Motorcycle riding tip: Is it Better to be Seen or Feared
For years we motorcyclist have been told to make our selves conspicuous . I believe this to be good advise. It only makes sense to do what you can to be seen in traffic. However over the past year I have done my own non scientific study on motorist behaviour around motorcyclist.
This all started when I pulled up to a stop light and a woman that had been behind me in a convertible pulled up in the lane next to me. She looked over at me and said with a smile "I thought you were a cop" . A cop, me?
my 86 Concours
Later that night I was thinking about this brief encounter . I Had been riding my silver 86 Kawasaki concours. It has a full fairing and windshield It also has black hard bags. OK maybe to the untrained eye it could be confused with a police motorcycle. I was wearing boots a pair of blue jeans a black mesh jacket and a white full cover helmet. Now I'm not all that smart but it dawned on me that at a distance I might be mistaken for a motor officer.
Now I own 4 motorcycles and two helmets one silver and the other is white (you have already met that one) and I began to wounder if other drivers would drive differently around me depending on the helmet that I was wearing and motorcycle that I was riding. ( I apparently have way too much time on my hands). So my little study began.
Over the next several months I kept tabs every time some one made a left turn or pulled out of a side street in front of me that required me to slow or brake, I also payed attention to tailgaters.
Low and behold there did seem to be a difference. Other drives did seem to behave better when I was riding the concourse and wearing the white helmet. maybe no surprise but there were also fewer incidents on any of my motorcycles while wearing the white helmet. Kinda makes ya go Hmmm.
I mentioned my findings to a friend of mine, ( He gave me that You have gotta get a life kind of look) and then said well of course a guy on a motorcycle can have a bright yellow helmet on and you will see him but if he,s wearing a white one ya check to be sure it's not a cop. It's just like when your driving on the highway at 80 and you see a Ford Crown Victoria coming down the entrance ramp behind you. You slow down and behave yourself just in case.
So there you have it. Wear a white helmet and you too can get what I like to call the CROWN VIC affect.
Later,
Jim
Motorcycle Riding Tip To Go Left Turn Right
I know after reading this title you think this is going to be about counter steering. Well it's not.
This is a little tip you should keep in the back of your mind, it could save your life. Of course if it does you will never know it because nothing happened.
This all stems from one of the most common ways that motorcyclist get rear ended. The motorcyclist is making a left turn at an uncontrolled intersection(no traffic light no turn lane). The motorcycle is waiting in the lane waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. The car behind the motorcycle changes to the right lane as he approaches the bike. The car behind him is surprised to see a stopped motorcycle suddenly in front of him and wham.
The motorcycle wasn't doing anything wrong just making a left turn.
Now the car that hit the motorcycle may have been following the car in front too closely or texting or changing the radio channel it really doesn't matter to the bleeding motorcyclist.
Just remember sometimes three right turns work better than a left turn.
J
Motorcycle gear? Read This Now
This is not my normal post. I received an E mail From Motorcycle Super Store this morning. They are making room in the warehouse for new products on the way in. To get that room they are having a huge sale up to 81% off jackets and helmets. It doesn't cost anything to take a look. Just click their ad at the right you may get the deal of the year.
Just a heads up.
Jim
Motorcycles and Winter
I will admit I rarely ride my motorcycle when the temperature dips below freezing. I just don't have the stomach for leaning into a corner to find it's covered in a thin layer of ice. But give me a 41 degree day and I'll put on my best winter gear and hit the road.
The key to cold weather riding is the gear.
All of the major motorcycle clothing manufacturers make a line of cold weather gear. Touring jackets and riding pants that are both warm and water resistant, most have quilted insulated liners. Or go all the way and buy Heated clothing.
Insulated gauntlet style gloves keep your fingers toasty Water proof boots coupled with wool socks do the same for your feet.
A thin balaclava under your helmet will cover that gap between your helmet and the top of your jackets collar.
So with a little prep and some common sense you can still enjoy your motorcycle during the winter.
Be safe and enjoy you bike
Jim
P.S.
you must always watch road conditions,
Riding a Motorcycle in the Snow
Well it's snowing BIG TIME! And I'm thinking to myself wouldn't it be fun to ride my motorcycle in the snow? I then searched "riding motorcycle in snow" on youtube. HMMMM I think I will just stay inside and enjoy this guys adventure.
Motorcycles and sight distance
This tip is really quite simple but very important. Do not out ride your sight distance. Sight distance is defined as the length of roadway ahead visible to the motorcycle rider.
In short if you can't see an obstruction in time to stop or avoid it your going to have a bad day.
The road pictured below is near my house. Cars and motorcycles routinely travel this road at about 40 mph the speed limit is 25 and for good reason.
small hills can be BIG trouble
The back side of this hill hides two driveways and two mail boxes. I have come over this little hill to find a mail truck stop delivering mail and in one case a furniture delivery truck backing out of a driveway. If I had been out driving my sight distance they both would have been a rude surprise.
Later
Jim
Motorcycle tip Friction Zone
The friction zone is a basic skill but one many motorcycle riders have not given much thought too. The friction zone is that middle ground where the clutch is neither totally engaged or released. This is sometimes called slipping the clutch. This is an important skill as it it used in pulling away from a stop, making a smooth U turn or any slow speed maneuver (many riders have dropped their Motorcycle while trying to make a slow turn in a parking lot because they are uncomfortable with the friction zone.) Give it a little practice. While seated on your motorcycle with the engine running and in 1st gear. Give it a little throttle and begin slowly letting the clutch lever out. The motorcycle will start to move . You are in the friction zone .
It takes a little practice to find the sweet spot for your bike. If you rev the engine the bike should not pickup speed. Below I have a video that shows a practice drill using a 2x4 piece of wood. You will know you have found the friction zone when you can drive over it and not fling it out behind your back tire.