Owls - those of you who look behind with ease...

[Winston001]

In another thread Varminter suggested that some of you guys and gals must be owls the way you say you can turn and look behind while riding. Gotta agree.

Look - when I'm on a bike, my right arm is glued to the throttle and looking behind to the right is at best a shallow glimpse. My shoulder and stiff leather jacket don't allow rotation of a bulky full-face helmet.

How do you do it?

[hayd3n]

look to left

[rainman]

How do you do it?

Take your arm off the throttle....

[Owl]

Something you're born with!

[Motu]

Comes with wearing all the protective gear - when we only wore street clothes,no helmet or at best an open face,we didn't even have mirrors...they were not a legal requirement.We were able to twist and turn with ease.My new helmet has such a deep chin piece that I can't turn my head as far as with my old helmet - it just gets worser and worser.

[Anarkist]

Easy really.. Just turn your head..

[scracha]

Main thing is that you can check your blind spot, so you don't have to look around like an owl. If you're manouvering right you check the blind spot to your right. If going left then do the opposite. OBviously you'll have been indicating and have checked your mirrors at least twice prior to manouvering as well.

This isn't for show. It has saved my bacon on at least two occasions where an "invisible" car was cruising in that shitty blind area and I hadn't seen it in the mirrors.

[GrayWolf]

Main thing is that you can check your blind spot, so you don't have to look around like an owl.
This isn't for show. It has saved my bacon on at least two occasions where an "invisible" car was cruising in that shitty blind area and I hadn't seen it in the mirrors.

I think that states the case for rear observation quite sucinctly Winston However as always it is the choice of the individual.

As for the comments (in other posts) re: modern helmets/gear preventing rear observation? I have a Nolan M102 and wear a leather jacket with epulets (patrol style). I have no issues with rear observation. If anyone has a problem due to the chin piece and or the gear they wear? Then I might suggest that you buy a helmet that allows a rear observation, rather than just looks the bizzo (function over fashion statement). If we (riders) dont buy helmets that dont allow a crucial function. The said manufacturer will soon get the message.

[Grizzo]

Something you're born with!

Not even OWL, anyone can do it!

[Big Dave]

The appropriate mirrors are for looking behind you - turning your head is for the spots your mirrors can't see.

[The Stranger:Me]

Your head needn't do a 180. Your eyes move in their sockets - well mine do anyway - plus I have peripheral vision too.

[Usarka]

Scientific studies show that a head movement of 70 degrees is maximum required to clear any blind spot.<sup>*


*</sup> scientific study conducted at home while talking shite and drinking beer.

[Dave-]

let go of clutch hand and twist.

I can clear my blindspot with a flick of the head.

[klingon]

Depends on your riding position, too. Obviously sports-bike style you're going to be leaning further forward so you might need to tuck your chin in to glance over your shoulder. On my sit-up-straight bike it's an easy sideways turn. If you're leaning back on a cruiser it might be easier to flip your head backwards.

It's amazing how easily you can 'lose' a fairly large vehicle in your blind spot. I'm usually fairly good at keeping track of who's where while I'm riding, but the other day on the motorway I lost a red hatchback somewhere behind me. I would swear one moment it was there and the next moment it was gone! I can only assume it took one of the off-ramps, but I must have looked like a ninny twisting and turning trying to find it in my mirrors before attempting the next lane-change!

[McJim]

In another thread Varminter suggested that some of you guys and gals must be owls the way you say you can turn and look behind while riding. Gotta agree.

Look - when I'm on a bike, my right arm is glued to the throttle and looking behind to the right is at best a shallow glimpse. My shoulder and stiff leather jacket don't allow rotation of a bulky full-face helmet.

How do you do it?

If I want to look over my right shoulder I straighten my right arm to look - My grip on the throttle is firm but relaxed and I find it easy enough however I never have a shoulder bag on.... I have my mirrors set up so they look directly behind me and I use the over the shoulder glance to just check the blind spots. On the weekend ride I relied on the mirrors to count the headlights and ensure we were all still together for example.

What brought this on?