My father told me something that stuck with me. "Having a fast bike isn't for hauling ass all over the place. It's for getting the hell out of the way when you NEED it."
Ive driven cars areound bikers for more than 15 years around thousends of bikes and no This isnt real I have had more than 100 people in a period of 15 years of riding a bike try and purposefully run me over They see me the make eye contact And or speed up going 80+++ to try and catch motorcycles so they can run them over People Are evil Ive never...not seen someone on a bike ever Ive allways kept my distance...... ....take the license end of story Seen people being shot by bikers twice for someone randomly trying run them over Js Something is wrong with society The majority or agrivated assault with a vehicle happen from cars to bikers in ratio to amount of bikers vs drivers Its a statistical fact
77 here and started riding at the same age but forced to stop 21 years ago when forced to move back to South Florida - there are just too many people driving down her that are brain dead - I think they were grabbing the animals' ears where they came from - if I can ever get out of here, I will get another bike -
Been riding for 40 years and over 350,000 miles. I am not over confident. This is why I train and practice. I definitely ride like I am invisible and am willing to give up my right of way to stay alive.
I had just finished riding class and had a situation i learned. I made a left turn into a parking lot and the suv came around the cars sitting there. Used the swerve method to prevent a head on with the suv. I was proud of myself but blessed to have used what i learned to save me. Classes are good to take. Good reflexes and good ridership.
when I bought my bike I took the CC rider course in California. the first class involved everybody saying why they were taking the class - my response was that it seemed liek the best way to get licensed. and it did give me skills and insights I hadn't had before.
Solid advice, I liked that this talks about how to handle traffic in realistic situations. One thing about engine braking is using the rear brake lightly takes care of alerting the driver behind.
Dutch rider chiming in. That is some very, very sound advice! I'll show it to my daughter when she starts her lessons next year. Very good point about rolling on/off the throttle without illuminating the brakes. When I ride the unlimited German autobahn (cruising around 200 km/h), I use air resistance + engine braking a lot to slow down by sitting up. I always lightly tap the brakes too if there's someone behind, so they're not surprised. You're the first guy I've heard pointing this out. Excellent job.
The same point applies to earlier models of truck with engine braking capability - it's only recently that truck engine brakes would illuminate the brake lights.
The guy who crashed his nice white Harley on Mulholland over a decade ago. I sure hope this poor guy on the white Harley gets royalties for all the times his image is used. He must be one of the most famous riders ever.
I've only been riding for 40 years. Which is why I love watching videos like this, can always learn something new. In Australia we have a saying "SMIDSY" Sorry Mate I Didn't See Ya. Like you said ride like your invisible. But also be aware of what's around you. Eg - a black bike, rider with black gear, riding up the arse of a black SUV. your just another tail light in traffic
In the AIRBORNE we say "You have the rest of your life to fix it" When something goes south keep your head have faith in your equipment and your training. I can't count the times that I had to Pop Juice lol Keep on Trucking! ✌️
Everything you covered is spot on. I have been riding pretty much every day for 58 years and have logged well over a million miles. As a retired firefighter who has worked hundreds of accident scenes, the right vs. wrong is so evident. Pay attention! Just because the light is green it is not an iron shield! Living in California, lane splitting is legal. It is also a good idea to pull between stopped vehicles at a light to avoid be crushed. Great video by the way.
Mistake #4, is so spot on. And the poem was absolutely reminding me of pedestrians walking through cross walks. Staring blankly at their phones while walking like zombies through the intersection. Never assume the other guy saw you. NEVER
One thing that I continually look for when I want to change lanes on my bike are motorcyclist splitting lanes at high speeds behind me. It would be horrible to be rear-ended by another bike!
Ahh good point. Thanks for sharing! Lane filtering / splitting is illegal in Alabama where I live so I rarely see it happening. Thanks for pointing that out.
Excellent Video, I have only been riding (after not riding for 35 years) for 4 or 5 months again and already every situation you have discussed has occurred at least twice a day. The safety Riding class was helpful, but videos like yours are extremely valuable and helpful. Thanks for spending the time to do this. I watch videos like this 2 and three times a week and it keeps me on my toes! My motto: Always vigilant, Never complacent. And don’t get cocky, stay Alert.
I totally agree! If a new rider would simply adopt these practices, their chances of surviving the critical first year of riding would go up drastically.
Awesome advice, thank you so much for making it safe for us riders. My biggest fear is at stop lights, the vehicles behind me, I always flash my break lights when they approach me
Excellent video!! All common sense stuff!!! I've been riding since I was 11 years old...I'm 70 now. Have owned 40 plus motorcycles of every genere over my riding years and have taken numerous skills and agility riding courses and all the MSF courses and have even had intensive professional race instruction and a short race career. I still love riding and I ride almost every day!! Your video is well thought and presented!! keep'em comin' sir!!! 👍
We will never know for sure because people will not tell the truth, but after many decades of riding I have come to the conclusion that too often they DO see you--they just don't care. I have some reasons to believe that as I have observed so many look me right in the eye ans slowly pull out in front of me. I am just not so kind anymore in my assessments. What do I do in these cases--I avoid them and pretend nothing happened. Don't start a fight with something that weighs 5000lbs more than you do.
It’s tough. I’ve heard this exact thing when investigating a motorcycle crash. The driver says “I didn’t see him.” The rider says “they looked right at me!” I think they look right through us. Like we’re not even there. Thanks for watching!
All great advice. I don't understand the rage aimed at cars in some situations. Sometimes they aren't paying attention but sometimes they just don't see you. I don't split traffic but in stop and go traffic and at traffic signals, I never stop directly behind a vehicle. My bike is right on the line and aimed between the two vehicles in front of me. I am also really conscious about lane position when I am at the front of the line. My new bike has a little trigger to flash the high beams and I use that often to increase awareness. The other thing I do is turn on my hazards if I am sitting at a light with no one behind me.
Like many others here, I have been riding for decades and completely agree with the good advice in this video. I try to keep a safety zone of space around me so I can see, be seen and react if needed. Unfortunately, training on defensive riding - preferably being observed in real traffic - is hard to find but if you are a new rider, find someone experienced who can watch you and give some tips. Great video, thanks, it will probably save someone’s life.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. You’re right about having someone with experience that can watch you. It’s very helpful if you can find that person.
you are absolutely correct on all counts - I was riding bikes for two years in the 60's before ever owning a car - I sold my last bike in 2002 when I was forced to move back to south Florida due to work - I have missed riding every day but it is not worth the risk to ride down here - to get pizzed and hit their mirrors or vehicle will also start a road rage, and you will have an injured hand to start with - also never split lanes with moving traffic -
Spot on. Especially in regard to having to watch your 6 at stop lights. I never come to a stop dead center of a lane. I'm always on the left or on the right side depending on which gives me access to the fastest escape route with the least amount of effort. It's saved my bacon more than once. Even if you can't get all the way over if you can give the driver coming up behind you enough space to share the lane with you at the last minute it can be the difference between a moment of panic vs. an ambulance ride.
