Qualities of a Safe Rider, and Do You Think You Are A Safe Rider? Why or Why Not

[Terminated]

Over at the following link (This Week 28 th Feb - 6 March - Ride and Practise)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=956989#post956989

I have included the above topic.

It will be interesting to read and review the responses from the experienced and less experienced rider. Not only where they did ride and practise but to have an insight to their views about qualities of a safe rider and their own perceptions.


Please Post Your Replies at the above link.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Pwalo]

Interesting question Mr B. I'd like to think that I was a safe rider, but unfortunately even at my advanced age I succumb to the excitement of going a wee bit too fast, and taking advantage of my bike's nimbleness.

Even so, I've only visited the local hospital once in 30 odd years on the road (ironically it was a SIDSYM from behind), so perhaps I should say I only take reasonably well calculated risks.

I don't think you want to get too hung up on being a safe rider. To my way of thinking you are better concentrating on improving your skills. It's more of a mental mindset sort of thing - oh no, I'm starting to sound like that Code chappy.

At the end of the day motorcycling, like most pursuits in life is potentially dangerous. We don't now, and never have lived in a completely safe world. You can mitigate your risks, but that's it mate.

[idleidolidyll]

This is an interesting question.
Our own impressions of ourselves and others, and the impressions that other people have of our riding, can vary considerably.

How often have you heard someone say something like "Man, you should have seen the overtaking move X made, he's a fucking lunatic"?

Relatively small changes in your visual perspective can lead to quite different visibility and impressions of the safety of any particular manoeuvre.

A prime example is when two bikes ride relatively close together but one taking a wide line and the other takes a narrow line. The bike on the wide line can see a long way further around the corner than the bike on the narrow line and will often make a move that surprises or shocks the rider on the inside line who might think that the other was doing something incredibly dangerous. A similar thing can occur when a low slung sport bike and a sit up style bike are riding together. The taller riding position allows better visibility over cars and over the tops of hills. From one prespective, a move might look really dangerous but it may in fact have been done with full visibility.

So getting back to the question itself: I can only say that I haven't had an accident on the road for about 20 years even though I go quite hard at times (not to be confused with 'fast').
My belief is that a safe rider is aware of all traffic and potential dangers around them and has the natural or developed rapid reaction reflexes to cope with the unexpected. More than that though, a safe rider can feel what the bike itself is doing beneath them, they can literally 'feel' the surface of the road and it's levels of adhesion at all times and they adjust the throttle constantly and minutely to compensate. They know the capabilities and limitations of both the bike and of themslves.

Safe riding does not mean always riding within the arbitary speed limits or even obeying any particular road 'rule'. All of those can be ignored at times depending on the ability of the rider as described above.

[vamr]

Do your own homework!

[Wasp]

Do your own homework!
haha spot on! (me and buck are in the same class)

Still, this was last weeks homework and he is posting it for the benefit of others - i think its worth it

[avgas]

Im unsafe.....cos its cool
lol

[KLOWN]

tis a very good question. a bit off topic but i'm gonna put in my 2 cents. I'm not quite a safe rider, I have the knowladge to be completly safe but don't always apply them.

I find it very irritating on what SOME poeples version of "safe" is, my old flat mate (female) said to me that i was a crap and unsafe driver (yes i know we are talking about bikes here), her reasoning to this is because I have lost my license and had many tickets. Now to me being a good/safe rider/driver doesn't always involve following the letter of the law, A good/safe rider/driver is someone who is always incontrol of thier vehicle and knows where all the potential hazards are. My flat mate thought she was a great driver but I for one will not EVER go in the car with her again after she drove me down konini road, (in titirangi) she was taking blind hairpins on the worng side of the road, slowly so in her mind thats ok, and many other horrible actions that could have killed us. She also can't 3 point turn, park a car properly or any basic manouvers. She thinks she is a "GOOD" driver because she follows the speed limit or below. Who else knows someone like this?? It seems to be a few NZers have the same opinion of themselves and equally appalling driving habits

[Steam]

haha spot on! (me and buck are in the same class)

Still, this was last weeks homework and he is posting it for the benefit of others - i think its worth it

Are you guys on your Defensive Driving / Streettalk course allowed to do the practical part with Andrew at Roadsafe Motorcycling school?
I did mine with A1 Driving school a few weeks ago, and the practical with Andrew was great, we basically did a complete Full License test, great practise and secret knowledge for the Big Test.
So much more valuable than doing it in a car.

[Wasp]

thats the one :) doing it with triple A driving school

[vifferman]

I can be a very safe rider as I have loads of experience, but sometimes I'm not, due to 'mental considerations'.

[ManDownUnder]

My own opinion is that I'm a safe rider - but it's those around me I listen to.

What makes a safe rider? Mutifacted question.

Awareness of your skills (and limits) and riding within them. Extending them if/when the opportunity presents itself. Listen to, and obey, "that little voice"
Awareness of the environment.
Physical environment
wet, dry
other vehicles
obstacles
Human environment
Not surprising or overwhelming people I'm sharing the road with
Riding to their limits (esp younger males who just "have to keep up")
Awareness of the bike.
Keep it maintained
Don't ask too much of it (braking distances etc)
I think that's about it.

