Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival thread

I notice a lot of riders following cars with 1 to 1.5 seconds of space. I guess it is to stop them from squeezing in. I know here in Richmond, Va if you leave 2 or 3 seconds between you and the car in front of you some jack ass will fill the space. Of course it drives me nuts these damned cars tail gating me all the time. Some times I am afraid to break because if I break this jack ass behind me is going to run me over.

I also two weeks ago saw a guy on a Harley Road King Classic, half helmet, sunglasses, golf shorts, t-shirt and ready, flip flops. yes it was a warm day 90 +. But flip-flops? I hope he had his organ doner card. Though if he did crash I doubt they'd get much skin from him...

 

Great point for novice riders like me. I almost had to learn that the hard way but was able to keep her up. Lots of filler out here in the country, almost as bad when it's hot out as gravel in the turns.

 

Just came back from Europe and you would not believe the lane-splitting and scooters everywhere. Gear was variable, from "light" to full-on boots to green vests. When traffic stopped, scooters and bikes would lane-split up to the traffic light, then go first. When traffic was rolling, motorcycles would ride the white line, splitting into oncoming traffic to pass the slow cages. And all this without horns honking !! The preferred scooter is similar to the 400 Burgman, with many European makes not seen here.
You would simply be arrested if you tried to pull that here !!

 

We had a rash of missing manholes covers a few years back 8O - scan scan scan

 

My four rules are:
#1 Ride like I'm INVISIBLE, trusting no one.
#2 Swerve side to side within my lane to get the attention of some pulling in front of me. Even if we're making eye contact I'll do it.
#3 "Practice" emergency braking on the streets (not a parking lot) for real world senerio. ONLY when there are NO cages BEHIND me.
#4 Use traffic to my advantage with good clearence and a way out.

 

Trust your instincts about a cager. Many times I see them and just get a bad feeling about them. I stay behind them and give them room, and sure enough they usually do something that could have killed me.

Nomally I am not a fan of state troopers but last week coming home from Fairfax, Va to Richmond on mile marker 104 on I-95 this crazy cager in a SUV just comes over on me. I am going 75 in a 70. State trooper behind me. She doesn't look, she just comes over I was riding to the left of the lane and I was in the far left lane. She splits my lane I hit the breaks and get in to the shoulder which is about 3/4 of a lane wide. Then in my mirrors I see blue lights. I though WTF he's gonna pull me over? NO he goes after her and writes her tickets for reckless driving, illegal lane change and speeding, 85 in a 70 oh which is another reckless charge. How do I know this I pulled over and asked the cop to arrest her for attempted manslaughter changes.

 

SPEAKING OF freeway riding: I was thinking about this on the way in this morning, as I did what I'm about to discuss:

Riding in a gap.

Freeway traffic, unless VERY heavy (and even then) tends to run in "clumps." There will be a group of vehicles; then a gap (sometimes as great as a mile or more) to the next group. While there will always be a vehicle or two running fast enough to go from one group to the next, most of the traffic will remain in the "clump" leaving a nice gap to the next pack of fools.

Whenever possible, it pays to find one of those gaps; and adjust your speed accordingly so you can ride along IN it for as long as possible.

MUCH better to be humming along at 75 with nothing in front of, next to or behind you for a half mile or so. Lots less opportunity to get lane-changed upon.

No, it's not always possible; but a lot of the time it is. Something to think about the next time you get on the superslab.

As always, ride safe--- Fitz

 

I did a lot of freeway riding this past weekend and was concentrating on doing this exact thing. It sure feels good to be humming along at 70 and be able to squirt the throttle just a little to zip into the gap past the cars in the next lane. Gotta love these high-revving XJ's!

 

I hate the slab, only use it when I have to....
Unfortunately, it is part of my commute for a few minutes......
On the way in it's not bad as I can skip out of the mainstream and cut through
a new commercial area that was built.... longer but less traffic and more curves.. win--win
On the way home however, It's a multi-lane mess of stupidity as people jockey to screw over the next guy to get 2 seconds ahead ...

looking for a pic....
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.68414 ... &t=k&hl=en

 

Doc makes a good point, more and more I see guys (and gals, actually gals more so) wearing tank tops, shorts and flip flops while riding. This has got to be the most ignorant, small minded, narrow visioned riding I have ever seen. These people seem to think that they have a cage around them while riding. Man talk about taking your own physical well being into your own hands, they just don't realize all it takes is one inattentive driver to pull in front of them, not even hit them, and cause a panic move that really could cause serious injury, without being hit.