Excellent video. Every tip was practical and life-saving. I've had that "You're but you're dead" conversation with a couple of friends over the years. I believe there are very Few circumstances on the road that we can't control by speed, bike position, braking and the awareness that they do not see us and the vast majority don't care if they do.
Thank you. Thanks for this comment. I agree, not all but many can be prevented. Just watch the UA-cam motorcycle crash videos and you will see multiple crashes that were not the motorcyclist fault, but could have been avoided if the motorcyclist was paying attention.
I just stumbled upon your channel this morning. Glad I did. This is excellent advice. Every single scenario happens on a regular basis. I have friends who have died in some of these situations. I hope people listen. By the way, one of my best friends, a guy I ride with regularly, is also a motor-officer.
Hey, welcome! Glad you’re here! I’ve worked so many motorcycle crashes that could have been avoided. Just trying to share and help as many as will listen. Thanks for the comment. Glad you’re here.
This is one of the best motorcycle awareness videos I've ever seen... I love #4 - Right of Way Doesn't Matter if You're Dead. I teach motorcycle classes and emphasize this point in class. I'm going to adopt this phrase. You got a sub from me. Thanks! Ride Safe, Peace
I rode for 15 years, took a 20 year break, and just purchased a motorcycle again. Engine braking is something I hadn’t thought about until reviewing modern videos. I used to do that all of the time and who knows how many drivers I’ve surprised. Most of the rest are things in this video I’d learned over time (the easy or hard way) and still seem to be programmed in. I will however be spending a lot of time in parking lot drills this go around. Previously I was too confident in my skills to think I needed those, but videos I’ve been watching have convinced me otherwise. I’ll especially be working on progressive braking as I’m sure in my past motorcycle life, I left a lot of stopping distance on the table.
Thank you for helping the biking community to stay safe. I wanted to pass on something I do, but don't hear it being taught anywhere. When I am going down the road and there is a car at an intersection that could potentially pull out in front of me (any car). I find that by watching the wheels of the car, instead of the car itself, you can see the rotation of the wheels easier than seeing the a car move forward and know the car is moving or starting to move. Have you read any of Keith Code's books on motorcycle physics? They focus more on rider mistakes than car mistakes. I subscribed tonight, looking forward to hearing more of your knowledge.
You’re exactly right! I do the same thing and I’ve already have it noted to do a future video on that in the future. The front wheel is like a crystal ball showing you the future of that vehicle! It’s definitely easier to spot the spokes of the wheel starting to turn than the vehicle starting to move as a whole. That’s good advice! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for the sub and for watching.
There are SO many distractions these days! Those phones are a big one. I’ve worked many wrecks where the person wasn’t even using the phone however it was in their console or passenger seat and buzzed when someone sent a text message which briefly took their attention away from the road. That was all it took! 💥
I've experienced all of the scenarios you have illustrated here. Thank you for the great tips and words of wisdom. Same as most of you watching, i ride like i'm invisible. On top of that my bike is equipped with Kisan Electronics pathBlazer and tailBlazer kits. There are other similar kits out there and it's worth it to install them.
Well said and absolutely true. Know that we are invisible and always expect other drivers to do the wrong thing so you aren't surprised when they do. And don't ride with idiots, you can't make them ride smart but you don't have to ride with them.
As an experienced rider, the Greatest threat is Always Behind you! We know how to deal with the blind left turners and sudden right side merges. I am still frightened of the rear-end Pancake! I have heard a Grey hair screeching her breaks (with abs) to prevent Pancaking me. I have been working on my strategy to always head into the split for those sudden breaking scenarios. And i always try to align my bike into the widest split when i pull up to the light.
67, I’ve been riding all my life. Every 2 years I take a skills training to keep me on top of my game. Every now and then I go to a parking space to practice my ability to handle the machine.
The issue with advice like ride like your completely invisible and treat everyone like they dont see you is that nobody realistically can operate in a way where they are predicting and reacting to every single potential danger for very long. A better way is to work on your pattern/hazard recognition and train your body to react appropriately. Nobody has the mental energy to ride like danger is around every corner. Train to recognize hazards and condition the appropriate response.
Some things I picked up from more experienced riders over the years. - Remember the "Lug Nuts Rule" - he that has the most lug nuts rules - Start with a short "Lord help me remember that I am invisible and everyone else is drunk"
Any time I am in stop and go traffic on highway or freeway, in CA, in 1st or 2nd gear, I ALWAYS use some gentle brake lever to activate my ClearWater super bright LED Billie Brake light on my license plate frame. It's pretty obnoxious blinding, but still, I will split or filter to avoid being rear ended and squished between 2 cars. A 600# bike doesn't stand a chance between a few 3000 to 7000# cars or trucks. Get between them, to the sides, every time you are slowing down, and use some brakes immediately, not hard, gentle, when you start engine braking, so that they can see you and get the most amount of reaction time from your brake lights vs no lights with engine braking only.
I had a close call last week. On my motorcycle, I was approaching an intersection with a green light in my direction along with other traffic. A guy on the cross street to my right had a red light. He could've easily pulled out in front of me six car lengths before I got to the intersection. But no, he pulled out right in front of me two car lengths before me. I nailed my front brake and very narrowly missed becoming a new addition to the driver's side of his Audi. He heard my two tone car horn (Fiam) for several seconds to wake him up. I agree with you. If you ride a motorcycle, you have to constantly be a defensive driver and ride as if you're invisible. Don't ever stay in any other vehicle's blind spot. Keep your thumb very close to your horn button. Constantly watch for other drivers attempting to move into your lane without signaling. Immediately let them know you're there with your horn. Be prepared to brake quickly to avoid getting slammed into. Make sure you're not going to become a hood ornament of the car behind you if you do have to brake quickly.
This is the one that got me 40 years ago. She's waiting because she has seen me. No, she didn't get going because she was old and distracted by her passenger. It's not impossible I could be caught out the same way again but slowing down is the only realistic defence.
People in cars don't see you. You have to see them. Any vehicle bigger than you has the right of way. Never be the first to pull off the line at a green light. Where I live when the light turns red. Expect 2 more cars to go through. If a new rider can live 3 months they will probably be okay. Make sure your break light turn on before your breaks engage. The only time my breaks are engaged (usually) is right before my foot touches the ground. Watch out for the oil streak in the road. Don't ride on it and never put your foot on it when you stop. If you think you know it all, then you don't know anything. Humble yourself and learn. When you're dead the lessons are over. Thats all I've got to say about this.
That's exactly what happened to my Dad back in 1972, at a give way to right intersection (Australia). A driver on Dad's left overtook a line of stopped cars and didn't see my Dad until it was too late. Dad was lucky to get out of it with a broken femur, broken neck; he didn't know his neck broke until about 30 years later and some amount of brain injury. Dad said if he'd had a quicker bike, he would have made it through before the car hit him, but how much quicker do you want to go? Roads and intersections have improved since then, thank goodness and the tax payers ;-). I guess the car didn't see Dad, but Dad didn't see the car right!
