Road survival tips?

[750Y]

Hey all, just got to thinking how we all have a bit of experience to share so thought it'd be a good idea to share some of the things we all do which we feels makes us safer. the stuff like riding with protection/riding within your limits etc. are personal choice mostly but what about the small things we all take for granted because we do them almost subconsciously.
Ill start off with some things I think keep me safer.
Staying out of blindspots.
Making eye contact with drivers eg the car in front(if You can see their eyes in their rear view mirror chances are better they can see You).
Riding with my lights on.
watching for parallel parked cars with their drivers wheel turned to the road.
when moving along an unknown country road which disappears out of site, Observing the telephone wires to know which way the road's heading next.
staying in gear at a stop sign and watching the rear view mirror for upcoming cars that don't look like stopping in time.
approaching a corner wide in order to see around the corner as far as possible before coming across the apex(can also result in better drive out).
anyone got more? I'm thinking this is more proactive than bagging someone who's already made the mistake & for any riders out there with little experience, this stuff is not taught at license time.

[bluninja]

Make sure your bike is in good condition before you ride it (chain, brakes, tyres, lights esp).

Adjust your speed to the vanishing point. If the vanishing point appears to come towards you slow down; if it goes away you can speed up.

In town ride with the front brake lever covered. saves you up to 2 tenths of a second on your braking, and so reduces your stopping distance.

When coming to a halt on a slope make sure you put your foot down on the uphill side.

[Death 'N' Taxes]

When lane splitting to get the the front of the queue at traffic lights, try to ensure that you get to the front before it changes green.
There have been a couple of times when I have not known the phases of the intersection and everyone has started moving. Most of the time you can slip into one of the gaps that opens up as cars take off, but a couple of times I have had drivers try to squeeze me out, overtake me on the inside or outside where there is only one lane etc...
It seems to annoy some of them as you are jumping the queue.

I think it has been said on this site before, lane splitting to the front of the queue at traffic lights is like pushing in at the front of a queue for an icecream, so you better make sure that you are there one minute and gone the next.

[Marmoot]

Here's from a cage driver:
When lanesplitting (especially in M'ways), don't go too fast! Measure up your speed so you'll have enough reaction time if one of those drivers doesn't notice you. When you're too fast, one little brush-off and you'll be hitting 4-5 other cars before you'll end up face down.

And, don't lanesplit too close to my left hand side (i.e, if I'm in middle or right lane). It is much harder to spot you there, and I have much larger blind spot in my left hand side than on my right.

And, one more thing. Slow the f**k down near schools!!!

[mangell6]

In addition to the above when I travel on the m'way/h'way I always check what the traffic around me is doing. Have had Nissan Patrols two metres behind me going to work when the traffic is moving at 60-70km. When this sort of thing occurs the distance between myself and the car in front of me increases exponentially.

[sAsLEX]

Make sure your bike is in good condition before you ride it (chain, brakes, tyres, lights esp).

Adjust your speed to the vanishing point. If the vanishing point appears to come towards you slow down; if it goes away you can speed up.

In town ride with the front brake lever covered. saves you up to 2 tenths of a second on your braking, and so reduces your stopping distance.

When coming to a halt on a slope make sure you put your foot down on the uphill side.

Always ride with the front brake covered, not just in town, hazards can happen anywhere any time (i.e that hiding on the back end of a passing lane) so it is safer to always be able to brake without hesitation

[erik]

Always ride with the front brake covered, not just in town, hazards can happen anywhere any time (i.e that hiding on the back end of a passing lane) so it is safer to always be able to brake without hesitation

I've only been riding for a few weeks, do you guys mean that you should keep a couple of fingers (index and middle fingers I guess, like the drawing in Twist of the Wrist?) over the brake lever as you ride?
I've got another related question: Do you reposition your hand on the throttle, ie. after twisting it a bit, do you hold it and move your hand around so that your wrist isn't so bent when holding the throttle open?

[Big Dog]

Do you reposition your hand on the throttle, ie. after twisting it a bit, do you hold it and move your hand around so that your wrist isn't so bent when holding the throttle open?