 

You know Massimo, I think it is simply a two fold issue first they I am not gonna crash, have an accident syndrome. Second, personal freedom. People don't like to be told what to do. And the long history of motorcycles and the open road, freedom ect people are gonna do what they want. Honestly I think they are all fools and I will have no pitty for them if they crash and loose most of their skin. Personally, I'll put up with being a little warm at a traffic light than loose all the skin on my body.

People ask all they time aren't you hot in that stuff I tell them the truth only when I am not moving. Even at 25MPH there is enough wind to stay cool.

This morning I saw a woman on a crotch rocket in a pink halter top, short, shorts, and tennis shoes. full face helmet. No gloves. I just shook my head as she blew down the road weaving in and out of the traffic. It was a 55 MPH zone. I was doing 70 and she passed me like I was standing still. I guess really riding like that why bother with safety equipment, that one accident is gonna kill you anyway... Seriously she had to be doing 90.

 

I noticed a phenomenon related to this during the recent bout of super-hot weather here in the midwest:

On the really hot days, it seemed like nearly every bike on the road was being ridden by the shorts and flip-flops crowd; and MOST of these seemed to be on Harleys or large, Harley-esque cruisers.

Then as the weather moderated somewhat, the ATGATT folks on the sportbikes, etc., began to reappear. Myself included.

Then it occurred to me: the guys who won't ride without their protective gear simply weren't out on the road when it was SUPER hot (I know I wasn't) just the fools who seem to think the physical size of the motorcycle they're on somehow shields them from harm.

Most of those folks ride with the "it won't happen to me" attitude.

It will; and then they might learn. Maybe. Or quit riding and blame "motorcycles" for their own stupidity, which is usually what happens.

 

I am an ATGATT as well. But I have summer gear vented and armored. I ride to work everyday. Even when it was 100+ in the afternoon. Was it hot yep when I wasn't really moving. most of my ride is highway and I leave work at 4:30 PM EST so I get a jump on the true rush hour traffic.

Honestly, around here it seems like the norm is t-shirts shorts, tennis shoes, and some sort of helmet which is required by law. Riders in all the gear are the exception and guys in at least jackets, gloves, jeans and boots are rare. No matter if they are on cruisers, sport bikes or what have you.

I ride a lot with a local group most of them ride half helmet, t-shirt, boots, jeans. No gloves and riding glasses. They usually look at me like I am nuts in my jacket, pants, full face helmet and gloves. Usually I just tell them I dress for the slide not the ride.

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

You're lucky your schedule allows it.

We've got so much construction going on in the Metro Detroit area right now it's virtually impossible to get out of the city, especially to the north and during rush hour, without running into some serious stop-n-go traffic jams.

I've got a vented/armored jacket as well, but it's black (the only color "talls" come in) and 10 minutes stopped in 102* heat would cause me to melt and fall over. If I knew I could keep moving, it would be different; but when it's truly brutal I need the AC'ed comfort of the Wabbit.

Quite honestly, I think it's raw experience that separates the "flip-flop-fools" from the ATGATT folks. All it takes is one wreck to realize exactly how life-changing the injuries can be; those fools have never crashed, or they'd be dressed differently.

I know it converted me, and that was 30+ years ago.

 

Seems to be everywhere then, we have a big crowd of the here as well...
Mostly the weekend warrior wanna be crowd ...
but also some of the regulars I see in gear are sometimes without on the hotter days...

I commute on mine as soon as the ice is gone until it returns....
I'm ATGATT, notice most of the adventure touring guys are as well..
Starting to see more cruiser guys in full gear as Iwell, but as you mention the hot weather brings out the others.... figure a lot of them only ride when it's hot...
I'd like to see one of the short/flipflop guys just lose their footing at a light....
bet that would change a bot of the thought pattern

 

wet your t-shirt before you put on your vented jacket, that's good for twenty minutes

 

Perspiration seems to keep it nicely wet for an extended period.

