50 tips to save your life!

[l3uddha]

thank you Srinath 

[rob1bike]

Thanx for the sticky!
Its gots some good points, if it helps just one person than yahoo! Its worth it!

[Willy Willy]

wow, these are great for a beginner like me. thx.

[indywar360]

re: lane position

Ive read or heard sometimes that ppl tend to stick to the middle no matter what "to protect your lane". However on streets in general and especially on the fwy I often ride dramatically to one side: on a fast surface street I ride near the center of the street if I have space around me, on the fwy I sometimes ride near the shoulder if I'm in the side lanes, especially when passing, so if a car veers into my lane I have a little extra space. Doesn't seem like this necessarily makes me less visible.

The whole "protecting your lane" thing sounds like the hardheaded bicyclists who ride in the middle of a lane (sometimes slower than traffic), this happens often in Portland. Nothing wrong with that, but it aggravates cars. I rode a bicycle for many years in town here and would ride guerrilla style, going on sidewalks, on either shoulder, etc. Seems like a more prudent option.

As far as mental things too, I try to think of my GS as a bicycle that can go perilously fast, cause basically that's all it is.

[dggraphics]

The whole "protecting your lane" thing sounds like the hardheaded bicyclists who ride in the middle of a lane (sometimes slower than traffic), this happens often in Portland. Nothing wrong with that, but it aggravates cars. I rode a bicycle for many years in town here and would ride guerrilla style, going on sidewalks, on either shoulder, etc. Seems like a more prudent option.

As far as mental things too, I try to think of my GS as a bicycle that can go perilously fast, cause basically that's all it is.

I disagree, motorcyclists have as much a legal right to the road as any car, truck or suv. The entire area of the lane around a motorcycle is an area that shouldn't be intruded by any other vehicle.... keeping the middle of your lane keeps you visible, and using lane position to your advantage while passing helps keep you safe. Sadly idiodic people in cars will oftentimes cut you short or take part of your lane, just because you aren't taking it, but this can create dangerous situations, so it is always looked upon as smart to keep as much of your lane for yourself as possible, even if that means keeping to one side to make your PRESENCE clear.

[indywar360]

I dont mean I ride around being deferential to other vehicles and surrendering my space. That's not like me.  I can even be an @$$hole when it comes to bad drivers.  But if there's a semi facing me in a turn lane ahead hell yeah I'm going to the right side of my lane.

[Jarrett]

Middle, left, right, it doesn't matter.  You need to position yourself where ever it's most safe for you at that moment.  Remember angles.  If you've got the quick stop mastered, you know that 40-0 is a long stretch of space.  Proper lane positioning can make the difference between you running into an obsticle, or going around it.  It can make the difference between you getting side swiped, and changing lanes to avoid the collision.  Always leave yourself an out.

[dggraphics]

Middle, left, right, it doesn't matter.  You need to position yourself where ever it's most safe for you at that moment.  Remember angles.  If you've got the quick stop mastered, you know that 40-0 is a long stretch of space.  Proper lane positioning can make the difference between you running into an obsticle, or going around it.  It can make the difference between you getting side swiped, and changing lanes to avoid the collision.  Always leave yourself an out.

EXACTLY 

[annguyen1981]

I sometimes "weave" from side to side IN my lane.  I'm more noticable, and stupid cagers (like the one today) won't wanna try anything as often.

I was riding to work, when this Buddha Loves You in a white jeep wrangler decides to cut me off, 'cause I was in the middle of my lane.  I had to apply the brakes hard.  A coupe blocks later, she was tailgating another car, so I was able to pass on another lane.  She swerved into my lane right behind me and started tailgating.  I could move to either side, so I stayed put in the lane, but I did slow down a bit, just in case she did something stupid (I would have pulenty of space in front to accelerate).

She was applying the horn consistantly for a good two miles.  At the end, right before I pulled over and told a cop, I turned around and blew her a kiss.   

[indywar360]

motorcyclists should be able to carry a shotgun and use it to defend themselves from/to pwn motorists, a la Terminator 2.

[dggraphics]

motorcyclists should be able to carry a shotgun and use it to defend themselves from/to pwn motorists, a la Terminator 2.

I agree, my Mossburg would be very handy for that 

[damiencovington]

<--First post here guys so bear with the newbie, OK.  Although I like the idea of the shotgun, I was always told it's not a good idea to ride the center of the lane all the time just for the simple fact that it is where almost all of the oil and grease that falls from the 4-wheelers hits the middle of the lane.  Thus making it slick even when dry.  Being a gearhead, I kinda agree with that.  Being a newbie to the motorcycle thing, I am glad someone put these tips and tricks up.  It was pretty informative for us dummies that don't know any better yet.

Damien

[indywar360]

<--First post here guys so bear with the newbie, OK.  Although I like the idea of the shotgun, I was always told it's not a good idea to ride the center of the lane all the time just for the simple fact that it is where almost all of the oil and grease that falls from the 4-wheelers hits the middle of the lane.  Thus making it slick even when dry. 
Damien

Maybe true... but here in Portland the middle is currently scoured clean by gazillions of buckets of rainfall.

Although the tracks of the lane are good for riding over crosswalk "paint" here, which for some reason is now like 5 inches high in the middle, and for avoiding murderously deep manhole covers (close-in SE/NE) which haven't been updated in the last 4 inches of asphalt.

[scratch]

Welcome, Damien!

Another thing to consider in lane position is making sure you are in people's mirrors.  When I approach a car in another lane, let's just say I'm passing on the left (overtaking), I move to the right side of my lane so that I may position myself in their mirror (so in the case they actually look in their mirror, they might see me), and then move to the left of my lane when I am parallel with their rear bumper (actually, a little earlier than that).  It gives me space for reaction time, space for a potential splitting motorcycle that I didn't see behind me, and it doesn't crowd the driver (out of coutesy (and how would you like it if a motorcyclist rode past your window this close?)).

[makenzie71]

^I just drop two gear and make sure they hear me before I move.

[indywar360]

^I just drop two gear and make sure they hear me before I move.

My opponent in my last accident was a deaf woman.

[makenzie71]

If they're deaf then I pass them at triple digit speeds so that if they f%$k me up I'll die...because if I don't I'll kill the Buddha Loves You.

[Skyryder]

I realise that the vast majority of posters here are from the USA, but here in England,
I always try to ride so that I can see the eyes of the driver of the car in front through
his rear view mirror, (OK, I try to be the vehicle in front, but that's not always possible)
because if I can see his eyes, I know that he can see me.

[pandy]

because if I can see his eyes, I know that he can see me.

Don't rely on this. I've had drivers look me in the eye and then try to kill me (by going ahead and making that left turn in front of me). Seriously...it's VERY possible for cagers to look you right in the eyeball and not see you.... 

[Cal Price]

Yeah, they look right at you and somehow still pull out, I don't know if it is the "only a bike" syndrome or they just don't see you. Eye contact is good, but be very wary.

Incidently the instructors and trainers here teach "Centre of the lane" as the normal riding position, DOMINATE the lane is the buzzword.