No replacement for defensive riding

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

So I rode in to work this morning kind of late. Just having a short day to get some reflective tape replaced on my work trailer. I had a level 2 DOT inspection and that was the only issue. Anywho. It’s a beautiful day, so I’m riding along enjoying the day. About 5 miles of my ride is on interstate. I hit that section and as I’m riding along I saw the car next to me creep into my lane! I sped up a little to get out of their blind spot and give myself more space if they kept coming. As soon as they noticed me they jerked their wheel and got back into their lane!
Here’s the thing, I have hi-vis yellow on my riding jacket, riding a screaming yellow iridescent bike with lots of chrome!!! And a dealer installed stage one exhaust that is not quiet!! Moral of the story is no matter what you do to add visibility never NEVER trust that drivers “see” you! Always ride like you’re invisible and never let your guard down.

Be safe, Robert

[bikeridertim]

 

[Two Checks]

Good advice but you admitted a failure in defensive driving.
You were riding in their blind spot. If you are there they couldn't have seen you.
Loud pipes? They point behind you. That's why horns face forward...unless you are on a Harley, theirs face straight down.

[Siamese]

Preachin' to the choir, man. 

On a previous bike, I had installed an air horn.  Still wasn't as loud as I'd have liked, but an improvement on the stock buzzer.  Haven't figured out a louder horn for my V7III Special, though.  I'd like a horn that makes them jump out of their seats when they aren't paying attention. 

I'm surprised that there aren't more horn options available for motorcycles.  Aren't we the ones who need a loud horn the most? 

[Guzzistajohn]

Right arm! I Typically ride as if they DON'T see me. And those blind spots  will make you into highway pizza!

[rocker59]

the color your wearing won't help if you're in their blind spot.  good lesson about staying out of drivers' blind spots!

The Ford Fusion I recently sold had a huge blind spot because of the small side mirror and the large B-pillar.  I could lose a full size pick up on my left rear quarter.  It was a pain.

[Lannis]

Right arm! I Typically ride as if they DON'T see me. And those blind spots  will make you into highway pizza!

Doesn't even have to be "the blind spot", although it's a good idea on general principles to stay out of it.

And I use  bright yellow 'Stich gear, but you can't depend on that.

These days, the huge number of text-impaired and phone-impaired people that are out there are crashing into the rear of, or drifting into the lane occupied by, huge yellow school buses with red lights and white strobes flashing, and fire trucks with 2000 watts of strobing lights DESIGNED to get people's attention, indicate that we have to take care of ourselves.   

As long as texting and phoning on the road is "socially acceptable" (whether illegal or not) behavior, we HAVE to ride as if we are invisible ... or pay the consequences.   It's frustrating that it doesn't do any good to blame anyone, but that's the hand we're dealt ...

Lannis

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Good advice but you admitted a failure in defensive driving.
You were riding in their blind spot. If you are there they couldn't have seen you.
Loud pipes? They point behind you. That's why horns face forward...unless you are on a Harley, theirs face straight down.

Sorry, I didn’t specify. My bad. I was in a middle lane of 5 behind traffic that was passing slower vehicles at about three miles faster than the slower vehicles. A pet peeve but not enough to start swerving in and out of traffic. The vehicle in question was at the front of the slow traffic and did not have their blinker on, otherwise I’d have slowed and let them over. And yeah I’m with ya on the loud pipes thing. Always seemed to me that they’re just letting people know that they’ve been passed. Mainly I mentioned it to head off the “loud pipes save lives” comments which invariably accompany posts about being seen. I should have couched it in better terms.

[Rick in WNY]

Eyes open, head on a swivel, ride like you're naked and invisible...

Glad to hear it was just an annoyance this time. 

[Don G]

Yup! You can ride loud hi-viz cycle as well as clothing, it does not really help much it seems, look at the statistics for people being run over by trains, now if that cannot be seen or heard, it makes one wonder. Look out for yourself! DonG

[severely]

I run a relay setup for the horn on all my bikes. Salvage yard Fiamm horn from F-150 trucks, 10 bucks, good, loud, cheap. Gets most people's attention.

[Ncdan]

The most effective piece of equipment I’ve ever experienced is simple a white helmet. It happens all the time for a cage driver to come speeding up to a stop sigh or light for a right turn, to look at me and slam on breaks instead of continuing to pull out in front of me. Often the driver or passenger will put on their seatbelt before proceeding after I go by. I guess there’s no need to explain this phenomena👮‍♂️

[Bert Remington]

We're all human and this article helps us understand that: https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/

[Marquezdl]

The best single piece of advice regarding riding a motorcycle that I have ever received was from my NCOIC way back in 1976.  He told me to always assume that every other vehicle on the street is trying to kill me.
That advice has always proven prudent.

[poorBob]

I run a relay setup for the horn on all my bikes. Salvage yard Fiamm horn from F-150 trucks, 10 bucks, good, loud, cheap. Gets most people's attention.