 

It is a great day here in Va, the low was in the upper 50's last night it was 62 when I left for work high in the low 80s today. Lots of bikes on the road. here is what I saw:

3 crotch rockets rides in t-shirts or long sleeve shirts, shorts, no gloves, full face helmets, tennis shoes

1 street bike some sort of BMW: full face helmet, wind breaker, slacks, loafers, no gloves

1 HD Hog: half helmet, t-shirt, leather vest, jeans, boots no gloves

1: KLR: rider full face helmet, riding suit, gloves

1: V-Star: rider full face helmet, jacket ( armored), short pants, boots, gloves

1: xj650J: me: armored jacket, gloves, armored tri-tex pants, boots, full face helmet

Just a sampling of what is out there. At 7:00 - 7:30 am

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

I understand the personal freedom and I don't particularly like being told what to do either, but this isn't about that. It's about being around long enough to enjoy the ride and trying to minimize the possible amount of pain and suffering, if and when the inevitable happens.
But that's just me.... and i agree Doc no pity or sympathy for people who won't take the time to protect themselves.

 

BigFritz the other day said something about raw experience. While I think yes, being in an accident and surviving then getting back on the bike will hopefully teach you some harsh lessons about gear. But even having all the right gear isn't a guarantee of complete protection. I have not been riding that long. I have not crashed, but for me it is pretty plain to see. A bike is nothing like a car. The only protection you have in an accident is whatever you can strap, zip, button, or otherwise put on your self. Can the gear get hot? Yep it can. But I'd rather sweat some and be as protected as I can vs. being cool and looking 'cool' and not being protected. I am very much a person who believes in personal freedoms. I very much believe that you should do what you want to with in reason. By no means am I saying you should be forced. But a little common sense would be nice.

Bottom line riding is risky, it is up to each rider to determine the amount of risk they want. riding unprotected is as risky as it gets -but if you want to have at it. Just don't expect me to have pity or sympathy for you. Don't shake your head at me when I ride in full gear even in 102 degree heat, because when that day comes I'll have a better chance of walking away or at least surviving the crash.

I guess bottom line it comes down to this, do what you want it is your life and your body. If you want to just wear a helmet and go 150 miles an hour on your bike more power to you, but do us all a favor sign that donor card, because your internal organs if they survive will be useful to someone. Lord knows you won't have any skin left to donate.

 

around here we get idiots on crotch rockets doing 50 mph "wheelies". Every time it makes me cringe, I just keep thinking don't they know how unforgiving pavement is?.......oh to be 25 and completely fearless (or substitute your own word for fearless)

 

A little tid bit I picked up, when coming to an intersection where a cager is at, watch his tires, if they're rotating slow down. Don't look at the driver, he can't see you anyway, they're idiots. The tires give them away every time.

 

When a traffic light out it is treated like a stop sign. Unless you live in Richmond, Va then you just blow through one and barely miss a guy on a red 82 Yamaha XJ650..

 

Hey that's a Detroit rule: traffic light out=NO traffic light. Treat as though non-existent.

Got a good one for you rural upper-midwest riders:

Due to the horrible spring and excessive rain, a LOT of the farmers in my neck of the woods switched from corn to soybeans this year just so they could get a crop in.

This generates a new road hazard:

When farm vehicles make their way from a freshly-harvested soybean field, they leave GREASY, soybean-oily tracks on paved roads. While they may only look like a set of wet-tire tracks, they're as slippery as if somebody had actually OILED the road. Harvest is beginning in some areas, be careful. I got caught by surprise over the weekend, and was quickly reminded.

 

doc2029...
I agree. There are times I take a short scoot in t-shirt and beanie, and other times, I am leather and full-faced helmet. If it is 100 degrees out, so be it. (my jacket is ventilated a bit so it helps).
Oregon has a helmet law. The proponent of that law said it would keep insurance rates down for everyone because so much money was being lost on cracked motorcyclist skulls. This is BS, but the law passed. Being an adult, I hate being told what to do by the "nanny state".
But imagine being told you couldn't wear a helmet. Same stupid, different day.
Thanks Fitz for the soy bean warning. I am on the west coast and not much call for soy beans here. But wheat or grass seed in any amount can be as horrendous as hitting gravel on the inside corner of a country road!

 

I wasn't talking about actual beans on the road, like gravel in a corner.

