How safe is motorway riding?

[windsu]

I'm considering getting a bike (say a GN 250, i'm a learner) to get to work. Majority of the ride is on the southern motorway (auck) and south western motorway, so not going into cental area. Would mean riding in the dark in winter and in the rain when it rains. How safe do you reckon it would be, say compared to riding around the streets or on the open road? Am I suicidal or just have to be careful? Any advice appreciated

[cave weta]

Hi viz jacket- own your lane and you will be fine - Just keep a big bubble around you and look tough!:sunny:

[unstuck]

Confidence and awareness are key. Go for it, thousands have done it without trouble.:Punk:

[Ender EnZed]

It's a lot safer than walking on the motorway.

[Subike]

owning your lane being important,
that means dont ride on the left side of the lane,
cars will try and pass and push you to the left,
ride in the right side of the lane, and keep an eye on the cars in the lanes to your right wanting to change into your lane
Wet weather riding, keep away from following big trucks too close, or you will get drenched.
Try to keep an eye on the car three cars in front of you for early warnings of impending problems.

[Ragingrob]

owning your lane being important,
that means dont ride on the left side of the lane,
cars will try and pass and push you to the left,
ride in the right side of the lane, and keep an eye on the cars in the lanes to your right wanting to change into your lane
Wet weather riding, keep away from following big trucks too close, or you will get drenched.
Try to keep an eye on the car three cars in front of you for early warnings of impending problems.

Too general... If you're in the right hand lane then you should right in the left wheel track, cars are more likely to spot you in their wing mirror and you have more evasive action options if you need them.

[koba]

If safety is paramount commuting on a motorcycle is a bad idea.

[xXGIBBOXx]

Enjoy it :Punk i beat that track to work in the morns , after a week or so you will get used to the flow of things . take ya time the speed most mornings hardly gets over 70 kms .Learn to look to front side and check your mirrors . And good wet weather gear . no one like to be cold and wet

[FJRider]

Too general... If you're in the right hand lane then you should right in the left wheel track, cars are more likely to spot you in their wing mirror and you have more evasive action options if you need them.

When did Auckland motorists learn to use mirrors ... ??? :gob:

Never even assume they have looked ... so dont assume they have seen you. And even if they have ... it wont stop a few trying to move in on your space.

[xXGIBBOXx]

LOL im a import to auckland maybe thats why :crazy:

[nzspokes]

I ride both those motorways on a regular basis. Its all about how you ride. But in general motorways are safer than suburban roads as all the traffic is heading the same way. My first time on the motorway I shit myself. Now I find them boring.

If you get a bike I would be happy to come along with you for your first m/way ride as you sound to be not far away from me.

We also run Sass out in Takanini for new riders to help with a bit of training. Link below.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/117274-South-Auckland-Street-Skills?highlight=sass

[nzspokes]

When did Auckland motorists learn to use mirrors ... ??? :gob:

Never even assume they have looked ... so dont assume they have seen you. And even if they have ... it wont stop a few trying to move in on your space.

Agreed and never sit in cars blind spots.

[Ragingrob]

When did Auckland motorists learn to use mirrors ... ??? :gob:

Never even assume they have looked ... so dont assume they have seen you. And even if they have ... it wont stop a few trying to move in on your space.

At least you'll have a chance with the few that do use their mirrors, if you're riding in the left track of the right hand lane. And for the ones that move in on your space you'll have plenty of room/time to move about the lane.

[Jase H]

Which suburbs will you actually be riding to/ from?

I ride from Manurewa to CBD on a daily basis and have decided:
* Southern Motorway is quickest off-peak;
* S/Western is quickest in peak-hour heading to CBD;
* Southern is quickest in peak-hour heading from CBD Mon-Wed, sometimes Thurs, S/Western definitely on Friday;
* On Windy days (like today) best to avoid Mangere Bridge.

S/Western can work for me in peak-hour, as we're allowed to use the bus lanes on Dominion Rd.

[Haggis2]

Just move somewhere else - it'll save you heaps of grief :yes:

[CookMySock]

own your lane and [...] keep a big bubble around you [....] look tough!On a tiny motorcycle this is just not that simple, and cave weta hints at the larger problem - one of your safety being put at risk by impatient, annoyed, and late drivers who think they can push past you, and other equally stupid shit. On a tiny bike its just not feasible to "look tough", and therefore really difficult to "own" anything, so now you may as well kiss that bubble goodbye too!

The skinny little tires would likely be quite untrustworthy in the wet, or rather, your learner grip on them will be.

Just get something bigger with a loud pipe on it, and people won't bother you in the slightest - in fact, it will be you bothering them, which goes a bloody long way to keeping the boot on the right foot out there, and you in charge. This counts for a huge amount.

[Akzle]

motorway riding - fine.

in auckland.. i'd be very wary, especially as a learner. get some saddle time. follow the advice of thems above.

travelling anywhere in auckland (car or bike) without someone driving into you is about 80% good luck.

[Tigadee]

If you're in the right hand lane then you should right in the left wheel track, cars are more likely to spot you in their wing mirror and you have more evasive action options if you need them.

That's what I do too... Seems to work well. :yes:


Just get something bigger with a loud pipe on it, and people won't bother you in the slightest - in fact, it will be you bothering them, which goes a bloody long way to keeping the boot on the right foot out there, and you in charge. This counts for a huge amount.

