My friend once told me when I was new to riding that there are two types of motorcyclists: those who have dropped their bike and those who are going to drop their bike. I didn't believe him as I went quite a long time with a clean record. One day, however, after getting my tires repaired, I took a roundabout a little too fast on the way to class and fell over. I wasn't hurt at all and other than a few scrapes my bike was fine, but it taught me a lesson in how vulnerable I should feel at all times. When you ride a motorcycle there are risks you have to accept. You can do your best to minimize those risks, but understanding them and being mindful of those risks is an important step to being safe on two wheels.
Quick decision making is a huge factor in remaining safe on the roads. My recent crash was caused because I panicked and failed to make a decision fast enough which left me with only the choice to try and minimize the damage of my impending crash. I couldn't decide if I should slow down or commit to the turn. Looking back, I should have slowed as much as I could before turning hard into the curve. Unfortunately you don't get a lot of time to analyze in the moment. It's best to be prepared and always go the appropriate speed for any upcoming obstacles. Think ahead and if you have to make a quick decision, commit to it.
There are a lot of other things you can do to be prepared. Going to the proper classes and getting professional training is a big help. The requirements to get your motorcycle license can be a little loose in some states, but it's better to schedule a basic rider course and let a professional teach you from the basics. Even once you've learned the basics, you still continue to learn a little everyday when riding a motorcycle. It's best to continue to hone your skills and even consider taking advanced motorcycle classes. I think that before I get back on a motorcycle I may schedule a more advanced riding class to touch up my skills.