Motorcycle Riding in England and the UK Tips

Riding on the “wrong” side of the road, navigating narrow, wet carriageways, and deciphering unfamiliar road signs can be stressful, even for experienced riders. To start on the right foot, we will break down some of the most common issues faced by American riders when visiting and riding in the U.K.

Riding in the opposite lane is disorienting—even dangerous—as you get accustomed to traffic approaching, crossing, and merging from unfamiliar directions. When turning at an intersection, keep in mind that unlike in the U.S., left-hand turns are taken sharp and right-hand turns are taken wide. It may help to recite some sort of mantra, like “tight left, wide right.”

Entering a traffic circle or roundabout can be especially baffling, but traffic circles make a good case for themselves: They’re a godsend in congested towns, and generations of British riders got their knees down for the first time on the well-paved and predictable tarmac of a roundabout. Enjoy them, and should doubt creep in, take it easy and follow traffic.

International signage is the norm in the U.K. An icon inside a solid blue circle is a mandatory instruction. A round sign bordered in red means “no” and is accompanied by an icon or additional sign explaining what you’re not to do. A round and white sign with a black diagonal slash indicates that the national speed limit applies: 30 mph in town, 60 on two-lane roads, and 70 on four-lane roads.

Velocity-minding cameras have been giving riders in the U.K. heartburn since their inception in 1991. Two systems exist.

The first uses a sensor system and a roadside camera to measure your instantaneous speed, much like a radar- or laser-equipped patrolman stateside. The SPECS system, common on highways, measures average speed across two or more fixed camera installations that arc over the roadway. Both can add considerably to the expense of your visit.

Related: Riding The Mach Loop On A Triumph Speed Triple RS And A Thruxton R

Bone up before a visit by reading the Highway Code to learn signage, road markings, and the rules of the road. You’ll learn, for instance, that it’s illegal to make a left turn at a red traffic light or to sound your horn at night in a residential area, and that you’ll get busted by a constable for passing (or “undertaking”) on the left.

British roads are generally narrower than we are accustomed to, and tall hedgerows and closely placed buildings can limit your vision. Be extra alert to pedestrians and cars pulling out of side roads and alleys. And because of the rainy climate, you may encounter treacherously wet cobblestones from time to time.

Thankfully, there are a couple of important things you won’t have to adjust to. The language, for a start, and even though the rest of Europe uses metric measurements, Britain uses miles to measure distance and mph to measure speed.