And wear black leather with studs and spikes and a chain wrapped around you.
http://www.umnet.com/pic/diy/screensaver/7%5Cghost-rider--72537.jpg

The flaming head may be a bit overkill, so best leave that out...

[Ragingrob]

motorway riding - fine.

in auckland.. i'd be very wary, especially as a learner. get some saddle time. follow the advice of thems above.

travelling anywhere in auckland (car or bike) without someone driving into you is about 80% good luck.

Man you out of towners must be shit drivers!

Guess that makes sense when we have people coming into Auckland and ending up on the wrong side of the motorway going 100kph thinking "boy that wrong way sign on the on-ramp should really be fixed".

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7099479/Learner-on-wrong-side-of-motorway

Just avoid all middle-aged women from Taranaki :killingme

[jrandom]

How safe do you reckon it would be

It's as safe or unsafe as you make it. Nobody's intentionally going to try and hurt you. Remain aware of your surroundings, even when the drivers around you aren't. Learn to anticipate their movements and stay out of the way. Ride aggressively rather than timidly, but get familiar with your bike's stopping and turning performance and don't ride outside that envelope.

Always use good tyres.

The hours you'll save every week will be worth the effort. Commuting by motorcycle in a city like Auckland is like stopping smoking - it adds years to your life. (Being dead and being stuck in traffic are much of a muchness.)

[avgas]

Motorway riding is plenty safe when compared to riding in town or on the SH's.
My worst accident was on Dominion Road. Never had an issue on Motorways.

[Akzle]

Man you out of towners must be shit drivers!
nope. i hear pretty much daily on the old wireless
"two car collision"
"three car nose to tail"
"incident involving several motor vehicles"
"...lane blocked"
"woman was driving..."

all in auckland...

you want a traffic report? it's rush hour. your fucked. it doesn't matter which way you go, there's a few hundred thousand other people going the same place, the same way.

[Mungatoke Mad]

forget the 250 get a more Intimidating bike
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=265608&d=1340778100

[MIXONE]

Just get something bigger with a loud pipe on it, and people won't bother you in the slightest - in fact, it will be you bothering them, which goes a bloody long way to keeping the boot on the right foot out there, and you in charge. This counts for a huge amount.

DB you are so full of it.Try those tactics in Wellington and see how long it is before someone is scraping you off the road.Riding in the BOP does not qualify you as an expert in motorway riding.

[windsu]

Thanks for your input! Will be riding from Papakura to Mt Roskil , so don't think I can avoid the Mangere Bridge(?).

I've heard the GN250s are on the slow side and not really suitable for 100km/h, yet they fit my budget. Are there any other gruntier bikes that are still cheap to buy second hand?

thanks again!

[Ender EnZed]

GN250s will do 100km/h, just not as easily as more powerful bikes. Have you had a look on TradeMe (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeSearchResults.aspx?search=1&mcat=0001-0026-1255-&sidebar=1&39=Sports&40=&153=&9=0&9=250&24=0&24=0&51=0&51=0&sidebarSearch_keypresses=0&sidebarSearch_suggested=0)? What's your budget?

[FJRider]

GN250s will do 100km/h, just not as easily as more powerful bikes. Have you had a look on TradeMe (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeSearchResults.aspx?search=1&mcat=0001-0026-1255-&sidebar=1&39=Sports&40=&153=&9=0&9=250&24=0&24=0&51=0&51=0&sidebarSearch_keypresses=0&sidebarSearch_suggested=0)? What's your budget?

In October ... the rules change. Bigger bikes will become legal for learners/restricted. Now is not the best time to look to buy.

[Ender EnZed]

Now is not the best time to look to buy.

It's a perfectly good time to buy for anyone who wants to own a motorcycle.

[nzspokes]

Thanks for your input! Will be riding from Papakura to Mt Roskil , so don't think I can avoid the Mangere Bridge(?).

I've heard the GN250s are on the slow side and not really suitable for 100km/h, yet they fit my budget. Are there any other gruntier bikes that are still cheap to buy second hand?

thanks again!

Why would you avoid the Mangere Bridge, at least theres some scenery from there. A GN250 is fine. Of course there are faster bikes but the GN is fast enough to start on.

As I said, im happy to come out for a ride or two when you start out. And if your in Papakura your almost at the start of Sass. We can normally have someone ride with you to the start of Sass If wanted.

[swbarnett]

i hear pretty much daily on the old wireless
"two car collision"
"three car nose to tail"
"incident involving several motor vehicles"
"...lane blocked"
"woman was driving..."

all in auckland...

Given the amount of traffic it would be surprising if that wasn't the case. However, the propbability of any given individual being involved in the above is miniscule.



you want a traffic report? it's rush hour. your fucked.
Only if you're sporting too many wheels. I can do CBD to Albany in 15min in rush hour - takes a car about an hour.

[crystalball]

Remember when its busy ride between the cars and laugth to your self and think yay I have my own lane :lol: also with your small bike you can fit in tighter gaps. Just keep your eyes open for hazords and watch your braking in the wet, Not fun when your bike is fish tailing while lane splitting but it does get the heart pumping for work. YOU will get use to it and learn to love passing the cars.

[windsu]

GN250s will do 100km/h, just not as easily as more powerful bikes. Have you had a look on TradeMe? What's your budget?

Budget about $2000. Also considering the GZ250-apparently the same engine, just different shape.

[CookMySock]

Budget about $2000. You will get an early model Comet for about that price. Nice big competent bike. Put a screaming demon on it. :drool: