Top 5 mistakes beginner Harley riders make in traffic
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- Опубліковано 24 лют 2024
- Beginner riders make a lot of dangerous mistakes lets discuss how to avoid them. It takes a lot more skill to ride a motorcycle than to drive a car. Riding a motorcycle is also many more times dangerous.
Join me as I ride my Harley Davidson Street Glide Special to Pakenham Bike Night and discuss the top 5 mistakes that beginner Harley riders make - and how to avoid them.
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I'm very glad to see some one telling new riders about safety. You need to tell your Viewers about safety course's because they are the best way to learn how to ride and they teach riders on what you are saying
Best advice I EVER got was from a motor officer….. he said NEVER think for one minute cars see you. He said ride like your invisible
Right!
💯
Before you start your bike repeat the following in your head or out loud, " every bastard is out to kill me". Live to ride, love to ride.🏍️🏍️👍👍
LOL...good advice!
Completely right!!
Absolutely 💯
I received my motorcycle license in1967. I am now 73. It was drilled into my brain early on by my elderly motorcyclist neighbor,” as a motorcyclist you ( and only you) are 100 percent responsible for your own well being. The other driver may have been in the wrong, but you will still be dead. Take that responsibility seriously!
Very good. Nothing to add.
By the way, I’m 66 (in 2024)
Great points. When I am riding and realize that I am feeling tense, I consciously tell myself to relax... and I ease my grip, relax my arms and do a few side-to-side neck stretches and so on. I realize that if I am feeling tense then I won't be able to flow as quickly and that could spell disaster if I must react quickly to save my life by avoiding an accident. Also, I realize that tension has its roots in how I am thinking, so along with loosening a tight grip and such, I remind myself to enjoy the ride and relax, relax, relax... while remaining alert. Thanks again, especially for your humor.
Thanks for watching and mentioned one of the most important points
My first 2 months riding I had a hard time not getting tense I was recommended to chew gum, keeps you from being so tense, it really helped me out
Yes sir. Get away from the traffic and find a spot on the highway by yourself with good vision ahead. You have to see if anything is laying on the road way out there so you have time to miss it.
Thanks
Great video. I have been riding 14 years, and realized early on that my safety depends on ME! Lots of great points here.
Thank you
40+ years of experience riding dirt/street and I completely agree with everything you've said here.
You might consider changing the title of this video to "Top 5 mistakes beginner motorcycle riders make in traffic", much larger audience than just Harley, and all new motorcyclists should hear this information...
(Currently riding a 2021 Honda Gold Wing)
I used to think, “if these old geezers can still ride, riding must not actually be that unsafe.” Now I realize those old guys were the ,SMART, young riders and now they’re old (but not dead) 💀
very wise words
Appreciate the video. I've just reached my 70's & still ride a 1992 Harley FLSTF in spite of knee & back surgeries. All the best & stay well !!!
Thanks for the encouragement!
ditto!
Any advice on owning more than one bike; I’m thinking of getting a newer Harley
Very great points. Thank you for all the sage advices you give and the work you put into spreading a healthy mentality in the motorcycling comunity. Keep up the good work and take care man.
Great points especially the first one. You don't ever want to blend in with traffic. Also be aware when taking off first at traffic lights. I had a near miss once when a car ran a red light luckily I had taken off late that time and was able to see him and stop. That late second saved me.
Eyes open on the look out for Vehicles in front by sides and behind you to fast you lose reaction time to slow you may get ran over. Ride your own ride and not driver's
I have been ridding motorcycles for more than 50 years. These are 5 brilliant pieces of advise that many seasoned riders never learn. Lane splitting is illegal in some states so be careful. Older bikers don't stop riding, they downgrade. The only people that knock Harley's are those that have never owned one. Well done mate.
Thanks, appreciated
It' illegal in every state but Commiefornia!
I agree. It’s illegal here in Atlanta as well. Also agree about the ones who’ve never owned a Harley
My favourite UA-cam channel. I’ve always had CRANKY Harley’s. I ride aggressively 99% of the time. I’m a very capable rider and do these 5 things. I think riding with purpose and a slight attitude has kept me out of trouble and kept the love of riding alive for over 35 years…..
Thanks very much and great point about the attitude keeping you out of trouble
I always take this with me when I ride. Search, identify, prodict and deside is what I was thought. Defensive driving. Always think that someone will do something stupid when your riding.
Thank you so much for your fantastic videos.