[mstriumph]

i have been riding a long time

i am still here - but i am aware that this has been down to luck on several occassions.

i am still learning - something new every time i ride

there are many riders far better than i will ever be and whose example i study and attempt to emulate - but i also watch poorer riders ..... everyone has something to teach you

the essence of being a good rider, for me, is being totally in the moment ALL the time - totally aware of the dynamics and potential of the surroundings [terrain, traffic, pedestrians], surface, weather, time of day, bike and self ............... and accommodating to these fluidly, promptly and almost instinctively

for me there is a large spiritual component - of being a part of the universe whilst apart from the universe ... a fusion of 'being' and 'observing' ........ but i realise this is a personal thing and not common to all riders so i don't classify it as being a component of good riding even though its essential to mine.:sunny:

most of the time i fall far short of the standards i would wish for myself - but on those occassions when i do get into that zone, it's magic

i have never experienced anything like it in a car [although sometimes, scarifying or mowing on my old tractor in the early morning or the gathering dusk on a summer's day, breeze cool on my face and heady with the scents of earth and countryside, i have come close]

[Disco Dan]

Im about as safe as jumping off a cliff. I do ride to the conditions, always on the cautious side and try and follow other peoples lines on corners. However, I am a still in the early stages of my craft and make bad judgement and decisions on ocassions. Part of learning.

I do know my limitations, understand the bike can do a smeg load more than what I would ever allow it too do in my present state of experience level.

[idleidolidyll]

I ....understand the bike can do a smeg load more than what I would ever allow it too do in my present state of experience level.

that never really changes, most of the time, on the road, the bike has more to offer than the rider can use

[90s]

A good/safe rider/driver is someone who is always incontrol of thier vehicle and knows where all the potential hazards are.

Spot on - and also I know many people who match your friend's description. Sometimes being safe on a bike means driving to the conditions and not the letter of the law. A car in traffic at 50k in a traffic stream of 65k causes an impediment but may be making a point about keeping to the limit. A bike not keeping up with traffic flow is tar-jam. You can ride 30k in a 50 zone and be unsafe, or ride 160 in a 100 zone and be *reasonably* safe if the conditions are right.

I am deluded enough to believe I am a safe rider / driver, because I believe my understanding of the conditions is good. I have been on the road 20-years and this may be a factor, but I always question my perceptions of the environment. I spent years commuting through European capitals, mostly London, on bikes of all sorts (powered and un-powered) and was involved with or caused very few incidents (causing other people to take action to aviod me; getting in a situation where I needed to take action to aviod others).

I know loads of people who say they are safe drivers as they have never had an accident but leave a trail of destruction behind them!

One example of how I see myself as safe - this morning coming into work I was tailed by a VFR. Eventually it undertook me on the SH16 (I was in a 100kph traffic line), jigged in between a narrow gap between two cars several car lenghts ahead of me, road 100kph in the 80kph zone and overtook cars from a light around a the outside of a left-hand turn.
We parked in the same spot and the time difference was less than 10 seconds over 4k. The other rider was not necessarily un-safe and did not ride badly, but was several times in positions where they were reliant on the other party not doing something stupid for their safety - where the benefits of doing so were minor.
Why I think I am safe is that I judged the safety of my and the other riders 'safety' more accurately. I am confident the other rider however would say I am talking crap, so it is all perception.

Yours - deluded

[SPman]

I'm Dangerous!

..ummm...er ..oh no, that's someone else!

I must be safe then.

[BarBender]

Szell: Is it safe?... Is it safe?
Babe: You're talking to me?
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Is what safe?
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: I don't know what you mean. I can't tell you something's safe or not, unless I know specifically what you're talking about.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Tell me what the "it" refers to.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Yes, it's safe, it's very safe, it's so safe you wouldn't believe it.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful.

[petesmeats]

Well i reckon the essence of a good rider is one that is aware of everything...

Aware of:
Bike feel
Road condition
Hazards
Personal feel
Other people's intentions
Other external factors

I sometimes have days where i am good and on these days i naturally travel faster. Other days i find all my lines have gone to shite and my bike doesn't feel good, and i don't feel good and all is not well in the world... These days i am fully aware and i ride well within my limits...

The (few) times that i have impressed people with my riding is when i have been concentrating on not going fast, and concentrated more on smoothness, lines, gear selection, braking and so on... being generally aware of things...

At the moment i have a rear tyre that is as bald as... a bald guy, and so i know that my cornering is going to suffer from it... I know i should do the burnout and get it over with (my procrastination in spending money is a natural student thing... unless it is on alcomohol) but until i have my new tyre on i will not push my bike hard... it's only really good for wheelies at the moment... and even then some of the time the rear lights up anyway...

I do know that the fastest rider is not always the best...

Just my two and a half dollars worth...