well shit happens....

bamajoe

Active Member
Joined
May 9, 2019
Messages
71
Location
Hamilton, Al USA
[QUOTE=" for me it is because we enjoy the challenge and it sharpens the mind . but you can never trust the other driver ever . my day job I drive class 8 vehicles weighing up to 80000 lbs , that car does a U-turn like that in front of me , so sorry for them. so I have to drive like I do on my bike , as if they cannot see me , some how they act like they don't even when im in the 18 wheeler. so happy bammajoe you made it , never trust the car.[/QUOTE]

Madhater case in point I hit her in her driver side door and the 1st thing she said: "which way did you come from?"
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
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Changing your gear color or adding lights doesn't really help. The people that won't see you, still won't see you. They are not looking for motorcycles, only cars. Their subconscious mind sees you, then ignores you because you are A) Not what they are looking for and B) not a threat to their safety in their steel cage.

I have witnessed a driver pull out in front of a full size, bright red fire engine with all the lights strobing/flashing and siren on, horn blaring. The fire engine could not stop in time and t-boned the car. And they were going maybe 20 mph, but she literally pulled right out in front of them at an intersection. She got out of the car screaming "I didn't see you" over and over. :oops:

We need to see them. Nothing we do will help that segment of driver see us.
 

bamajoe

Active Member
Joined
May 9, 2019
Messages
71
Location
Hamilton, Al USA
Following on what EricV said about not seeing you ....the 1 thing I purposely do if I'm coming to an intersection road and see a car I sharply will move from say yellow line over and back...straight lines I think ppl zone you out but they see sudden movement...
 

HeliMark

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Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
995
Location
Tennessee
I have witnessed a driver pull out in front of a full size, bright red fire engine with all the lights strobing/flashing and siren on, horn blaring. The fire engine could not stop in time and t-boned the car. And they were going maybe 20 mph, but she literally pulled right out in front of them at an intersection. She got out of the car screaming "I didn't see you" over and over. :oops:

We need to see them. Nothing we do will help that segment of driver see us.
It is what we called "black and white-i-tis, or red truck-i-tis". They actually see the emergency vehicle, but it freaks them out so much that they lock up. Brain only does what it was doing, and continues to.

Last month, I was riding on a two lane highway, and saw a vehicle in the opposing lane wanting to make a left turn in front of me. She was stopped, and I could see that she was waiting for me. Problem was the HUA gal behind her that swerved into my lane to avoid hitting the stopped car. Luckily I saw it unfolding and was able to slow down, and move to the shoulder while she passed. Unbelievable.
 

airmed

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Jul 8, 2014
Messages
195
Location
Mesquite, Nv
It's funny how the terms 'they and them' are used. We are them. We are they. I've ridden bikes for years and have spooked myself when almost pulling out into a bike. It's a human hazard the way our mind plays tricks on us. Also, don't discount the blind spots associated with our vision. They are real, and contribute to seeing and avoiding...or not seeing and avoiding.
 

scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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1,462
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Jupiter, Florida
It's funny how the terms 'they and them' are used. We are them. We are they. I've ridden bikes for years and have spooked myself when almost pulling out into a bike. It's a human hazard the way our mind plays tricks on us. Also, don't discount the blind spots associated with our vision. They are real, and contribute to seeing and avoiding...or not seeing and avoiding.
Excellent point!
And another thing to consider... I can't tell you how many times, at certain angles and distance, that effin A pillar in my car has blocked my vision enough to make an entire car disappear.
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
After my near miss, that one one of my conclusions. In my mind, since I blasted my Stebel "train horn", they had to know I was there. Bad assumption on my part. Even if they heard it, that doesn't mean they interpreted it the way I intended it to signify. My incorrect assumption about what the other driver knew or thought was a potentially fatal mistake at high speed.

I've never installed a Stebel on any bike since then. It contributed to dangerous over confidence for me. No matter what aids I have installed on my bike, I'm vulnerable out there. I don't need to fool myself about the safety some horn brings me. Ride like others are on some drug, and thinking about that text they are typing, as their cigarette falls in their lap.
I don't follow this wise advice enough but maybe I get a little complacent when sometimes I can ride at times for 10 or more miles without seeing another vehicle. Wildlife is a constant danger but other vehicles not as much.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
Messages
3,846
Location
buda texas
it is difficult to stay on a high level 100 percent of the time ,when what you are doing is something you have done 100's of 1000's of times . the mind just can not stay that focused for that amount of time. your mind becomes fatigued and wants to do something else . so like a long distance runner who to do his best must manage his (or hers ) energy to complete the race . you have to manage what your mind is focused on. yesterday while at a off road race standing on a trail where the riders have never seen or expected a spectator , you could see some riders barely notice us , some focused on us , one even took his hand off the bar to wave ( friendly reflex action I assume ) and I am thinking the narrow single track through the trees on a very technical woods track was taking all of their focus , and some minds found a brief relief from the intense focus of their race. so , what am I getting at , well not to sure except in my life (driving ,operating a vehicle ) fatigue is enemy number one , cannot stay focused when one is wore out in mind and body.... and on a motorcycle this is compounded by exposer to the elements and the greater physical and mental effort required to ride.... and for each of us experience and what we have learned from years of riding and or driving and surviving the mean streets are at different levels …. and new riders are more and most likely at the greatest risk , so much new sensory information is coming at them and just basic lack of skills (this ain't no car ) you have to learn strategies, learn to read traffic , build your skills , and have that basic natural distrust of strangers (people in cars) that we hope our children have (stranger danger ). and even then we all no even the best rider or driver including me can end up in a crash . I think with experience and strategies you can lower your risk .
 

SHUMBA

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Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
2 days after I bought my new 2017 s10 I was out riding to get as many miles as possible on the bike as we were getting ready to do about 2000 mile trip. Well a lady in front of me pulls over on the shoulder and sits, I slowed down to see if I could tell what the driver was going to do, I decided she had stopped as there was no road to the left to turn in so I down shift and pick up speed to get around when the driver does a U-turn... I hit the car running 35/40mph. car 1 me 0 ....totaled my bike, it had 206 miles on it. Luckily all I got was banged up bruised and a small fracture in my elbow, oh and my ego crushed....but I got a new 2018 s10 to replace the other bike ... i know have almost 1700 miles on the new bike and I have to say s10 has put the fun back into riding.
Lucky you..not because of the new bike, but because you were not seriously injured.
That's what is most important
I picked up a new 2018 Honda CB650 last August and on my way home with only 2 1/2 km on it a woman pulled out from a stop sign and turned left in front of me.
I grabbed brakes and got it stopped and she kept on going and likely never saw me.
Solution ride defensively and always anticipating the worst and never trust another motorist.
Enjoy your 2018 Tenere!!
SHUMBA

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