I'm talking about what appear to be nothing more than WET tire tracks on the road which are actually OILY tire tracks, and the hazards of discovering that fact the hard way.

You might discover the same situation in Avocado country.

 

Honestly I had never really thought about any of it. I do a lot of riding around farmland and yes there is a lot of soybeans out there... Thanks for the heads up Bigfitz

 

I had forgotten all about it since last fall; until Sunday afternoon when I was rudely reminded. Didn't go down, but had a "moment."

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

I found out yesterday that there is a whole different set of rules when you're riding in a group. It was my first group ride, and I realized that I won't go with this group again. We started out with 22 riders, and by the time the street bikes finished dusting us (me, a guy on a Shadow and his girlfriend on a Ninja), we were barely ten miles from the point of origin. It was weird to me: they were so uncaring about cutting off cars or weaving in traffic, but as soon as they saw roadkill in the middle of the lane, they let everyone know.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that being in a group doesn't make you invincible.

 

There actually is a recommended set of protocols for group riding, published by the American Motorcyclist Association. (AMA.)

Most groups of yahoos don't have a clue.

Folks with any experience with any sort of real, organized sanctioned (and probably insured) by the AMA Motorcycle Club or Organization are usually familiar with the "rules of the road." A pack of testosterone-fueled nutless monkeys, not so much.

Knowing how to ride in a PROPER group formation can save your bacon. Some years back I was with three fellow Michigan Norton Owners, hauling a** across southern Ontario, in proper formation when a small dog ran out into the middle of our 75mph flight. Within a few split seconds, two bikes were safely stopped on the right shoulder, two safely stopped on the left shoulder, two bikes had clumps of fur caught in their front fender stays and the dog was shaken, not stirred.

A little knowledge goes a long way, and it starts with not riding side-by-side, CHiPs style.

 

Sorry this is so long.....but here's my contribution to safe riding.

I read all 16 pages of this thread and there’s a ton a good info in this thread, some of what I wrote repeats some of it and some is new…it’s all worth rereading, especially for the newer riders. Besides very important things like wearing proper gear including an armored jacket, full faced helmet, gloves, boots etc,. Other important factors like learning dew points and what they mean to you as a rider, following distances, reading road surfaces….. there are a few really big things that are my “golden rules” of riding.

As a lot of you guys know, I’m a huge proponent of practicing braking. Slow speed braking, high speed braking, braking in the rain, panic braking, braking, braking…you get the idea. There are really only two ways that you can avoid a situation caused by someone else, whether in a car or another bike. One is being skilled enough to brake out of the situation and the other is to be skilled enough to be able to ride out of it. The first is rather self explanatory….if you can stop SAFELY out of the way of the bad stuff, and also avoiding being hit from behind, you have “braked out of a situation”.

It takes lots of practice and time. Time to develop a sense for stopping on different surfaces and time to learn how your brakes work in the wet as well as the dry. You will learn that most tires don’t care if you are leaned over or riding straight up when you begin braking, they do care about total loads, leaning only increases the side loading allowing you less for stopping before they break contact . Since some like to nitpick, I won’t get into a physics discussion; you ARE smarter than I am, OK?

Can you out brake what your manual states your bike can do? Have you ever practiced or are you one of those potential dead riders whom assume that somehow, when faced with certain death, will magically execute a set of skills perfectly that they have never practiced and will avoid the side or grill of that truck? I say “potential dead” because truthfully, the only difference between you and the dead guy is a “situation”….when you are faced with your “situation”, you will die.

Scary to read it like that isn’t it? Go ahead, read that last sentence again.
I am not trying just to write something shocking, I’m trying to get you to see the facts…..we only get really good at those things we practice.

The second takes a bit more on an explanation. Many years ago (nearly 40), I had awakened in the middle of the night craving a smoke (yeah, I used to smoke). I was out of cigarettes and rode up to the local all night store for a pack.
On my way home was a decreasing radius, off-camber, left turn marked as a 25mph turn. My typical speed for this turn was substantially higher then was posted but this particular night I failed to take into account that I was tired and not fully awake.
As I entered the turn, the camber of the road surface literally “drove me off the road” and directly into a very large (36”+ diameter) OAK TREE. I remember thinking as my helmet & face crashed into the windshield of my handlebar mtd. Bates fairing, “Get to the side before the windshield hits the tree” which meant try to get my face and body to the side so I would not hit the tree full on.
Obviously, I succeeded and was thrown clear of the tree and did not make head-on contact or I certainly would have died. No more details are necessary for this discussion but suffice to say I was a hurting pup for a few days.
A couple years later as I was learning how to race and how to really turn, it dawned on me that I easily could have “ridden out of that situation”! All I had to do was to lean and ride, but I did neither and let the road drive me and it nearly cost me my life. Clearer now?

