What makes you a "safe" rider ?

[Mirage_ZA]

After Jamie's death I begun to seriously question my riding.... replay in my head all scenarios when I had a close shave and possible consequences. I realized that most of the time (if not all the time) speed was deciding factor. Yes, there was sand on the road or the truck turned in front me...
Thing is...I was probably doing between double or triple speed limit - so if I become an organ donor, it is no-one's fault but my own. Saying all this, I am very peculiar about tyres, protective gear and roads conditions. I never skip traffic lights, never overtake on the blind, never cut a corner or make a maneuver that would make other road user change his path. That is my safety net. My question- is this enough ?

[motorbikez]

After Jamie's death I begun to seriously question my riding.... replay in my head all scenarios when I had a close shave and possible consequences. I realized that most of the time (if not all the time) speed was deciding factor. Yes, there was sand on the road or the truck turned in front me...
Thing is...I was probably doing between double or triple speed limit - so if I become an organ donor, it is no-one's fault but my own. Saying all this, I am very peculiar about tyres, protective gear and roads conditions. I never skip traffic lights, never overtake on the blind, never cut a corner or make a maneuver that would make other road user change his path. That is my safety net. My question- is this enough ?

Jamie's death was a shock to everyone and makes you think about your own mortality,but life is a risk you could be knocked down crossing the road,roof tile gets blown off and hits you on the head whatever,animal attacks you human or otherwise.

The thing I try to do on my bike is anticipate things and like you I often ride double the speed limit but only when conditions are right.You already do everything to ride safely, another thing I would say don't ride if you feel under the weather/ill as your full concentration won't be there but other than that don't get to hung up on ifs and buts just enjoy your ride.

[Mirage_ZA]

After Jamie's death I begun to seriously question my riding.... replay in my head all scenarios when I had a close shave and possible consequences. I realized that most of the time (if not all the time) speed was deciding factor. Yes, there was sand on the road or the truck turned in front me...
Thing is...I was probably doing between double or triple speed limit - so if I become an organ donor, it is no-one's fault but my own. Saying all this, I am very peculiar about tyres, protective gear and roads conditions. I never skip traffic lights, never overtake on the blind, never cut a corner or make a maneuver that would make other road user change his path. That is my safety net. My question- is this enough ?

Jamie's death was a shock to everyone and makes you think about your own mortality,but life is a risk you could be knocked down crossing the road,roof tile gets blown off and hits you on the head whatever,animal attacks you human or otherwise.

The thing I try to do on my bike is anticipate things and like you I often ride double the speed limit but only when conditions are right.You already do everything to ride safely, another thing I would say don't ride if you feel under the weather/ill as your full concentration won't be there but other than that don't get to hung up on ifs and buts just enjoy your ride.

Absolutely - in fact, partially fun of riding on the road is anticipation, like a chess game, trying to predict moves of the others.
Regarding feeling under the weather - I would add on - feeling angry (after the argument at work, home)...

[Bernardo]

That damn quarter of a second .... 0.25 seconds is where we can not control what we do, since we perceive something until our muscles act, for example, a normal person perceives danger, the brain processes it, gives the order to the muscles and they act, This process takes at least half a second, which is only 0.25 seconds reaction time of the "CPU".
Interesting: 100 km / h (60Mi), 0.5 seconds is equivalent to a nearly 28 meters!, Where we can not do anything.
This is a major cause of accidents, not to prepare for this natural characteristic of human beings. We always think that what we see is reality.
An example?, A person in a vehicle traveling at 100 km / h comes up behind a truck or a bus to surpass it, remained at 5 or 10 meters away from it. In a moment it opens to see if on the other hand approaches another vehicle, then ... collision .... the most serious issue is that all this happens so quickly that the driver of the vehicle, not only could do nothing but not even reacted to avoid collision, only can see what happens: "I saw the danger , I couldn't do anything!"

It's a fact, I was investigated many cases like this in accidents reconstruction.

