What is the best way to be noticed by cagers?

[Winston001]

Back to the topic, I've learned a lot here. In summary:

Some cagers are just stupid - nothing would capture their attention.

Loud pipes do/don't make you visible.

Fluro vests etc may help.

Headlights help but since tourists and local use them on cages in daylight, not so effective.

Modulators in my opinion have to be worth a try - maybe coupled with a specific bluish light only used for day riding.


So I reckon you just do your best. If you reckon loud pipes are the answer, go for it. But use your headlight and consider other options as well.

Can't say I want to whistle down the highway looking like Mr Whippy on speed so some combination of bits in moderation is the key.


Or maybe I'll just get a set of colours whipped up and some tassels from Scumdog. Always fancied a 1%er patch.

[samgab]

I'd say the real key to survival is to maintain a healthy pessimistic viewpoint of all other vehicles on the road.
Expect every car to do anything stupid at any time.
That car at the driveway IS going to pull out in front of you. That car approaching the red light IS going to run it. The taxi approaching the roundabout on your right WON'T stop. That truck IS going to change lanes right as you go past it...
Also, take personal responsibility for your own safety on the road. Everything that happens on the road is YOUR fault. That way you take personal responsibility for avoiding all the potential collisions waiting to happen in the next second.

That way you don't get shocked and angry when it happens, you get cut off or whatever... It's what you expected them to do anyway, you're prepared for it, and you have positioned yourself on the road accordingly.

Of course, this will only work 99% of the time. The other 1% you just have to hope that your protective gear will do the trick.

And I don't see how any steps taken to be more visible on the road can do any HARM, even if you don't think they're doing any good. White, yellow, and orange are more visible than black, dark blue, grey, etc. So whilst they still won't see you if they aren't looking, maybe it'll help on the odd occasion where someone does take a quick glance in your direction before pulling out.

[ManDownUnder]

The answers as I see them
1) Don't ride like a fuckwit. Your average driver is conditioned to look for vehicles travelling at the same speed they are. Break that rule and you're less likely to be spotted
2) Pretend you're invisible. Your average driver is conditioned to look for cars. Any thing bigger demands their attention, andything smaller escapes it
3) Pretend the road rules actually apply to motorcyclists too... believe it or not - they do!
4) Make yourself visible. The more you do to make yourself seen the more likely you are going to be seen.. Headlight on, high vis vest, reflector tape on stuff at night... all that good stuff
5) Prepare for the worst. If I come off without my gear on I'm a lot more likely to die that without it. View a few grusome videos every now and then to remind yourself of the 2 wheeled game we're playing.

[quickbuck]

Of course, this will only work 99% of the time. The other 1% you just have to hope that your protective gear will do the trick.

Bloomin heck!
I'm well over due to be taken out by somebody then...... The last time was 11 years ago, and I'm sure I have had more than 100 near misses since then... Closer to 1000.... could be more.
The thing is though, as you say, if you are prepared for it, and assume the worst, it never comes at a shock and the avoidance action starts a lot sooner.
You also learn to pick up potential dangers a lot earlier..... Well, all except trees falling down cliff faces!

I have had a holiday job in a bike shop on SH1.
It gets congested as there is a Servo and McD's right opposite.
The number of times I have heard cage drivers hit the horn when they get cut up by another cage is truely amazing.
The first time I heard it (about 0945 on my first day) I jest, "Hit the brakes rather than the horn, and you'll be better off". A work mate sniggered and said, "You'll hear a lot of that".
Well, I did!

Point is, if you ride or drive always expect the worst. In a car it will save panel beating, on a bike it will save skin and scalitor structure....
Doesn't matter who was right or wrong, it still takes bones 6 weeks to heal, at least.

MDU's comments are also relivent.
Share the road like a responsible road user, and leave the racing for the track.

[samgab]

Bloomin heck!
I'm well over due to be taken out by somebody then...... The last time was 11 years ago, and I'm sure I have had more than 100 near misses since then... Closer to 1000.... could be more.