52 years on two wheels here. When I was younger, I rode wearing ‘colours’ of a Motorcycle Club I belonged to. I did NOT wear bright colours! I wore mostly black! I experienced many times when a driver would look at me and our eyes would meet. Sometimes, that driver would BEGIN to pull out, but then do a double take and STOP RIGHT THERE! I didn’t think much of it whenever that happened, but it happened that one day I was riding a friend’s bike and I wasn’t wearing my Outlaw gear, had a white helmet on and looked just like any other motorcycle rider. It was terrifying! It was like I’d become invisible! I couldn’t understand it! People would look right at me and then pull out right in front of me! I had bright gear on and all that, but it just didn’t matter! I returned the bike to my friend and put my black helmet on, my black jacket and colours on and got on my outlaw bike, wearing my dark outlaw gear and HEY PRESTO! I wasn’t invisible anymore! People saw me, thought about it, and decided to not pull out! Now, I know this is stupid, because I’m not any less vulnerable than some regular rider, but I firmly believe that in the minds of a lot of car drivers, their imagination runs with wild ideas of the possible outcomes of colliding with an outlaw biker and they DECIDE TO SEE ME. Irrational as that sounds, in the half century I’ve been riding, I’ve seen this many times. I ride as if everyone is deliberately trying to kill me and I don’t ride like an idiot, but the wide-eyed looks of so many drivers over the years has given me a few smiles. At the end of the day, it’s nearly ALWAYS the rider’s fault what happens to him as far as I’m concerned.
Also, engine braking on bikes is often more effective than light to moderate braking on a car. If you're slowing down, dip a toe down on the brake lever. Just to put the light on.
YES SIR Iam 68 yrs old been ridding since age 8 & yes ride like uR Invisible & situational awareness is Critical way more cars on the road way more distracted cage drivers so I have my right 2 ringers on front break & foot ob rear break eyes ahead but one eye in mirror of whats behind me ..had cars pull out right in front of me & had to swerve a few times
I use on off on off on rear brake light if someone is approaching too fast, also wear enough yellow high viz to make your friends laugh at you then you know you are pretty visible 👍
Another poem: At a railroad crossing, here's how to figger: in case of a tie, the engine's bigger." Dunno who worte it...I saw it in a magazine when I was a teen...
Thank you, funny thing though, the safest bike I ever rode was a black Norton with loud pipes back in the '70's. I wore black clothing and helmet too, no headlight during the day. Nobody ever cut me up. At the same time I also rode a red trail bike with the headlight wired on all the time and I wore bright clothing and helmet. People were always cutting me up. Changing lanes on top of me, pulling out in front of me. My conclusion was: People don't look for cars or motorcycles when they're driving, they look for threats. If you look like a threat you will be safer. I have a friend who was the top Police motorcycle instructor in my country. He was T-boned by a car at an intersection after sitting right across from the car for the best part of a minute, in plain view on a big white Police motorcycle at a 2 lane intersection. The guy didn't see him. I bet he would have seen him if he looked like a Hells Angel. Having said all that I've subscribed, lots of practical common sense that agrees with all my experience over the years. You offer really sound, helpful advice.
I never understood this victimhood paranoid mentality. You are visible, ride in a way to make sure you are visible. If drivers were out to kill us riders, we would all be dead. People may be inattentive, but they are not actively trying to kill us. Why would you want to poison your ride with fear and paranoia? Conservative estimate, I am over 300K miles on two wheels and can count the number of close calls, truly close calls on one hand. Perhaps we attract what we desire or fear most? Perhaps frame of mind matters? Perhaps skill set matters? You are visible, ride to make sure you are, stop being the victims and act with your agency. Two wheels is more vulnerable than being in a 4 wheel cage, but no one is trying to kill you. Stop being the victim, exercise your agency, use road strategies, use skills intentionally honed through practice, be mindful and aware. Keep the shiny side up and you will be fine.
I never drive/ or stop in the middle of a lane - I either seek to the right or the left of the lane. First of all - when you drive a motorcycle in the middle of the lane - that is where all the old cars spill most of their old engine-oil - and when I stop for a light - I have my escape route either to the shoulder or to the outer lane. 😏
Sorry for being that guy, but braking distances of bikes is marginally better than cars. Bikes can accelerate super quickly, but they are just a bit better at stopping than cars. aaaaaand! as you briefly mentioned. You have to have trained emergency braking to be able to do it at their full potential. You are sooooo right about letting go and not escalating or proving you are right. Soooooo many riders out there trying to teach lessons to drivers.
Fair enough. I’m often impressed with braking ability of the bikes I ride. Done right, it’s extremely efficient. Done wrong… not so good. Thanks for watching.
I guess I’m gonna be that guy and disagree with motorcycle brakes are only marginally better than cars. 50 years of riding dirt and street. Several hundred thousand miles on the street. Bikes, even cruisers stop faster than cars. It’s proven via simple math and physics . I’m not looking to argue I just agree to disagree.
@@rogerkint9354 I thought the same until someone at my bike club said that bikes had worse braking than cars. We then googled it and found out that bikes are just marginally better than cars. You can check it out yourself. it's quite eye-opening!
@@rogerkint9354 here's a quick quote I found: Yamaha R1 stopping distance from 60mph, 126ft Toyota Camry 125ft. Seriously. I couldn't believe it until I saw it.
From what I’ve read, it’s said that motorcycles stop quicker from slower speeds but cars stop quicker from faster ones. I’m not sure of the exact math on it, but that what I’ve seen.
Something you don’t mention is the importance of full protective gear. I’m from the UK and it’s pretty rare here to see someone who is not wearing full gear. In America it seems very common to see people not wearing protective clothing beyond a helmet.
You’re right. It’s almost uncommon where I’m from to see someone wearing full gear. The UK seems to have done a much better job promoting motorcycle training and safety!
Talking about distractions, the giant infotainment screens in vehicles are a huge distraction. Looking and the album cover art of the next song that came on, watching the map for the next turn, etc. I went back to a 2012 pickup with no screens, and found that I am a much more attentive driver. Screens in cars should be illegal.
Thank you! Thanks for letting me know about the sound. I agree, UA-cam goes a bit too far with the ads. I have UA-cam premium to avoid those. It’s not a cheap but it’s worth it. Thanks for watching!
My problem is that when I predict and slow down when I see the comming car, the drivers thing that I give them right of way and they usually do not stop
Every time I watch a YT video of bike wrecks and the rider has a camera, it seems about 80-90% of the wrecks are avoidable. And rev bombing does nothing. I replaced my horn with an air horn that works so much better than the stock one that came with the bike and pretty much every bike. Not sure why manufacturers don't give everyone a better horn. And blasting the horn for 30 solid seconds also does nothing but, anger the offender even if they were wrong to begin with. I've survived almost 50 years of riding which also includes being T-Boned by a red light runner when I was about 17.
Thank you , can you please elaborate on the many reasons why it's a really bad idea to slap or kick at another vehicle no matter how stupid a thing they may have done ?
