Add Your Safe Riding Tips

[OB_speed]

The faster you ride the more static highway traffic becomes... but this is closely tie to the "drive like everyone is out to kill you" adivice.

Dont be the first one rolling through a fresh red light.. let the cage run blocker for any last cars that feel they can still make the green light AFTER it already turned red!

If its got four wheels its doesnt care if it hits you !!!!!

 

[OB_BUDDHA]

At a red light at an intersection.
When the light turns green,check both ways before crossing through.

Any swerving or any other non-driving person you come across,accelarate away quickly.

No late braking in the corners,set up properly,then your mid-turn & exit speed will be faster and in return you will too.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

This is going to be an awesome post.

Hundreds of years of riding experience telling their secrets.

I'm reading it all closely. Look at Cisco's reply. Funny and racist maybe...but let's face reality... there's plenty of good advice there. Every single post so far has a good, non-obvious point to make.

I'm reading this topic closely because safety's THE most important issue. You can't ride fast if you're in wheelchair or dead.

Emattson, will you compile this advice, rate the tips in importance and redistribute when it's finished? I hope we'll set a record number of replies. If you don't want to, I'd be happy to. Probably Motorcyclist or one of those mags would welcome the info and publish it. "How Hayabus Owners Beat the Boogy Man." Anyone got any contacts at a national mag?

The little safety tip articles you normally read in those cycle mags are for sophomores.

Buddha, I'd add to your first tip that you should also always check...I mean swing your head both ways and don't rely on your peripheral vision...when you go through wide open or stale green lights or past ANY intersection or frigging DRIVEWAY for that matter.

Don't sit behind or beside trucks; pickups, semis or trailers. Use your power to minimize your exposure to them. ASSUME they've got unsecured loads, their retreaded tires are about to burst, and that they have loose rocks sitting on their undercarriage. I got a good rock in the chest yesterday off a cement truck on a 70 mph highway, and it still hurts. That rock could've hit my bare neck, or worse, my light or windscreen.

Don't scare citizens in cages too bad by wheely-ing past their open window at 9,000 rpm. They're asleep at the wheel, they didn't see you coming up behind them, and they might twitch right into you or the car ahead of them. Good 'ol boys in pick-ups and teenagers in Daddy's Caddy...that's another matter.

Pass the crap out of any vehicle, including other bikes, that are visibly in poor repair. The driver's head is probably in poor repair too.

Assume any white car you see is a cop until you're close enough to KNOW otherwise. Hey, this is a kind of safety issue. Like, keep your licence safe...?

Here's a tough one for a lot of people. Learn how to ride your Hayabusa in dirt. Push yourself on dirt roads. Slip around a bit. Acquire dirt skills if you don't already have them. Drive off the pavement onto soft shoulders at progressively higher speeds (start as slow as you need to) until you feel comfortable that the soft shoulder has become a viable escape option for you.

I'll post as more come to me, and I hope everyone else will, too.

 

[OB_terra1]

Predicting car behavior --

1/ Watch their heads --Most people anticipate turning or changing lanes by tilting their heads in the direction of a turn before they go;

2/ Watch their front wheels -- the first sign you will see of a turn or lane change is the front wheel pivoting in the direction of a turn; [usually 1-3 seconds after they tilt their heads] - useful when you can't see the driver;

3/ Where a highway divides into two or more lanes apiece, or splits off a two lane exit ramps, STAY IN THE OUTER LANES [next to the shoulder] -- About 5% of all drivers wake up and realize they're headed the wrong way, and will swerve wildly across lanes to correct it [make the exit, take the east instead of west fork] and TAKE YOU OUT if you are next to them.

Finally out on a country road? When the road curves out of sight, look for telephone/light poles to see where it's headed.

 

[OB_emattson]

I know we all have our own safety tips so lets post them. You might save a life!!!
1. Never riding in the center of the lane
2. Look at the cross streets when approaching intersections.
3. Not riding in the slow lane when approaching an off ramp.
4. Painted lines on the road in the morning. Very slippery when damp.
5. Watch for sealer on the road. It's nasty when the streets are hot.
6. Allowing tires to come up to temp before gettin' busy.
7. Checking tire pressure regularly.
8. Watching my rearview when coming to a stop.
9. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!!!
10. When I'm on the freeway or multi-lane highway, I want to see the drivers face in his mirror if I'm riding near a car. Then he can see me.
11. Riding with my high beams on during daylight hours.
12. On the highway, either in the fast lane or the slow lane so that the shoulder is available for evasive action.