Results, riding with a forecast of a second, is a good margin ...

We, riders of a powerful bike, have a more chance to have an accident, is a risky sport, then we must no forget this fact..

[motorbikez]

Regarding feeling under the weather - I would add on - feeling angry (after the argument at work, home)...

Thats a good one Mirage a remember vividly as 17 year old having a row with my mother, jumping on my motorbike very angry and dropping it on a wet harpin bend which resulted in fractured shoulder.

So staying calm in all situations would be a good call.

[SHIVA]

I think enough time has passed that we can now discuss Jamie's incident and also safe riding in general.

jamie was experienced, always wore good quality gear, quality helmet and was on the safest bike on the planet. so, what went wrong? although he was well prepared for almost any mishap, hitting a truck wasn't one of them...

as someone who has put well over 100,000 miles on fast bikes and rides routinely on very busy urban environment, the key to survival is being 100% aware of 360 degs around you, 100% of the time and most importantly ride bikes with ABS. you need to know what the car in front, the car in the back, the car on your right and the one on your left are doing at any given moment and even more important, what they are planning to do. you need to predict your environment and buy yourself the precious few seconds of reaction time, in case something goes wrong.

HIGHWAYS:
there are times that you can lax your awareness, for example riding on good highways (A roads or major roadways), with little traffic, in good weather and during day time. But as soon as there is lots of traffic with heavy trucks all around you, or it's at night, or it's no longer good weather, or visibility isn't ideal, you're back to 100% awareness.

BACKROADS:
riding on backroads or rural roads requires 100% awareness in any weather condition. Because you can't see around corners, because things jump in front of you, because there is sand, gravel, dead deer, stalled vehicles, constructions around corners. because there are potholes you can't see or anticipate.

Because you can't predict every scenario it pays to wear good gear. also, for the same reason, ABS can save you life again and again.

However, having said all that the best riders are racers and those guys crash all the time. they go down routinely.

but to wrap this up. there is no substitute for experience.

[badger]

After Jamie's death I begun to seriously question my riding.... replay in my head all scenarios when I had a close shave and possible consequences. I realized that most of the time (if not all the time) speed was deciding factor. Yes, there was sand on the road or the truck turned in front me...
Thing is...I was probably doing between double or triple speed limit - so if I become an organ donor, it is no-one's fault but my own. Saying all this, I am very peculiar about tyres, protective gear and roads conditions. I never skip traffic lights, never overtake on the blind, never cut a corner or make a maneuver that would make other road user change his path. That is my safety net. My question- is this enough ?

A serious question.

The only time in the last 200,000 miles I've been hit (4 years) is by another motor-biker who was cutting a corner. I was in my lane, on my line, and in control. Neither of us crashed out, but he ruined my R&G crash bung, and really hurt my shin.

I speed. Like an addiction. 140mph on the way to work easy. A lot of days 160+. And I keep on getting away with it. Fully focused, and faster than anything else - nothing "gets me from behind". Up in front I am a whimp - I stay way way behind trucks and cars, unless going straight past. Triple speed limit is the usual commute! But no trouble. I was upset over Jamie's passing, however since then have realised that if you are 100% on the ball, and more importantly aware of everything around you (like shiva says) then things are generally ok.

Then again, I do factor coming off once per year - whether in a car park moving the bike, or into the side of a black cab in London doing a U-turn. It'll happen, and sometimes does, but your riding kit plays the big part.

It's not about ABS, or power, or maybe even kit, but in being 110% aware of your suroundings. And of course on the top of your riding skills.

I think like you Mirage, track days make me fast; aware of the speed, aware of the reaction time, and a safer rider. They don't slow me down on the road, which is actually a bugger, but touching wood, I've not been nicked speeding in years - so something is going right.

Yes - your approach is enough. I say that as it is the same approach as me.

Happy riding, and oh for dry days again; this UK weather is doing my head in!!

[jp-]

What a great question, which is rarely asked.


