Yep, dirt riding back in the 60's is probably the one single thing I did that helped me the most when it comes to street riding. If you can find an old dirt bike that is still in running condition and cheap it would be well worthbuying plus if you've never done it you don't know the fun you're missing!

 

Well, I know deisel; fuel is REALLY hardn to see.

Ask me how I know.

 

yep yep on the dirt bikes,,,,,learning how to fall is a biggy,,,,I always try to stay on my hands and knees,,,,

Black ice,,,is the worst hazard I know of on street,,,,if its cold,,,and a light rain,,,watch overpass's,,,,and if u see brakelights reflecting off the asphalt,,,and there sharp and clear,,,,brace,,,brace,,,brace,,,,ease over to the grass or dirt,,,no brakes,,,no gas,,,,both feet down,,,,counter stear...once your in the grass,,,,u can putt putt to the next exit or bar.....

The recommended posted speed limits,,,them funny yellow signs,,,are pretty much on,,,as far as staying outta trouble....

Watch out for on-comming traffic in twistys and blind curves,,,,their alway going to fast,,,and alway gonna grab a big peice of your lane......

Hope this helps....

 

Learn to automatically look thru the upcoming turn looking for those hazards that will make that turn slippery. When you see those things, i.e. dirt, gravel, leaves, grass cuttings, water/oil break your turn into two turns. Your bike is not going to slip/slide if it is vertical or near vertical. For example; in a 90 deg. turn with a hazard at the mid point make two turns out of it. Make a 45 deg. turn, straighten up to near vertical while riding over the hazard, than make the remainder of the turn into another 45 deg. turn. Likewise for an 80 deg. turn, make two 40 deg.s, for a 120 deg turn, make two 60 degs. It becomes easy with practice. The object is to be riding your bike thru the hazard while as vertical as possible. Find yourself a nice parking lot with someplace you can start with halving a big 90 deg. turn. As you become more proficient at making two turns out of one, both speed up and make the turn a sharper bend. This technique has saved my bacon more than once.

The previous recommendation to get a little practiceon a lightdirt bike is a very, very good one. There is nothing like learning the feeling of a slide or slip on a light bike and then translating that experience into riding on the street on a heavier bike.

Aspill of diesel fuel on pavement is very dangerous and is becoming more common. The spill will almost alwaysput a 'different' sheen on the light reflection from thespill spot. If you suspect a diesel spill while riding straight and vertical, just barely touch your rear brake and slow down very slowly. If you ride into aturn where diesel is spilled, don't touch any brakes. Justslow down as best possible while backing off on the twist throttle. If there isNO oncoming traffic, don't worry about taking that curve wide even into the other lane(s). If you wind up stopped on the opposite side of the road at the bar ditch and are still upright, very good. You can then calm down and when traffic permits ride across lanes to your original travel lane and continue on. Most diesel fuel spills in turns are from larger diesel trucks that are missing a fuel cap. Centrifugal force sends most of that fuel to the outside of the turn. Therefore make it a practice to ride the inside of all highway turns when possible. When encountering slick surfaces, never use the front brake................... BC

 

Check the local weather station ...



Just kidding ... my pop was a truck driver and there is one thing he taught me 40 years ago that I still use a lot today when I'm on the road.

A dark spot in the road usually means a dip or bump. The dark spot is often the residue from oil/dirt from under cars that have gone over the dip/bump. The darker the spot (in contrast to the rest of the road) the more cars have gone over it or the more severe the dip/bump is. You now know there's a dip/bump and that there is likely oil/dirt/grease from prior vehicles travelling over it.

He also taught me that construction areas often have corresponding supply drops nearby (especially in rural areas). If you didn't see the supply spot before you got to the construction zone then there is a good chance it will be shortly after you exit the zone. Supply spots typically have gravel and other road construction materials stored on them, so this means there's an increased level of having this stuff dropped on the road surface in that area.

 

i look for bikes down on the side of the road with scuffed up riders lookin pissed an hurt beside em[:-][]