Please explain this magnetic attraction
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
A good habit is to always see/visualize the clear path, the groove you want the tires to run in. Riding in the mountains, I continuously dodge minor rocky landslides by looking for the clear path, rather than fixating on the largest debris.
Don't look at/watch the obstacle, but rather the clear path.
Don't look at/watch the obstacle, but rather the clear path.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Object fixation or target fixation.
When on a motorcycle your machine will invariably tend to move in the direction you are looking. So if you stare at a single place or object, you will pull your bike toward it. so if you stare at the curb, gravel, etc. coming toward you...the bike will head there.
It's nothing magical. It's a combination of conscious and subconscious physical adjustments (balance, lean, personal weight distribution, etc.) aligning with visual queues. It works in your favor when used in combination of a head turn as you go into a turn (where you implacably DO NOT stare at a single point) and look ahead or in a low speed (2nd gear) sharp u turn where you turn your head as far as it will rotate...and the bike follows.
When on a motorcycle your machine will invariably tend to move in the direction you are looking. So if you stare at a single place or object, you will pull your bike toward it. so if you stare at the curb, gravel, etc. coming toward you...the bike will head there.
It's nothing magical. It's a combination of conscious and subconscious physical adjustments (balance, lean, personal weight distribution, etc.) aligning with visual queues. It works in your favor when used in combination of a head turn as you go into a turn (where you implacably DO NOT stare at a single point) and look ahead or in a low speed (2nd gear) sharp u turn where you turn your head as far as it will rotate...and the bike follows.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 3
From: Wis
1 road I frequent fairly often has a certain farm that the dog likes to come out and chase vehicles. When I'm on my bike I do the slow down, accelerate method. With my truck... I'll run the f*cker over!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 20
From: Driftless Area
When I was in my teens, a bud and I would ride his mini-bike past this house where the german shepard would always chase us. One day we swerved to miss the dog and the fixed footpeg caught the blacktop, we crashed. I got up, so po'd that I cussed the dog out and he took off running. After that I was never shook up by a dog chasing me. Just have to show them who the big dog on the porch is.jmo.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
When you see a dog, slow down and guide him right into a mailbox post. Trust me, this does cure them of chasing bikes. And hope the owner is out there to see it, maybe the jerk will keep care of his pets.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Krabi, Thailand
Thanks for all the replies - still no wiser on a physical explanation, so I guess it must be all in the mind.
Here in Thailand we have many dogs on the street - "Soi Dogs" and no owners. Mostly they just lie in the street as if they own it (some say they do) and you thread your way through them. Very occasionally, as happened this time, they wait till you are past, then come for you. If you have loud pipes you don't hear them until they are on you and then it's off to the Hospital for a course of rabies jabs.
I'm going back to get the little bar steward tomorrow with pepper spray and make sure he doesn't do it again.
Here in Thailand we have many dogs on the street - "Soi Dogs" and no owners. Mostly they just lie in the street as if they own it (some say they do) and you thread your way through them. Very occasionally, as happened this time, they wait till you are past, then come for you. If you have loud pipes you don't hear them until they are on you and then it's off to the Hospital for a course of rabies jabs.
I'm going back to get the little bar steward tomorrow with pepper spray and make sure he doesn't do it again.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 367
Likes: 8
From: Pa, USA
A good habit is to always see/visualize the clear path, the groove you want the tires to run in. Riding in the mountains, I continuously dodge minor rocky landslides by looking for the clear path, rather than fixating on the largest debris.
Don't look at/watch the obstacle, but rather the clear path.
Don't look at/watch the obstacle, but rather the clear path.