13 Observations from 40 years of motorcycling

[unfazed]

 13 Observations from 40 years of motorcycling
1.       Any rider can ride fast; the really good ones can stop fast.
2.       A flashing indicator just means the bulb is working
3.       Brakes only stop the wheels, it is how you apply that knowledge, is what stops the bike
4.       When following the leader do not assume he knows where he is going or what he is doing.
5.       Just because the rider in front did not brake for the approaching corner does not mean you don’t have to
6.       Just because the rider in front took the corner at a certain speed does not necessarily mean you can.
7.       Wait 3 seconds before taking off at a green traffic light.
8.       An insect inside you visor, especially a stinging one really ruins you concentration.
9.       When filtering, the exact second you break your concentration, the car in front will attempt to change lanes.
10.    When filtering up to red traffic lights watch for the “I’ll get out here brigade” especially on rainy days.
11.   If someone brakes on a straight road for no apparent reason, they may have seen the speed trap you didn’t.
12.   Just because the car driver looks you straight in the eye does not mean he saw you.
13.   Look at where you want to go and you will nearly always go there.
 
I am sure you can add a few more 
 

[fazersharp]

Here are some that I have seen
Sports bike riders have to wear one piece leathers that look brand new and will nod if there mates aren't watching-- so the one at the back of the group will nod you
KTM type riders have to wear a helmet with no visor with a up turned chin area-- goggles are allowed, and never nod
Riders on a Honda gold wings have to wear a open face helmet --pref two tone, a flip up helmet is also ok and will not nod but will salute
Blokes on big Harleys have to wear a German helmet --- or at the very least a matt black full face and will never nod
No one ever nods to scooter riders --not even other scooter riders, and are not allowed to do up their helmets and must at all times leave the two straps to dangle

[Hedgetrimmer]

A few more:
1. The sound of plastic and metal sliding down the road in a shower of sparks is not a pleasant one.
2. Every car driver is out to get you - treat them as such.
3. Unfamiliar blind crests always have a sharp bend on the other side.
4. You can never get the smell of Jizer out of your jeans. (No, the degreaser, dummy!)
5. Never go back to the bikes of your youth - you'll always be disappointed. (Keep those rose-tinted specs!)
6. Look at where you don't want to go, and that's just as assuredly where you'll end up.
7. Hedges make for very soft landings.

[mtread]

1. It's not about how fast you ride. It's about how you ride fast.

[His Dudeness]

Fair play lads there's some good ones there. Here's a few more. Haven't put much thought into them but

If you hit gravel on a corner go loose and let the bike slide around under you, don't fight it.
The same when filtering and you hit painted white lines.
If there's some twat an inch off your back wheel pull over and leave him go. It's not worth it!
Never park in a car space unless you leave the bike sticking out further than the cars around it.
If you run out of petrol make sure it happen as you're coasting into the petrol station
Always strap your airbed securely to your bike or you're in for a rough night
Don't be lazy when you're fixing stuff. If the screwdriver doesn't fit go and get the right one!

[Grahamm]

Just because you can see them does not mean they've seen you, so treat them as if they're blind (or just stupid).

Thinking "I had priority at that junction" as you're flying through the air will not make the ground hurt any less.

Just because someone else does 100mph in a national limit or 50 in a 30 limit does not mean you should.

Remember that cars have more tyres than you, so can stop quicker than you can.

Don't go around a bend or over a blind crest faster than you can stop if there's something unexpected that you can't see.

A diesel spill on a roundabout will help you get your knee down. Unfortunately it will also help you get your elbow, shoulder, lid and bike down too if you're going too fast to avoid it.

You do not have to prove anything to anyone, except that you're not an idiot.

[Lez72]

A nice strong coffee 1st thing in the morning is lovely before you set off on an epic ride. The fact you will need a p**s 10 minutes after squeezing into your leathers cuts that epic ride short most of the time 

[AdieR]

And one or 2 more:

A fast bike does not necessarily make a fast rider. A good rider on a basic bike will run rings round an amateur on a Fireblade.