You CAN ride out of most situations, whether you caused them (entering a turn too fast) or not (car turning in front of you)!
If right now, this very second as you think to yourself…..you don’t have these two skills….LEARN THEM! Pay for a course, sign up at a local track, find them and learn them!

There are several other things that I’ve learned over the years that have helped me prevent me becoming another statistic. One of our other members mentioned the Hurt study that was done I believe at the University of Southern California back in the late 70’s or early 80’s. An excellent study, it was at the time of it’s publication, one of the if not thee best and most comprehensive study done to date on motorcycle safety and statistical chances. While there is a lot of good information contained in it, there are plenty of new studies and newfound ideas that deserve to be looked at.

There have been several experiments done that revealed that often, VERY often, there is this scenario. After the car hits you, if you are still alive, the driver rushes up to you and tells you with complete honesty “Sorry mister, I didn’t see you”. AKA as “SMIDSY” They aren’t lying, they really didn’t see you, DESPITE the fact that you could swear on a bible that you made direct eye contact. They found that while the car driver’s EYES saw you, their BRAIN never did! To explain it another way…..when they looked, they were looking for a car coming, when their brains didn’t see a car, they pulled out, or turned left in front of you, nearly killing you. The fundamental issue is that they were not looking for a motorcycle so even though you believe that you made eye contact, they never really saw you.

You can avoid being a statistic in this category by employing a method that forces them to see you….the Dragonfly Effect. By quickly weaving back and forth across their field of view, you cause them to see the movement, much as a dragonfly does and thus, notice you! I have been riding like that for many years and have NEARLY NEVER(can’t think of a single instance as I write this) had a car pull out on my or turn in front of me too close. I’ll admit, occasionally I still, even after all these years, feel a little weird doing a fast weave and sometimes it’s actually hard to do it because my balance point might not be centered….but I’ll swear by the results.
Often I’ve had cars BEGIN to pull out or turn only to quickly stop but since I’m still a good distance away when I weave, I have plenty of time for corrections.

Another big thing I attribute to never having had an encounter with a car is “keeping my head on a swivel”. How much do you REALLY trust that truck in the next lane? Think that hottie two lanes over isn’t going to answer that text message? Do you really think she’s looking out for you? Next time you’re driving your car, pay attention to this---when you see someone f’ing up while driving, look in their hand….chances are, they are holding a phone! I estimate that for every ten instances where I see a near accident, a cell phone is involved in 9 of them. Keep this in mind…people will spill hot coffee on their laps or run off the road or even nearly into a wall before dropping that damned phone. If you’re not guilty of it, you’ve seen it…..TRUST NO ONE while riding!
Keep looking around you, riding alive beats looking cool on your way to the funeral home!
Yeah, that “biker” riding down the road, looking straight ahead may think that he looks cool. We had one like that near my house 2 or 3 summers ago…..he’s dead now, hit by a car coming off an entrance ramp driven by a 20 y/o girl…who…yup, you guessed it….told the police that she never saw the bike. I still think of that guy every single time I ride past where it happened. Had he been constantly looking around him, paying attention to where cars are coming from….simply being aware of his surroundings, there’s a very good chance he’d still be alive.

I belong to other forums….one of them is a H2 forum because I own and ride a couple of Widowmakers, my tag on one even is “WDMKR”…..but I’ve always done my best to prevent it from becoming a fact, whether riding one of them or any other bike…..Great thread Fitz…..

jeff

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

Thanks for the tip, Fitz. I did some reading and I see that there is some discrepancy with the signals on the AMA website and the signals used in real life. Not big ones, but differences nonetheless. I'll keep my eyes open, so I know what's up.

Good advice, this. I started doing this on my very first ride. A truck was coming up on me fast from behind, and I could see that he thought my taillight was part of the 18-wheeler in front of me. A little light weaving later, he had slowed his approach greatly and I could breathe again.