Yeah, yeah yeah! GuzziSteve installed 2 Fiamm horns complete with relay on my Stelvio right after I bought it. Will knock the phone right out of a texter's hands. Loud enough to make me giggle when I activate horns from saddle. My brother hit horn button inside his garage and ears were ringing afterwards. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Preachin' to the choir, man. 

On a previous bike, I had installed an air horn.  Still wasn't as loud as I'd have liked, but an improvement on the stock buzzer.  Haven't figured out a louder horn for my V7III Special, though.  I'd like a horn that makes them jump out of their seats when they aren't paying attention. 

I'm surprised that there aren't more horn options available for motorcycles.  Aren't we the ones who need a loud horn the most?

On my V7iii I mounted a pair of Fiaam freeway blasters with a solid feed and relay, they are loud.

[Scout63]

+1 on the Fiamm horns. High and low together are best.  Also, take an MSF advanced rider course every few years. A little dirt bike riding never hurts.

[larrys]

Another +1 for Fiamms. Had a set on my SP. Would brush a cage over a full lane with one blast.
Larry

[rocker59]

The most effective piece of equipment I’ve ever experienced is simple a white helmet. It happens all the time for a cage driver to come speeding up to a stop sigh or light for a right turn, to look at me and slam on breaks instead of continuing to pull out in front of me. Often the driver or passenger will put on their seatbelt before proceeding after I go by. I guess there’s no need to explain this phenomena👮‍♂️

Yep.  White helmets are great!

[mechanicsavant]

I worked for a local municipality, our 30 yard Mack trash trucks had a dozen (really) rear lights 1/2 of them strobes & about that same amount up front & running lights on the sides ! They got hit on a regular basis & the “hitter” always said , say it with me, “I didn’t see you”
I firmly believe ya can’t drive with yer head up yer arse . Add in the cel fone loud radio & passengers . We’re lucky to have made it this far ! Just saying .

[LowRyter]

Stay out of blind spots, hit the gas and get away from traffic.  If you can't escape traffic, stay out of blind spots.

Keep your head up and look where you're going.

Check your mirrors and get away from traffic, leave your self an escape route when stopped (it would be safer to filter in traffic if legal)

[twowheeladdict]

The best single piece of advice regarding riding a motorcycle that I have ever received was from my NCOIC way back in 1976.  He told me to always assume that every other vehicle on the street is trying to kill me.
That advice has always proven prudent.

Which is why 90 percent of my riding are on vacant to near vacant roads.  The 10 percent is stressful enough.  Can't imagine it the other way around. 

When I was commuting to work I would go in for 6 AM and off at 2:30 PM.  A whole lot less traffic at those times. 

I don't think I have had an occasion to use my horn in several years now. 

[nc43bsa]

I have to have a state safety inspection for my Mille every year.  I usually go to the car repair shop a half mile down the road, and I tell the inspector that if he needs to honk the horn to do it outside.

He forgot my warning one time, and when I came back for the bike he said all the techs jumped when he tested the horn.  It has two Voxbells.

[ampm7]

Be careful of the cars passing in the very right lane on the freeways going 90+ miles an hour. I see it all the time. And why is it usually a white colored car?

[pressureangle]

Good advice but you admitted a failure in defensive driving.
You were riding in their blind spot. If you are there they couldn't have seen you.
Loud pipes? They point behind you. That's why horns face forward...unless you are on a Harley, theirs face straight down.

Exactly.

"The car next to me". Dead giveaway. Pun intended.

[Lannis]

The most effective piece of equipment I’ve ever experienced is simple a white helmet. It happens all the time for a cage driver to come speeding up to a stop sigh or light for a right turn, to look at me and slam on breaks instead of continuing to pull out in front of me. Often the driver or passenger will put on their seatbelt before proceeding after I go by. I guess there’s no need to explain this phenomena👮‍♂️

I had to think about it for a minute.   In a place like where I live, where 90% of the people have never seen a policeman on a motorcycle, it doesn't have quite the same effect ....

Lannis

[Ncdan]

I had to think about it for a minute.   In a place like where I live, where 90% of the people have never seen a policeman on a motorcycle, it doesn't have quite the same effect ....

Lannis

Yep but either way the white helmet sticks out like a sore thumb 👍
Pay attention the next time you observe one and it’ll dawn on you.

[twowheeladdict]

Yep but either way the white helmet sticks out like a sore thumb 👍
Pay attention the next time you observe one and it’ll dawn on you.

I wear yellow when going into town, but I also have extra lighting on my bikes which makes a huge difference.  Not speeding helps as well. 

[Ncdan]

I wear yellow when going into town, but I also have extra lighting on my bikes which makes a huge difference.  Not speeding helps as well.

Absolutely on the speeding issue 👍👍

[Lannis]

Yep but either way the white helmet sticks out like a sore thumb 👍
Pay attention the next time you observe one and it’ll dawn on you.

I'll pay particular attention in future to see if I'm noticing "without noticing" that I'm noticing.

I DO know that after I saw a rider half-a-mile ahead of me because of his bright yellow 'Stich, I bought a yellow Nolan and a yellow 'Stich my own self ....

Lannis