 

[OB_ducmanic]

Never trust your mirrors.

When riding in the rain, always do a burnout
first so you know how much traction you have.

ducmanic
Los Angles

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Good topic. There are some special safety rules for the Busa because it has more ability to avoid accidents than most other bikes.

13. Always ride faster than all surrounding traffic so YOU'RE always in control.
14. When you change lanes, check mirrors, turn head, then rapidly accelerate to lose any vehicles your visual checks might have missed, then change lanes.
15. Emattson, this should be #1 rule: Treat all on-coming vehicles that are approaching an up coming intersection or vehicles that are stopped in an up coming intersection like they're live grenades.
16. Never touch your front brake on loose dirt.
17. Never touch your rear brake on pavement.
18. When in doubt about the traction on a road surface, test it with your front brake or try spinning your rear tire. Don't use cornering to test traction.
19. Frequently practise emergency maximum braking from all speeds, including the highest speeds you ever ride at.
20. Take a racing or performance riding school.
21. Retorque critical chassis and brake bolts whenever you change oil.
22. If a crash looks inevitable, TAKE evasive manoeuvers. Insurance comnpanies say that in 90% of all two-vehicle personal injury accidents involving motorcycles, no evasive manoeuvres were taken by the motorcycle.
23. If you think you're going to go down in a corner, don't lay it down. Lean further in than you've ever gone before and MAKE IT!
24. Maintain discipline about wearing your protective gear...even if it hurts.
25. Always stay in the gear that gives you lots of instant blastoff power if you need it for an emergency. On the Busa, I try to keep it above 4,000 revs all the time.
26. On roads and highways with no median, stay focused on all on-coming traffic and be prepared to take evasive action if one swerves into your path.


[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 25 August 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 25 August 1999).]

 

[OB_gixerfreak]

I've only got one to add that I learned ALMOST the hard way. When I come to a stop light, if there are cars in front I always position myself so that I can maneuver through the cars in front of me if necessary. Along with this goes the "watch the dumbshits coming up from behind you" clause. I learned this after seeing a guy on a bike (ok it was a ZX-11) who was stopped behind a car at a red light with a big taxi behind him. I was coming up to the light and some redneck in a big ol ford truck came hauling ass up to the light which had turned green but traffic hadn't started moving yet.
He jumped from the center lane to the right lane and slammed on his breaks when he realized the traffic wasn't moving. He rear ended the cab, which rear ended the bike which flipped the guy on the ZX-11 right over the hood of the cab onto the curb. I stopped to help and the guy on the 11 said that he tried to grab some gear when he heard the screaching tires, but he had no where to go. SO always leave yourself an escape path and watch your rear views until you are sure everyone is stopping behind you. And if you hear screaching, screw it, run between the cars in front of you. Worst case you piss off a couple people stopped at a light. Better than getting rear ended like that poor kawi guy.

 

[OB_ducmanic]

Pete-
Test traction with the front brake?
Maybe on the track, but on the street? I don't think so-
ducmanic
Los Angeles

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Ducmanic: This will be a good thread, with lots of controversial ideas!

I squeeze the front brake progressively whenever I suspect that the nature of the pavement has changed. Only in a straight line. Not always to impending lockup, but hard enough to satisfy myself that there's lots of grip on that particular surface. If there's not enough traction, then I automatically get some more practice at pushing the front tire to its limit.

If I think it's really greasy, I'll use some full throttle to see if the rear will spin. This is also a good indicator of available traction, but if did it as frequently as I do the front brake test, I'd go through rear tires even faster.

Tires: A tax on Hayabusa owners?

 

[OB_Cisco San Jose]

1.Never follow a car where the driver looks like they took their license on the back of an Ox,or they just got off a plane from the rice paddies of the Far East and are loss and confussed on the freeway.
2.Never follow a car if the driver acts like your wife/girlfriend exchanging lipstick information while looking in their mirror.
3.Never follow a car if the driver looks like your stock broker/your wife's lawyer or a DJ while yapping away on their cell phone.
4.Never follow a Lunch Truck who thinks the freeway/roadway is a dumping ground for melted ice water or spilled soda.
5.Never speed thru back roads that has sign posted stating "DEER Crossing" Cow Crossing or Signs which shows a picture of animals.
6.Never travel long distance until you know where the next gas stop is or where the next motorcycle shop could be.
7.Never think your bike is faster than a police radio.
8.Never drink/drug and drive unless you already bought your coffin.
Sorry gals/guys little humor but serious.