Thanks that's appreciated
Re: 3 Position , As a rule of thumb I’ll make sure that I can see the drivers face in their mirror IF I have to ride behind them , so they’ll have a better chance of knowing I’m there
Great point
Some really good points there. Lane splitting and keeping away from traffic are things I do when riding. Well done mate 👏
Thanks 👍
I like your comment about watching car drivers eyes. I learned a long time ago to also watch their head movements. It's a good predicter of what they are about to do. Nice video!
Stay away from other drivers as much as possible.Most people are not thinking on the road. Get the hell out of my way
Thanks and spot on
I agree that you need to keep a safe distance from traffic, but the throttle is not the only way to achieve it. Everyone cannot be faster than everyone else. Mathematically impossible. Handy gadgets also hanging from the handlebars: Mirrors. Use them. Find your space in traffic and keep it. Senseless to chase everything in front of you
You have to ride Defensively treat cars and trucks with respect. Treat all vehicles at intersections like they may pull out on you be prepared to take action
@@thomassmith5291Spot on. I make cars pass me when I don’t like the way they are driving. I move over to get them in front of me.
I usually try to find an empty spot in traffic, where I can be away from cars, and then try and match traffic speed.
that's a good way of doing it
Exactly
Good
Same. Riding or driving I don't want to be the fastest, or the slowest vehicle on the road. But I will not "fly in formation" with anyone. Unless it is completely packed traffic (which has its own dynamics) I get away from everyone one way or another.
Thx for your advice on lane splitting i have to practice that ive been hesitant about it now your advice has given me confidence
Not safe , lane splitting
I have never lane split. Too unsure about what those cars may do!
G'day, 1st time on this page, yes I've liked and subscribed. I ride a naked, BMW S1000R, 2016 Model. I've rode on the road at 16, 9months, P's 2 weeks after L's. I'm now 61 and still love riding. I find your channel, informative, great humour, and an all-around positive love of 2 wheels, what ever breed they may be. Cheers to you, the old but not dead, I feel comfortable listening to what you have to offer, as I've always said, you can never be too old to learn something new!
Annie 🇦🇺👍🏽👌🏽🔥😎
Thanks Annie awesome bike you are riding
Great video. Thanks. I'll be 67 next month. I'm in the U.S. Started riding on the street at 16 years old. Took a break from bikes in my mid 20's to raise family. Got back on a HD Road King about 7 years ago and loving it. Enjoy riding and have no problem avoiding the poor drivers while sitting back and letting them demonstrate their madness! I find that most people are still respectful...but not as much as 20 years ago! My main problem has been distracted drivers with phones etc.
Valuable lessons learnd here. I never trust anything on 4 wheels. Trying all the time to get away from them as fast as possible.
A very dear friend of mine once told me when I started out riding motorcycles, 'in the first 5 years of riding the likelihood of crashing where you break a bone is over 90%, after that it drops to less than 10%.' Boy oh boy was he right. Almost 5 years to the day I had a crash and broke my arm and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. That was 1993. Baggy died this past January. He was a day shy of his 60th birthday. I really miss my friend 😢
I just turned 71 and love riding my motorcycle as much as i ever have. Enjoyed your video .
Thank you, way to go!
This was great advice. i think about what you have said in this video every time i ride now
Thanks for watching, appreciated
This is one of the best Beginner videos i've ever seen !
I'm learning to ride right now, unfortunately my last lesson with the driving school ended up with me in the ER so it will be a few weeks before i can get back to it, but i've got a Sportster 883 Iron waiting to get her license plate in the garage, and i can't wait to pass my license exam to take her out for a ride :D
Loving the calm tone of your videos, great and clear explanations especially for newbies like me, and i don't know if it's your accent or something, but i much prefer your videos over those of a lot of American guys riding with bare arms and minimal protection 😄
I grew up on a dirt bike. Loved riding baja in Saudi Arabia back in the 80s. In riding my '21 Road Glide these days, I have been in two situations where my dirt bike riding skills kicked in. Was surprised how well the bike handled when having to stop to avoid a collision. More over, loved the way the bike handled when a timber was thrown(cement truck) in front of my bike. I went over the timber at 70 mph and achieved flight. LOL Lost both tires and wheels but not a scratch on the bike. Harley Davidson helped me with those parts - truly amazing on HD's part. Being relaxed and alert(ready to react) on your bike will take you far.