I have driven everything from a 1922 Ford to a 2007 BMW. I have never had a wreck. I have had about 6 close calls. You must analyze every close call or wreck (if you have had them) immediately after them. If it was your fault, you must change what you did, so that you are never in that situation again.

My first rule: Drive to the vehicle. Put simply, this means that you cannot operate a 1967 Land Rover (which I own) like you would a sports car. This is a mistake that I would guess 90% of drivers make. We all know people who are “hot” drivers and like to speed. I love to speed, but I make a distinction. When I climb in my Land Rover, people say I drive like an old lady. Wrong. I am driving to the vehicle. It was not made for fast acceleration, fast braking, cornering, or high speed. To drive it that way would endanger myself and others.

2nd Rule: Know your vehicles limitations and never exceed them. Whenever I have a new vehicle, I take it to a quiet, unpopulated area and I run a few tests. When I have satisfied myself of the cars abilities, I set a baseline for things like braking and cornering that I will not exceed. It is also critically important that you do not exceed your Vehicle Comfort Zone (VCZ). If you are driving any machine outside of what you feel comfortable with, you are operating it in an unsafe manner.

3rd Rule: Know what is in front, behind, to the right, and to the left of you at all times. You never know when a lane change may save your life.

4th Rule: Look as far ahead as possible. I generally begin to apply my brakes, at least 100 feet before anyone else. Why, because it gives the guy following me too close a chance to slow down enough that he doesn’t hit me, and because I looked far enough ahead to spot the traffic jam before you did.

5th Rule: Adjust your driving to road conditions. I know that rain will increase my stopping distance from 1.5 to 2 times as much as when driving on a dry road. You would be amazed at the number of people here in the South who maintain the exact same distance between the vehicle in front of them regardless of rain, snow, or ice.

6th Rule: Fix all mechanical problems immediately. Bald tires, poor brakes, worn out suspension or steering components can have very bad consequences if they fail when you need them most.


Motorcycle specific Rules:

1. Always be prepared for someone to merge into your lane without seeing you (see 3rd Rule above).
2. Always brake for green lights that have just gone green. Many times, people run the red light on your green light. Just a little tap on the brakes slows you enough to react if someone is running the red light.
3. Do not trust other drivers turn signals. Just because their signal is flashing doesn’t mean they are going to turn. I’d rather wait to see, than be run over.
4. Never tailgate on a motorcycle. You cannot see what is in front of you. I have missed pallets, safety cones, 2x4’s, and tires that I would have run over if I had not left myself enough distance between the car in front of me.

[TXBeagle]

Since learning it in a motorcycle safety class several years ago, I like to keep the "SIPDE" process in mind all the time when I'm on my bike. For those not familiar with this acronym, it stands for:
S—Sweep, Search, and Scan (keep your eyes moving at all times to effectively see imminent danger)
I—Identify hazards, Identify what's happening (road-way features) (take notice of things that could cause trouble)
P—Predict which hazards could potentially come into conflict with you; predict 2 things 1-worst case scenario and 2-actions
D—Decide on a safe action (decide on something to do should the dog run across the road)
E—Execute that safe action; use communication

This is similar to the OODA (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act) loop developed by military strategists to handle events that unfold quickly and must be reacted to properly and immediately to avoid disaster.

Anyway, I find SIPDE helps to keep me from getting complacent, distracted, or "target fixated" (staring at the bumper in front of me and ignoring other dangers, for example) while I'm riding.

Of course, the things others have mentioned such as wearing the right gear, not being impaired by chemicals, anger, injury, sickness, emotional upset, etc. are all also very important.

[Mister Crane]

I agree wholeheartedly with all the the above.

Maintaining your awareness is key and that's all about concentration, so anything that gets in the way of your concentration is a "Bad Thing", like:

1. Letting your ego take over by getting angry with something another road user has done or trying to showing off.
3. Feeling tired/cold/hot/uncomfortable (wrist ache, back ache...)

