Someone just died on Broadway in Gary from a MC vs. car collision.
Easy for me to avoid the suburban/urban traffic because I live 6 miles outside of Lowell, 7+ outside of Cedar Lake and about 8 miles outside of Beecher!You might have a point. When I get back in the saddle I might avoid town as much as possible.
I had a moose run out in front of me while we were up in Ontario. Far enough that I found it an awesome experience but close enough that I said "F+<K" a couple times to myself.We do the majority of our riding in rural areas. Then on the lookout for deer.
Yup. Last year I noticed the majority of serious injuries & deaths in NE IN did not involve another car.Easy for me to avoid the suburban/urban traffic because I live 6 miles outside of Lowell, 7+ outside of Cedar Lake and about 8 miles outside of Beecher!
But seriously if you look at the accident statistics moto riders tend to run into stationary object more frequently than we'd like to admit. But after that, it is the dreaded driver crossing traffic that kills us the most frequently; typically someone making a left turn across traffic.
Listening to you adventures reminds me of reading David Hough's books...I had a moose run out in front of me while we were up in Ontario. Far enough that I found it an awesome experience but close enough that I said "F+<K" a couple times to myself.
Do you remember anything from the accident? Were there any signs or did you have time to react?Way I see it, you can train to avoid stationary objects pretty much 100% of the time, but with other drivers you can do everything right and still end up in a hospital bed or morgue. That's what makes it worse imo.
You have to ride with an escape plan constantly. You must know where you will go when others try to kill you.
Every vehicle at every intersection just might try to kill you. Any oncoming vehicle just might try to kill you. Any vehicle moving the same direction as you just might try to kill you.
Maneuverability and the throttle can get you out of as many bad spots as brakes.
I'll ask you - when you're approaching an intersection with an unguarded left, and waiting traffic, would it be wise to use a car in another lane traveling along with you as a "shield"?
I typically try to avoid be along side another car, or worse in the blind spot; but in those cases, that left turning car would be more likely to see them. And I would think the worst place would be a second in front because the left turner might try and beat the traffic (i.e. the car they see) and cross your path (i.e. the motorcycle they don't).
EDIT - as to the escape plan, it's also more pro-active than just re-active.
Case in point: Heading home last light I came upon a stretched out GSXR, rider with a FF helmet and GoPro mounted on top.
There two lanes heading North, and light traffic, but this dude was right up on the tail of the SUV in front. He stayed fixed in that tight position for two miles or more. He could have passed any time he wanted to.
Why would you intentionally put yourself in a spot where you have no time to react when you don't have to?
I just passed them and went on, but watching in my mirror.
Good advice sir. Using a car as a shield is good idea. I use this all the time without really putting much thought into it. I also always cover the front brake (two fingers on brake lever) while in town or in traffic. Also running a gear lower will help in sprinting to safety if necessary.
I'll ask you - when you're approaching an intersection with an unguarded left, and waiting traffic, would it be wise to use a car in another lane traveling along with you as a "shield"?
I typically try to avoid be along side another car, or worse in the blind spot; but in those cases, that left turning car would be more likely to see them. And I would think the worst place would be a second in front because the left turner might try and beat the traffic (i.e. the car they see) and cross your path (i.e. the motorcycle they don't)...
The motorcycle safety classes advise against always riding there. There are good reasons to sometimes ride there. There are good reasons not to under other circumstances.I always try to ride in the same path as the drivers side tires ahead of me. ...
The motorcycle safety classes advise against always riding there. There are good reasons to sometimes ride there. There are good reasons not to under other circumstances.
I prefer the drivers side or left track. I do not want to get pinned against the curb or apron. I can also peak around the car ahead slightly and show my headlight to traffic ahead such as someone turning left. Do you recall what situations you would not want to be in the left track? I've heard this before but can't come with anything.
Motorcyclegear has KLIM armored moto pants on sale. Ordered myself a pair of the KLIM Outrider pants. https://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/pants/textile_pants/klim/626_outrider_pants.html
Arrived in 3 days and have been wearing them during the hot weather. Not bad in the heat. Not a cool as my mesh Rev'it pants but really not too bad.
Look and wear about like a pair of Carhartt work pants. Got the khaki color. I wear a waist 36 pair of Wrangler blue jeans, ordered the KLIM Outrider is size 36 and they fit just a bit looser than the Wranglers, so plenty of room for an IWB holster with a 1911.
Legs are cut pretty loose on the Outrider pants, no problem wearing these over a pair of cycle boots. Good pockets, rear right has a flap and closure. Rear left is a traditional patch style bluejeans type pocket. Front left & right slash pockets that are deep enough to actually hold things. Front right also has a "spare change" pocket inside the slash pocket. On the left leg is a cell phone pocket that will hold any normal size cellphone but not sure it will accommodate the + size phones.
KLIM Outriders come with included Hip Armor, CE Level 1. The armor sits in small mesh pockets and is unobrtrusive. CE Level 1 Armor sits over the knees, it is adjustable from outside the pants and velcro holds the armor exactly where you want it to sit. The front of the pants have a long channel that goes from just above the ankle to mid-thigh and the knee armor can be secured at most any point in that channel.
From the appearance standpoint the pants look very much like heavy duty khaki work pants. There is definitely a utility look to them. The legs are cut in a "relaxed" fit cut so they are not flattering. The double layer on the front of the pants look similar to a pair of upland style hunting pants. The material is a Cordura fabric for wear residence but its got a fairly soft feel to it and the pants don't "swish" when you walk. This is really a pretty good pair of moto pants for 'blending in' to crowds as they don't look like armored moto pants. The knee armor can be removed in about 30 seconds and replaced just about as fast, so if you ride to a festival or fair and plan to spend the day walking around you can do so without the armor, just pull it out when you arrive and stow it with your helmet. Reinstall when you depart. No real hassle.
In a 2 lane highway situation you want to be on the far right side of the roadway so you don't get blown around the road by oncoming trucks.
When a car is entering the roadway from the right side you want to be on the left side of your lane so you can be seen from farther away.
When someone is turning across traffic and will cross your path its often better to be on the left side of your lane, or in the left lane if you are on a 4 lane road.
When on a multi lane road you are safest on the right side of the right lane.
So its a situational issue, and there are many other situations but you should generally be on the right side of the right lane, or you should be moving from one position to another to adjust for a situation you see that is developing in front of you.
This tells me I should take at least one advanced class. What you posted is not what we were taught 40 years ago. We were taught to ride in the left side of your lane on a single lane and in the left side of the left lane on a multi lane road. For one so the person infront of you sees you in the side and rear view mirror along with those entering the road from the side streets.
And it kept you out of the center of the lane oil slick that used to cover the road surface.
The armor that you all use it it that rubber armor that has scales on one side so it can bend and wrap around and not crease?
I ask because I have a few HD 3 season jackets and I have never put armor in the shoulders of elbows and I probably should. I dont know anything about street armor..