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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| I was studying some stats and reading some of the crash stories the other day which revealed something of interest that folks here might wish to consider now that riding season is about to get into high gear.
As most know most accidents occur when someone isn't paying attention and cuts across the riders path. It is at this point that 99% of riders mess up and the purpose of this post become apparent. Most riders brake, and most times brake hard. I suppose this is a natural reaction, one trained and partially instinctual, but it is wrong.
Now I'm surely not going to tell anyone how to ride. We have folks here that have ridden longer than my pitiful 40 years, but I will ask folks to consider their training. What is it you have practiced, that reaction that will either put you in the hospital or see you safely around a mess?
As mentioned earlier most brake, but consider another option..... AVOIDANCE! You have the controls in your hands IF you have trained to avoid instead of simply brake. Sure braking will slow you down, but you'll still arrive at the collision if a wee bit slower. I'm suggesting you take the path around instead of into.
Last summer while on one of my trips to ride in Georgia I was following a good friend on some scenic by-ways. He became distracted at a right bend in the road by a lovely scenic overlook. I actually believed he had simply forgot to signal and was going to pull off at the overlook. It is what occured next that really showed his training. He was well across the yellow lines when he realized his err, with oncoming traffic closing quickly. Instead of hitting the brakes he instinctually snapped the bike hard right regaining his lane. Had he hit the brakes he would have stopped, but it is highly unlikely he would have avoided the inevitable collision with approaching traffic. I actually didn't think a lite tour could be snapped back as hard as he did. I'd be willing to bet he could have touched the first vehicle to pass the opposite way by simply tossing out an elbow, it was that close.
I've often said all accidents are avoidable, but we need to play these scenario's through our head and practice how we will react if we wish to make that a reality. Agin this is not to tell anyone how to ride or even to start a debate, just something to ponder and put in your bag of tools if you feel it's appropriate for you. Ride safe...... T
ps... the guy in the story is probably one of the most experienced riders I've ever known and rides on average 25k+ per season throughout the US of A and Canada. Thats a lot of miles for us northern folks.
Edited by Teach 2010-05-15 8:48 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Great topic, avoid the accident. Ride smart, if you can't ride smart, don't ride...your going to get hurt! I'm seeing more and more Visions being sold with a salvage title...someone got hurt. Maybe the Vision - Riders site could have a section on rider safety for safe riding posts. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I never ride faster then my angel can fly.
this hits the target of your protective zone, that is "what if" is constantly playing in my mind. This is great to understand as well as practice every time you ride. I use manhole covers as a hazard and will at the last minute to avoid them. I'm in my "safety zone" when I do these manuevers and it keeps on course when a real hazard pops up. This is just one example of what I do of a few others. I also review the "off-road" alternatives in case I have to ditch it. All of these things I've done even before I started riding. I've only been two minor accidents in 36 years of being on wheels. Both times it would have been worse, I believe, had I not been control of the situation. The other drivers were completely at fault. The point is being aware of what is going on around you always. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | VisionTex - Maybe the Vision - Riders site could have a section on rider safety for safe riding posts. I've thought the exact same thing. We have several instructors on this site and a lot of the rest of us have picked up tips from videos, books and magazine articles. I have a poster I want to make of a really hot babe staring into the camera but it is really hard to make eye contact with her, if you know what I mean. The point of the poster would be to force yourself to keep eye contact in order to avoid a road hazard. I've read lots of stories about guys who were on a twisty, double yellow road and a car/truck came around a blind curve across the lines, into the biker's lane. Instead of forcing himself to focus on the narrow strip of road remaining to avoid the traffic, the biker stared at the car/truck and drove right into it. Lots of experience and maturity here. I'll always respect Spock for coming forward and really analyzing his crash. That one move by him has convinced me to ride at about 80% max and leave the other 20% to guys better than me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 247
| I said the exact same thing to the mule der who waked out into the road after dark in wyoming. left me half a lane. his partner had the shoulder.bike split the difference and we arrived safe. good advice as usual teach. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Teach, well said, totally agree, I've been on more than one off road excursion on this bike and like a good enduro biker always looking for the next path to take. I wish they would give a course on enduro riding where you ride across through the woods, springs, fallen trees, etc. Forcing the rider to look and take different paths, instead of colliding with everything. I've always been a avid biker in one form or another, but I tell people who want a street bike to go be a dirt bike rider first. Even riding lightly agressive you learn how use all of the controls and listen to the motor and not the controls in front of you. Everything gets to a point of being a natural reaction instead of panic reaction. I notice I ride like I'm on a wood trail, and not on a city steet.
If you lay it over on dirt, don't hurt nearly as much and normally don't have to worry about what's a coming behind you. You get the idea of dang that hurt and learn that you don't want to do it on the street.
Everyone should learn how to kickstart a bike, just cuz'! There is time, patience, aggravation or good maintenance skills involved and the ability to know what your bike likes to get running!
Other than that it's just plain fun! My wife is really enjoying her street bike, but it is harder to get her on a dirt bike, I just keep telling her it will make her a better street biker. She is riding more on dirt and getting more comfortable with it. |
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Accident or not
