POLICE are urging motorcyclists to take care on the region's roads this winter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Brendan Keegan said riders should be aware of the road surface they were travelling on and the weather.
"You'll have areas of dry road and you will come around a bend where you will have a lot of shade and trees dripping water," he said.
"Riders should be careful of the white lines - they get slippery. Also tram tracks, especially in Bendigo."
He said riders should know what their bike was capable of doing and not push it past its limit.
From October 1 last year, it was compulsory for all learner motorcyclists to wear a reflective vest.
Leading Senior Constable Keegan said while the rule only applied to learners, he advised all riders to wear high visibility protective gear and ride with their headlights on.
"All bikes should have working headlights and have them turned on," he said.
In 2014, out of the 249 people killed on the state's roads, 30 were motorcyclists and pillion passengers, data by the Transport Accident Commission has revealed.
The figure represented 12 per cent of the road toll despite motorcycles only making up 3.4 per cent of all vehicles registered with VicRoads.
It comes after the RACV recorded a lower number of insurance claims in central Victoria from 2013 to 2014.
ABS Motorcycles general manager Troy Fullard said there were many precautions riders could take to remain safe while on the roads during winter.
"Be seen, be safe is an old saying that still rings true today. Wear the proper protective clothing, choose a motorcycle that they are comfortable with and ride within the conditions, not necessarily the speed limit," Mr Fullard said.
Mr Fullard said as a minimum riders should wear an approved helmet, jacket, pants, boots and gloves.
"In my opinion, bright colours are a better as they stand out. Reflective clothing is also advised for night time riding," he said.
"I often see people wearing shorts and t-shirts and cringe at the possible outcome if they were to fall off."