What should you do to reduce your reaction time while riding?

To reduce your reaction time while riding, covering the clutch and brake is a highly effective strategy. This technique allows you to be prepared to respond quickly to any sudden changes in your environment, such as obstacles, traffic signals, or the behavior of other road users. By having your fingers positioned over these controls, you can respond almost instantaneously when needed, facilitating a faster and safer maneuver, whether that means slowing down or stopping.

Other strategies, while they might contribute to better motorcycle control or awareness, do not directly improve your reaction time in the same way. For instance, grasping the handlebars tightly may create tension in your arms and reduce sensitivity, making it harder to react fluidly. Increasing your speed does not enhance your ability to react; in fact, it can compound the potential for a dangerous situation because higher speeds require longer stopping distances. Continuously looking ahead is essential for maintaining awareness of your surroundings, but it doesn’t necessarily equip you with the immediate control over your motorcycle needed to react quickly. Thus, covering the clutch and brake stands out as the best method to ensure that you can respond swiftly and effectively to whatever the road throws your way.