50 steps to Stay Alive

[Pegasusrider]

I drove past an accident this mornining. As I was coming up to it I saw the bike laying on the pavement, a couple portable screens, and a vinyl cover over the riders body near the car. A dozen cops were standing around, the fire engine was there, but no ambulance. It appears the guy rider was in the right lane on the 45 mph five lane road. The driver pulled out from the bank on the same side heading in the opposite direction trying to get across the two lanes and that was it. I don't think the driver got the car more than 8 ft. out of the driveway before the collision, maybe even less.
I thought about it after my sadness waned and it seems that in the right lane a rider doesn't have much time and not many options when a car pulls out. It seems safer to ride in the left lane because you have more time to react and more options. Also, it seems strange but I think there is an advantage to riding with some traffic vs. alone on the road if there are alot of driveways. Drivers would have less of a tendency to pull out in front of a car with a bike at least around town. Any thoughts appreciated.

After 15 years off a bike I just finished the MSF course and the instructors were careful to explain that caution at an intersection is always the wisest course ... and they defined "intersection" to mean ANY place where another vehicle could enter from the side. Which means that in a neighborhood for instead you have an intersection every 70' when you cross a driveway.

[smb39]

Thanks for the great post. I'm new and need all the advice I can get.

[kawpaul]

45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?
Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still wont change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds.

I have not tried this but check out this video which tells how to get the light to change. How to trigger traffic lights to change from red to green | Video « Wonder How To

So someone try it and let us know how it works.

[FrictionZone]

It's always good to read articles about safety!

I've been riding for a year (everyday to work and home) and I try to keep advice like these in mind when I'm out there!

Its surprising how people do so many things in their car BUT pay attention to the road!

STAY ALERT and STAY ALIVE!

Great job!

[Spencert]

[QUOTE=CycleDude;1218000](repost for new members)

Great bit of information. I have just sold my Tiger 1050 about to choose a new cruiser so reminding myself of this valuable information as come at the right time, thanks

[V2K_CCTX]

50 steps was and still is an awesome read. a must for beginner and veteren alike

[dragonbreath]

Great advice I have been riding over 40 years with no serious on road accidents. I enjoyed reading it and found a lot of it new to me thanks. Here are a few things I have done over the years that have saved me and my bike.

Recently a friend of mine made the state ment that the only option she had was to lay her bike down.

In 40 plus years of riding I have never had to lay a bike down. I have found that if you are riding in a defensive manner there is almost allways a way around most accicents.

Hear are some examples:

I was riding in the foot hills of northern california, beautifull spring morning the air was clean from recent rain. The road was not well marked for turns. I suddenly found myself in a sweet long sweeper that unfortunatley ended in an off camber pin turn. No way to make it at my speed. So rather than lay it down and go through a hog wire fence I got on the binders down shifted leaned back and went through the fence, it stretched about fifty feet before I went airborne..

I feel my sollution was better than a face plant in hog wire, I have enough nick names with out waffle face.

Another time I was making a right at an interesection the car coming into the intersection from my right was making a left over half way into my lane, I broke hard downshifted and twisted the wick. My left peg side swipped the side of his car but I was able to hold it.

The worst was a car pulling out at an interesection, Like allaways I had anticipated an out I went through the ditch and out in to a muddy field.

The main point I am making hear is to allways have an out and remember you are invisible.

[Spencert]

Hear are some examples:

I was riding in the foot hills of northern california, beautifull spring morning the air was clean from recent rain. The road was not well marked for turns. I suddenly found myself in a sweet long sweeper that unfortunatley ended in an off camber pin turn. No way to make it at my speed. So rather than lay it down and go through a hog wire fence I got on the binders down shifted leaned back and went through the fence, it stretched about fifty feet before I went airborne..

I feel my sollution was better than a face plant in hog wire, I have enough nick names with out waffle face.

Another time I was making a right at an interesection the car coming into the intersection from my right was making a left over half way into my lane, I broke hard downshifted and twisted the wick. My left peg side swipped the side of his car but I was able to hold it.

The worst was a car pulling out at an interesection, Like allaways I had anticipated an out I went through the ditch and out in to a muddy field.

The main point I am making hear is to allways have an out and remember you are invisible.[/QUOTE]

Hi enjoyed reading your exploits, amazing! I ride pretty much the same way as you do, but maybe its because I am a professional health and safety practitioner and "risk assessment" is my middle name. So work or pleasure I am looking for the things that may go "belly up" without becoming paranoid about the ups and down in life.

What bike are you riding? it sounds like its had an interesting life or are there several bikes?

Again it was great reading and good information to the new and old guys "look for the out".

[Spencert]

Hey Dragonbreath I tried to use part of what you posted as a quote, but it appears like my story, sorry about that still trying to get the hang of this "thread" system.