In short, keep a cool head at all times and stop for a break if you're not feeling 100%.

[FreedomRider]

In 35 years and over 1 million road miles I've witnessed or been profoundly moved four separate times by a fatal motorcycle accident. Each time I seriously questioned 'the sport', my passion for it, and whether I really wished to continue.

Jamie's death has again been impetus for these doubts. Being now 53yo and realizing my mortality far more acutely than when I was thirty also now has me wearing full gear even on the shortest jaunt. But I tried an informal sabbatical from motorcycles in 2004........it didn't take! Older, grumpier, and plagued by more aches and pains I willingly paid for and then swung my leg over "Bebe" and happily re-entered the unpredictable and often violent mayhem of the SoCal streets.


"a "safe" rider"?

Every other motorist is a drooling, vision impaired idiot and you should create as much distance from them as reasonably possible.

If the "other vehicle" is a truck give em' MORE distance. An 18 wheeler should IMMEDIATELY be made history.

If in moderate/heavy freeway traffic maintain a slightly faster pace either splitting or doing the "weave" if possible. Not so fast as to "speed"; but it is hard to get rear-ended by an inattentive motorist if they need to speed up(or go between other cars) to hit you.

Watch other drivers head movements for clues to their next move.

Watch the front wheels of other vehicles for clues to impending lane changes etc.

If you’re lane-splitting don’t go more than 15 mph faster than the cars your’re passing.

Take a last scan of an intersection before launching at a green light. I’ve seen far too many cars blow the light from the left or right, and an impatient launch would have left me with a hood ornament permanently embossed into my thigh.

If you like “tunes” while you ride keep it to the bucolic country roads or lonely desert highway. Urban warfare is no time to be “plugged-in” and “get’n jiggy” on your bike.

[teztec]

Advanced tuition the route I have decided to take
I signed up 6 months ago to ROSPA (Police pursuit Course)
And have become quicker and safer rider Imho
correct road position and road observation have helped me .

[Trickster]

RE: Freedomrider

All good advice from the many riders here......but lanesplitting(surefire way to get nailed)
In moderate to heavy traffic, go faster than the cagers?(another surefire way to get nailed)

Just wondering about some statistics on motorcycle accidents.....age and experience of rider?
type of motorcycle in relation to experience of rider?
and above all the speed of rider?
There will always be an incident(close call) when you ride, but the severity usually depends on you the rider
and how you react to it, and usually the the 3 questions above are the deciding factor.

Drive safe all, and be aware of EVERYTHING.

Happy Holidays

[saCUL]

Local Motorcycle Magazine here in Australia has looked at bike accident statistics recently. The most surprising one for me for biker at fault accidents was rear ending the vehicle in front. It seems that road positioning is a critical element here and the fact that people just don't realise that most modern cars with ABS can out brake a motorcycle, especially in the wet.

I think you learn over time to position yourself always to the left or right of the vehicle in front so that you can manoeuvre around it in an emergency situation.


saCUL

[FreedomRider]

RE: Freedomrider

All good advice from the many riders here......but lanesplitting(surefire way to get nailed)
In moderate to heavy traffic, go faster than the cagers?(another surefire way to get nailed)

Just wondering about some statistics on motorcycle accidents.....age and experience of rider?
type of motorcycle in relation to experience of rider?
and above all the speed of rider?
There will always be an incident(close call) when you ride, but the severity usually depends on you the rider
and how you react to it, and usually the the 3 questions above are the deciding factor.

Drive safe all, and be aware of EVERYTHING.

Happy Holidays

I don't have current statistics to give; but I read sometime back that the motorcycle accident rate drops precipitously with age and experience. BMW motorcycles have commonly been much cheaper to insure over the years than many others due in part to a more experienced demographic of consumers. Another factor is that there is little demand for a "Midnight Parts Supply" on the part of BMW owners; therefore B'mers are stolen less.

