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50 steps to Stay Alive

55K views 111 replies 72 participants last post by  Lady Phoenix 
#1 ·
(repost for new members)

1. Assume you're invisible.
To a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've made eye contact. Bikes don't register to the four-wheel mind.

2. Be considerate.
The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off, start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and smile.

3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the pub.
Sure, McDonalds is a 5-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a T-shirt and board shorts.

4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light goes green, with or without a turn signal.

5. Leave your ego at home.
The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.

6. Pay attention.
Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. That shock does feels squishy. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus.

7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture.
Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear.

8. Be patient.
Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb or into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt.

9. Watch your closing speed.
Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.

10. Beware the verge and the merge.
A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonalds bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for debris on both sides of the road.

11. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists.
Dont assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too.

12. Beware of cars running traffic lights.
The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection.

13. Check your mirrors.
Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space youd planned to use.

14. Mind the gap.
Remember Drivers Ed? One seconds worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.

15 Beware of racers.
They're quick and aggressive. Dont assume you've beaten one away from a light or outpaced it in traffic and change lanes without looking. You could end up as a civic hood ornament.

16. Excessive entrance speed hurts.
Its the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads and racetracks. In Slow, Out Fast is the old adage, and it still works. Dialing up corner speed is safer than scrubbing it off.

17. Dont trust that deer whistle.
Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If youre riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders.

18. Learn to use both brakes.
The front does most of your stopping, but a little rear brake on corner entry can calm a nervous chassis.

19. Keep the front brake covered always.
Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.

20. Look where you want to go.
Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem.

21. Keep your eyes moving.
Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Dont lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless youre actually dealing with trouble.

22. Think before you act.
Careful whipping around that micra going 7 kph in a 30-kph zone or you could end up with your head in the drivers side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.

23. Raise your gaze.
Its too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.

24. Get your mind right in the driveway.
Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway.

25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign.
Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble.

26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic.
Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not see why until its too late to do anything about it.

27 Dont saddle up more than you can handle.
If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.

28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic.
And smacking a car thats swerving around some goofballs open door is just as painful.

29. Dont get in an intersection rut.
Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise when it doesnt.

30. Stay in your comfort zone when youre with a group.
Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where youll be able to link up again.

31. Give your eyes some time to adjust.
A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, youre essentially flying blind for the first mile or so

32. Master the slow U-turn.
Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot around the rear wheel.

33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?
Dont panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally and smoothly to pull away.

34. If it looks slippery, assume it is.
A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe its nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head.

35. Bang! A blowout! Now what?
No sudden moves. The motorcycle isnt happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.

36. Drops on the faceshield?
Its raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when its been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness.

37. Emotions in check?
To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yoself before you wreck yoself.
Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If youre mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put.

38. Wear good gear.
Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If youre too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. Its that simple.

39. Leave the iPod at home.
You wont hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care.

40. Learn to swerve.
Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice till its a reflex.

41. Be smooth at low speeds.
Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash.

42. Flashing is good for you.
Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.

43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets.
Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.

44. Tune your peripheral vision.
Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble.

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.

46. Every-thing is harder to see after dark.
Adjust your headlights, Carry a clear faceshield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours.

47. Dont troll next toor right behind Mr. Peterbilt.
If one of those 18 retreads blows upwhich they do with some regularity it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance.

48. Take the panic out of panic stops.
Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.

49. Make your tires right.
None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Dont take em for granted Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as general wear.

50. Take a deep breath.
Count to 10. Smile at the idiot. Forgetting some clowns 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it.

