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Thread: Escape routes -or how to avoid a crash.

  1. #1
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    Escape routes -or how to avoid a crash.

    Ok --so ya have an idea where to put ya bike on the road.You have practiced how to haul ya steed up as fast as possible.
    But how are ya gonna avoid it all turning pear shaped??
    Planning escape routes is how.
    OK lets see how this discussion goes
    To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?

  2. #2
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    "Ride Smart" In that every car will turn & everything may run out in front of you . Skill comes with age & age comes with years .Respect these rules & learn & live long

    SENSEI PERFORMANCE TUNING

    " QUICKER THAN YOU SLOWER THAN ME "

  3. #3
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    I think this is THE most important survival skill. The one advantage a bike has when it comes to avoiding the hurty experiences is that we can get out of the way.

    "Go where the danger ain't" is my philosophy.

    I will always try to steer my way out of danger rather than brake. I very very rarely brake hard.

    Keep a running list in your head (I actually verbalise mine) ALL THE TIME of where you can go.

    "Room to move off to the left. I could go into that driveway. Theres room on my right. No, it's closed up. I'll drop back a bit cos then theres a gap again on my right.If that idiot DOES pull out in front of me I can go behind him on that gravel etc etc etc "

    Even if it's not a GOOD escape hole, list it anyway , it may be better than taking a smash. Driving into the ditch is bad, but better than hitting something head on.

    Prioritising evasion over braking has saved my life on more occasions than I want to remember .

    Thing is , it's not instinctive for someone who learned to drive a car before a bike. I learned first on a bike, and the bikes I learned on, might as well have had no brakes. 5 inch single leading shoe, you'd stop quicker scraping your shoe soles. So I learned by default to try to avoid hitting things by dodging them. I tend not to think of braking when something goes wrong, it's something that I think of only after trying to evade.

    So often something's gone lavender in front of me, and instead of trying to brake it out, I've dodged. And watched the car behind me slide past me and smash into whatever I was avoiding.

    Always keep a running updated picture of where you can go if you have to. Visualise yourself heading for that shelter, so that if it suddenly blows up in front of you, you instinctively dodge.

    Doesn't have to be anything fancy, maybe just dodging between lines of traffic. Just anything that gets you where the danger ain't.

    This really is a survival technique.
    Quote Originally Posted by skidmark
    This world has lost it's drive, everybody just wants to fit in the be the norm as it were.
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
    The manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to find out what the average rider prefers, because the maker who guesses closest to the average preference gets the largest sales. But the average rider is mainly interested in silly (as opposed to useful) “goodies” to try to kid the public that he is riding a racer

  4. #4
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    good stuff..

    one thing I have found myself very wary of, is braking hard behind cars. In heavy traffic, people still do not leave enough room when following. Someone isn't looking, and brakes hard. The car behind brakes a bit harder, the one behind, harder still and so on, til they smack together. You don't want to be in the middle of that. Leave that to the cages.

    What I find works is, when you see it happening, brake hard, as normal. The cage behind needs to know that things aren't quite right. Give them all the warning, but move to one of the tyre trenches if poss (in the dry, this will grip more. In the wet, the centre grips more), that way, the car behind isn't totally in the dark about this.

    Then when you come up behind the car in front, before you stop, run down the side of the car, as if you're filtering. This way, if the car behind still hasn't got their act together, they aren't going to squash you between the two cars. This also means that you're braking isn't going to out-do the person behind (remember bikes can out-brake most cars with ease).

    Then, since the traffic has stopped, you can just slowly continue down the traffic..

    I know this isn't directly in line of the thread, but it's always thinking 2 cars ahead in traffic..

    As for any other time, don't let it out of your head, and constantly be looking for the 'what if' sinario, cos one day, you might just need it..

  5. #5
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    well we are getting feedback -woohoo
    To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?

  6. #6
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    don't really know how i avoid trouble, a sixth sense maybe. have'nt had an accident for fifteen years, but it has to be said i'm a slow rider.

    i suppose i have one main rule , i'm invisible on the road

  7. #7
    I plan escape routes continously,if there is no possibility of an escape route I'll back off..Overshoot a down hill gravel corner with a 100 metre drop and no guard rail and you are in serious trouble,that's the time I have no escape route planned...and I know I have nothing up my sleeve.Sometimes I ride like a complete idiot - that's not one of them.I've done a few in my time - up driveways,picked it up and gone the otherside of a dividing strip on the wrong side of the road,that very precarious strip of gravel on the edge of the road...up a curb and through a rock garden on a side car.....you can find them,just keep lookin'....
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  8. #8
    If all is lost - I've been there too...

    Here's couple where bailing out saved the day,but I didn't think so at the time.

    In our area we had a new road layout,a nice new corner,smooth new tarmac...just inviting you in.I'd been tempted and found this perfect corner tightened dangerously.So a few days later I'm pillion on a mates bike and we are coming into this beautiful corner - and I can tell he's sucked in and going to take it as fast as he can!,I yell in his ear ''it tightens!,it tightens!'' But he just nods his head and pours on the gas! Mid corner and we are in trouble,I can feel him stiffen as he realises he's way too fast and we'll never make it - I feel the Avon GP slip onto the last side rib,I know these tyres well,and that's as far as you can go - so I decide to bail out before we take out the curb,and as I put my weight on the pillion pegs,and the left one is scraping the road,the weight shift somehow turns the bike and we are through! ''How did we do that!'' he yells,I dunno,but I reckon me half pie bailing out did it.

    On my XR200 on a wide overgrown fire break I am really honking along in 5th gear,dunno what speed that is,but it's bloody fast off road - under the new growth is a single cow trail rut I can't see...and in a corner I get locked into it,the front wheel can't climb out,I flap the bars both ways,but it's just sliding in the groove.I'm in big trouble,it's going to take me down...and it's going to be messy,and I decide I want to part company with the bike at this stage,go my own way in this little drama.Same again,as I shift my weight to the inside peg to step off...hey,I'm out of the groove and on my way.

