10 Motorcycle Myths Busted

Can you pump car petrol into your motorcycle? Is it best to shop around every year for the cheapest motorcycle insurance? Are we only restricted to Singapore Standards-approved motorcycle helmets?

We tackle these questions and more in this article featuring 10 motorcycle myths — that we’ve essentially busted and explain why.

We also highlight the new updated standards for motorcycle helmets in Singapore, starting from 1 November 2025. Read on to stay in the know!

Myth #1: If you have a car license you’re automatically allowed to ride a motorcycle too

In some countries, a driving license may also allow you to ride scooters or less powerful motorbikes, but this is not the case in Singapore. Here, a car driving license falls under Class 3, while a motorcycle riding license falls under Class 2.

To ride a motorcycle in Singapore, you’ll have to attend and pass the Basic Theory Test, Riding Theory Test, multiple practical training sessions, and finally, pass the Traffic Police Practical Riding Test, to gain your Class 2B motorcycle license.

Your Class 2B license will allow you to ride motorcycles not exceeding 200cc, or electric motorcycles not exceeding 15kW. To be able to ride a larger motorcycle with higher engine capacity, you’ll have to sit for more training and tests to gain a Class 2A or Class 2 license.

See also: Singapore Police Force: Classes of Driving Licenses

Myth #2: The whole point of riding a motorcycle is to weave in and out of traffic

The practice of lane splitting is actually not illegal in Singapore, but it is definitely not encouraged, with the Singapore Traffic Police emphasising that such maneuvers can lead to dangerous situations and accidents.

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, has also writtenly expressed that while lane splitting is not an offence, motorcyclists should “practise safe riding habits, including defensive riding, and avoid weaving in and out of traffic.”

Myth #3: Any kind of motorcycle helmet will do, as long as you wear a helmet

Of course, all motorcyclists should always wear a helmet — not just for safety reasons but because it is mandatory as well. But in Singapore, it’s important that your helmet is also Traffic Police-approved. The Road Traffic Act states this plainly:

“Every person who drives or is carried on a motor cycle must wear securely on his or her head a protective helmet of a type approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Police.”

Updated Motorcycle Helmet Standards

Good news for motorcycle riders — the Traffic Police has recently updated the standards for motorcycle helmets in Singapore. Not only is the government launching the new SS9:2024 to eventually replace the current SS9:2014, but for the first time ever, Singapore will officially recognise the UNECE R22.06 standard.

For decades, motorcycle riders were strictly restricted to Singapore-approved helmets, even though there is a wide variety of internationally-approved motorcycle helmets out there.

From 1 November 2025, all helmets certified under the globally respected UNECE R22.06 benchmark can be sold locally without any additional approval.

According to the Traffic Police, “This will lead to a wider variety of approved helmets being sold in the market, and lower the cost of helmets.”

The Traffic Police also reiterates that motorcyclists should replace their helmets every five years, even if it appears to be in good condition, as helmet materials degrade over time. Wearing an effective helmet is a matter of life and death.

See also: Traffic Police Updated Standards for Motorcycle Helmets (including approved labelling)

Myth #4: You can top up any kind of petrol in motorcycles without any issues

You should always choose the right petrol octane rating (e.g. 87 vs 95) for your motorcycle, as recommended by the manufacturer. Most everyday motorcycles run well on regular unleaded fuel (87), while some high-performance motorcycles run more optimally on more premium fuel.

But premium doesn’t always mean better — if your motorcycle is designed for regular fuel, using a more premium fuel may not bring any significant benefits at all. Conversely, using the wrong octane rating petrol can damage your motorcycle engine over time.

Myth #5: Motorcyclists can’t enjoy a No Claim Discount (NCD) higher than NCD20

To reward its safe motorcyclists, DirectAsia insurance offers NCD25 and NCD30, the highest NCD available in Singapore. You can also opt in for NCD Protector Plus, which allows you to retain your NCD status even if you make an insurance claim.

