itsbob
I bowl overhand
Around your neck if it's cold out..
Why you're invisible on a bike
- Thread starter aps45819
- Start date
Around your neck if it's cold out..
It generally means they know a bit about riding. It's is explained well and in a short bit of reading, here:
Lane Positioning | A Guide to Motorcycle Touring
Larry Gude
Strung Out
For us old guys, its so we can see it.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Visibility..
Granted different situations mean actually MOVING from the right to the left, but the rider wants to ensure he's as VISIBLE as possible.
Riding the left side of the lane makes you more visible to the people in front of you AND to the people coming at you.
Imagine a bike behind a truck riding in the center or the right side of the lane.. on oncoming car wants to pass. He clears the truck and darts into the left lane to pass, and takes out the bike..
Larry Gude
Strung Out
desertrat
0_0
Don't follow so close is another good way to avoid that. Make sure you can see up the road a ways and know what is coming.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Ed Zachary!
itsbob
I bowl overhand
I think that about captures the essence of my ride..
You can almost hear the angels singing in the background..
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If I installed lights like his on my '47, it would stall the engine every time I tried to turn 'em on.
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
Default lane position is where you'd be if you were sitting in a car, the left third of the lane.
ItalianScallion
Harley Rider
Hopefully. Her eyeballs were the size of golf balls because I was literally a foot and a half from her door.
It really depends on the road. On a 2 way street (one lane in each direction) I usually stay away from the center line in case the other driver drifts over it. I don't worry about the driver ahead of me seeing me. He can see and hear me because I watch him to see if he looks in his mirrors at me.
On a dual lane road (2 lanes in each direction) I usually stay close to the shoulder OR the median strip (if there is one). If there's no median strip, I usually ride near the shoulder line.
The center of any lane is usually not ridden in because that's where a vehicles' engine oil is dropped and can often be quite slippery.
Puddleducker
Member
I don't think we will all ever agree on loud pipes. Personally, I do believe that people hear me and look twice before changing lanes when they do. I have not had nearly as many close calls since I increased the volume. I do ride year round and have noticed that people do not look for motorcycles no matter the season. Maybe a mandatory "Look out for motorcycles" type video should be required viewing when you renew your driver's lisence?
I see people wearing reflective/flourescent colered vests and wonder how much they help. If you don't see an 800 pound motorcycle with its lights on, does it make a difference?
Let's just agree that we enjoy riding and not be judgemental about how others do it. I keep my distance from other riders as a general rule so I am not confused with the things they do. See you on the road but don't expect an wave. A head nod is my standard greeting.
I see people wearing reflective/flourescent colered vests and wonder how much they help. If you don't see an 800 pound motorcycle with its lights on, does it make a difference?
Let's just agree that we enjoy riding and not be judgemental about how others do it. I keep my distance from other riders as a general rule so I am not confused with the things they do. See you on the road but don't expect an wave. A head nod is my standard greeting.
ItalianScallion
Harley Rider
They absolutely do help. People are nosey and DO look to see what/where the noise is...not to mention all that chrome shining in the sun.
Puddleducker said:
PLEASE!!! I'd like to see 100 laws removed from the books this year. We don't need another law for the next 5 years...and besides, laws can't fix a persons inability to drive.
BadGirl
I am so very blessed
Most or the reflective flourescent jackets are "riding gear" and armored so they help a LOT when you slide down the road..
They also help A LOT if you and your bike get seperated in traffic, especially at night, they'll dodge your bike with it's lights on and, despite the probablility, will find your living breathing body lying in the road that they can't even see..
Riding a bike is risky.. no doubt about it.. and it's a personal choice how much less risky you want to make it.. You can wear gear, full face helmet, gloves... or you can wear shorts, flip flops and a beanie helmet..
If you ride a bike you have to KNOW that sooner or later the inevitable is going to happen. You're choice if you get to just brush yourself off and go home, or getting to wait for the 30 volunteers to show up to get you in an ambulance for (hopefully) an extended hospital stay..
You read in the papers almost everyday where someone has lost their lives in minor bike accidents.. you never read about the person wearing ATGATT that was in what COULD have been a serious accident and went home that same afternoon.
ops itsbob:
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
When I started wearing my fluorescent yellow mesh jacket, there was a noticeable difference in how car drivers reacted to me.
DEEKAYPEE8569
Well-Known Member
Short of wearing a strobe light on your helmet, that's the smartest thing to do. Riding a bike around here is just asking to be run over.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
desertrat
0_0
Asmodeus
....=o&o>
You are not invisible. They just don't care. Same people who say that, say the same thing when they hit a tree or an 18 wheeler... "I didn't see it"... Same answer when the moron slammed into the BACK of my over-sized Dodge Ram Quad-Cab pickup...
I've had them make eye contact with me and still try to merge into me... I've been on the ground staring at the sky while the woman is yelling... "I'm sorry I didn't see you!"
My answer? "Lady, WTF does that have to do with you running that stop sign? If you had STOPPED as the law states, I would have been through the intersection."
We are at risk because cagers are pricks by nature, care about nothing but themselves, rarely drive with courtesy and are too self-important to actually follow the traffic laws...
I've had them make eye contact with me and still try to merge into me... I've been on the ground staring at the sky while the woman is yelling... "I'm sorry I didn't see you!"
My answer? "Lady, WTF does that have to do with you running that stop sign? If you had STOPPED as the law states, I would have been through the intersection."
We are at risk because cagers are pricks by nature, care about nothing but themselves, rarely drive with courtesy and are too self-important to actually follow the traffic laws...
