It’s out with flat-earth, and in with sky-high. Here’s our guide to making molehills out of mountains and riding the high-life on your Brixton motorcycle.

Cornering

Meandering goes hand-in-hand with riding mountain ranges, more often than not, these corners are going to be on the tight side. Your line through the corner should always start on the outside, and take the straightest possible path through it. This gives you the best possible visibility to see the full extent of the sharpness of the corner, the road surface, and if there’s any oncoming traffic. If you’re going into a corner blind, always be on the lookout. If it’s not a car coming round the corner, it’s a mountain goat.

Anticipating Traffic

Always look ahead when visibility allows, using the opportunity to scan for oncoming vehicles. On hairpins and switchbacks, look up and down so you know what you’ll encounter during the turn.

Using the Throttle

The easiest way to take a corner is by applying a little throttle to load the suspension correctly. It can be a little awkward to get the hang of, but it’ll make your motorcycle handle more predictably whilst cornering. And always maintain a constant and progressive speed to avoid stalling.

Braking

When you’re breaking, do so before you turn into the corner. Make sure your Brixton is stable to make your entry and exit out of the corner as smooth as possible. Bare in mind that you can get additional braking power from the engine when rolling off the throttle. This is especially useful when riding downhill.

Managing Heights

Quite the drop to the side? Making you feel a little queasy? Keep your eyes fixed waaaay ahead of you then and concentrate on the road.

Stopping and Starting

When things grind to a halt while you’re riding uphill, it’s best you to keep your foot on the rear brake, and your Brixton in first gear. This’ll allow you to get off again with ease. If you’re riding downhill, the same principles still apply. Just be aware you’ll need less throttle to pull away.

Parking

Riding through the mountains, there’s going to be moments when you’re struck by the sheer magic of the landscape you find yourself in. You’ve earnt the view, so stop to take it all in from time to time. When you’re parking up, the safest option is to find a spot where the ground is firm, and your Brixton can be seen from both sides of the road. Be sure the spot you’ve found isn’t a
passing place, or else you’re putting yourself and others in some real danger.

Weather Watch

Mother nature is unpredictable, and as such, the weather can turn on its head in a flash when you’re riding at altitude. Make sure you’re prepared for any fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions – it’s always a good idea to have a pair of sunglasses handy. If you’re riding through fog, take it easy and drop your speed. In freezing weather conditions, keep an eagle-eye on the road, as black ice is the last thing you want to run into. And if the weather looks bad, seriously consider whether your journey is necessary. Mountain passes are dangerous places, and this is amplified if the weather conditions aren’t great.

Riding in Tunnels

Tunnels are a big feature when you’re riding through mountainous landscapes. On your approach you’ll be able to see how well lit they are, if it’s looking pretty dark in there, reduce your speed a little, and if you’re riding with sunglasses, get them off. The road inside the tunnels are sometimes wet, so when riding in freezing conditions, take care. Be on the lookout for signs
that require you to use your horn to alert other motorists of your presence.

Road Etiquette

When you’re new to riding sky-high, or on a certain mountainous landscape, you’re going to encounter motorists who are much more familiar with the terrain. It’s important that you’re not tempted to try and match them. They know the road like the back of their hand, they know how to take each corner. You do not. So, maintain a speed that you’re comfortable with. If another
motorist wants to pass, make it easy for them to do so. Especially on the straight stretches where this is commonplace. Keep a good eye on your mirrors so you’re aware of every situation as and when it unfolds. On mountain roads, there’s often no obvious rules regarding who has the right of way. And so it’s up to you to judge the situation accordingly.

Distance

Riding through the winding roads of a mountainous landscape, you can be certain that you’re going to cover far less distance in a day than you typically would on the open road. So, when you’re looking at a map, you’ll need to account for all of the inclines, hairpins, and stopping and starting that comes with riding mountainous roads. You’re not likely to find a gas station, so be
sure you’re loaded up on fuel before beginning your journey.

Riding through mountains isn’t exactly scaling Everest, but it’s definitely worthwhile going through our guide again on the morning of your trip, just to get yourself up to speed again on what you to expect. And speaking of trip, where first… Cruising the Carpathians, bombing around the Black Forest, or never feeling so alive in the Alps? Just remember to tag us on Instagram wherever you decide to ride. #BrixtonMotorcycles