One of the best games to play while riding is "what if", because about 1 in 20 drivers will make you use the answer...

 

While on the superslab (interstate) never allow yourself to get surrounded (boxed in) by traffic. Get out front are keep a safe distance behind. This also applys when in the passing lane when a slow truck is trying to pass a slower truck, wait until the passing lane is opened up. Ride Safe.

 

be like your mom, grow eyes in the back of your head. And assume the cager cant/doesnt see you! I learned how to ride in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where its like formula one racing going anywhere in that city. (result: became very defensive rider/driver)

 

When I ride, I am on a mission that I MUST complete, and all others are out to kill me. Any one of them could be the enemy, and I must be on full alert, trying to stay one step ahead of them, always ready to react.

This has kept me accident free for nearly 30 years of riding.

 

Never let you bike take you someplace that your brain did go 5 seconds earlier.

 

When in doubt, stay on the gas.

 

Just remember that everyone in a cage is out to get you

 

When on tree lined or corn field situations "back roads" I always look way ahead looking for breaks in either that may indicate a cross road or intersection where a vehicle may be crossing or turning onto the road I am on.

When on the slab and encounter those goofs that pass you then slow down, you pass them then they pass you..I tolerate it maybe 2 times then pass them and stay on throttle till they are small in my mirror.

When passing any large truck/semi, bus, RV/motorhome or vehicle pulling a trailer I hang back and make sure I can completely pass them (so as not to have to ride next to them) before passing and when I do and re enter their lane I accelerate to leave a large gap between us.

When passing while leading a group on a 2 lane road, to let those behind know it is safe to pass, I will hang in that left lane until all behind me have passed safely before I return to the right lane.

 

When passing Semi Trucks, don't dilly dally.
Git-er-done.

 

Watch out for people on their cell phones, becaus they sure as heck ain't watching out for you.

 

Taking out note book too know what to do in a scenario.... Riding along enjoying all the scenery and thinking of nothing and then I see a slow moving truck ahead that is being overtaken by another truck whilst closing the gap on a crossroads with high corn on either side. What the hell do I do now...

I think to myself grab that wad of notes from your pocket and read up on how others have handled this situation/s... Then I realise, hang on though, had better pull up first or else it could be dangerous, I wonder to myself, will that car behind me stop or slow enough to match my speed, does it (the driver) even see me, oh! I knew I should have taped these instructions to the tank....

Slow down, pull over, stop, reach into my pocket and, oh! no, I left the notes on the kitchen table, well I guess I had better sum up the set of conditions as and only when they arise and do what I believe to be best for the situation..... Ah! back to riding with just me and the GOD......

 

No notebooks needed. No matter how long someone has been riding we can develop bad habits. I like this thread because it can give seasoned and new riders alike,food for thought. Maybe some of us have been living dangerously and did not realize the mistakes we have been making. Or the potential hazards we have been putting ourselves in. Never to old are experienced to learn.ld1:

 

In California:
Split lanes only when there is room
There is no shame in letting a faster bike go by.

 

I always move around in my lane to give others the best line of sight of me. You are in with a group of cars and you see at an intersection that there are cars trying to get out on the left, I move to the left so they see me and don't think there is a break they can squeeze into and vice versa. I always try to be where I have the most visiblity to be seen.

Last week my wife ask why I parked with the bike almost hanging out of the parking space. I said you know I usually park away from everyone, but I have no choice because they are so crowded. Someone will see the bike and not think the spot is empty. Have seen bikes pulled the whole way in, someone thinks it is empty trying to beat the car coming the other way and runs into/onto the bike.

 

Some lessons I learned the hard way:

Helmets (usually) keep the gray matter on the inside

When the rear tire breaks free in a turn, slowly ease out of the throttle until traction returns. Too fast and you'll high-side.

Always have an escape route

At red lights, position yourself where you can shoot the gap if someone tries to rear-end you

Hot tar snakes are the devil

 

When talking to the dear always be alert for the deer. I do a lot of riding in tree'd areas and I can't count how many times I have had to make an emergency stop for wildlife.

 

I'm hyper aware at bad T- intersections where only the other guy has to stop, but I always go past them at speed so they judge the intersection traffic at normal or slightly above speed. If people with the right of way start slowing down at the those intersections then the stopped guy judges traffic at a slower pace and may pull in front of someone who is going the normal pace.

 

There are many, many lessons learned and more to come.

One of them is when going thru an intersection, if possible, pace a larger vehicle so they can be the "blocker" for the guy that runs the red light.

 

How about a video?

 

Remember drivers ed on my first merge in a cage, the Instructor put his leg over the tunnel and push my foot down on the accelerator... Never forgot it.

 

The best advice I ever received was "make yourself seen". Never ride in a blind spot. Make eye contact with other motorists whenever possible.

 

I sure hope that instructor lost his job...... Seems rather a dangerous act to perform with a sweating learner at the wheel.....

 

Different time and old school and I have to add I saw it as a positive experience about it is a merge lane used to get up to speed. Also at a time when most drivers would let someone in as a courtesy and paying attention to task at hand. Being a teenager enjoyed being able to do a quick acceleration and had been riding on the road with a Suzuki for about year before on a Motorcycle Permit (exceeded horsepower limits of course)

See your point though and would have freaked out a person new to the road. Now makes me wonder if he had picked me to make his point or just the luck of the draw...

Always try to ride left or right of center lane, not as much today as years ago, but that is where the grease and oil lands.
If riding with a partner, a short brief on signals to be used and expected etiquette, don't assume he knows as to right or left side passing.

 

I'd like to add another thing I watch while riding. I always keep an eye on the steering tires of vehicles while passing or being passed. Gives an idea of what they are doing and catch them if they decide to move into you or turn in front of you before you are clear.

 

A little mental game I play to keep myself alert is "Identify the Immediate Threat." Figure out what the most critical obstacle/driver/animal/etc is to avoid and work out the escape route. As soon as that one passes, identify the next. Kind of alarming sometimes how many people are out to kill you.

 

Sometimes a little lateral (side to side) motion can help make you be seen by oncoming traffic, against whatever background, especially as so many cars have daytime running lights now, too.

 

I don't let myself get caught between any off ramp and any cager. Seen those idiots shoot across traffic [at speed!] to barely make the ramp too many times. We just got back from a little 3000 mile ride, and have just about seen all the scenario's. The 'won't speed up for $h!t' till you try to pass them idiots are the one's who get me. A little roll on, and the're history.