    Sometimes even giving up is the right move.
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  9. #9
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    I second Ixion's comment. Always look for new ways of getting yourself out of a situation. Literally run through them as you ride. I.e., if he pulls out on me, I can turn into that road/go round the front/back/brake hard etc etc. Make sure you have thought about all these options, including braking, and when and why they would work.

    Example, a car pulls out infront of me going straight across the road. Too close to brake, car not far out enough to go behind, and if he panics and stops, I'm into the back of him. Road to the left is a bit tight, with gravel on it. Only option left is to go round the front, and gas it hard to get out of the way, hope he sees me (I'll be in front of him).

    I know that sounds like a lot of thinking, and that is the reason why you have to 'practice' your mental responses. If you verbalise all those options when it isnt an emergency (everyday riding - just consider the possibilities), you will have the options to hand, and almost instinctive, when it does come down to it. 'Practice' first, and you will make it automatic to consider all that. And keep looking for new escape routes - try and think laterally. Perhaps a sideswipe onto a rock wall is better than a head-on, or decking the bike better than riding off a cliff....
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Posh Tourer :P
    I second Ixion's comment. Always look for new ways of getting yourself out of a situation. Literally run through them as you ride. I.e., if he pulls out on me, I can turn into that road/go round the front/back/brake hard etc etc. Make sure you have thought about all these options, including braking, and when and why they would work.

    Example, a car pulls out infront of me going straight across the road. Too close to brake, car not far out enough to go behind, and if he panics and stops, I'm into the back of him. Road to the left is a bit tight, with gravel on it. Only option left is to go round the front, and gas it hard to get out of the way, hope he sees me (I'll be in front of him).

    I know that sounds like a lot of thinking, and that is the reason why you have to 'practice' your mental responses. If you verbalise all those options when it isnt an emergency (everyday riding - just consider the possibilities), you will have the options to hand, and almost instinctive, when it does come down to it. 'Practice' first, and you will make it automatic to consider all that. And keep looking for new escape routes - try and think laterally. Perhaps a sideswipe onto a rock wall is better than a head-on, or decking the bike better than riding off a cliff....
    So far a lot of great responses from the more experienced riders... which is awesome... As some of you know my partner was hit from behind at a giveway and I will DEFFINATLY be printing this out for her to read...

    I try to verbalise my ride and note all the dangers and possible escape routes... but I need a LOT more practice... last week I stopped behind a cage at the traffic lights, was dead in the middle of my lane behind the cage, looked at the lights, changed into nuetral, looked in my mirrors and saw a white holden coming up fast behind with the driver looking to the side and not ahead to where I was... I freaked out and thought "oh shit... what now?" even though I know exactly what to do I froze... luckily he stopped in time...

    Now I don't change in nuetral when at the lights... can't make a get-away if your not even in gear...

    So thats my tips... when stationary, stay in gear!
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Posh Tourer :P
    If you verbalise all those options when it isnt an emergency (everyday riding - just consider the possibilities), you will have the options to hand, and almost instinctive, when it does come down to it. 'Practice' first, and you will make it automatic to consider all that. And keep looking for new escape routes - try and think laterally. Perhaps a sideswipe onto a rock wall is better than a head-on, or decking the bike better than riding off a cliff....
    Verbalising works real well! It seems to help concentrate on possible problems, cornering style and finding escape routes.

    Apart from that i try and keep as much space around myself as i can. The less space I have the more I prepare for an emergency (active scan for escape routes and fingers on the levers).

    What amazes me is just how many riders sit right up the ass of the car in front, centered on the numberplate. Talk about cutting off your options! if your going to tailgate then at least move to one side and open one escape route.

    Just thought... does braking count as an escape route?
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Posh Tourer :P
    I ... And keep looking for new escape routes - try and think laterally. Perhaps a sideswipe onto a rock wall is better than a head-on, or decking the bike better than riding off a cliff....
    Yes, the "lateral" bit is important. You are looking for ESCAPE routes. They may not be "normal". Most bikes can survive an off road excusion without major damage. I once avoided a crash by riding down onto a beach. Another time by riding through a school gate . Remember a bike can usually manage to get up a curb. You may damage your rims, but that's better than being killed.

    Hiding behind something else is good. As someone said below , duck between lines of traffic.

    I "classify" the options - "Good route, no problems; OK if I have to; Don't want to have to go there but better than a head on". Though not so verbious, just in my mind ticking them off.

    And, although it is dangerous (and I accept no responsibility for anyone who plays silly buggers with it) there can be times when the wrong side of the road is a good escape route.Note I did say that one was dangerous. Use with caution.
    Quote Originally Posted by skidmark
    This world has lost it's drive, everybody just wants to fit in the be the norm as it were.
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
    The manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to find out what the average rider prefers, because the maker who guesses closest to the average preference gets the largest sales. But the average rider is mainly interested in silly (as opposed to useful) “goodies” to try to kid the public that he is riding a racer

  13. #13
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    i try to stay in between the two yellow lines, no car will dare go over the yellow lines.

    an cuase im peter pan im not goign to die anyway.

  14. #14
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    Escape routes also include the 'path of least pain'. i.e. It's preferable to take to a paddock to escape a head-on. Takes big balls though. Most people tend to freeze with the brakes locked and wait for the bang.
    Speed doesn't kill people.
    Stupidity kills people.

  15. #15
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    planning escape routes as already suggested should be planned well in advance.Even before anything has happened you need to cover eventualities.
    Sounds like a lot of work but it actuallly gets to the point you are doin it automaticly.
    To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?

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