Well, one of the many reasons is: if a crash didn’t occur and you damage someone’s property you’re now a suspect in a criminal mischief case. No one wants that. Other than that, there are numerous things that could go wrong. I won’t try and name them here. Just give it a little thought and watch a few UA-cam videos on close calls and crashes and you’ll see how it can go from bad to worse. Thanks for watching!
1) It's bad behaviour, 2) It's illegal, 3) You might crash or hurt yourself, 4) You might provoke them to retaliate in kind and get your arse kicked, and deservedly so, because: 5) they might have made a mistake and unintentionally endangered you or your property. You're doing that on purpose. So who's the actual arsehole here? 6) You're achieving nothing. You're making them angry, you're making yourself angry, you make yourself hate drivers and make drivers hate riders. 7) You want to be a bigger man/woman/anything in between/other.
When i was on my ZX7 l never had a corner that bike couldnt handle. I'd though it in it side scrape my elbow gas it an bring the front wheel up comming out of the corner. But with that sayen that the scout bobber I ride now. There us no way I could even go 1/4 that speed into a corner. Be safe out there with the cruisers. They dont handle/corner like a sport bike.
I sold motorcycles for 17yrs. I always tell my new riders to make sure you are not in a cars blind spot. If they come over on you they are wrong but you are the one going to go down.
Many motorcycle accidents happen because the last thing drivers are paying attention to is driving. They are always texting, watching videos in cell phones, arguing with their children, eating, searching for objects in the floor etc. Many drivers are not conscious that drive a 1,5 - 2 ton motorized metal box at 40 mph is in fact the same as driving a lethal weapon. Yes I know that many riders are wrong, but cars and trucks drivers are way more dangerous because an average rider is usually a better driver to. We learn to pay more attention and be more focused in what we do when operating a machine. After almost 45 years riding motorcycles I'm just tired of riding for me and for all other cage drivers on the road that simply don´t pay enough attention to what they´re doing. And last but not least, lane splitting should be permited EVERYWHERE, because it´s the best way to avoid rear collisions.
position yourself so everybody can see you, but act like you're invisible. The point about stopping distance is true and false. Any idiot in a can stop a modern car EASILY faster than a new motorcycle rider. Motorcycle stops take SKILL which comes from PRACTICE. Accommodating for the cage behind you is true though and to do that I suggest increasing your own following distance behind the car in front, stay aware of your 'splitting' options in case.
I'm 67 and recently returned to riding after 6 years off the bike. I took a basic riders course and told the entire class "Ride like you're invisible AND act like the ones who can see you are out to KILL you".
I never understood this victimhood paranoid mentality. You are visible, ride in a way to make sure you are visible. If drivers were out to kill us riders, we would all be dead. People may be inattentive, but they are not actively trying to kill us. Why would you want to poison your ride with fear and paranoia? Conservative estimate, I am over 300K miles on two wheels and can count the number of close calls, truly close calls on one hand. Perhaps we attract what we desire or fear most? Perhaps frame of mind matters? Perhaps skill set matters? You are visible, ride to make sure you are, stop being the victims and act with your agency. Two wheels is more vulnerable than being in a 4 wheel cage, but no one is trying to kill you. Stop being the victim, exercise your agency, use road strategies, use skills intentionally honed through practice, be mindful and aware. Keep the shiny side up and you will be fine.
@@kevindowell6003 I ride in such a way as to make myself as visible as possible. I also go out of my way to avoid potential traps. I've been riding on the street for over 50 years and have never had an accident involving a car. Must be doing something right.
@@SteveH98264 I am glad to hear you have been safe for that long. To my point, that clearly means you are visible and not invisible. To my point, it is clear that the rider’s actions matter. To my point, if you have ridden that long without an accident, then people clearly are not ought to get you. Being outnumbered as we are and clearly at a disadvantage, we are not being targeted. It is far more enjoyable being on the road without the negative mindset you presented in your comment. I have seen far too many riders fight for their space, far too many angry when normal road incidents occur, too many riders taking mirrors in retaliation. I can’t help but wonder about the correlation between “they can’t see me, they don’t care and they are out to get me” and these behaviors. I don’t think the us against the cagers perspective is good, I think it is harmful. Continued safe travels
This is good. My father taught me in 1973 “ pretend you are invisible”. I have ridden a long, accident free time because of these very same pieces of advice! Thank you!
I've been riding on the street 51 years now also. I've always said, "No one can see me or my bike except the police." This has saved me in so many ways, so many times.
Motorcycles do not stop at shorter distances than car do, that is a misconception. There are plenty of test videos that debunk this falsehood. Think about it for a moment.
![Customer States & Mechanical Fails Compilation [Part 45]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SaZSa6kh0rw/mqdefault.jpg)
My father told me something that stuck with me. "Having a fast bike isn't for hauling ass all over the place. It's for getting the hell out of the way when you NEED it."
I’m a 73 yr old and been riding since I was 15 and the best advice is the ride like your invisible and always ride sober.
Best advice ever! Drivers always say: I didn't see you
Ive driven cars areound bikers for more than 15 years around thousends of bikes and no
This isnt real
I have had more than 100 people in a period of 15 years of riding a bike try and purposefully run me over
They see me the make eye contact
And or speed up going 80+++ to try and catch motorcycles so they can run them over
People
Are evil
Ive never...not seen someone on a bike ever
Ive allways kept my distance...... ....take the license end of story
Seen people being shot by bikers twice for someone randomly trying run them over
Js
Something is wrong with society
The majority or agrivated assault with a vehicle happen from cars to bikers in ratio to amount of bikers vs drivers
Its a statistical fact
Wow I want to reach your age riding. Thanks for the parental advise sir. Greetings from Kampala-Uganda.
77 here and started riding at the same age but forced to stop 21 years ago when forced to move back to South Florida - there are just too many people driving down her that are brain dead - I think they were grabbing the animals' ears where they came from - if I can ever get out of here, I will get another bike -
I am now in my 70s and still riding but I remember my dad always telling me "There is no point in being "dead right". This saying has served me well.
Good advice for sure!
Were you so dense he had to state the obvious?
My dad said " he who hesitates is lost".😁
I also got the "don't be dead right" lesson.
Been riding for 40 years and over 350,000 miles.
I am not over confident. This is why I train and practice.
I definitely ride like I am invisible and am willing to give up my right of way to stay alive.
Same - 37 years and just under 300,000 miles. I ride like every other vehicle wants me dead, so far they have all failed.
I had just finished riding class and had a situation i learned. I made a left turn into a parking lot and the suv came around the cars sitting there. Used the swerve method to prevent a head on with the suv. I was proud of myself but blessed to have used what i learned to save me. Classes are good to take. Good reflexes and good ridership.
when I bought my bike I took the CC rider course in California. the first class involved everybody saying why they were taking the class - my response was that it seemed liek the best way to get licensed. and it did give me skills and insights I hadn't had before.
Solid advice, I liked that this talks about how to handle traffic in realistic situations.
One thing about engine braking is using the rear brake lightly takes care of alerting the driver behind.