Always a good bit of advice. Thanks man
Thanks for watching
Hi thanks for another great vid. One maybe to add is in country's where they have a forced winter none rideing season because of weather
Presuming there skill set is the same in spring its not ride yourself back in stay safe
Great advice. I found myself onlu becoming more comfort on my ride after i had ten thousand miles in. And that was over 40 years ago. And i expect to be riding another 40. Cheers
Great advice, hard to ride faster than traffic here in Montreal Canada, where average driver usually drives 15 to 20 km, over the limit already
Here the berbers do also in holland
Good points, practice emergency braking as much as you can to be comfortable with it. People who are not any good at this are the ones you see throwing their feet out when they panic trying to stop very quickly. It's a skill you need and practice makes perfect.
Thanks great point
Every ride you should practice an emergency stop using both brakes.
“Not what to do about the beginners, what to do about the mistakes!” Had me rolling with laughter 😅
Another great video Old ! Alway a good idea to revisit the basics. Every ride is a combat patrol. Look for the ambush.
Thanks 👍
Great video well explained , the bike night had a great turn out. I by no means a professional, but I ride like all cages are out to get me. Ride hard and ride safe and free brother 👊👊
Thank you - stay safe
Great video mate. I specially agree with your first, you bit of buffer between you and cars. 10-25 km/hr faster make big difference.
Thanks
Your advice applies not only to Harley drivers. I have been doing those things since the beginning. That is how you become an hold biker. Keep on the good work… ✌🏻
Well said! Thank you
Great video mate, job well done. Ride safe, Cheers
Well done. The saftey chats make people think.
I would add failing to do slow speed practice so use can u turn at full lock. This increases your skill level faster.
Yep that's a good one
Thanks for the video man
No problem 👍 thanks for watching
@Oldnotdead. I appreciate the video mate. I am getting near 60, definitely qualifying for, “old not dead”, and I still find your tips useful.
Thank you very much
Good video Aymen. Good advices.
😎👍
Big thumbs up for the channel...
I wish I could lane split in Oklahoma...
Nothing beats gut instinct and common sense. Good advice, thanks
Agree, on 2,3 etc. wheels, always know your out. It might be the inside shoulder or the outside, hell it might even be the grass. Anticipate everybody making that ONE big mistake. Just always know your out.
I usually find that, after 45 yrs of (almost) continuous riding, the opinion given is false for most riders. There is a reason we ride, and it is not for keeping up... pay attention and when you're done, park it and drive your car. Very informative video. I hope many riders see it, and take heed.
Great Advice ! Spot on .
Thanks
Excellent info use to ride Beemers with my wife but over the years the roads in the UK have become far to dangerous, So its a box on wheels now, Stay safe outthere.
Great video and info!! I would love to ride with your group down under!! Looks just like a bike night in California!
Thanks
Looks like a bike night in ATLANTA as well
most states in the U.S. It's illegal to lane split. one overlooked point. Always leave your bike in gear at a red light. Leave yourself an escape route. look in your mirrors. left foot on the ground, right foot on the brake.
Great tip thank you
Excellent advice!!!!!
I've been riding motorcycles for 45+ years, and currently own a chipped, cammed, and dyno'd at 115hp Electra Glide, and a 2016 BMW S1000XR, and I have to admit I've learned a lot since getting my Beemer.
Thanks
good advice there, looking at other vehicles front wheels especially, I've had drivers turn into me while they are actually looking at me!. my two cents here, I ride different styles of bikes these days, but I find that riding a cruiser with forward controls allows more use of the rear brake, as your foot is usually right on it, compared with a bike where you have to move your whole foot to apply the brake, good for steadying when filtering at low speeds.
Another great video Aymen , learners ( L platers in Victoria) are not allowed to split .. but awesome advice nonetheless ones those fluids are off learn from those who know !
I’d add take the opportunity to ride with skilled ( or more skilled) riders when ever the time allows 😊
Thanks Karyn
13:45 had me laughing pretty good!!! I ride WORSE the slower I'm going, BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO FING BORING!!! 😂🤘
Lol, thanks for watching
always great advice.
Thanks appreciated
I have been riding for 52 years straight and I am still learning the best way to learn how to ride Is taking a safety course like ABATE offers. Keep the dirty side down and the sunnyside up ride smart and safe and my God bless the road you are on
What is the camouflage jacket you wear at times? Appreciate it.
What is the song that's playing as you roll up to the bike night? Really cool! Good video!
Great advice. Lane splitting is not legal where I live but I'm in a more rural area 90% of the time so it's not needed. Legal or not, I'd do it if needed for my own safety.