 

Automate the "dragonfly."

Run a headlight modulator. They work.

 

Had my first extremely close call yesterday. I'm in the middle of three lanes, first in a very spread out pack of four cars. They're all behind me or in the right lane. Exiting from a parking lot on the right, a car edges out into the right lane. I employ the aforementioned dragonfly effect, slowing down in case the entering vehicle swings wide. Oh they went wide alright! They hovered in the right lane for a few seconds, then swung almost violently into the middle lane- MY lane. I don't like sharing with cagers! Because I was paying attention and ready, I exercised my horn and shot into the left lane, leaving the offending vehicle behind. At the next traffic light, I'm right next to the cager that nearly took me out and she's twirling her hair in her fingers, either completely oblivious or too nervous to even look at me.
I made it out okay. Shaken far after the fact, though.

 

all good points, not that long ago i was around 50 yards behind a big 4 wheel drive and (dont forget we are on the other side of the road here) the driver turned right and i assumed she was going right but she decided to do a 360 and keep going straight ahead,as it was only a small round about not much bigger than her turning circle, by the time i stopped i was just about onto my fuel tank and she was stairing at her satilite navagator thing and didnt even see me till i was level with the side of her car, anyway no damage done, but with all these gatgets and gizmos on the dash and in the dash,i think some people must believe there in a simulator and dont have a clue were they are going untill some recorded message tells them turn left or turn right,maybe untill the navigator thing tells them that there is a bike or something next to them they will just continue to not see us,its getting to the point i think that people are starting to rely on all these things to drive for them, like reversing cameras etc,instead of giving the attention that is really needed to drive any vehicle, i drive the same in the car as i do on my bike, once me and another bloke were driving a pilot vehicle and were 1st on the scene in a multiple death single car crash, you just dont forget how soft people really are.

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

Nice sunny Sunday morning, about 10:00 am or so, I'm coming down a long hill into a sweeping right hander....speed limit 55 I was probly going 60 or so. There's a NYS Trooper at a stop sign on the right. He turned my way, looked right straight at me and pulled out! I missed the left rear corner of that car by a couple inches.

There's nobody else on the road, visibility is unlimited, the cop's a 'trained observer'....yet he never saw me!! This was many moons ago and only luck got me thru that one but it was also when I realized that looking at the cager....cop, texting chick, Dale Earnhart Jr. or whoever....is not going to be any protection for you.

Now I watch the front tire, the instant that starts to turn I flick the brights on & off and immediately hit the brakes....it goes without saying that you need to be constantly aware of who and what is around you and how close, etc. but this little trick has bailed me out many, many times....and works in all sorts of situations.

Sure, every now and then yer gonna look like a dork but who cares about that!! You get to go home to dinner that night, that's all that matters!

 

I was in heavy traffic in North Orlando, 45 MPH, this young lady passed me on the right, steering with her knees - she was BRAIDING her HAIR in the left mirror!!
Well I had to see that again so I caught back up to see her steering with her wrists, texting on a drop-down keypad with the phone directly in the line of sight. Pure talent !

 

I came upon one "texting twenty-something" whose car kept "jerking" rather abruptly every few hundred yards.

She was plucking her eyebrows in the rearview, and her steering hand was reacting to each "pluck."

I guess it's not as bad as they guy I saw driving with his knees while texting WHILE he had his cell phone trapped between his ear and his shoulder so as to not interrupt that conversation either.

As big of an inconvenience as it would cause for me when in the car, I'm beginning to be a proponent of the impending Federally-mandated "jamming" devices to prevent ANY cell or text transmissions to/from a moving vehicle. Yes, it's draconian "overkill" but it's rapidly becoming a very good idea.

 

I like to read a page or two of this thread at least once a week and when I get to the end I start anew. Take that as my endorsement for a sticky.

It's that time of year again folks, rain after none brings a summer's worth of oil up to the surface and leaves are gonna start falling and gather on your favorite apexes.

