Safety tips what you got?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 821
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal East Bay
Before I got on a bike over 12 years ago I took a riding course. It was the most informative thing I could have done. Besides all the info I got they taught us how to ride. Just my 2 cents.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
- take a course... it's worth the effort.
- when you are first starting to ride, try to get out with good experienced guys (like this pm)... riding with better, experienced riders helped me a lot... especially gauging my speed going into corner's (I tended to misjudge a lot in the beginning)
-countersteering is your friend
- when you are first starting to ride, try to get out with good experienced guys (like this pm)... riding with better, experienced riders helped me a lot... especially gauging my speed going into corner's (I tended to misjudge a lot in the beginning)
-countersteering is your friend
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 21
From: Western PA
Leave plenty of space in front of you. No, even more than that.
Rider safety course - never hurts.
Dirt bike riding - learn how to handle a bike on the loose stuff.
+! Watch the front tires of cars at intersections. Scan, scan, scan.
Headlight modulator, tail light flasher where allowed - be seen.
Loud pipes can be heard in a blind spot.
+! Don't shadow/pace a vehicle - you become invisible.
From the been there/ done that files:
Don't outride the bike - you can only lean so far, and then you become a hockey puck. (oh yeah - wear leather)
Don't play speed racer - and go airborne at 90mph... at night. (time does, in fact, slow down to a surreal crawl)
Don't ride "under the influence" of any kind, including angry or tired - it is entirely possible to fall asleep on a motorcycle.
Ride DEFENSIVELY - like when you crest a hill at night and a van is driving at you on the wrong side of the road at 60 mph.
Rider safety course - never hurts.
Dirt bike riding - learn how to handle a bike on the loose stuff.
+! Watch the front tires of cars at intersections. Scan, scan, scan.
Headlight modulator, tail light flasher where allowed - be seen.
Loud pipes can be heard in a blind spot.
+! Don't shadow/pace a vehicle - you become invisible.
From the been there/ done that files:
Don't outride the bike - you can only lean so far, and then you become a hockey puck. (oh yeah - wear leather)
Don't play speed racer - and go airborne at 90mph... at night. (time does, in fact, slow down to a surreal crawl)
Don't ride "under the influence" of any kind, including angry or tired - it is entirely possible to fall asleep on a motorcycle.
Ride DEFENSIVELY - like when you crest a hill at night and a van is driving at you on the wrong side of the road at 60 mph.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 47
From: Tokyo
Some good points already posted here .
Watch the head of the drivers of cars around you, ( Body Language ) very often when people are going to change lanes etc their head will move, the heads can be a great indicator of what the dick in the car is going to do or thinking of doing.
I know it is not always possible to see the drivers heads clearly but when you can watch it, its usualy the first sign of some sort of action.
Defensive driving & and also years driving emergency vehicles at high speed in traffic taught me this.
Watch the head of the drivers of cars around you, ( Body Language ) very often when people are going to change lanes etc their head will move, the heads can be a great indicator of what the dick in the car is going to do or thinking of doing.
I know it is not always possible to see the drivers heads clearly but when you can watch it, its usualy the first sign of some sort of action.
Defensive driving & and also years driving emergency vehicles at high speed in traffic taught me this.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 250
From: NW Kentucky
I've never had a safety course but recommend it to any new riders I meet. I also tell them to ride within thier capabilities....don't try doing what you see more experienced riders doing until you get to that point that you can do that comfortably. I like the dirtbike comment. It does help to learn the traction and braking if person has a lot of experience on the "loose stuff" at a young age.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 46
From: East Hartford, CT
Go play in the mud.
Get the feel of the very loose stuff. It helps in the real world slip and slides.
Keeping the bike upright takes learned skills.
Take it easy in the corners, watch out for that front break in the corners, too hard and you will drop it.
learn how to properly pick your bike up.
Get the feel of the very loose stuff. It helps in the real world slip and slides.
Keeping the bike upright takes learned skills.
Take it easy in the corners, watch out for that front break in the corners, too hard and you will drop it.
learn how to properly pick your bike up.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Parker, Colorado
For new riders, I think the best thing you can do is to take a basic riders course sponsored by the MSF. I think the earlier tips about watching the wheels of cars trying to move into traffic, is great advice. In traffic, I always ride where I can see the road ahead of me the clearest. If that means I'm in the left lane holdign up some ages, too bad. Bottom line, less than 10% of the cagers even notice you and you have to assume they are going to do something stupid at any moment.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Finland
Rearview mirrors should be inspected often, at least every time you are about to slow down, danger is all around you . Long gap to vehicles in front of you. Dont ride with ********, who blast and ride dangerously. You might find yourself being just as *** as your riding buddies after a while.