Note that your NCD is tied to the same vehicle and cannot be shared across multiple vehicles (if you own both a car and motorcycle, for example). But if you were to sell your old motorbike and replace it with a new one, your NCD can be carried forward to your new bike. 

Myth #6: It’s hard to find trustworthy motorcycle workshops in Singapore

On the whole, the motorcycle repair and maintenance services in Singapore are quite reliable. For first-hand recommendations, you can ask in related Facebook groups like Singapore Motorbikers or subreddits like r/askSingapore or r/drivingsg.

If you really want to be sure of quality and a proven track record, you should take your motorcycle to one of the partner workshops from your insurance provider. These would be garages that can guarantee quality and timely work, as well as help with accident reporting.

See also: List of DirectAsia Approved Motorcycle Workshops

Myth #7: Using car tyres on motorcycles is fine

Car and motorcycle tyres are not interchangeable as they’re designed very differently to handle unique demands. Motorcycle tyres have a rounder profile to allow for smooth leaning and cornering, while car tyres have a flat thread meant for stability on four wheels.

Putting a car tyre on a motorcycle can affect handling, grip, and cause dangerous instability, especially when turning. You should always use tyres specifically made for motorcycles to ensure balance and safety.

Myth #8: Once you get your bike thoroughly checked, you don’t have to check it again

Most bike manufacturers recommend sending your motorcycle for a full service or checkup every 5,000 to 6,000 kilometres, or every 6 to 12 months — even if you don’t ride much. If you ride frequently, or often through rainy weather, the recommendation for motorcycle maintenance is every 3,000km or every 6 months. This might sound expensive, but you don’t want to regret not having done so when something goes wrong with your bike.

However, even if you’re getting your motorcycle regularly serviced, it doesn’t mean that you can ignore doing regular checks yourself. It’s recommended that you should do a basic home inspection on a weekly basis, and a quick safety check before every ride.

Pre-Ride Safety Check: Check for oil leaks, working lights and signals, test brakes and throttle, and make sure your tyres are properly inflated.

Weekly Inspection: Check oil and coolant levels, inspect tyre threads and pressure, examine your chain for slack, make sure all lights and brakes work, and check for any loose parts.

Frequent, simple checks at home help catch small issues early. Safety first, always!

See also: Essential Motorcycle Maintenance Checks You Should Do

Myth #9: Basic bikes don’t give great performance and often require aftermarket modifications

Technically speaking, every motorbike is already factory-tuned for its whole package. Behind every bike are engineers who have worked on minute details from balancing airflow to calculating emissions.

Very often, swapping out a single part actually messes with that optimal configuration, or the change is easily lost in ECU compensation anyways. Oftentimes, adding a mod can also mean a trade off somewhere else.

Motorcycle mechanics will probably tell you that any real gains in performance will require way more reconfiguration and fine-tuning than simply installing an aftermarket modification. In fact, sometimes when customers come in with a problem with their bike, the solution could be to remove the modification to make it work better, as it should!

In any case, don’t forget that any modifications you make to your bike have to either be strictly LTA-approved, or at least within the allowance of LTA.

See also: LTA List of Modifications

Myth #10: You don’t need to wear motorcycle gear if you’re just going around the corner

“Don’t need to be so kiasi, lah,” your motorcycle buddies may say. “10-minute-ride also must wear until like that??”

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! A good motto to have is ATGATT, meaning “All The Gear, All The Time.” Full protective gear starts with your trusty helmet — compulsory for all motorcyclists in Singapore.

But you should also consider palm protecting gloves, a lightweight motorcycle jacket to guard against abrasion and impact, motorcycle pants for knee protection, and a fluorescent vest to increase your visibility on the roads.

Gearing up is not for wusses. It is the thing most motorcyclists recommend from a hospital bed, when they say, “I didn’t think I needed to suit up just to go to the neighbourhood shop.”

Stay safe on the roads, everyone!