I was on a small but excellent benefit poker run last saturday, more than half of the 25 or so riders knew eachother and a good third were club members. Everyone knew how to ride in a group except for like one guy about third in line. He was riding like he was solo and shifting lane position intelligently according to road hazards and whatnot but I sure got a laugh (from about 18 in line) when a long snake of staggered riders all swap from one side to the other to keep staggered formation with that wandering guy up there. After about the second stop it seemed that he would shift lane position and the entire rest of the formation would shift simultaneously instead of the movement working it's way back. Everyone had their peepers peeled and everyone was smart and observant and looking way ahead not just at the tire in front of them. I found a bit of humor in being on a "poker run" where the bikes were shuffling together like a deck of cards. It's a good thing.
Read up, ask questions, discuss with your riding buddies. That's what those stops at the diner of for

 

I'm not sure I would call Jamming devices Draconian overkill. When people prove them selves to be incapable of regulating themselves they need a little guidance. There is nothing in the bill of rights about people having the right to talk/text while driving.

I'm confused MB are you saying that guy was doing a good thing for the run by switching out of oil tracks? Or just commenting on the quality of the other riders who took it in stride and made it work safely?

 

BigFitz. I think it was you who suggested on this board, pointing at any driver that looks as though they might want to cut you off. I've got to say I have found that advice invaluable as a daily rider in downtown Los Angeles. Works like a charm every time. Or when it doesn't they are those drivers who glare at you like they're mad you didn't crash cause that's what they were going for when they cut you off.

 

I believe he was commenting on the fact that the noob didn't realize he wasn't giving anyone space in front or behind him when he was randomly switching lanes, AND the fact that everyone picked up on it rather quickly and changed lanes as a group so they were riding in the correct formation for spacing.

 

just a story to think about. yes, the noob up front was riding like he would alone not thinking about the guy in front of him or the pack behind. everyone behind was riding very well.

 

It was me, and it does work. I'm still not sure exactly why, but it really does get people's attention; kinda "stops them in their tracks." Which is the idea.

I didn't invent it; a long-time road rider told me about it years ago so I tried it (like you) and discovered how well it works.

Not as good as a headlight modulator though. (My new best buddy in city traffic.) I still use the "pointing trick" too.

 

How would the "Federally Mandated Draconian Jammer" be able to discern if a passenger or driver were texting ?? (drifting off topic a bit)

But there's a restaurant jammer that I'd like to wire into my bike.
Imagine riding in a 1,000 foot field of no cell phones !!
Of course, that might distract people into "redial" mode :cry:

 

Your wish is only a credit card number away.....LOL


http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cN ... t-jammers/

Seriously though, I have no idea how long it takes to "jam" the incomming signals or even if it would work as a mobile device....then again, there probably is some validity to the issue of someone frantically trying to troubleshoot there lost signal which might create a bigger problem!!

jeff

 

It wouldn't. That's one of the reasons I termed it "draconian." It would also be NICE if it could allow cellular voice calls while not allowing texting; but that distinction won't be made either.

Personally, it's worth the sacrifice. If I need to make/receive a call, I can pull over, if that's the price I have to pay to get people to put down the damn iPoof and drive.

 

Re: Be The Bunny! Safe riding and motorcycle survival threa

Personally I think the 'hands free' legislation is a total crock! Someone deep in conversation is completely distracted, their mind is not on driving. Whether they have one hand on the wheel or two isn't going to make any difference, they are focused on that phone call!

HANG UP AND DRIVE!

 

Here in the Peoples Republic of Maryland it's now illeagal to read a text while at a stop light or moving and a primary offense

Who tickets the state police or any other cop?

One, in a marked car, almost ran me off the road in my truck while on his cell phone with one hand and typing on the laptop with the other doing 70mph.

You can't fix or legislate away stupid, if it wears a badge or not.

 

Amen to that brother, I was watching yesterday, expecting to see a drastic reduction in the amount of visible cell phones, both being talked on and plunked on.....no difference from PG county to Pasadena.....

Most people didn't care about the law before and it's evident, they don't care now either. Someone on their phone is only mildly safer then the texter, neither is paying real attention to the road(and US) and the only real difference is that we can see that the texter isn't looking at the road....where as the talker will look right at you and never "see" you but you won't know that part. Again, don't trust anyone!!!

The law might actually help IF the state and county boys would start writing tickets but it's not going to happen and the governor is too busy making "make gay marriage legal" videos and doubling the tolls to make saving lives any type of priority.



jeff