As far as "splitting lanes" and practicing a more assertive/proactive riding style? Ya' better have a sit-down with the California Highway Patrol and inform them of the doomed temerity of their riding technique.

[SHIVA]

splitting lanes has proven extremely effective in California. it's been legal for over 12 years to a 30% better safety record in CA in Car vs Bike crashes, than Florida and Texas (similar large sunny states). It will take a massive initiative to make lane splitting legal in other states but it would be worth it . It should be legal in NY and NJ and all other highly populated areas.

They can make it legal with certain conditions, such as only allowed in heavy bumper to bumper traffic, can't ride faster than 25 MPH in between cars. Only allowed on highways and not local roads and so on. But it's do able.

[Trickster]

You all must have better cager drivers where you live, lane splitting here is something close to a death
wish. We have very aggresive drivers here, with no regard for motorcyclists, or at least very little.
To shoot the gap between two, would instigate them to track you down and run ya off the road.

As far as insurance premiums... I was shocked to get my yearly premium on my new 08 K1200GT,
fully insured with a $500.00 deductible is $600.00. Same coverage on my 08 Harley 1200 which was half the purchase
price of my BMW.....$1,000.00 a year.

Proof of the point that BMW owners fall into different demograhics of insurance.......but I own each? hmmm

[FreedomRider]

Just FYI

The 'legal" parameters for "lane splitting" set by the CHP are

1. Dont split at more than 12 - 15mph faster than the traffic flow.

2. Don't split if traffic flow is above 45mph.

Push the above rules and the CHP will cite you with an "Unsafe Pass" ticket.

I can personally attest that pushing the above rules can quickly spiral into something far more unpleasant than a ticket; but if adhered to brings risk management satisfactorily under ones control.

[SHIVA]

a friend of mine who is a native new yorker and long time rider moved to LA and can't stop praising the CHiPs boys. And how the city and highways are so bike friendly. He says CHiPs would escort a biker in between cars.

I am very envious.

[PicRR]

TRACK TIME!!! New to the site so I did not know your friend. I am sorry for your loss but I am sure he is glad he is making us think about our riding.

TIme on the track will help you get the speed issues out of your system. You might think you're a stud on the street, but, go to a track and you will quickly find that racers (many of whom do not ride on the road) will make you look like a complete moron. Do some trackdays regularly and it will make you look at the road completely differently. Curbs, lamp posts, manhole covers, oil spills, etc., etc., etc., really make you think after you get to play in their absence. The control you learn of your bike, and yourself, at the track, along with the mental aspect for the need to go fast having been let out, will help BIG TIME in keeping you out of trouble.

I regularly refer to Sport Rider magazine's article, "The Pace", which describes reasonable riding techniques while retaining the fun factor of our sport. Other personal rules are, but definitely not limited to:
1. Always in proper gear. Bright, visible, protective.
2. Always checking mirrors, but especially at, or when slowing down for traffic lights (saved me BIG TIME last summer-almost had GMC 1500 enema, he STILL went through after I gunned my way through a red-no other option).
3. Checking ditches and treelines for wildlife in rural areas. Many CLOSE encounters with deer in my area.
4. Using cars as often as possible as cover when going through intersections.
5. HUGE eye lead. Not just in front.
6. Banking on that the drivers of most cars around will do the most ridiculous things possible - usually correct.
7. Not riding like an idiot myself - both sides, idiot or not, are truly contagious to cars and bikes alike.

[Mirage_ZA]

Track certainly helps, but I think that it takes a different kind of warrior to survive streets.

[Mirage_ZA]

We have very aggresive drivers here, with no regard for motorcyclists, or at least very little.
To shoot the gap between two, would instigate them to track you down and run ya off the road.

I don't think I could ride/live in country or province like that. It is not about respecting motorcycles - it is about respect. Period.

[Trickster]

You have to be mentally strong here to put up with the lack of respect and courtesy,
otherwise you would never ride, and for me thats not an option.

