safety strategies?

[zingshoen]

after reading the following thread

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=13977

i ve been thinking about mc safety. not for the first time of course, ive been riding for 40 years (if you include mopeds) and could draw up a (short) list of killed and injured riders just from my circle of friends.
so i would like to find out, what are your safety strategies?

and i was wondering whether it would make sense to include on the forum a page of useful tips and links to relevant sites?

[cheesy]

Well, there is no substitute for experience.

Additional training, like the MSF courses here in the US are worth every penny.

ATGATT, I can't stress that enough.

Maintain the machine and the body. I do a 'once over' on the CX on Sunday evenings. I also find that taking a break every 50-75 miles does wonders.

Be ever vigilant, the cagers won't be.

Yet, sometimes, it's never enough.

[Weldangrind]

X2 to all that Mr. Fromage said.

To paraphrase Spud, ride as if all automobiles were trying to kill you. Look where you want to go as you lean into a turn, so that you're aware of trouble ahead.

Pray for safety.

[SpudRider]

X3 on everything said by the others.

I have been riding since 1979, and I used to teach the official rider safety course in Idaho. However, in September 2012, I was hit by a blind octogenarian driving a Toyota Tundra pickup truck while riding a gravel road in Idaho. Fortunately, I was blessed to escape with bruised ribs and soft tissue injuries. I hurt for about six months, but I was riding again within a week.

If the motorists are blind, drunk, texting, et cetera, there is no defense. All you can do is be eternally vigilant. Most multi-vehicle accidents occur at intersections, which are defined as any place another vehicle can enter the traffic stream. Therefore alleys, parking lots, et cetera, are properly considered intersections, and any populated area is a single, large intersection, which is a virtual minefield. One is much safer riding in the country than anywhere in any town, no matter how small. One is also much safer riding the trail than riding anywhere on pavement.

David L. Hough has written two excellent books. I have read both of them, and they are excellent; I highly recommend them.

Proficient Motorcycling

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/proficie..._LxRoCJgnw_wcB

Mastering the Ride: More Proficient Motorcycling

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listin...-2690925914667

[ghcoe]

I am just starting to ride a two wheeler and just got my motorcycle permit last week. Reading the motorcycle handbook brought back all my worries about riding on a motorcycle. Decided to take the STARS course that Idaho provides for motorcycle riders who want to learn more about survival on the streets.

http://idahostar.org/

[SpudRider]

Good for you. The Idaho STAR course is excellent.

[Weldangrind]

X2. Excellent idea!

[zingshoen]

reasonably priced courses! not sure we have them here.

anybody wearing backplates as part of their AGATT?

[Weldangrind]

There is some armor in the back of my DS jacket, along with elbows, etc. It's made by M2R.

Son of Weldangrind has the same jacket.

[ghcoe]

Originally Posted by zingshoen

anybody wearing backplates as part of their AGATT?

My jacket has a foam/rubber back pad and hard plastic foam elbow, forearm, and shoulder pads. Looks like a normal jacket though. Not bulky.

[BillR]

Everything Mr. Cheesy said. No bad advice in any of these.
The only thing I add is moving my bike around the scenery...Change positions in the lane, switch lanes...anything to get you noticed.
All The Gear, All The Time...even going to the corner for a snack...
I'm an ex-ER/Trauma nurse...it ain't pretty when a cyclist comes in after sliding down asphalt with "nothin' on but his PFs"...thank you Mr. Ray Stevens...
Bill R

[Pliskin]

Originally Posted by zingshoen

reasonably priced courses! not sure we have them here.

When you go for your licence they have safety incorporated in that course. I learned a lot. Highly recommended.
Drivers make mistakes like we all do, it's those mistakes we have to look out for. They are accustomed to seeing other cars. You have to make them notice you.
Vigilance is the word indeed, as if they are trying to hit you on purpose. Couldn't agree more. When somebody is entering from the side street you have to check where is the driver looking, has he/she seen you or not if you can't see the driver check car wheels.

Another method I use in case I am not sure he/she want's to stop or not, is to slow down on purpose. With this method I make them wait a split second longer in doing so they lose the momentum. P platers and old drivers, red alert.

Safety vest highly recommended. I also read somewhere white helmet is very visible to drivers. Also making yourself that is the exhaust as much loud as you can tolerate. Harley riders don't have as much accidents as others because of that I heard.

Safety gear is big plus for sure. Riding on unfamiliar roads brings risks. Speed is a huge factor too.

You can also watch motorcycle crashes on youtube. Not pleasant but you will learn a lot.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Pliskin

Another method I use in case I am not sure he/she want's to stop or not, is to slow down on purpose. With this method I make them wait a split second longer in doing so they lose the momentum. P platers and old drivers, red alert.

Excellent tip!

[SpudRider]

Visibility is paramount for motorcycle safety. You need to be visible to other motorists, and you want to position yourself so other motorists are visible to you.

Here are two easy ways to increase your visibility. If you have room, install this LED bulb in your headlight.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=13947



Get a helmet with flashing LEDs for riding at night. I bought a GMax GS27S helmet, and I love it.

[ghcoe]

Originally Posted by zingshoen

reasonably priced courses!

I just signed up for a class and got $20.00 discount, I would assume because no one had signed up for the class yet. I though $105.00 was a good price. What a steel for safety!