These types of clothing offer a great deal of protection – there’s a reason why styles may change, but these pieces remain classic elements of motorcycle gear.

One thing you’ll have to learn early on is how to turn while riding a motorcycle. In fact, you don’t turn as much as you lean. To start, slow down slightly before you enter a turn. Press the handlebar slightly in the direction of the turn and maintain a slight pressure on the handlebar as you lean into the turn. Keep your feet on the pegs and grip the tank with your knees. Lean with the motorcycle – don’t sit perpendicular to the road. Keep an even throttle through the turn or accelerate slightly. Practice turning at lower speeds until you get the hang of it. Wear your leather pants while practicing, along with the other safety gear outlined above.

In addition, you should know that most wrecks between motorcycles and cars occur at intersections. Always check around you completely when you’re at intersections. When you’re moving through an intersection, try to let all of the traffic ahead of you be at least a two-second interval ahead of you at all times. This gives you the space and time you need to react if something goes wrong.

So while this information should be enough to get you safely to your class, know that there’s really no substitute for training and experience when it comes to being safe on your motorcycle.