 
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#29 ·
i liked everything, except.... #19. I was told in the MSF course to keep my fingers off the front brake unless i was stopping or getting on/off the bike otherwise i might press it by accident and i might cause one. What are your thoughts?
I've got a story for every occasion. Last summer I was riding the three twisted sisters here in the Texas Hill Country with a new friend. She was on her husband's Road Star and seemed to handle it well except for manipulating it in gravel parking lots. She lead sometimes and I did others, so it was a shock to me later when we were talking to a potential motorcyclist and talking about him getting the MSF course... she told him pay close attention when they tell you never to use the front brake! My jaw dropped and I said "What?" She said the front brake would pull you right down or make you flip over the front of the bike. I said "That's just incorrect!" She looked at me patiently and said "I've been told that by a lot of people"

Of course I went on to explain to her how the front brake worked and how to use it, but she had taken her instructions on low speed maneuvering and early warnings like mentioned above to mean NEVER use the front brake. I know this used to be a by-law in the olden days, but my gawd, this gal was behind me a lot of the time on the ride and I had assumed she knew how to make a quick stop.

Your front brake (and knowing how and when to use it... and I guess when NOT to use it) is one of the most valuable tools on your bike. Read up on it, practice it's use and get to where it's automatic to "feel" your way through any kind of stop. Once you've perfected its use, you won't have to think about it much, you'll use both brakes in varying amounts to fit the occasion.

I do cover my front brake almost all the time unless I'm out on a clear road at highway speeds.
 
#32 ·
It makes beginners, like myself, realize how serious the responsibility of riding really is.
It is great that so many riders, new and old understand this!

What is scary, and sad, is that so many don't yet, or never will grasp the concept of self preservation...

Laws and rules and rights and wrongs won't protect you on a motorcycle.
The little old lady that didn't see you was in the wrong, but you're still dead.

The gravel the highway crew left in the road shouldn't have been left there, but you still need to be prepared for what may.

The road designers made that curve too sharp for you to take at full speed on a motorcycle are at fault, but not being at fault doesn't keep you from smashing into the guard rail...

It is up to the rider to understand what they are doing, and learn/know how to do it correctly in order to live for another day.
 
#34 ·
Great post. As a a newbie, this kind of post is fantastic. I pick up my new Vulcan 900 Custom tomorrow. Looking forward to getting on the road. And using all of these tips. Oops, I should add that I am enrolled in the rider course for June 12th. This is going to be great.
 
#37 ·
I train people on driver safety as they regard to patrol techniques (not motorcycle patrol), and I learned some things reading that! When we teach patrol, most drivers who are experienced learn the "two second rule." Two seconds between you and the car ahead.

For patrol, since we have a lot more we should be paying attention to, we expand that to a recommended minimum "four second rule." As someone looking to get on a bike, would the more experienced here recommend that, or is it over-cautious/asking to be rear ended in traffic?

Thanks!
I know one thing about riding or driving on I5 in Seattle Tacoma area if you leave space between you and the car ahead there is sure to be a car to take it up.
Maybe it's just me but when I am in my car and I watch bikes around me it is amazing to me that not more die not that that's a bad thing.
I just started riding street bikes my son is out there everyday and it scares the hell out off me when I watch what people do in there cars and it isn't paying attention to traffic.
I have only been on I5 on my bike a couple of times and try to give myself space but it never seems to work I just keep my eye on developing problems ahead of the car in front of me and I try to stay in the lane by the shoulder so that maybe i have a way out before becoming someone's hood ornament
 
#38 ·
If I might humbly add a couple items...

51) Recognize and understand the environment you're in.
If you're in the woods, be aware of the time, nearby water and etc. Animals have a habit of crossing to water & feed in the am/pm. Close encounters at speed can be a little stressful.... Elk + Bike = pooped pants (best case)

52) Know your bike.
New noises, sounds, and the way it "feels" are usually the first indicator of a potential problem. Ya gotta have faith in your bike....

I'm sure there's 500 more, I think common sense is probably the most important safety tip.

Ride in Peace -Wilson
 
#41 ·
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.
 
#43 ·
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.
 
#44 ·
Excellent Advice

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!
 
#47 ·
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.
 
#48 ·
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".:newyear:
 
#49 ·
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
 
#50 ·
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".:newyear:[/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.
 
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