Motorcycle Tips and tricks you have learned through the years
 

First off - lets not turn this into a I hate so and so kind of bike, or "That" kind of rider.
If you have a good habit you would like to share-
A traffic tip that could save a life lets have them.
To start=
I have been riding lots of years, and still learn something new everyday.
It a gamble with car drivers every time you and i hit the street.
My newest conclusion on two lane roads is -
I never crest a hill left of center. ( my lane of course ) If there is a IDIOT passing , coming from the other direction , where do i go? I might have a chance if i am already far right.
Yes he was wrong, but that does not help me much.
Next - riding with a group over taking cars
When i pass- I go past the car and then far right of the lane to allow the next rider in and so on. I stay on the throttle to allow room for the next bike.
I have been with riders who have not done this and all of a sudden the pass lane is all plugged up and no where to go ! That gets kind of exciting in a bad way.
Next i practice hard stops using just the front or the rear to keep in my head how hard i can come down with pressure before tire lock up.
Its a good habit .
I find when i ask , most riders have not ever practiced front wheel lockups. They have no idea of the stopping power that they have and will never use.
OK your turn

A few simple ones:

ATGATT
Never ride even after having a single beer. Ride or drink...but not both.
Don't ride if tired/sleepy.
Avoid riding for transportation...only recreation and at times when you know traffic is light, or in places where its light.
Stay off the center section of your lane especially when roads are wet or approaching intersections (slippery).
Always glance in your rear view mirror when coming to a stop to be sure the guy behind you is doing the same.
Always ride/stop to best allow an escape route if needed (see above).

I'll second, third, fourth, etc., etc. Mike's comment about not drinking & riding. Crashed my first bike at 3 AM riding home on a mountain road from a party - after I thought I was OK to ride.

ATGATT.

Always park facing uphill. :eek:

Use the front brake - 90% comes from the front, 10% from the rear.

Keep it in gear at red lights in case you need to scoot.

Instinctive counter steer, as taught by Keith Code.
X3 on maximum front bake.
Ride less and less after dark.

I have a LOT of deer around here...My new approach as i come to where they hang ou, - t I hit the kill on the ignition long enough to get it to go BOOM when i flip it back on.( Like a gun shot)
I will keep a tally on this to see if it works or not.

There was a horrific accident near my house about four yrs. ago where a dump truck didn't even slow down for a red light and ran into a bunch of bikes waiting at the stop line. I think four were pinned under the truck and burned to death. Since then I always watch my mirrors when sitting at a light. I have bright LED flashers on my license plate frame that are wired into my brakes. If I see a car coming up behind me when I'm stopped, I always give them a few flashes.

Yes. Leave yourself a "out" when ever possible.

1. Assume that every single car is out to get you.

2. Actively avoid cars' blind spots. (should be a no brainer.)

3. In a turn, look where you want to go, and your bike will take you there most of the time. If you look at the place you don't want to go, you're going to end up there.

When the traffic has stopped ahead of you, don't just slow down and stop. Look for an exit position such as scooting into the breakdown lane in case the car behind hasn't noticed the stopped traffic and is going to run into the back of you.

When riding in your lane stay fairly much in line with the driver of the car ahead of you. This way if something goes wrong you can easily ride around the car in front. Also if you are too much to the side of your lane a car driver will try to squeak past you in your lane.

Animals will (more than people) do the unpredictable. Be prepared when they run in front of you.
Dont overdrive your line of sight. People stop in the darndest places, around blind curves and below blind crests. Sometimes there is loose gravel on that corner.
Learn the limits of your machine. Braking practice can make a reaction a life saving skill.
Being right will not guarantee your safety nor your survival. Being prepared will help.

Ride safe out there!
Les

I lots of times will let a vehicle run block for me through intersections.

I don't ride street for all the above reasons.


But even on the dirt, (trees don't pull out in front of you.......most the time)


my tip is DONT STARE at any small object (rock, log, rabbit, small child, dog....) something about the bike will instinctively start to be drawn toward and gravitate into contact with said object. Keep it in your peripheral vision and not sole focus.

I put many thousands of miles on a dozen or so motorcycles and lived to tell the tale. My mantra was always, "STAY ON THE BIKE." And I did. Never dropped a street bike.

When I repeated, "Stay on the bike" to myself, I was basically telling myself to stay conscious of my surroundings, traffic, the road, etc. and to not let my mind wander to work, family, chores, etc.

I firmly believe that keeping my MIND on the process of riding kept my BODY there, too.

Haven't ridden a bicycle or motorcycle in years. One trick I learned is keep an eye on the driver's side mirror of parked cars for faces. Had more than one driver's door open up as I was approaching.

Parked cars, - i watch the front wheels if someone is in it. I know they can not do a "U" turn or pull in front of me if the wheels are straight ahead .

Remember to cancel turn signals after turning. I see so many bikes w turn signals going on for miles.

Here in SoCal the concept of lane sharing (not splitting) is ~ legal. When coming to a red light or stop sign I would share the lane on my left all the way to the front of the line. This puts cars between you and the next guy who does not see the stopped traffic.

Anticipate obstacles (cars, sand, rocks, water) in turns you cannot see the exit from.

Pick your spots. Never let other drivers determine your position on the road.

Avoid group rides with folks you don't know - very easy to get pushed outside your comfort/skill level.

Mentally and physically practice the concept of avoiding an accident rather than clamping on the brakes. Sometimes a minor direction change is all that is needed to avoid contact.

Avoid roads popular with the 'racer' community during peak hours. Lane intrusions are common.

Do not drink and ride. Don't do it.

What are these "turn signals" you speak of?

Anyways, other than the obvious and indisputable things (situational awareness, etc.), I always filter up to the front at traffic lights. That way I can get ahead of the pack of cars. Also, it ensures that I won't get rear-ended by someone on their phone.

I lane split at lower speeds if it allows me to pass cars to get to "clean air" (pockets where there are no cars around me). I try to use the cycle's manuverability to put me in spots where there are as few cars around me as possible.