Regardless of experience it is important to go over simple safety procedures in your head everytime you ride to ensure your safety as well as that of your passengers and others sharing the roadways. Motorcycles are the more vulnerable of the vehicles and need to be especially cautious when traveling.

Before You Ride 

Read the owner's manual, as it will give you many specifics that you will find helpful in understanding and maintaining your bike.

Check the tires – these are the most important parts of your bike. Check the surface of the tires for cuts and foreign objects. Check the tire pressure with a good gauge.

Check the controls – cables are strong and rarely break, but check for kinks or stiffness.

Check your lights, turn signals, horn, and mirrors.

Check the oil, fuel, and if your bike is liquid-cooled, the coolant levels.

If your motorcycle has a chain-drive to the rear wheel, make sure that the chain is properly tensioned and in good shape.

Make sure that the sidestand and centerstand fold up and stay up.

Check your brakes as you roll off. Make sure they work.

On the Road 

A good reminder for safe riding in traffic:
Search around you for potential hazards.
Evaluate any possible hazards, such as railroad tracks, turning cars, etc.
Execute the proper action to avoid the hazard.

Make sure other drivers see you:
Make sure your headlamps are on (even during the day), wear bright clothes, and always signal your intentions.
Don't be shy about using your horn to make someone aware of your presence or to make them aware of what they are doing (dozing, getting too close, etc.).|
Position your bike where it can be seen. Don't put yourself behind a large truck or in a vehicle's blind spot.

Make sure you can see others:
Keep your eyes moving. If they are locked on one thing, you may not notice a potential hazard. Never let your eyes focus on an object for more than two seconds.

When you're riding in traffic, at speeds under 40 mph, keep a two-second gap between you and the car in front of you.

When you're out on the open road, at higher speeds, the gap should be three or four seconds or more, depending on your speed.

Intersections are particularly dangerous. Always check for traffic coming from the side and from behind. Make sure no one is about to run up your tailpipe.

Passing
You should be two (or more) seconds behind the vehicle you want to pass.
Always make sure you turn and check your blind spot with your head.
Don't try to overtake another vehicle if a corner is coming up.

Night riding
Dusk is actually the most dangerous time to ride, when people's eyes are adjusting from daylight to headlights.
The distance between you and the vehicle in front of you becomes even more important as it gets darker.
Wear a clear faceshield without scratches. A scratch can create light refraction that might confuse you – two headlights can look like four, for example.

Carrying a Passenger on Your Motorcycle 

Make sure the motorcycle is designed to carry a passenger.

If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, can reach the footrests, wears a helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds.

Keep in mind that some states have minimum age requirements for riders.

Instruct your passenger to keep his or her legs away from the muffler to avoid burns.

Instruct your passenger to limit movement and talking.

Remember that the extra weight from carrying a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner.

Exercise caution in quick stops, as a passenger can move forward and bump your helmet with theirs.

Passing will require more time and space.

The effects of the wind will be more distinct.

Review the motorcycle owner's manual for tips on preparing for riding with a passenger.

Do not exceed the weight limitations specified in the manual.

Before riding, practice low-speed clutch/throttle control and normal and emergency braking in an open area, like a parking lot, with a passenger.

Allow the passenger time to adjust to the speed of riding and the feeling of leaning.

Make sure the passenger keeps all hands and feet away from hot or moving parts.

When in a corner, the passenger should look over the operator's shoulder in the direction of the corner.

The passenger should not make any sudden movements or turns.

When crossing an obstacle, the passenger should stand on the motorcycle pegs with knees slightly bent, allowing the legs to absorb the shock upon impact.

The motorcycle should be started before the passenger mounts