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Tips on How To be a more safe and cautious rider

ro-monster said:
I second that! I'm in the middle of the book right now, and while it hasn't covered much that was really news to me, it does a wonderful job of explaining why motorcycles behave as they do in response to certain inputs, and how you can use that behavior to your advantage. And it tells you exactly what steps you can take to create a mental attitude, and develop skills, that will help you be prepared for whatever situations you encounter on the road.
Click to expand...

i heard that there is a new edition or a second in the series by the same author. i've read and enjoyed the original, but am curious if anyone knows about the sequel?

enjoy,
ferenc
 
Always look for "buffer zones", usually a 120x60 foot zone where YOU are visible to others, re evaluate that buffer zone as traffic conditions change...

I only split lanes when traffic slows down to 5-10mph, once it picks up, I shoot a buffer zone and ride it till traffic slows once more.

I once had a CHP motor cop follow me as I did this....after exiting and stopping at the light, he commented on how safe it was for me to ride like that.

Also....learn the dynamics of your bike, threshold braking, steering, acceleration and how the bike handles "tank slapping" and how to mitigate it...

when riding a bike think for yourself AND others in cars around you. You can almost see what the person in the car is going to do by looking at them. (body lang)

For the money we spend on our rides and most importanlty out well being, being safe is worth it.

peace
R
 
1) if you lane split regularly, consider buying a headlight modulator. You want people to see you coming...

2) when riding around high schools, expect the unexpected.... young/new drivers are still learning how to control the car, and 'situational awareness' is a skill many have yet to master.

3) ... other schools, expect the unexpected... kids running into traffic, parents paying more attention to looking for their kids and less to what's in front of their car, people pulling into traffic or changing lanes suddenly... they're the worst of all traffic jams.

4) Oh yes, keep your head up and eyes forward. You already bought the real estate right in front of the bike...
 
One thing my dad metioned for riding dirt is always keep two fingers on the brakes and the clutch. I've gotten into the habbit of riding anything with two finger grip, being a bicycle, goped or even a 50.

When in a car, I always give the bike a little more room when they are splitting lanes.

These are all great tips. For me money is no object when it comes to saftey, ie gear. So the top of the line or near the top of the line for me. My life is important to me.

For the people who ride dirt also, what have you learned from riding dirt that you apply to the street?
 
1. never let yourself feel comfortable, confident, or bored with the ride. always force yourself to be alert, focused, and wary of everything from the road to the cages.
2. make sure you have enough space to see around the vehicle in front of you.
3. When Do You Wave? When It's Safe. If it's not save, just nod or don't respond at all.

now the story. 1. I was on a straight two lane road with a double yellow line, doing 60 (out of 65). I was comfortable at 60 didn't give much thought to things going wrong... wasn't 100% alert. the pick up truck w/trailer in front of me was not doing the speed limit, I was bored with being behind them, but oncoming traffic (and the double yellow line) kept me where I was. 2. the pickup was slowing down more, I pull in the clutch, shift down twice and cover the brake since I'm already tail gating and there's someone behind me also tail gating. I can't really see why we're slowing down, I'm just responding to the tail lights in front of me. 3. to my surprise, out of the corner of my eye I see a bike go by in the other direction. he waves. In some brainless moment my left hand comes right up to wave back.... releasing the clutch. instantly the bike wants to go half the speed it's going, I've got one hand on the bike, and it's covering the brake. then, after nearly getting thrown forward, having the handle bars whip all the way left and all the way right, and having a foot touch the ground at 60 miles/hour, a miracle occurs and don't kill myself. infact I straighten the bike (with much help from the amazing gyroscopic effect of a fast moving bike) and manage not to harm anyone else, or myself. though I did see my life flash before my eyes.

I didn't come up with these 3 things after doing this insanely stupid thing, infact these three things flashed through my mind as it happened because I already knew them, and I Should Have Known Better! What would I add after the experience?

4. reading these sort of safety tips means nothing if you don't constantly practice what you've learned.
 
Great idea, got lots of useful stuff here.

I definately agree with "SPEEDING UP OR SLOWING DOWN TO STAY OUT OF BLIND SPOTS!".

As a newbie and former passenger, this is definately a scary thing.


Thanks all!
 
hi, how about this safety tip: don't buy a bike over your head/ability/self-control?

i'm in the market for a new bike in the next few weeks and am considering an fz6 or a dl650. the fz6 scares me a bit - i don't know if i can handle the power and not push my own limits too far!

it may be decided for me by the market, as i can't find an fz6 in the bay area!!!

enjoy,
ferenc
 
Great stuff... thanks for sharing.

Think about riding when you ride. Duh! While your putting on your gear, start thinking about riding. Not work. Not the kids. Not the babes! If you’re not, then you should wonder what the hell you’re doing. When I leave work, I ride ¼ mile and I’m on the freeway, you better have your head in the ride from the start. Like Crash Davis trying to hit a fastball with Anne in his “head”.
 
Someone might have posted on this already (haven't had a chance to read the whole thread) but repeating this tip can't be bad. Anyway, my dad taught me this when I was learning to drive, and it's stuck with me lo these many years:

Always be cautious of cabbies without a fare!

They see a hand up on the sidewalk and suddenly they're cutting across three lanes of traffic, slamming on the brakes in front of you, flipping a u-turn, etc.

Having lived in Chicago, SF, and LA, I know a thing or two about crazy drivers, but cabbies without a fare always take the cake.

Ride safe!
--Joe
 
Intersections

If am waiting on a red light and I am in the front row with cars to my left/right, I will let one of the cars enter the intersection on green before I enter.

Be hyperaware of oncoming cars turning left in front of you, especially at night.
 
Here's a tip:

Keep the shiny side up (easier said than done, isn't it?)

;)
 
I have a mantra when approaching signal lights... it's yes, yes, yes, no. 'No' is my judgement of whether I can *safely* make it across if the light were to suddenly turn yellow.
If the light turns yellow after I've said "no"... well, I don't need to think any more. No more panic reaction times!
Of course, there is another 'yes' period when you reach the edge of the intersection and the light hasn't turned on you yet.
 
BUY THE RIGHT BIKE!!!!!

Buy a bike based on your riding skill and experience. For just street riding a 600 is almost always faster than an open classer.
Torque is nice but the awesome HP can compress the time between corners to an undesirable amount.
If you have a stock bike and want to go faster ,buy suspension not motor. speed will follow.

My tip is to watch the inside paint line in right hand corners.
If the road tightens up watching the inside will just turn you with the road. Watching the centerline just lets you know when your in the oncoming lane.

My 2 cents:barf
 
Lots of good tips here. After 34 years of riding I learned and practiced most of these and managed to stay out of trouble. But I have been hit twice by oncoming motorcycle squids in my lane in the last 2 years, and I was not in any way at fault (other than riding on the road). Both times the squid entered a blind corner in the wrong lane and hit me at a blind apex. Thats my final lesson, I don't ride anymore.
 
Ride to your ability...

Expect the unexpected, don't think every motor vehicle is gonna see you. Bcuz they usually don't.
 
When the sun is blinding and in your line of sight, tilt your head down while looking upwards until the helmut obscures the direct sun permiting normal sight. It works until the sun is close to the horizon.

When driving on roads where cars may turn left from a center divide and following a vehicle, stay far to the left in the lane so cagers can see you. Typically others won't look for a biker behind a vehicle.

Jeff:)
 
Check your mirrors, then do a head check! I can't count the number of times my mirrors showed nobody, and then Zooooooooom, a car rushes right be me on that side!

-teslas
 
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