A Big Fear!

One of my many fears on a bike. People either don't see you, or can't judge how fast you are going.

 

Ya gotta pay attention and expect the unexpected in certain situations.
My best friend in my life was killed exactly that way about 10 years ago.
70-something guy driving an old pick-up truck, tragically less than a mile from his home.

Hmmm... Seems like a situation when one shouldn't be listening to music while riding...:wink:

 

Yeah, gotta look out for the cagers with grey hair and a Caddy/Buick/Mercury land barge...

I always double check these vehicles on the road or approaching an intersection...

 

I agree, got to keep a sharp eye out, especially at the intersections. I've only been riding a few years. But if I got a dollar every time someone pulled out in front of me, or merged into me, etc. I'd be rich! It's the nature of the beast, the joy of a bike, and the ignorance of those around you. Ride safe and have fun.

 

I agree with the above, you have to pay attention all the time.

But ... you should also keep in mind that motorcycle statistics in the media are skewed. A guy in a car gets killed when another car pulls in front of him it's page 10. A guy on a bike gets killed when a car turns in front of him it's page 1. You have to ask yourself how many times each day does it happen to someone in a car vs. someone on a bike. It's probably 10:1 or more but the ones on the bike always make headlines so we see them more.

 

This is why I'm looking for high visibility helmet and jacket. Not fluorescent orange, but yellow seems to stand out well.

Anyone have yellow gear, or do some folks think fashion is more important and VFR riders should be in red or black? :wink:

 

I ride with a yellow Arai Signet for that reason. Yellow goes with black, red, everything. :biggrin:
I choose a yellow helmet because it looks like a big yellow light on top. Next time you are out riding, have a look around at different riders. I believe white and yellow are the best colors to be seen in and was my top priority when choosing a helmet.
Ride Safe,
George

 

Just rattle-canned my cheap helmet yellow. Squidly, but functional.

 

Derstuka, I take 2 reflective belts and wrap them around my backpack when I ride with it. They show up very nicely at night. Might work for you if you can't find the backpack cover.

Action

 

It does not matter how careful you are. You can't control drivers around you. This is a risk that we take and accept when we get on a motorcycle. Be smart and wear a helmet. I have seen too many people die from not wearing a helmet. I live in florida, no helmet law for riders above 21, and I always wear a my helmet. This year during biketoberfest I was leaving main street to go home. I come to the intersection of beach and main. there is a bike on its side with a body under it. She was still alive, but had massive head trauma. When a few other guys and I tried to get the bike off of her the bike burst into flames. She was burning alive for a few minutes, before we got the flames totally out. It was like living hell. Worse thing I have ever seen in my life. She died a few days later in the hospital. I dont know if she died from the head trauma, burns, or a combination, but I do know if she had been wearing a helmet she would have had a much greater chance of surviving. If you are scared of the dangers of riding....then dont ride a motorcycle. If you want to ride, then you have to accept the risk and dangers of riding. You only live once. Have as much fun as you can while you are here. WEAR A HELMET. I wasnt wearing my helmet that night. I could have easily been the victim. I missed being the one in the middle of the intersection by a matter of seconds.

 

I have a few left over from when I was in the Air Force. If you don't have any buddies in the military, I would think a surplus store would have them. They look something like this link

Action

 

Florida, 81 year old man, Caddie Driver, Exiting Walmart

I try to always be careful, but especially so around Walmart and Value City stores. :wink:

Use reflective tape Stuka, or just rub the Soul Glo from your avatar all over your body each morning so you are easier to see.

 

This is another example why loud exhaust alone can give a false sense of security... more often than not, the problem is that people in cars don't "see" you--their brains are only scanning for other cars. They could also scan for bikes and motorcycles, but that level of concentration would mean putting down their cell phone

 

Yellow Fieldsheer armored tex jacket.
I'll have a yellow or day-glo orange helmet in spring (budgeting until then).

I agree that I can more easily pick out yellow, orange and white helmets and jackets on other riders in traffic.
I also ride with Hi Beams on at all times except night, and after dark I am extra vigilant.

I spent a couple years as a bicycle messenger & moto-courier; I still have my Timbuktu courier bag (red w/yellow center panel), and I clip a couple of flashing bicycle tail-lights to it for commuting duty at night and foul weather.

Maybe not fashionable, but who cares?
I want to be seen, and if any sportbikers give me any grief, well, I'll just leave them tailing my unfashionable self in my wake!
A grey-haired grizzled biker-dude, on a VFR "old guy bike", with yellow and orange gear, spanking the youngsters on their crotch-rockets!

I definitely believe one should understand, accept and mitigate the risks as much as possible - No, the cagers still won't always see you, but you can take proactive measures to improve your odds.

I'm by no means a safety-Nazi; I certainly go fast, but I control what I can control and minimize risk as much as possible.

 

I agree with that statement. Rider's fault. It is MY sole responsibility to make sure I'm seen, not the person in the car. I'm the one who can be killed in most situations so I need to be the one looking out. Nobody else cares so you yourself have to care enough and recognize the situation.

I went to school in Jacksonville in the early 90's. I and rode my Blackbird to Florida a few years ago to visit. It's not a friendly place to ride in my opinion. Somewhere between the Georgia border and Jacksonville, people change for the worse! :yield:

 

I almost got clipped a few months back by a guy making a unsignalled right turn into Macdonalds from the left lane (i was in the right lane). It really drove the point home for me that you can wear all you want and have all the mods (my Xenon HID lights are rediculously bright, and I have several reflective doo-das on my person) but if you put yourself in those danger spots, danger will find you. :crutch:

My best friend Rob is walking again after his run in with an illegal left turning truck 3 months ago. His right arm still doesnt work completely from the nerve damage. Im just glad he is alive.

My girlfriend said to me recently "I couldnt get a bike because I dont like being flashy, I like low profile, I would want a black bike and dark gear, and thats not safe."

I agreed with her, but reminded her that this sport isnt all about the fashion, a little flashy goes a long way towards being seen. :smile:

I always wear my helmet and always wear my armor. I know one of these days I will probably wipe out (have already come close once or twice) or get clipped by a car, but I will keep both eyes open and alert, and maximize my chances of walking away from it all (or riding!!!).

Stay safe guys (and girls!) keep the adrenaline junky side for the track or a wide open road, and please dont trust the cages, they know not what they do or the power they have.