Hear no evil, see no evil?

**Maha** · 6th August 2013, 14:34

Simple question really.

On a motorcycle, is it better to be seen or heard by other road users in the first instance?

Can’t be both, it’s either one or the other that ‘first’ alerts other road users as to your whereabouts on the road.
For me, it is being seen. As a driver, I notice/see a bike in the rear vision mirror way before I hear it. It also applies to forward vision.

**unstuck** · 6th August 2013, 14:40

Seen, mostly. There has been the odd occasion I have heard em before I have seen them though.

**Daffyd** · 6th August 2013, 14:40

I would say be seen first. My bikes have always been fairly quiet, though. I guess a bit of noise might wake a sleepy driver enough to check his mirror and other surroundings.

**Murray** · 6th August 2013, 15:14

Has to be seen because SMIDHY is harder to pronounce than SMIDSY

**Akzle** · 6th August 2013, 15:24

Originally Posted by Maha

For me, it is being seen. As a driver, I notice/see a bike in the rear vision mirror way before I hear it.

see heres the problem, theres fuckall drivers around.
Steering wheel attendants, plenty. They struggle with whats in front of them, whats behind?? Who cares.

Since humans are fairly visually orientated, and some large percentage of what the brain receives comes from the optic nerve, being seen is more likely.

**Madness** · 6th August 2013, 15:42

Given that some people struggle to identify the direction that a noise is coming from I'd say it's safer to be seen first, heard second. You're still not going to get me into a Hi-Viz though, I give less than a fuck on that one.

**jafar** · 6th August 2013, 15:52

It makes little difference, most car drivers do not see a motorcycle as a threat to them so tend to ignore them. Either that or they just don't give a rats arse about other road users, your better off to treat all other road users as the deaf & blind braindead fucktards they have proven themselves to be

**Banditbandit** · 6th August 2013, 16:28

Originally Posted by jafar

It makes little difference, most car drivers do not see a motorcycle as a threat to them so tend to ignore them. Either that or they just don't give a rats arse about other road users, your better off to treat all other road users as the deaf & blind braindead fucktards they have proven themselves to be

I'm with him .. but if I had to make a choice ??? Seen is better ... as Madnes says, people (and I'm one) have trouble identifying where noise is coming from ... a noisey bike just makes people look more ...

Drivers don't swerve or brake to miss noise - they swerve or brake to miss obstacles they can see ...

Originally Posted by Maha

As a driver, I notice/see a bike in the rear vision mirror way before I hear it. It also applies to forward vision.

Maha ... you answer your own question ...

**Trade_nancy** · 6th August 2013, 16:30

Agree with Jafar. Sight or sound - it makes no difference to the fools that are the ones likely to get us.
Case in point last Saturday avo on the bike with wife on back coming though 50k inner city streets and a cager approached and stopped at RH intersection ahead. As I got within about 20 metres - she pulled out and started a RH turn into my path. I had two headlights going and flashed on the high beam on - giving THREE halogen beams pointed at her..she still moved into my path. Leaned on the horn long and hard. She gave me the middle finger in the rear mirror. I pulled along side - shouted abuse in several dialects simultaneously while spitting into my visor I was so angry... till I noted it was the woman who sits next to me at work.
Went to work on Monday and waited for her to walk in the door. Confronted her and she said "Oh I never saw any motorbike, but I do remember being tooted at by some car - yeh I gave them the fingers...I get road rage quite often".

**Maha** · 6th August 2013, 16:35

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

Maha ... you answer your own question ...

That's because the thread is directed at getting a personal view on a particular subject, what I said is my personal view.

**jafar** · 6th August 2013, 16:40

Originally Posted by Trade_nancy

Agree with Jafar. Sight or sound - it makes no difference to the fools that are the ones likely to get us.
Case in point last Saturday avo on the bike with wife on back coming though 50k inner city streets and a cager approached and stopped at RH intersection ahead. As I got within about 20 metres - she pulled out and started a RH turn into my path. I had two headlights going and flashed on the high beam on - giving THREE halogen beams pointed at her..she still moved into my path. Leaned on the horn long and hard. She gave me the middle finger in the rear mirror. I pulled along side - shouted abuse in several dialects simultaneously while spitting into my visor I was so angry... till I noted it was the woman who sits next to me at work.
Went to work on Monday and waited for her to walk in the door. Confronted her and she said "Oh I never saw any motorbike, but I do remember being tooted at by some car - yeh I gave them the fingers...I get road rage quite often".

I've had idiots like your workmate take me on when I'm in a bloody big white freightliner & lit up like a XMAS TREE

, they just don't give a rats about anyone but themselves .

**Madness** · 6th August 2013, 16:42

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

a noisey bike just makes people look more ...

Often in the wrong direction. Quite often the noisiest bikes are ridden in such an enthusiastic manner that they're long gone by the time the noise registers.