As well you have to be insane.... cause its currently -30 degrees celsius with 3 feet of snow on the ground
and at least 4 more months before I can resume riding, on roads that will be covered in sand and grit from
6 months of winter.

PicRR states it all very well....when possible, go to the track and ride your bike there....to its potential,
don't do it on the street. I say this as an owner of a bike with 152 HP and a speed governed @ 240kph
which is twice the posted legal limit.....so I am an insane hypocrite

So it is with jealous anticipation, to all you that are riding now in the warm parts of the world

Happy Holidays and be safe

[Tr0jan]

Jamie's death still plaques me every single day. On days where there is very little to no traffic, I often find myself contemplating that Im going to sell the K and stick to offroading and to the unthinkable, and use a cage... I think a G450 would do the trick. But would one actually be able to go without riding a bike, on road that is? No more long weekend trips to the coast or the mountains. I dont think so, if its in your blood, you cannot change that.

What bothers me so much about Jamie's death is that no matter how safe a rider you are, that accidident would have happened. And it really scares me, alot. I tend to see myself as a very safe rider, also alot of the safety conscious knowledge I have, I learnt from Jamie.

some of which:
1. When splitting, pass cars when they are next to each other. The cars in theory see each other, and would not tend to change lanes then.
2. When climing a blind rise. Go 1/4 into the runoff side of the lane. So if a car is overtaking, on the blind rise, you can swerve. Also if there is a stationary vehicle just swerve a little to the other side.
3. Keep an eye out on the car's rear view mirror and look at the drivers eye's/head. This is a very good indicator of what the person is going to do, regardless of what his indicator says or not. Car drivers are idiots, all of them, period!
4. Pass only 1 car at a time. This minimizes the risk of missing crucial indicators of irratic driving on the part of the cager.
5. When changing lanes, do one lane at a time. Just cross the line, look, go till just before the next line(still beeing in the same lane), look again, then just cross the line and repeat. This helps when you could have made an error in observation and the car would have space to move and you are not completely into the lane.
6. Always leave a big gap behind cars, you dont need to hug the bumper, the missle can pass without hassle.
7. Lastly, learn out of other peoples mistakes, if they did something and it caused an accident, make a note of it, and DONT DO IT. After my own accident at night, I avoid riding at night like cheap booze! In Jamie's misty incident, I will also not ride when its misty.

A good list of faults and causes of accidents(albeit dated) is the hurt study: http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/Hurt-study-summary.htm have a look at the scenarios and dont be a statistic.

Im still riding for now, but when I have kids, I might seriosly contemplate going purely offroad...

[Bernardo]

Hi TrOjan

I want to express my point of view on your comments....

What bothers me so much about Jamie's death is that no matter how safe a rider you are, that accidident would have happened.

Surely no one is exempt from the accident but as always, Jamie leaves us another lesson: to comply with all safety standards minimizes the risk but not eliminate it. There are always opportunities to occur and we can not avoid, is written in the statistics. Using all safety standards, many of which are very well written above, are moving away from such risk.

Im still riding for now, but when I have kids, I might seriosly contemplate going purely offroad

If you don't feel safe riding a bike that's Ok..... but you are a Biker!!, many bikes from different brand and sizes, more than 22 riding years, love and passion for bikes (your participation in this forum is a clear example).... I don't think that you really want to take this decision...

Put the name as you want: fortune, destiny, probabilities, beliefs.... everytime, everywhere, no matter is a bike, quad or bathroom, no one is exempt...

I'm a common man, and I choose to live, carefully, but to live, and make things that make me feel happy. Life is a temporary gift, just take it and enjoy....

...but when I have kids...

You know that I have a beautiful family, they are aware of the risk posed to ride, but they know that I'm happy doing this.
I told them I was going to tattoo my hass with the phone and address of them so that when someone find me somewhere, and stolen everything I had, can call and warn them, but they don't worry about, at that time was doing what I loved.