Why Dragonbreath? as a welshman a Dragon is very close to my heart it is my National Emblem on my country flag. Or is it simply you drink a lot of whisky lol

[dragonbreath]

Hear are some examples:

I was riding in the foot hills of northern california, beautifull spring morning the air was clean from recent rain. The road was not well marked for turns. I suddenly found myself in a sweet long sweeper that unfortunatley ended in an off camber pin turn. No way to make it at my speed. So rather than lay it down and go through a hog wire fence I got on the binders down shifted leaned back and went through the fence, it stretched about fifty feet before I went airborne..

I feel my sollution was better than a face plant in hog wire, I have enough nick names with out waffle face.

Another time I was making a right at an interesection the car coming into the intersection from my right was making a left over half way into my lane, I broke hard downshifted and twisted the wick. My left peg side swipped the side of his car but I was able to hold it.

The worst was a car pulling out at an interesection, Like allaways I had anticipated an out I went through the ditch and out in to a muddy field.

The main point I am making hear is to allways have an out and remember you are invisible.

Hi enjoyed reading your exploits, amazing! I ride pretty much the same way as you do, but maybe its because I am a professional health and safety practitioner and "risk assessment" is my middle name. So work or pleasure I am looking for the things that may go "belly up" without becoming paranoid about the ups and down in life.

What bike are you riding? it sounds like its had an interesting life or are there several bikes?

Again it was great reading and good information to the new and old guys "look for the out".[/QUOTE]
I recently bought a Vulcan 1500 classic, the bike I went through the fence on was a KZ 900, The interesting part was after the accident I looked around the field and there was an angry bull and a few cows staring at me as I was trying to get bike going. Thought **** survived crash now this bull is going to kick my but, luckily we were both cool he was just glad to see me go.

The side swipe incident was on a GSX 750 my left foot peg was bent so badly I had to stop and kick it back into place. The Kid in the back seat looked like one of those Garfield dolls stuck in the window.

As for the nick name it has its origin in my european ancestory but primarily from beer and burritos for breakfast.

[V2K_CCTX]

^^^ hope you brush before she gets up

[dragonbreath]

Hmmm maybe thats why I have trouble keeping a girl friend

Thanks for the advice I'll give it a try

[V2K_CCTX]

L O L .. get the bugs from between the teeth

[Spencert]

I recently bought a Vulcan 1500 classic, the bike I went through the fence on was a KZ 900, The interesting part was after the accident I looked around the field and there was an angry bull and a few cows staring at me as I was trying to get bike going. Thought **** survived crash now this bull is going to kick my but, luckily we were both cool he was just glad to see me go.

The side swipe incident was on a GSX 750 my left foot peg was bent so badly I had to stop and kick it back into place. The Kid in the back seat looked like one of those Garfield dolls stuck in the window.

As for the nick name it has its origin in my european ancestory but primarily from beer and burritos for breakfast.[/QUOTE]

I am seriously considering buying the Vn900 Custom as l am bikeless at the moment having recently sold the Tiger. When I go back to the UK to view the new bike? I have been told to have a look at the Vn1700 Meanstreak which is a new model to the UK market. I am just over 6' and about 16 and a half stone so it will need plenty of torque to carry me and my travel kit. I must admit the Vn900 appeals to me, but we'l see.

European ancestry? all Americans have European ancestry lol. Allbeit a certain class of adventurer, unlike the Austrailians just check their ankles for the chain marks lol. I cant even guess since Europe covers a pretty big area, give us a clue? Not too difficult us Welsh boys are not known for our brain power.

Beer and burritos, mmmmmmmmm I can feel a curry coming on.

[freezeradio]

good sound advise.Glad I read it.

[V2K_CCTX]

^^^ ???

[dragonbreath]

My lineage can be traced back to William the 1st, AKA William the conquer, AKA the ******* king we know who his father was not sure about his mom (LOL)

[Spencert]

^^^ ???

Well V2k_CCTX my guess is your either Ausie or you've never had a real curry lol Savlon (a British soothing ointment) is good for chain rash and putting the toilet roll in the fridge overnight is good for the human exhaust pipe LOLROTF By the way I love Ausies too seen Ned Kelly, hey hang on he's Irish

[V2K_CCTX]

actually born in US of German and Italian background... but i have a solution for your itch


Relieve the friction of monkey butt and painful butt rash, when you ride, sweat and sit. | Anti Monkey Butt Powder

[Spencert]

My lineage can be traced back to William the 1st, AKA William the conquer, AKA the ******* king we know who his father was not sure about his mom (LOL)

Well guess where i am? lol No nowhere near Normandy where he was born, but I am in France, in the Charente (pronounced Charaun). His father was Robert I, the sixth Duke of Normandy. His mother was called Herleva who was the humble daughter of a Tanner. He his classed as the best of our Kings so well done you. I just reminded myself of NOregret78 thread today King William died out riding too. Lets not end on a sad note as I am going back to researching my new bike, anybody any ideas.