To reduce your reaction time while riding, what should you do?

Covering the clutch and brakes is an effective way to reduce your reaction time while riding a motorcycle. This practice allows you to be in a position to respond quickly to potential hazards or unexpected situations on the road. By keeping your fingers on the clutch lever and your foot over the brake pedal, you can immediately disengage the engine or stop the motorcycle without having to reach for the controls. This can be critical in emergency situations where every fraction of a second counts.

Maintaining a ready position also removes the delay that would occur if you had to first grip the controls before taking action. It enhances your overall awareness and readiness, increasing your ability to control the motorcycle and navigate safely in dynamic environments.

While looking around constantly is important for maintaining situational awareness, it does not directly reduce reaction time in the same immediate way as covering the controls. Practicing deep breathing can help with focus but does not specifically improve reaction speed. Riding faster is not a safe strategy for reducing reaction time; in fact, it can lead to increased risk and reduced control.