Dutch rider chiming in. That is some very, very sound advice! I'll show it to my daughter when she starts her lessons next year. Very good point about rolling on/off the throttle without illuminating the brakes. When I ride the unlimited German autobahn (cruising around 200 km/h), I use air resistance + engine braking a lot to slow down by sitting up. I always lightly tap the brakes too if there's someone behind, so they're not surprised. You're the first guy I've heard pointing this out. Excellent job.
Thanks for the kind comment. I appreciate you watching. 👍🏻
The same point applies to earlier models of truck with engine braking capability - it's only recently that truck engine brakes would illuminate the brake lights.
The guy who crashed his nice white Harley on Mulholland over a decade ago. I sure hope this poor guy on the white Harley gets royalties for all the times his image is used. He must be one of the most famous riders ever.
I've only been riding for 40 years. Which is why I love watching videos like this, can always learn something new. In Australia we have a saying "SMIDSY" Sorry Mate I Didn't See Ya. Like you said ride like your invisible. But also be aware of what's around you. Eg - a black bike, rider with black gear, riding up the arse of a black SUV. your just another tail light in traffic
Thanks for sharing!
In the AIRBORNE we say "You have the rest of your life to fix it" When something goes south keep your head have faith in your equipment and your training. I can't count the times that I had to Pop Juice lol Keep on Trucking! ✌️
Everything you covered is spot on. I have been riding pretty much every day for 58 years and have logged well over a million miles. As a retired firefighter who has worked hundreds of accident scenes, the right vs. wrong is so evident. Pay attention! Just because the light is green it is not an iron shield! Living in California, lane splitting is legal. It is also a good idea to pull between stopped vehicles at a light to avoid be crushed. Great video by the way.
Never let your ego twist the throttle
…Oh that’s good. 👍🏻
Your ego is not your amigo.
Mistake #4, is so spot on. And the poem was absolutely reminding me of pedestrians walking through cross walks. Staring blankly at their phones while walking like zombies through the intersection.
Never assume the other guy saw you. NEVER
Thanks for your grounding advice about riding. It is really important to remind ourselves of rider strategy to stay alive on the road. Thanks-
One thing that I continually look for when I want to change lanes on my bike are motorcyclist splitting lanes at high speeds behind me. It would be horrible to be rear-ended by another bike!
Ahh good point. Thanks for sharing! Lane filtering / splitting is illegal in Alabama where I live so I rarely see it happening. Thanks for pointing that out.
Right
Excellent Video, I have only been riding (after not riding for 35 years) for 4 or 5 months again and already every situation you have discussed has occurred at least twice a day. The safety Riding class was helpful, but videos like yours are extremely valuable and helpful. Thanks for spending the time to do this. I watch videos like this 2 and three times a week and it keeps me on my toes! My motto: Always vigilant, Never complacent. And don’t get cocky, stay Alert.
This is the most comprehensive list on safety I have ever seen on UA-cam
I totally agree! If a new rider would simply adopt these practices, their chances of surviving the critical first year of riding would go up drastically.
Awesome advice, thank you so much for making it safe for us riders. My biggest fear is at stop lights, the vehicles behind me, I always flash my break lights when they approach me
Excellent video!! All common sense stuff!!! I've been riding since I was 11 years old...I'm 70 now. Have owned 40 plus motorcycles of every genere over my riding years and have taken numerous skills and agility riding courses and all the MSF courses and have even had intensive professional race instruction and a short race career. I still love riding and I ride almost every day!! Your video is well thought and presented!! keep'em comin' sir!!! 👍
We will never know for sure because people will not tell the truth, but after many decades of riding I have come to the conclusion that too often they DO see you--they just don't care. I have some reasons to believe that as I have observed so many look me right in the eye ans slowly pull out in front of me. I am just not so kind anymore in my assessments. What do I do in these cases--I avoid them and pretend nothing happened. Don't start a fight with something that weighs 5000lbs more than you do.
It’s tough. I’ve heard this exact thing when investigating a motorcycle crash. The driver says “I didn’t see him.” The rider says “they looked right at me!”
I think they look right through us. Like we’re not even there.
Thanks for watching!
All great advice. I don't understand the rage aimed at cars in some situations. Sometimes they aren't paying attention but sometimes they just don't see you.
I don't split traffic but in stop and go traffic and at traffic signals, I never stop directly behind a vehicle. My bike is right on the line and aimed between the two vehicles in front of me.
I am also really conscious about lane position when I am at the front of the line.
My new bike has a little trigger to flash the high beams and I use that often to increase awareness. The other thing I do is turn on my hazards if I am sitting at a light with no one behind me.
Great stuff sir! Thank you as always!
Like many others here, I have been riding for decades and completely agree with the good advice in this video. I try to keep a safety zone of space around me so I can see, be seen and react if needed.
Unfortunately, training on defensive riding - preferably being observed in real traffic - is hard to find but if you are a new rider, find someone experienced who can watch you and give some tips.
Great video, thanks, it will probably save someone’s life.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. You’re right about having someone with experience that can watch you. It’s very helpful if you can find that person.
you are absolutely correct on all counts - I was riding bikes for two years in the 60's before ever owning a car - I sold my last bike in 2002 when I was forced to move back to south Florida due to work - I have missed riding every day but it is not worth the risk to ride down here - to get pizzed and hit their mirrors or vehicle will also start a road rage, and you will have an injured hand to start with - also never split lanes with moving traffic -
Spot on. Especially in regard to having to watch your 6 at stop lights. I never come to a stop dead center of a lane. I'm always on the left or on the right side depending on which gives me access to the fastest escape route with the least amount of effort. It's saved my bacon more than once. Even if you can't get all the way over if you can give the driver coming up behind you enough space to share the lane with you at the last minute it can be the difference between a moment of panic vs. an ambulance ride.
Outstanding video, thank you!
Excellent video. Every tip was practical and life-saving. I've had that "You're but you're dead" conversation with a couple of friends over the years. I believe there are very Few circumstances on the road that we can't control by speed, bike position, braking and the awareness that they do not see us and the vast majority don't care if they do.
Thank you. Thanks for this comment. I agree, not all but many can be prevented. Just watch the UA-cam motorcycle crash videos and you will see multiple crashes that were not the motorcyclist fault, but could have been avoided if the motorcyclist was paying attention.
All of that is stuff I have practiced for my entire riding life. Worked so far.
I just stumbled upon your channel this morning. Glad I did. This is excellent advice. Every single scenario happens on a regular basis. I have friends who have died in some of these situations. I hope people listen. By the way, one of my best friends, a guy I ride with regularly, is also a motor-officer.
Hey, welcome! Glad you’re here! I’ve worked so many motorcycle crashes that could have been avoided. Just trying to share and help as many as will listen. Thanks for the comment. Glad you’re here.
This is one of the best motorcycle awareness videos I've ever seen...
I love #4 - Right of Way Doesn't Matter if You're Dead. I teach motorcycle classes and emphasize this point in class. I'm going to adopt this phrase.
You got a sub from me. Thanks!
Ride Safe, Peace
Another great and insightful video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Great advice thanks for caring enough to make this
You bet! Thanks for watching!