Thanks for watching
Well said sir your absolutely correct
thank you
Just found your channel. Good and accurate info. Subded
Thanks and welcome
Good stuff sir!!
Confucius say…
listen to this man, him very wise and tan!!!
Lol thanks
Saalute.
Thank you.
I didn’t under stand lane splitting.
And now I do.
S.M.A.R.T Rider. I learned that from fire Man Dan.
No tuff cookie riding. Got it.
Thank’s for the good teps
Thanks for watching
Great video rode in groups but recently got my own street glide and riding on my own last 8 months lot different riding alone then with a group learned a lot and already had a lay down due to a distracted driver pulling out on me ride safe friends
Be in the moment and never force yourself to ride. If doesnt feel right, dont ride. Nice work and greetings from the Mother country😁
Not sure where you are located or if location in Aus makes a difference but lane splitting and filtering are two very different things. Here in Vic lane filtering is encouraged by vicroads. Still brilliant advice and to be honest anyone learning to ride should research h and know the difference regardless!
Totally agree on lane positioning to the right.
BUT
Riders should be aware that a cost of this is vehicles in front blocking your view of junctions to the left AND hiding you from vehicles waiting at that junction - keep well back. 👍
I was at the Pakenham meet up … and on your video 😊
Excellent!
So much nicer watching you give helpful tips without the ego of a Danny Hayes / M$B on motorcycles on UA-cam.
Still got the Sport Glide, 65, but added a new BMW R1250 GS Trophy bike to the collection. Nice upright seating position, plush suspension, pretty good wind protection, and no comparison how much nicer it is on 2 lane roads and highways, in the twisties.
I mention it, just in case you want to give it a try, or maybe try a Pan America. Like the BMW so much, I'm off to Baja California, Mexico for a 5 day ride. Cheers, Mate!
Thanks mate....
You're welcome!
You don't have to go faster than the traffic to stay clear of the traffic, you just have to stay clear of the traffic. Giving it a bit of gas to get off the line at traffic lights in order to create a buffer zone behind you doesn't mean speeding, it means accelerating faster than the traffic. Once you've got that buffer behind you, it's then a case of doing the fine balancing act of maintaining both that buffer and your distance from the vehicles in front of you. That doesn't necessarily mean exceeding the speed limit, although you might have to on occasions.
Too many riders see just speed as the safety option, they don't see the buffer at all. They drop the clutch at the lights and catch up with the next lot of traffic seemingly as fast as they can.
It defeats the purpose.
I see the same thing constantly on freeways, riders riding from one cluster fv@k of traffic to the next, usually a good 15-20 km over the prescribed speed limit. Find or create a gap in the traffic and keep it as long as you can. If that gap disappears and your cushion goes, going faster than the traffic isn't your only option. It's an option, but it's not your only one and it mightn't even be the best one. I know this thought might offend some people, but you have the option to roll off the throttle, as well. If you've got vehicles either side of you, heavy traffic in front of you, and enough of a buffer behind you, just slow down for a moment and create the space that you need. But let's be honest. How many riders do that? How often do you see riders instead of slowing down choosing to lane split at speeds exceeding the traffic, swing across two or three lanes only to find themselves in the next cluster fv@k of traffic. If you're honest, it's all the time.
I've got no problem with speeding, but there's a time and a place. But this concept that "going faster than the traffic is safer", is flawed. In fact, there have been two major studies done on this very topic. From memory, one of them was the Solamon study. Both concluded that fewer collisions occur when vehicles travel at a speed that is consistent with the traffic flow.
The further you deviate from the speed of the traffic in either direction, the greater your likelihood of collision is. In fact, it was marginally worse the slower you went.
There are a lot of dead or maimed bikers who held the belief that simply going faster than the traffic was safer. Don't fall for it. It's a myth.
As a beginner one of the best things I’ve picked up after a few rides was to stop riding like the respectful citizen of the law, I thought I was doing the right things by obeying the speed limits and plodding along with everyone else and I constantly found myself stuck between all the cars and trucks and caught up at every red light, now I ride more aggressive if there’s traffic I twist on the throttle and weave through the gaps until I get out in front of all the congestion and I get a lot less sitting at red lights by doing it.
I think it should be legal for bikes to do at least 20kph over the designated speed limit when moving through traffic, that’s just the way I feel much safer being upfront clear of the cars then stuck in the middle of them
Yep that would be good, it's very unsafe hanging around cars
Great vid mate
thanks appreciated
In 1967 no MC LICENSE REQUIRED at that time in Florida.
