If you are not fully aware don't ride that day.
Keep your head on a swivel.
Be visible.
Keep your head on a swivel.
Be visible.
Riding seniors and cognitive decline
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This isn’t TOO bad of a thing. So long as you react INSTANTLY when anything happens outside of the expected ‘norm’ during that time. Harder on a bike, though just because of how much more ‘raw’ the experience is. Though after long periods it tends to tire riders out so they suffer for reaction times…
I found after I started riding on the street, many many moons ago, that while driving my cage I was more aware of what was going on around me.
Eric
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Since I have my CDL, ride 4 styles of bikes and whatever vehicle I happen to be in I have to be fully alert and ready to react in every vehicle. The motorcycles had me learning tricks of the trades though. Watching the other lights and traffic before entering the intersection, looking through the windows of other vehicles to see further down the road. Braking different distances according to load, speed and road conditions. Be safe for you and others in or on all of your rides.
One tip I really appreciated learning was to watch the front wheel of a car at an intersection. If it moves get ready to escape.
Not many many moons for me but same result. Also, my wife has told me that since I started riding she is much more aware and mindful specifically of bikes.
@swifty2014 I'm always looking for telltale signs of a car and thats a great tip!
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So many people 'creep' at stop signs and stop lights. That slow roll, as if it will save some time.
I watch their head as well. Almost everyone looks to their right at an intersection. What I see happen is the right side is clear, they jerk their head to the left, start taking their foot off the brake at the same time (before anything to the left registers in their brain), and they creep. The either 'see' what is coming and jam the brake on, or they hit the gas, panic, slam the brakes on, or they gas it and clear out, cause any nearby traffic to jam their brakes on.
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Did you get trained in the Smith System? I had access to a training module our transportation group had, and I watched it. Good stuff that applies to driving in general, not just trucks.
My experience has been that many more truck drivers are aware and thinking 3 or 4 steps ahead than almost every car driver.
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Funny you post this in a MC forum. You make yourself out to be the type of driver that ends up not seeing MCs and causing accidents. Can't tell if you're trolling for something here or not, or trying to be funny, but if this is legit how you drive, sell the bike.
I didn't get trained on the Smith System.
I'm not for more classes or regulations from the government but getting my CDL brought back things I either ignored or disregarded for years. One big one that comes to mind is to slow down 5mph as your are approaching a light that has already been green. If the light does turn on you you can either speed up if under the light, not speeding, or stop quicker because of the 5mph slower.
Height advantage and seeing way down the road in a truck is helpful.
I think what scares me more is seeing these heavy duty pickups pulling a 50' trailer. What scares me about them is fully loaded and someone pulls in front of them just thinking they are a pickup not realizing a 40,000 lb GCWR where they (Can't) stop.
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Last ride I took was 4 days . About 800 mi. Just left , then right , found a motel when I got tired . And eventually found the road home .... Great trip. Saw some awesome racing , some deer , good looking women .. had good food .... Yea , great trip ... I reccomend one every chance you get ......I didn't say use the satnav all the time. Just to make sure you find your way home.
Smoker admits he's green on bikes. Well, Smoker let's put it this way, you might as well be in a fighter jet once you enter the motorcycle scene. Lots of hand/eye, lots of coordination, and 100% concentration, this is combat fighting in the air, call it a street. Your only wingman is the cranium talking to you or you talking to it. Choose income stream.
The hypnosis on the road is for sure dangerous. Twice I have nodded out on the bike, both times it woke me up. It was that push to get home. Not smart. But those were extreme kind of events if I recall. But to just jump on a bike and dream this or that went by is more safe in a car if something happens. The bike riding is more a T-type person with a touch of those traits.
I mean, we a talking about a sport. This is the ball [bearing] on two wheels. You sort of have to know this going in. A game, you get hit, you'll most likely get up. In a sport, you get hit, it's lights out, you don't get up kind of sport. Die in a boxing ring? Yep. Die in any wheel, prop, blade machines? Every year. Mountain climbing seem like a game or a sport? Right chew are tumbling off those body shredding rocks.
So it's full steam ahead are you about to find a fender with your name on it. Get my drift... (heading for that wall if I recall)
Signed,
NOLTT
The hypnosis on the road is for sure dangerous. Twice I have nodded out on the bike, both times it woke me up. It was that push to get home. Not smart. But those were extreme kind of events if I recall. But to just jump on a bike and dream this or that went by is more safe in a car if something happens. The bike riding is more a T-type person with a touch of those traits.
I mean, we a talking about a sport. This is the ball [bearing] on two wheels. You sort of have to know this going in. A game, you get hit, you'll most likely get up. In a sport, you get hit, it's lights out, you don't get up kind of sport. Die in a boxing ring? Yep. Die in any wheel, prop, blade machines? Every year. Mountain climbing seem like a game or a sport? Right chew are tumbling off those body shredding rocks.
So it's full steam ahead are you about to find a fender with your name on it. Get my drift... (heading for that wall if I recall)
Signed,
NOLTT
You talked me out of riding ever again
All kidding aside, enjoy the ride, but don’t let your guard down. Stuff happens out there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well, after 35 years and approximately 1 million miles of driving vehicles that aren't motorcycles, and having no serious accidents, I can say I'm not a bad driver -- even if I'm zoned-out or operating on auto pilot.
But as far as my maybe 500 miles of total lifetime experience riding motorcycles on public streets .... I can't tell if my current level of caution will remain in effect permanently.
I ride like a ball in pinball machine. I am dodging one car running a light, a car pulls out in front of me, a car moves in my lane, a car turns left in front of me, the car drifts out of his lane and into mine, head on as she goes. I must admit, I love and live for the action. A big NOTE... On the right bike that is.
I wouldn't count on all those years of driving experience, the safety record, the bad habits [if any-if applies], it's more a wakeup call, not to be so kocky as to here, hold my beer, watch this wheelie thru the intersection 500 miles in me pocket already.
I wouldn't count on all those years of driving experience, the safety record, the bad habits [if any-if applies], it's more a wakeup call, not to be so kocky as to here, hold my beer, watch this wheelie thru the intersection 500 miles in me pocket already.
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I've only been riding again a short while, I'm mid 60's and being on 2 wheels makes me feel more alert.
I haven't dumped it yet but a zealous youngster did shift lanes and almost pushed me into oncoming traffic a couple days ago. I avoided it, fishtailed a little when I locked the back wheel. All was well, I arrived at my destination 3 minutes later and that's where the fallout began. Clipped the helmet in that little push lock, picked up the part I went for, went back to the bike... noticed tail light was on. I had left the key in and in the on position. Anyone could have taken it. Used so much brain avoiding an accident I didn't have any left to secure the bike after parking.
I haven't dumped it yet but a zealous youngster did shift lanes and almost pushed me into oncoming traffic a couple days ago. I avoided it, fishtailed a little when I locked the back wheel. All was well, I arrived at my destination 3 minutes later and that's where the fallout began. Clipped the helmet in that little push lock, picked up the part I went for, went back to the bike... noticed tail light was on. I had left the key in and in the on position. Anyone could have taken it. Used so much brain avoiding an accident I didn't have any left to secure the bike after parking.
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About all you can do is take a deep breath . Ride till your body re centers itself . Then get back to enjoying life . Daily occurance in most traffic areas . I prefer the route less traveled .....
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