Rider safety, what has shaped your thinking?

[Big Blu]

Sure, every old rider, like me, takes rider safety seriously. It's a requirement if ya want a become an old rider.

What experience(s) have influenced your thinking and your skills regarding motorcycle safety?

Paul

 

[krussell]

- a 5yr stint as an instructor.
- reading, one of my favorites is http://www.amazon.com/Stayin-Safe-Science-Riding-Really/dp/1884313728
- riding with Police. For several years I assisted twice a year with bicycle events, riding with about six officers, and about six volunteers (all instructors) for several days. It was impressive to ride with them, and watch and learn from how they work together, and ride alone. It was also impressive to hear about their training, which is continual. Not a couple of times a year, 4 hrs minimum every two weeks in active training.
- training, regular classes to keep sharp, and have someone tell me what I started doing wrong, stopped doing right.

 

[BravoBravo]

I have been riding for over forty years, and spent 18 years as a part-time motorcycle instructor at our local community college. Now that I am in my early 60s, I am starting to better recognize my own limitations. I have slowed down quite a bit from my younger days (still find it difficult to stay near the unreasonably low posted limit in most cases though) and I know my reaction time and overall strength aren't quite what they used to be either. Still doing okay, just a tad more cautious than I once was I guess. (The older I get, the faster I was. )

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Koinz]

I have been riding for over forty years, and spent 18 years as a part-time motorcycle instructor at our local community college. Now that I am in my early 60s, I am starting to better recognize my own limitations. I have slowed down quite a bit from my younger days (still find it difficult to stay near the unreasonably low posted limit in most cases though) and I know my reaction time and overall strength aren't quite what they used to be either. Still doing okay, just a tad more cautious than I once was I guess. (The older I get, the faster I was. )

Cheers,

Bruce

I find myself in the same boat. I also participate in group rides. I find myself paying attention more to other rider's habits and styles of riding so I know where they are at all times. Nothing more frustrating than someone changing positions within the group and not knowing where they are.

 

[greg the pole]

can someone define old... ???
I've been at it for 20 odd years now...

and I have slowed down quite a bit, but more importantly I stopped assuming. I no longer assume that they: see me, will give me right of way, will stop in time, etc...
The biggest improvement of my riding, has been spending time off road, and seeing how the bike moves, and reacts. I no longer freak out if the front, or rear move, I adjust.

I'm not old...I'm 37!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bqQ-C1PSE

 

[Big Blu]

can someone define old... ???
I've been at it for 20 odd years now...

and I have slowed down quite a bit, but more importantly I stopped assuming. I no longer assume that they: see me, will give me right of way, will stop in time, etc...
The biggest improvement of my riding, has been spending time off road, and seeing how the bike moves, and reacts. I no longer freak out if the front, or rear move, I adjust.

I'm not old...I'm 37!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bqQ-C1PSE

I no longer celebrate birthdays, just anniversaries and soon it will be the 41nd anniversary of my 30th birthday. Most days I feel like a young pup till I look into the mirror in wonder of that old guy looking back. Then I count my blessings. ::008::

Paul

 

[greg the pole]

I no longer celebrate birthdays, just anniversaries and soon it will be the 41nd anniversary of my 30th birthday. Most days I feel like a young pup till I look into the mirror in wonder of that old guy looking back. Then I count my blessings. ::008::

Paul

good on you, age is a state of mind

 

[Roge]

I ride on my own even in a group, I am aware of those around but ride my own game so dont get sucked into lunacy sometimes I'm behind often not. However the predominant thing for me is to imagine the accident I have not had yet everytime I get on the bike, the mere thought of gravel rash, broken bones and knocks on the door at home make me think a little more about survival and taking care

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Learned the hard way to slow down in the rain. Doesn't matter that the last 300 corners had perfect traction in the wet. I don't know what diminished traction exists in that next corner. When the roads are wet I ride at a relaxed pace with no temptation for aggression.

 

[2112]

I guess 30+ years of practice and still keeping an open mind to learn. I was lucky and started off riding in a field (a Lambretta with only one handlebar and a CB175) and then got my first road legal bike at 16 (a 1974 Honda SS50 - with the pedals removed, cool). The UK 125cc learner law kicked in so I bought a Honda CB100 when I was 17 to pass my test on. I made a lot of mistakes on those two bikes which taught me a couple of hard (but not too hard) lessons. I took on some rider training and got some miles in and passed my test, by 18 I was running a Z1000 Mk2 Kawasaki ! At 48 I'm still learning and every ride gives you something to store in the 'experience bank', for good or for bad. Like a few people on here I have lost a few friends along the way sadly and this also tempers ones riding style...

 

[Dogdaze]

My girls! They make me a better rider, if only for their sake! Yes, every now and then my demon rises and my right hand becomes possessed or right foot (car).

 

[bruised]

Seeing my older brother in his hospital bed after the rescue workers removed him and his Harley out from under a drunks car back in 1976

 

[mobyfubar]

19 years as an MSF instructor, and about half a dozen times being on the scene of someone else's crash, and visiting a handful of my friends in the hospital after they crashed.

Plus having a strong imagination. I think a lot of problems come from not imagining what could go wrong. I'm a sysadmin; paranoia is my profession.

All that being said, I can recall a depressing number of times that it was sheer luck that I didn't have a crash. ???

 

[Travex]

Good question.

I consider myself fortunate to have grown up dirt riding and believe stronger, sharper riding senses are born there. In addition, learning how and how not to fall and knowing first hand that impacts, sooner and/or later, are a reality. That reality is a constant motivation in my riding mind. It allows me to better enjoy the scenery until the next unforeseen boneheaded circumstance rears it's ugly head.