Great video!!!
Old not dead i cant 😂😂😂😂 lol cool channel though keep up the good work brother
Thanks
While as a long time rider, I agree with most of your points and tips, but in my STATE lane splitting is a class A (Reckless driving) ticket. Please understand your local laws before lane splitting.
lots of folk here getting lane splitting with filtering mixed up. I have always filtered at red lights. it also gets you ahead of the traffic into a no cars buffer zone....drag your rear brake when filtering ,this helps your balance at slow speeds. Basically get yourself into a zone where there is no cars trucks close to you.
Thanks great comment
For myself no1 rule was when riding always stay 100% focused on everything in your route of travel. In an accident there is no heavy metal car around you for protection. protect you don't have any car
I was on my Sportster about 20years ago ,waiting at a roundabout for a gap in oncoming traffic,got rear ended .Didnt get camping that weekend .
ouch, thats a bad one!
I always make my presence felt on the road, particularly on freeways. I like other cars to be aware of me. I stay in their mirrors before passing, and only ever lane split under 40kph. I try extra hard to keep emotions in check when drivers infringe my space. The last thing I want is to react to their poor driving
Aussie city roads are generally not conducive for lane splitting with big bikes. I've got a big bike (not HD) and it's a struggle apart from only a couple roads where I live.
This CAT is Straight RIGHT ON.!!! On Everything!!
Thank you
Could someone tell me which song is arround 9 minute of the video....? Thank you!
Great video.😎
Does anyone know the name/artist of the song that starts around 8:00? It's fantastic.
I was wondering the same thing!
Tips from this old rider. Stay out of car blind spots. Don't assume that slowing car in front that's not indicating is pulling over rather than turning in front. Don't daydream or fidget with the screen gadgets. If the weather gets too bad then pull over and sit it out. Don't assume that the road around that blind corner doesn't have any hazards on it. Kangaroos have suicidal tendencies (deer for our US friends).
Thanks!
Thank you
I heard keep it under 200 mph and was like yeah that is a great idea!!! Then I realized it was kph lol. Made more sense now.
Great points
Thanks for watching
Agree with you on No.1
And learners are not allowed to lane split but this video isn’t for first time beginners like you said.
Oil on the road hasn’t been a problem since the ‘80s. I sit just to the right of the middle. The middle has the less pot holes and bumps most of the time.
When I was returning I held off installing a phone on the bars cos I didn’t want that distraction which meant inside the wrong way a few times haha learnt quick how to do u turns. I still miss the turn cos I don’t keep a close eye on the phone. Last time was in Canberra I missed the off-ramp so then had to take another route and go past an Indian dealer. Haha
Oil is still a problem here
@@OldNotDead-Clubnot in vic and nsw etc where I have ridden. Mostly country riding though.
@@Peteslife I should have cleared up - its mainly around intersections
@@PeteslifeOil isn’t a problem until it suddenly is. Then you’re usually fucked.
Yes always drive safe and fast
Lol yes
07:45 yo - what helmet is that?
Good advice about relaxing your grip
Aymen, I have issues with lane splitting. First, it is illegal where I live in the ISA, thankfully. Second, my scooter is too wide to get between cars and third, I DO NOT trust the drivers of the cars. Too many of them HATE us and want to eliminate as many as they can. Too many want to open their doors and cause as much damage as possible. Other than that, I love your channel and content.
I would have thought a scooter is much narrower than a SG but you only should do what you are comfortable with.
Well, I’ve always called my motorcycles, scooters. I have a ‘16 fatboy low. SG?
Never mind. SG. Street glide. Duh
@@boblindakroon8051 lol, whoops i took scooter literally.
My two cents ! If you find yourself braking all the time you are doing something wrong (too fast , too close to the vehicle in front of you) Your engine brake should be doing most of the slowing down , try to be as fluid as possible . Also when pulling off at traffic lights , be aware of people going through red lights , its happened to me a couple of times where i nearly hit a car that went through the red lights as the car sped up to clear the amber/red. When joining motorway on slip road or roundabout , as you are checking for a gap to join traffic and there is a car in front of you trying to do the same always double check that the car in front is also moving so you don't end up hitting the back of it. Remember car drivers might not be aware you are close ! Be safe and ride on.
Nice vlog sir.... preety awesome
So nice of you, thank you