Before pulling over to the side of the road, you must make sure:

Pulling over to the side of the road requires ensuring that the surface is firm enough to ride on. This is crucial for maintaining stability and safety while stopping. A firm surface helps prevent your motorcycle from tipping over or losing traction when you come to a stop. If the surface is not firm, such as gravel or sand, it can lead to losing control, which can be particularly dangerous.

While the other considerations like having a designated area, ensuring your brakes work, or stopping in a well-lit area are important for safety and legality, the immediate concern when selecting a spot to stop is the surface itself. Enduring a loss of balance or control due to an unstable or unsuitable surface can lead to accidents. Thus, ensuring a firm surface directly impacts your ability to safely come to a stop and maintain control of the motorcycle.