Yes, 99.99% and 0.01% are probably closer to the true ratio, especially for careful riders... I don't have any figures to substantiate my claims, it was just hyperbole really, to make a point...

[Boob Johnson]

Sorry, I must have a dirty mind

lol you must

Having a noisy exhaust works for pedestrians and cyclists but a modern car is a quiet little bubble and they can’t hear you.

I see red running down cheeks where ever I ride, that's the blood running from peoples ears

A noticeable difference in cagers awareness with this new can

[scumdog]

My mind set is this.

I have survived as long as I have by assuming that none can see me and none ever will.

I am entirely invisible and it's up to me to see them.

The assumption that everyone behind the wheel - or their car - has a IQ of 20 also helps.

I act courteously when appropriate and get the ferk outta there when it's not.

Kinda sums up my act to a T.

And the skull-mask certainly helps me get noticed at lower speeds.

[scumdog]

Having a noisy exhaust works for pedestrians and cyclists but a modern car is a quiet little bubble and they can’t hear you.!

True, by the time an oncomming car in your lane notices your exhaust noise you're toast.

Includes car coming out of side roads etc too.

Only around town or on motorway will it MAYBE help you...maybe...

[rocketman1]

One of the big problems , and it has been proved many times is that cagers cannot tell the speed a bike is moving at because there is no parallax with a bike
Dont know how to spell that, but what it means is because as a biker you look as though you are not moving as the cager cannot get a fix on your speed or distance, same thing as walking into a clothes wire in the back yard, you see it but cannot focus on it.
The cager thinks you are doing 30km/hr when you are doing 130km/hr,worse at night.
I have heard that if you suspect the cager may not see you then weave the bike down the road a bit this apparently wakes cagers up. And they go what the f--k.
Always watch the cagers eyes, and have a couple of fingers on the front brake, failing that, watch the front wheels, if they move at all, ... you know what to do... and do it fast....sssssssssssssstop
Not that I tend follow any of this, all the time, just what I've read.
Go safe

[quickbuck]

Yes, 99.99% and 0.01% are probably closer to the true ratio, especially for careful riders... I don't have any figures to substantiate my claims, it was just hyperbole really, to make a point...

Yeah, I use MSU from time to time too... I did get your point.

[quickbuck]

I have heard that if you suspect the cager may not see you then weave the bike down the road a bit this apparently wakes cagers up. And they go what the f--k.

Works well if they are trying to drive onto your pillion seat too
Watch them back off real fast, as they think you are about to fall off.

[beezie]

I've just fitted a Kisan headlight modulator to my Vespa and it is unbelieveable the difference it makes to other road users attitudes - they certainly make the bike more noticeable. I do take care to switch on to dip (unmodulated) when behind anyone for any length of time or at lights etc. as they would be irritating, but going along in normal traffic it is fabulous.

I assume from various posts that even though the US standard 108 is quoted as a schedule to the LTSA regs here, modulators are still not legal because of the 'steady light' requirement.

Has anyone made submissions or engaged the LTSA over this?

[scootnz]

I'm surprised not one person has mentioned motion camouflage in this thread, although someone referred to it obliquely using wasps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_camouflage
http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...&pageId=146841

[gwigs]

U.K motorbike awareness video

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/mc-crash2.mpg

[Boob Johnson]

Having not read the vast majority of this thread please excuse if i'm repeating what some have said. I did however notice a few posts up on this page someone saying that modern cars can't hear loud exhausts. That isn't accurate by any measure. Since my accident a few years ago all my bikes have a loud can & cagers always look at their mirrors when I approach them. Hell I HAVE to wear plugs others wise I would be even more deaf than I currently am so no matter what the car is they all know you are there. Only way it won't get you noticed by a cager is if he has his stereo at full tit.

Another tactic is weave slowly when approaching an intersection this is a good in, they can't take their eyes off you as you approach, mainly due to curiosity as to why you are weaving, but hey, what ever keeps you alive