08-22-2014, 11:08 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 648
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safety strategies?
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?
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1971 Garelli Gulp 50cc with open ports and 16 mm Bing Carbie + 1980 Honda XL 223 ZS + 2007 Zongshen LZX200G + DR400SM |
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08-23-2014, 07:35 AM | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elburn, IL
Posts: 5,844
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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.
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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08-23-2014, 12:18 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-23-2014, 02:51 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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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
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-25-2014, 07:05 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 118
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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/ |
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08-25-2014, 07:24 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Good for you. The Idaho STAR course is excellent.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-26-2014, 12:01 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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X2. Excellent idea!
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-26-2014, 09:27 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 648
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reasonably priced courses! not sure we have them here.
anybody wearing backplates as part of their AGATT?
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1971 Garelli Gulp 50cc with open ports and 16 mm Bing Carbie + 1980 Honda XL 223 ZS + 2007 Zongshen LZX200G + DR400SM |
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08-26-2014, 11:33 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-26-2014, 10:52 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 118
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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.
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08-28-2014, 07:34 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 588
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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 |
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08-29-2014, 05:51 AM | #12 | |
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 341
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Quote:
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.
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Zongshen 200gy-2 |
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08-29-2014, 11:13 AM | #13 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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Excellent tip!
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-29-2014, 01:45 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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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.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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09-06-2014, 11:49 AM | #15 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 118
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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!
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