I rode for 15 years, took a 20 year break, and just purchased a motorcycle again. Engine braking is something I hadn’t thought about until reviewing modern videos. I used to do that all of the time and who knows how many drivers I’ve surprised.
Most of the rest are things in this video I’d learned over time (the easy or hard way) and still seem to be programmed in. I will however be spending a lot of time in parking lot drills this go around. Previously I was too confident in my skills to think I needed those, but videos I’ve been watching have convinced me otherwise. I’ll especially be working on progressive braking as I’m sure in my past motorcycle life, I left a lot of stopping distance on the table.
Awesome video!!!
Thank you for helping the biking community to stay safe. I wanted to pass on something I do, but don't hear it being taught anywhere. When I am going down the road and there is a car at an intersection that could potentially pull out in front of me (any car). I find that by watching the wheels of the car, instead of the car itself, you can see the rotation of the wheels easier than seeing the a car move forward and know the car is moving or starting to move. Have you read any of Keith Code's books on motorcycle physics? They focus more on rider mistakes than car mistakes. I subscribed tonight, looking forward to hearing more of your knowledge.
You’re exactly right! I do the same thing and I’ve already have it noted to do a future video on that in the future. The front wheel is like a crystal ball showing you the future of that vehicle! It’s definitely easier to spot the spokes of the wheel starting to turn than the vehicle starting to move as a whole.
That’s good advice! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for the sub and for watching.
Oh yea everything you said is spot on...been riding for like 40 years plus and still got to keep all these factors in mind right on bro..
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
I think more often than motion camouflage it is people don’t see you because they are looking at their phone.
There are SO many distractions these days! Those phones are a big one. I’ve worked many wrecks where the person wasn’t even using the phone however it was in their console or passenger seat and buzzed when someone sent a text message which briefly took their attention away from the road. That was all it took! 💥
This is great advice. Thank you
I knew the invisible thing 45 years ago. Nice video
I've experienced all of the scenarios you have illustrated here. Thank you for the great tips and words of wisdom.
Same as most of you watching, i ride like i'm invisible. On top of that my bike is equipped with Kisan Electronics pathBlazer and tailBlazer kits.
There are other similar kits out there and it's worth it to install them.
You're very welcome. Thanks for sharing!
Great video! Safety is not a matter of fault. Our goal should be to finish the ride without incident to see our loved ones and take another ride.
Well said and absolutely true.
Know that we are invisible and always expect other drivers to do the wrong thing so you aren't surprised when they do. And don't ride with idiots, you can't make them ride smart but you don't have to ride with them.
Ride like you are driving for everyone on the road saved my life to many times to count, waiting a few seconds to go at a greenlight
As an experienced rider, the Greatest threat is Always Behind you! We know how to deal with the blind left turners and sudden right side merges.
I am still frightened of the rear-end Pancake! I have heard a Grey hair screeching her breaks (with abs) to prevent Pancaking me. I have been working on my strategy to always head into the split for those sudden breaking scenarios.
And i always try to align my bike into the widest split when i pull up to the light.
67, I’ve been riding all my life. Every 2 years I take a skills training to keep me on top of my game. Every now and then I go to a parking space to practice my ability to handle the machine.
Awesome! I’m sure it’s paid off for you!
This is super on point, I think everyone needs to hear this stuff. Where were these tips in my MSF course? 😂
Thank you for commenting! I appreciate you watching.
with everything else in an MSF class, you would not have really heard the advice let alone heeded it
@irish_FLTRU: This is true. It’s like drinking from a fire hose for a new rider. Too much to retain.
The issue with advice like ride like your completely invisible and treat everyone like they dont see you is that nobody realistically can operate in a way where they are predicting and reacting to every single potential danger for very long. A better way is to work on your pattern/hazard recognition and train your body to react appropriately. Nobody has the mental energy to ride like danger is around every corner. Train to recognize hazards and condition the appropriate response.
Sound advice, thanks
I wait at least 3 seconds any double check when the light turns green, its saved me more than once
Regarding #2, my standard response to "I didn't do it on purpose" is "Next time, avoid it on purpose".
Great advice and love these videos and more folk over here in the UK could do with following your safety tips 👍
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
@@BarkersBikes I have been watching (and subbed) your videos for a while now and really enjoy you sharing your experience. Keep up the good work.
I’ve had all of those thank you for the video very good information.😎
Glad it was helpful!
Great advice! Enjoy watching your videos 👍👍
Awesome! Glad to have you!
Some things I picked up from more experienced riders over the years.
- Remember the "Lug Nuts Rule" - he that has the most lug nuts rules
- Start with a short "Lord help me remember that I am invisible and everyone else is drunk"
Any time I am in stop and go traffic on highway or freeway, in CA, in 1st or 2nd gear, I ALWAYS use some gentle brake lever to activate my ClearWater super bright LED Billie Brake light on my license plate frame. It's pretty obnoxious blinding, but still, I will split or filter to avoid being rear ended and squished between 2 cars. A 600# bike doesn't stand a chance between a few 3000 to 7000# cars or trucks. Get between them, to the sides, every time you are slowing down, and use some brakes immediately, not hard, gentle, when you start engine braking, so that they can see you and get the most amount of reaction time from your brake lights vs no lights with engine braking only.
I had a close call last week. On my motorcycle, I was approaching an intersection with a green light in my direction along with other traffic. A guy on the cross street to my right had a red light. He could've easily pulled out in front of me six car lengths before I got to the intersection. But no, he pulled out right in front of me two car lengths before me. I nailed my front brake and very narrowly missed becoming a new addition to the driver's side of his Audi. He heard my two tone car horn (Fiam) for several seconds to wake him up.
I agree with you. If you ride a motorcycle, you have to constantly be a defensive driver and ride as if you're invisible. Don't ever stay in any other vehicle's blind spot. Keep your thumb very close to your horn button. Constantly watch for other drivers attempting to move into your lane without signaling. Immediately let them know you're there with your horn. Be prepared to brake quickly to avoid getting slammed into. Make sure you're not going to become a hood ornament of the car behind you if you do have to brake quickly.
This is the one that got me 40 years ago.
She's waiting because she has seen me.
No, she didn't get going because she was old and distracted by her passenger.
It's not impossible I could be caught out the same way again but slowing down is the only realistic defence.
Wow, I’m glad you’re okay! Thanks for sharing this with the community! Glad to have you here.
People in cars don't see you. You have to see them. Any vehicle bigger than you has the right of way. Never be the first to pull off the line at a green light. Where I live when the light turns red. Expect 2 more cars to go through. If a new rider can live 3 months they will probably be okay. Make sure your break light turn on before your breaks engage. The only time my breaks are engaged (usually) is right before my foot touches the ground. Watch out for the oil streak in the road. Don't ride on it and never put your foot on it when you stop. If you think you know it all, then you don't know anything. Humble yourself and learn. When you're dead the lessons are over. Thats all I've got to say about this.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 thks alot fr valuable advice
Thanks for watching!
