Learn to play the game

Most of us veteran riders already have these abilities (hopefully) mastered but maybe some newb's may learn something from this article in the new Motorcyclist in the MC Garage→street savvy
page 60..

 

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/news/top-15-motorcycle-tips-street-riding-safety
This is not the one I saw in the new January 2015..couldn't find....but still good info....dont read it on line..still get the magazine

 

Online articles from MC Garage are usually about a month or so behind the print issue.

Tip,

Something that can help with lane position in relation to cars in the adjacent lanes left or right: Blind spot warning systems. Many cars made over the last several years have these systems. There is usually an amber indicator in the outside mirrors that will illuminate when an object is in a cars blind spot. Some cars have the indicator in the A pillar in the interior. Either way this waring light is highly visible. If your come up along side a car & you see this, you need to find a more visible place to be. Of course this isn't a substitute for being vigilant. And since many cars don't have these systems it's not 100%. But it is another tool we as motorcyclist can use to help save our bacon.

 

That's what that yellow light thing is! I thought it was somebody wanting to talk or text me.


Online versions of print mags differ in many cases starting with the covers graphic and pix. Some print mags available from libraries have video links to some articles. Other mags are Ezines only, Stiill others, publish truncated articles or mini-versions and require "registration, a word that really means, Show us the pesos!".Generally to get all the poop from either type mag requires a paid subscription.

Axiom: It is the prime responsibility of any communicartion medium to support itself. This does not include Ouija Boards or holding hands in a dark room talking to dead guys.

Ain't no standardization no how.

 

When has that ever happened BB?

 

I use, and have for years, all of these techniques except one now. That's the bright lights during the day. I have noticed and been blinded during the day by some of the motorcycle head lights that are used today. I got to thinking this is not a good situation. If it happens to me it must happen to others also.

We all know that at least half the cage operators on the road are barely capable of safe operation. I'd hate to blind one and they serve in to my path. When I did run with the high beam on I did notice some people squinting like they couldn't see. Since then I don't use a high beam during the day. My low beam should be good enough and not blind anybody. I haven't experienced any difference in cager action between the low and high beams. In other words it's just a normal day on the road.

Good tips by the way. Every rider should get to know and use them. Except the light thing.............

 

I used to ride with high beams on during the daytime. The high should not bother the oncoming traffic during the daytime. To a large degree, the brightness that causes squinting is proportional to the ambient light. So in broad daylight, especially on a sunny day, your eyes should already be adjusted to a large degree to bright light. If a person was to star directly into high beam lights, I agree they may squint a bit but hey, don't look there idiot. (Not you of course Bud).

But I do recall reading a couple years back that you could be doing yourself a dis service by riding on the highway during the daytime with your bright lights on. Somewhere, someone did a study suggesting that judging the distance and speed of an oncoming vehicle with brighter lights is very inaccurate. I believe the results of that study showed that the bright lights, compared to the normal headlights, make the vehicle appear to be farther away and going slower. Now, if true, that is really a hazard to us riders.

Wished I could find that study and post a link for you all to ready but hell, I forget where my socks are after I have put them on.

 

Same thing happened to me not long ago...this guy must of had HID high and low beamed on and blinded the crap out of me...I have only HID Low beams and used to ride with both on..not anymore. ..
sometimes especially around dusk splitting lanes I'll flash my high when it's apparent that the gager is doing something other the driving...texting and drunk driving pretty much look the same....good point there

 

Randy I to saw that article not to long ago...early part of this year maybe

 

We know bro.....

 

I'll add one more to the list. I read somewhere to ride in side of the lane that is closest to the vehicle. For example, if you're on a highway and in the left lane approaching a vehicle that's in the right lane, use the right side of your lane to be visible in the driver's side view mirror. I use this when I'm in traffic and it's served me well. I also always use my brights in the daytime. I figure the more visible the better.

 

If you can't see them in there mirrors they cant see you...Steble horns help... ..always have that left thumb at the ready

 

Pretty good advice there.

I dislike bikes with high beams in the daytime, so I don't use them myself.

I try to stay far away from the car I'm passing that's going in the same direction. If he twitches I want some distance to react.

Avoiding the blind spot is something everyone needs drilled into their head.

I, very, very rarely ride in the middle of the lane, even if there's no traffic. And in traffic I'll never ride in the middle. That's where the junk accumulates, and the cars can straddle it, but you need to be able to avoid it.

 

Where can I get some of those for my bikes and cars? I'm tired of getting laughed at when I wear my tinfoil hat in Walmart.

 

By junk, this is true, By hazard factor we are talking any thing that has leaked from vehicles. Mainly hydrocarbons that act as solvents when combined with asphalt. Add water and ya sometimes get emulsions. This is true not only at speed but at intersections. Seen dudes dead center gas it, off the line, lose traction and what hits the road ain't rubber. Other not so popular spots are pad in filling stations that only receive minimal cleaning with just a hose and some tap water.