 

[OB_BigPete]

Never follow anything..........You are the fastest in the world......get out in front and watch them dissappear in your mirrors

 

[OB_Cisco San Jose]

BigPete items 5 and 7 covers your posting.

[This message has been edited by Cisco San Jose (edited 24 August 1999).]

 

[OB_hayabusa]

And for the wannabe racers -

1. THROTTLE CONTROL IN CORNERS

2. THROTTLE CONTROL IN CORNERS

3. THROTTLE CONTROL IN CORNERS

4. SMOOTHER IS FASTER

 

[OB_gurrera]

When you are at a red light and someone is either on your right or on your left, don't jump out until they start first. Far too often they are waiting for someone to finish walking in front of them, or they see someone is going through there red light. That is one way to get hit broad sided. You can be dead right.

 

[OB_hayabusa]

I'm impressed BUDDHA.

I thought you were only 20 and buying the hayabusa as your first bike. or was that someone else.

 

[OB_Mr Bear]

Dirty Pete and others;
#15 needs comment.
Oncoming vehicles signaling a left MAY not see you or yield for you, true. BUT...
Oncoming vehicles approaching an intersection WITHOUT their signal on may whip a left in front of you too. If they do, you are just as dead, whether they were signaling or not.

EVERY time I approach an intersection, if there is oncoming traffic, my hand moves over the brake lever and my foot over the beake pedal. It has to be reflex.

I watched a kid on a Honda scooter (no helmet) get pasted against a van that whipped a left in front of him once. Dead at the scene. There was a surgeon there as a bystander, an RN also, me (former Navy, full CPR training), that kid was dead when that van turned. I still remember the sound of his scream (his last sound) right before the impact. Those sounds...

You're on your own out there.

 

[OB_emattson]

Man what great response!!! The reason for this post was the following:
On my way home from work Monday afternoon I was behind 2 riders. They "broke" nearly every tip posted here. It got me to thinking about how I've seen ride safe suggestions in lots of posts, just not many on how to do it. Dirty Pete, I will track this and compile results and post the results. Thanks to all members who posted.
I plan on re-reading the tips when I'm done with this post and comparing them to how I ride. Might just save my life one day...
Later
Nailz

 

[OB_terra1]

It's obvious that the people writing, and probably reading most of these postings have enough experience to know they should pay attention.

Last night an 18 year old guy came over, saw a bike in my garage, and told me he just bought a Kawi 750 w/ 20K miles. He said he was kinda shaky at first, but after 3 weeks he felt like "I got the hang of it."

I went to my computer and printed out the full CA Superbike School schedule [he lives near Willow Springs] and he was enthusiastic about taking a course. I'll stay with it.

It doesn't do any good to just preach to the choir. Grab a young-un and steer him in the right direction if you get the chance. And think twice before you wish you were 18 again.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Mr. Bear: You're right, I forgot that crucial point. I've edited point #15 to reflect your suggestion, and added a new point #26 to cover off a related situation that is my personal nightmare scenario.

When a #26 happens, your evasive maneouver is just a best guess, and the outcome is in the lord's hands. I've had this happen to me in a car. I went for the ditch and survived...but it was just luck. The prick got away..just kept on swerving down the road, unaware of what he had done to me.

Please everybody keep'em coming. I can't believe how many new lifesaver tips I'm getting here.

Gixerfreak, I would add to your excellent tip that you shouldn't put your bike in neutral when you're standing out in the middle of in intersection. Stay in first, ready to pull the trigger and evade the kamikazes!! This is a rule that I confess I have abused regularly...but I won't anymore!

Ducmanic: Please check my edit to tip #18, based on your suggestion.

poop there's a lot to think about when you're on a bike. It's very much like flying a plane.

The only time you get to relax is when you're in zero traffic on a long straight of perfect pavement the middle of nowhere. Then a deer runs out of the woods in front of you.



[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 25 August 1999).]