That's exactly what happened to my Dad back in 1972, at a give way to right intersection (Australia). A driver on Dad's left overtook a line of stopped cars and didn't see my Dad until it was too late. Dad was lucky to get out of it with a broken femur, broken neck; he didn't know his neck broke until about 30 years later and some amount of brain injury. Dad said if he'd had a quicker bike, he would have made it through before the car hit him, but how much quicker do you want to go? Roads and intersections have improved since then, thank goodness and the tax payers ;-). I guess the car didn't see Dad, but Dad didn't see the car right!
Wow, thanks for sharing this story!
52 years on two wheels here.
When I was younger, I rode wearing ‘colours’ of a Motorcycle Club I belonged to. I did NOT wear bright colours! I wore mostly black!
I experienced many times when a driver would look at me and our eyes would meet. Sometimes, that driver would BEGIN to pull out, but then do a double take and STOP RIGHT THERE!
I didn’t think much of it whenever that happened, but it happened that one day I was riding a friend’s bike and I wasn’t wearing my Outlaw gear, had a white helmet on and looked just like any other motorcycle rider. It was terrifying! It was like I’d become invisible! I couldn’t understand it! People would look right at me and then pull out right in front of me! I had bright gear on and all that, but it just didn’t matter! I returned the bike to my friend and put my black helmet on, my black jacket and colours on and got on my outlaw bike, wearing my dark outlaw gear and HEY PRESTO! I wasn’t invisible anymore! People saw me, thought about it, and decided to not pull out!
Now, I know this is stupid, because I’m not any less vulnerable than some regular rider, but I firmly believe that in the minds of a lot of car drivers, their imagination runs with wild ideas of the possible outcomes of colliding with an outlaw biker and they DECIDE TO SEE ME. Irrational as that sounds, in the half century I’ve been riding, I’ve seen this many times. I ride as if everyone is deliberately trying to kill me and I don’t ride like an idiot, but the wide-eyed looks of so many drivers over the years has given me a few smiles. At the end of the day, it’s nearly ALWAYS the rider’s fault what happens to him as far as I’m concerned.
Absolutely agree with you and as per my comment, this has been my experience too. Look like a threat and you will get respect.
With people so distracted while their driving because of cell phones and infotainment systems I always ride like no one sees me.
Perfect! Be sure you spread the word and have your buddies ride the same way. Thanks for watching!
Good video so educational
Thanks for watching!
Think of your escape route as a doorway, that's all the space you need.
Also, engine braking on bikes is often more effective than light to moderate braking on a car. If you're slowing down, dip a toe down on the brake lever. Just to put the light on.
Exactly! 👍🏻
YES SIR Iam 68 yrs old been ridding since age 8 & yes ride like uR Invisible & situational awareness is Critical way more cars on the road way more distracted cage drivers so I have my right 2 ringers on front break & foot ob rear break eyes ahead but one eye in mirror of whats behind me ..had cars pull out right in front of me & had to swerve a few times
Doesn't it hurt to smack a mirror off with your hand?
I use on off on off on rear brake light if someone is approaching too fast, also wear enough yellow high viz to make your friends laugh at you then you know you are pretty visible 👍
Another poem: At a railroad crossing, here's how to figger: in case of a tie, the engine's bigger." Dunno who worte it...I saw it in a magazine when I was a teen...
Thank you, funny thing though, the safest bike I ever rode was a black Norton with loud pipes back in the '70's. I wore black clothing and helmet too, no headlight during the day. Nobody ever cut me up. At the same time I also rode a red trail bike with the headlight wired on all the time and I wore bright clothing and helmet. People were always cutting me up. Changing lanes on top of me, pulling out in front of me. My conclusion was: People don't look for cars or motorcycles when they're driving, they look for threats. If you look like a threat you will be safer. I have a friend who was the top Police motorcycle instructor in my country. He was T-boned by a car at an intersection after sitting right across from the car for the best part of a minute, in plain view on a big white Police motorcycle at a 2 lane intersection. The guy didn't see him. I bet he would have seen him if he looked like a Hells Angel. Having said all that I've subscribed, lots of practical common sense that agrees with all my experience over the years. You offer really sound, helpful advice.
I never understood this victimhood paranoid mentality. You are visible, ride in a way to make sure you are visible. If drivers were out to kill us riders, we would all be dead. People may be inattentive, but they are not actively trying to kill us. Why would you want to poison your ride with fear and paranoia? Conservative estimate, I am over 300K miles on two wheels and can count the number of close calls, truly close calls on one hand. Perhaps we attract what we desire or fear most? Perhaps frame of mind matters? Perhaps skill set matters? You are visible, ride to make sure you are, stop being the victims and act with your agency. Two wheels is more vulnerable than being in a 4 wheel cage, but no one is trying to kill you. Stop being the victim, exercise your agency, use road strategies, use skills intentionally honed through practice, be mindful and aware. Keep the shiny side up and you will be fine.
I never drive/ or stop in the middle of a lane - I either seek to the right or the left of the lane. First of all - when you drive a motorcycle in the middle of the lane - that is where all the old cars spill most of their old engine-oil - and when I stop for a light - I have my escape route either to the shoulder or to the outer lane. 😏
All points I also tell people. Be thinking all the time, because most people do not.
Sorry for being that guy, but braking distances of bikes is marginally better than cars. Bikes can accelerate super quickly, but they are just a bit better at stopping than cars.
aaaaaand! as you briefly mentioned. You have to have trained emergency braking to be able to do it at their full potential.
You are sooooo right about letting go and not escalating or proving you are right. Soooooo many riders out there trying to teach lessons to drivers.
Fair enough. I’m often impressed with braking ability of the bikes I ride. Done right, it’s extremely efficient. Done wrong… not so good.
Thanks for watching.
I guess I’m gonna be that guy and disagree with motorcycle brakes are only marginally better than cars. 50 years of riding dirt and street. Several hundred thousand miles on the street. Bikes, even cruisers stop faster than cars. It’s proven via simple math and physics . I’m not looking to argue I just agree to disagree.
@@rogerkint9354 I thought the same until someone at my bike club said that bikes had worse braking than cars. We then googled it and found out that bikes are just marginally better than cars. You can check it out yourself. it's quite eye-opening!
@@rogerkint9354 here's a quick quote I found:
Yamaha R1 stopping distance from 60mph, 126ft
Toyota Camry 125ft.
Seriously. I couldn't believe it until I saw it.
From what I’ve read, it’s said that motorcycles stop quicker from slower speeds but cars stop quicker from faster ones. I’m not sure of the exact math on it, but that what I’ve seen.
Something you don’t mention is the importance of full protective gear. I’m from the UK and it’s pretty rare here to see someone who is not wearing full gear. In America it seems very common to see people not wearing protective clothing beyond a helmet.
You’re right. It’s almost uncommon where I’m from to see someone wearing full gear. The UK seems to have done a much better job promoting motorcycle training and safety!
Please spotlight the "5 Keys of the Smith System" as it pertains to motorcycle riders. (it has served me very well over the years) -Thanks in advance!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing and for watching.
My grandpa used to say you were “dead right”.