Advice from a mate years ago, and which has stuck with me: "It's not diesel, or wet roads or dozy car drivers that cause accidents; it's not knowing how to deal with it that's a problem".

HGV's have, and create big blind spots: if there's a car in a side road (esp on the left) s/he may let that car go (due to the need for increased road space). Even if that car driver looks, s/he may not see a fast moving bike, as such it's a bad idea to go wazzing up on the wrong side of the road to pass the HGV (people have done this before today), and the average cager won't expect a bike hammering on the wrong side of the road either.

Learn to ride the bike you have, before trading up to the latest super-duper machinery (ie, don't run before you can walk).

Trust no-one on the road.

A car ahead jumping on the brakes apparently may signify a speed trap ahead; it may also be a driver not concentrating (a car full of passengers can be a clue, ie they're busy chatting to mates).

Everyone drops bikes, sooner or later; it's embarrassing, but it's part of the learning curve. Look on Youtube "Picking up a dropped bike" for methods to pick it up without doing your back.

Looking "through" the windows of a car can help clue you up on traffic events you cannot yet see otherwise.

[Frosties]

there's more


1. At anything over 20mph, a bee/fly in the face/neck/any exposed body part will feel like you’ve just been shot with a rubber bullet.

Animals have been put on this planet for the specific purpose of performing Kamikaze missions on passing motorcyclists. In rural areas, deer will wait in the roadside undergrowth, listening for the approach of a bike. At the very last second, when it’s far too late for you to take evasive action, they’ll fling themselves into your path, or maybe just leap straight for your head.


2. Forget the TV weatherman, you’re going to develop a better ability to read weather radar maps, cloud formations and wind patterns than anyone with an actual fookin degree.

3. Before you had a motorcycle, you always tried to find the quickest and most direct way to get around. Now that you have a bike, you’ll be willing to go 100 miles out of your way to visit the same place after telling the wife your popping out for a quick ride and returning hours later to receive a bollocking

4. Utility companies go around placing large, slick metal plates in the road, precisely where motorcyclists need to ride or, where to put their foot down. In the dry, fine. But, in the rain? A wet manhole (no s******ing, please) becomes a skating rink. Put a foot on one and your boot instantly slips, meaning you’ll drop your bike. Hit one while turning and you’ll be laying on the ground.

Road markings are as slippery as manhole covers in the wet.

And then there are tar snakes: cracks in the road filled with liquid tar - see above!

5. You Become A Better Car Driver.

6. Waving Etiquette applies - Do cruiser riders count?

7. Your bike's not going to melt in the rain 

[Fazerider]

7.       Wait 3 seconds before taking off at a green traffic light.

That reminds me of Shappi Khorsandi's explanation of traffic light etiquette in London:
Red and Amber means "Go"
Green means "Go"
Amber means "Go"
Red means "Just 3 more cars"

[b1k3rdude]

If you run out of petrol make sure it happen as you're coasting into the petrol station

[evesdad]

A nice strong coffee 1st thing in the morning is lovely before you set off on an epic ride. The fact you will need a p**s 10 minutes after squeezing into your leathers cuts that epic ride short most of the time 

Thats me that is

[mirdif64]

Aim to be the oldest rider in the group, not the fastest !

[bigralphie]

If you haven't crashed yet you not trying hard enough

[midden]

A nice strong coffee 1st thing in the morning is lovely before you set off on an epic ride. The fact you will need a p**s 10 minutes after squeezing into your leathers cuts that epic ride short most of the time 

you'd have thought after 40years they'd have sown willy attachable pipe into  leather inseams

[Lez72]

"Loaded with extras" = Covered in anodised shite 

[Hedgetrimmer]

If you haven't crashed yet you not trying hard enough

If you managed to turn a car on it's roof in a head-on collision, you're probably trying too hard...

[ChristoT]

If you haven't crashed yet you not trying hard enough

If you managed to turn a car on it's roof in a head-on collision, you're probably trying too hard...

Show off. 

[Stradaman]

There is always someone quicker than you,
Dont ever get the red mist.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Oh, and blue bikes are foccin slow