Expect the unexpected is my mantra. It got me this far.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I consider myself fortunate to have grown up dirt riding and believe stronger, sharper riding senses are born there.

::026:: The majority of my instincts on a bike come from riding an enduro in the dirt as a kid. There were a couple of year that I think I rode nearly every day of the summer. No question it is where I learned my riding skills.

There were two other significant events that influenced my riding. The first was a near high speed collision with an ATV in the road. 150 from home gives you time to reflect what what mistakes were made and what should have been done differently. The other was listening to my wife crash through my bluetooth communicator. That also caused a lot of reflection on what happened and why. Both those events changed the way I ride today.

 

[Magilla]

having 30 years in the saddle I have watched myself evolve as a rider in many ways. I seem to get better and better equipment every time I need to replace something. I now feel naked if I ride without ATGATT. Watching others mistakes, living through my own and taking some kind of safety course every two years keeps me honest about my skill level and how much I am doing what I need to be as far as good habits go. Next season I plan to do a track day with the Tenere to get a better feel for what it can and cannot do in a controlled environment.

All of that and the luck of the Irish have kept me safe ::013::

 

[viewdvb]

52 years and over 500,000 miles in the saddle and never fell off (other than stationary - how embarrassing) or had an accident (did all that in 20 years racing!). Now that's a bit scary if you are superstitious so I asked a long term Police rider "Don't you high mileage guys get worried if you go a long time without an incident?" His reply "No, it just means we're doing it right so that's a good thing" cheered me up a bit. My recipe:

1. The more miles you do, the more aware you become of the dangers and especially, the more aware you become of the subliminal signals that keep you alive. Like the blue rinse-driver that signals one way but positions themselves for a different turn, the slight movement that means the car door's about to be opened, the driver at a junction that hasn't made eye contact or the cat under the parked car. I was reminded of this when I didn't ride for 3 years while living in China and got back on two wheels in the UK. Boy did I feel vulnerable! It took 3 months before I re-acquired that sixth sense.
2. Don't believe the trite road safety slogans. Speed doesn't kill; bad driving kills. Slow isn't always best. Overtaking? Get it done promptly and minimise the risk period. Speed is a matter of judgement and slower is sometimes better but safety should be the key objective.
3. Drive like everyone out there is intent on killing you and you won't go far wrong. I start every trip with that thought and it makes me defensive which is what you need to be to survive.
4. You WILL make mistakes in judgement - hopefully few and hopefully survivable. Every time you find yourself in a dangerous situation, be honest with yourself and think what you could have done differently or better and fix it in your memory. That might prevent it happening again.
5. Occasional short safety courses are no bad thing to detect bad habits but you must subject all advice to your own judgement and be prepared to discard it if seems inappropriate. Only you are responsible for your own safety. I've had some excellent advice during Police training and also some shockingly dangerous advice. This latter was based on the fact that a Police rider is treated differently by the driving public and can execute manoeuvres that we mere civilians wouldn't get away with.
6. Travel 2 up with your wife (90% of my riding) and you will be more constantly aware of your responsibility to drive defensively.
7. Enjoy riding and treat it as a skill to be constantly honed and improved. Remember that most drivers do not think of it that way, only as a means of getting places, so don't expect too much.
Stay safe. Life's too short not to enjoy yourself but let's not make it shorter than it needs to be.

 

[Travex]

I really like that post viewdvb. Says it all.

 

[mobyfubar]

Well said, viewdvb. ::008::

 

[MikeShell]

52 years and over 500,000 miles in the saddle and never fell off (other than stationary - how embarrassing) or had an accident (did all that in 20 years racing!). Now that's a bit scary if you are superstitious so I asked a long term Police rider "Don't you high mileage guys get worried if you go a long time without an incident?" His reply "No, it just means we're doing it right so that's a good thing" cheered me up a bit. My recipe:

1. The more miles you do, the more aware you become of the dangers and especially, the more aware you become of the subliminal signals that keep you alive. Like the blue rinse-driver that signals one way but positions themselves for a different turn, the slight movement that means the car door's about to be opened, the driver at a junction that hasn't made eye contact or the cat under the parked car. I was reminded of this when I didn't ride for 3 years while living in China and got back on two wheels in the UK. Boy did I feel vulnerable! It took 3 months before I re-acquired that sixth sense.
2. Don't believe the trite road safety slogans. Speed doesn't kill; bad driving kills. Slow isn't always best. Overtaking? Get it done promptly and minimise the risk period. Speed is a matter of judgement and slower is sometimes better but safety should be the key objective.
3. Drive like everyone out there is intent on killing you and you won't go far wrong. I start every trip with that thought and it makes me defensive which is what you need to be to survive.
4. You WILL make mistakes in judgement - hopefully few and hopefully survivable. Every time you find yourself in a dangerous situation, be honest with yourself and think what you could have done differently or better and fix it in your memory. That might prevent it happening again.
5. Occasional short safety courses are no bad thing to detect bad habits but you must subject all advice to your own judgement and be prepared to discard it if seems inappropriate. Only you are responsible for your own safety. I've had some excellent advice during Police training and also some shockingly dangerous advice. This latter was based on the fact that a Police rider is treated differently by the driving public and can execute manoeuvres that we mere civilians wouldn't get away with.
6. Travel 2 up with your wife (90% of my riding) and you will be more constantly aware of your responsibility to drive defensively.
7. Enjoy riding and treat it as a skill to be constantly honed and improved. Remember that most drivers do not think of it that way, only as a means of getting places, so don't expect too much.
Stay safe. Life's too short not to enjoy yourself but let's not make it shorter than it needs to be.

These a great points everyone should remember. I ride like everyone is could hit me.

Mike