Defensive riding every time im on the bike even in my truck
I have had several drivers pull in front of me at a 4-way stop.
Talking about distractions, the giant infotainment screens in vehicles are a huge distraction. Looking and the album cover art of the next song that came on, watching the map for the next turn, etc. I went back to a 2012 pickup with no screens, and found that I am a much more attentive driver. Screens in cars should be illegal.
I can attest it's difficult if not impossible to see an approaching motorcycle through the summer road mirage in a long country road.
For sure! Thanks for watching!
40 years ago it was not so difficult to find the limit of the bike on the road, try that with a BMW S1000 RR
Only a fool rides like they are invisible. You are much safer if others are aware of you not oblivious to you and not know you’re there ? Dam joke.
Ride like everyone is trying to kill you, and remember size weight and power win every time
Nice video ! But the sound is too low, the ad almost kill me in the middle 😂
Thank you! Thanks for letting me know about the sound. I agree, UA-cam goes a bit too far with the ads. I have UA-cam premium to avoid those. It’s not a cheap but it’s worth it.
Thanks for watching!
There's right--and there's dead right.
My problem is that when I predict and slow down when I see the comming car, the drivers thing that I give them right of way and they usually do not stop
It’s definitely frustrating, I know. However, I’d rather be a bit frustrated than injured or worse.
Thanks for the comment. Glad you’re here.
Every time I watch a YT video of bike wrecks and the rider has a camera, it seems about 80-90% of the wrecks are avoidable. And rev bombing does nothing. I replaced my horn with an air horn that works so much better than the stock one that came with the bike and pretty much every bike. Not sure why manufacturers don't give everyone a better horn. And blasting the horn for 30 solid seconds also does nothing but, anger the offender even if they were wrong to begin with. I've survived almost 50 years of riding which also includes being T-Boned by a red light runner when I was about 17.
Thank you , can you please elaborate on the many reasons why it's a really bad idea to slap or kick at another vehicle no matter how stupid a thing they may have done ?
Well, one of the many reasons is: if a crash didn’t occur and you damage someone’s property you’re now a suspect in a criminal mischief case. No one wants that. Other than that, there are numerous things that could go wrong. I won’t try and name them here. Just give it a little thought and watch a few UA-cam videos on close calls and crashes and you’ll see how it can go from bad to worse.
Thanks for watching!
1) It's bad behaviour,
2) It's illegal,
3) You might crash or hurt yourself,
4) You might provoke them to retaliate in kind and get your arse kicked, and deservedly so, because:
5) they might have made a mistake and unintentionally endangered you or your property. You're doing that on purpose. So who's the actual arsehole here?
6) You're achieving nothing. You're making them angry, you're making yourself angry, you make yourself hate drivers and make drivers hate riders.
7) You want to be a bigger man/woman/anything in between/other.
@horrovac: All good points! Thanks
When i was on my ZX7 l never had a corner that bike couldnt handle. I'd though it in it side scrape my elbow gas it an bring the front wheel up comming out of the corner. But with that sayen that the scout bobber I ride now. There us no way I could even go 1/4 that speed into a corner. Be safe out there with the cruisers. They dont
handle/corner like a sport bike.
I sold motorcycles for 17yrs. I always tell my new riders to make sure you are not in a cars blind spot. If they come over on you they are wrong but you are the one going to go down.
Perfect! My next video actually touches on blind spots 👍🏻. I love that you’re sharing and investing into new riders. Thanks for sharing!
I ride like I'm about to be hit the entire trip, this includes by animals.
Many motorcycle accidents happen because the last thing drivers are paying attention to is driving. They are always texting, watching videos in cell phones, arguing with their children, eating, searching for objects in the floor etc. Many drivers are not conscious that drive a 1,5 - 2 ton motorized metal box at 40 mph is in fact the same as driving a lethal weapon. Yes I know that many riders are wrong, but cars and trucks drivers are way more dangerous because an average rider is usually a better driver to. We learn to pay more attention and be more focused in what we do when operating a machine. After almost 45 years riding motorcycles I'm just tired of riding for me and for all other cage drivers on the road that simply don´t pay enough attention to what they´re doing. And last but not least, lane splitting should be permited EVERYWHERE, because it´s the best way to avoid rear collisions.
I think the statement that motorcycles stop faster is misleading. Depends on the situation and cars have more traction.
loudpipes saves lifes
position yourself so everybody can see you, but act like you're invisible. The point about stopping distance is true and false. Any idiot in a can stop a modern car EASILY faster than a new motorcycle rider. Motorcycle stops take SKILL which comes from PRACTICE. Accommodating for the cage behind you is true though and to do that I suggest increasing your own following distance behind the car in front, stay aware of your 'splitting' options in case.
I'm 67 and recently returned to riding after 6 years off the bike. I took a basic riders course and told the entire class "Ride like you're invisible AND act like the ones who can see you are out to KILL you".
That’s good. 👍🏻
I never understood this victimhood paranoid mentality. You are visible, ride in a way to make sure you are visible. If drivers were out to kill us riders, we would all be dead. People may be inattentive, but they are not actively trying to kill us. Why would you want to poison your ride with fear and paranoia? Conservative estimate, I am over 300K miles on two wheels and can count the number of close calls, truly close calls on one hand. Perhaps we attract what we desire or fear most? Perhaps frame of mind matters? Perhaps skill set matters? You are visible, ride to make sure you are, stop being the victims and act with your agency. Two wheels is more vulnerable than being in a 4 wheel cage, but no one is trying to kill you. Stop being the victim, exercise your agency, use road strategies, use skills intentionally honed through practice, be mindful and aware. Keep the shiny side up and you will be fine.
@@kevindowell6003 I ride in such a way as to make myself as visible as possible. I also go out of my way to avoid potential traps. I've been riding on the street for over 50 years and have never had an accident involving a car. Must be doing something right.
@@SteveH98264 I am glad to hear you have been safe for that long. To my point, that clearly means you are visible and not invisible. To my point, it is clear that the rider’s actions matter. To my point, if you have ridden that long without an accident, then people clearly are not ought to get you. Being outnumbered as we are and clearly at a disadvantage, we are not being targeted. It is far more enjoyable being on the road without the negative mindset you presented in your comment. I have seen far too many riders fight for their space, far too many angry when normal road incidents occur, too many riders taking mirrors in retaliation. I can’t help but wonder about the correlation between “they can’t see me, they don’t care and they are out to get me” and these behaviors. I don’t think the us against the cagers perspective is good, I think it is harmful. Continued safe travels
This is good. My father taught me in 1973 “ pretend you are invisible”. I have ridden a long, accident free time because of these very same pieces of advice! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! Glad to have you here!
I've been riding on the street 51 years now also. I've always said, "No one can see me or my bike except the police." This has saved me in so many ways, so many times.
I like that! 👍🏻
Yup ... doesn't do you any good to be "dead right".
Exactly!
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Motorcycles do not stop at shorter distances than car do, that is a misconception. There are plenty of test videos that debunk this falsehood. Think about it for a moment.