Yes. Otherwise you get a real sore wrist.
If you are going to do this get used to braking with out holding onto the grip. It is difficult to close the grip right off if you are braking as your fingers get in the way.

It may help reduce the need for this if you adjust your controls so that in you normal (75%plus) riding position the brake lever is ina straight line with your fore arm when the wrist is straight.

ps if you don't feel completely confident adjusting it get someone else to. Nothing sux more than a grip coming of in your hands. If you do feel confident check it twice before you ride of into the sunset.

[Ms Piggy]

Always ride with the front brake covered, not just in town, hazards can happen anywhere any time (i.e that hiding on the back end of a passing lane) so it is safer to always be able to brake without hesitation

I've only been riding around 6 weeks but when I did my Basic Handling Skills it was stressed several times by our instructor that you should never ride covering the front brake b/c you can lose fingers if you have an accident or brake when you don't mean to - the clutch definitely covered at all times but never the brake.

Not trying to be wanky, but it's what I was told.

[Big Dog]

I've only been riding around 6 weeks but when I did my Basic Handling Skills it was stressed several times by our instructor that you should never ride covering the front brake b/c you can lose fingers if you have an accident or brake when you don't mean to - the clutch definitely covered at all times but never the brake.

Not trying to be wanky, but it's what I was told.

This is where you listen to all the advice availible and then pick some. The 2/10s covering my brake saves me has definately saved my life before at least once and serious injury other times. I figure that would be worth a finger or two if it came down to it.

Its always been the oldest question of the road... do you ride so you will come to the least harm in a accident or do you ride to avoid the accident.

You are the only person who can make that decision.

Me? I cover the brake on the motorway (this allows me do rapidly decelerate immediatly or whip the other two fingers out for an emergency stop) and around town I cover it with all four fingers (otherwise my fingers get crushed in an emergency stop.).

Let those who ride decide, to steal a line from the 60's.

[bluninja]

Good stuff BD. I only cover the brakes when I consider there's a potential hazard eg round town, heavy motorway traffic, approaching an intersection. That way I'm hopefully not lulled into 'falling asleep' thinking the brakes are all covered and I don't need to concentrate. I deliberately remove the fingers from the brake once I've finished slowing for a corner, so as to prevent me panic braking if something happens in the corner.

Celtic..for covering the clutch? My 2cents... the only reason to pull in the clutch is to stop your engine stalling once you stop. If you pull the clutch in when you are braking as a panic reaction then you risk losing the engine braking at the rear. If you forget the clutch and brake to a halt the engine just stops and you have to restart.

[wkid_one]

Keith Code will tell you that covering the brakes is a sure fire way to slam the brakes on when paniced - when you natural reactions are incorrect and you should actually keep on the throttle.

I don't use my clutch to change up - and NEVER cover the clutch.

[erik]

Thanks for that advice Big Dog.
I guess I'm going to have to go and practice to see what I like best/get the technique right.

[Draco]

I've only been riding around 6 weeks but when I did my Basic Handling Skills it was stressed several times by our instructor that you should never ride covering the front brake b/c you can lose fingers if you have an accident or brake when you don't mean to - the clutch definitely covered at all times but never the brake.

Not trying to be wanky, but it's what I was told.

Like these guys say, talk to lots of riders and then try each idea out to see what suits you. I have really small hands so need all fingers to pull the clutch in and then release it and hold the handgrip. I use 2 fingers to brake and then release and hold the throttle. When i was learning to ride and i bailed into a corner too fast, the instinctive thing to do is hit the brakes, which is the worst thing you can do, and that's a good reason not to leave your fingers there all the time while your learning. Once you've been riding for a while dialing on the gas instead of the brake comes a little more naturally.

No question, comment or suggestion is wanky. That's how i've learnt what i know, by talking to other riders, reading magazines and then practicing it.

[Morepower]

Hi all ,

My advice is to look to where you want to go.

If you are messing up a corner ( wrong line , too fast etc) look to the exit and the bike should follow .

If you are in traffic and its all going wrong look for the gap and you will go there .

Never look directly at the vehicle , pole , tree or what ever else you do not want to hit , Target fixation will get you every time.

Ever followed a rider who crashes ? how close did you come to following them because you were watching ?

My 02c

Dave