Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique a safety primer.....

I am by no means the world's most experienced rider, but in the last 26 months of re-entering the world of 2 wheels, I have made the following observations....

This is an inherently dangerous activity. Immensely enjoyable, but constantly dangerous.

All of the safety training and safety gear mean nothing without common sense and constant awareness. You snooze, you lose.

Wildlife doesn't care if it's in your way, you can only scare it with noise or expect it and avoid it with skill. Neither is a guarantee.

Road conditions are engineered for 4 wheels, not 2. Expansion joints, tar snakes, plumbing ditches, milled pavement, grated bridges, they are not bike friendly, and that will never change.

Riding in traffic in any situation is like being in a Jackie Chan movie. They will all take their shots at you. If you can arrive at your destination and still grin, you are temporarily a master. Tomorrow is another day.

Teasing the traffic tiger is a lose-lose situation. They have cel phones, out-weigh you, and their lives are more important than yours. You are, after all, a lowly biker..

So ride like you don't exist..... because as far as they're concerned....... you don't..

When on the bike I ride like none of the cagers can see me and if they could they would try to run me over.

I like riding or driving, no matter where or when... traffic doesn't bother me except that long stop and goes are hard on the bikes clutch. But I've found of late (maybe the past year) that there is more comfort in riding the motorcycle than driving the car. Not sure what the deal is, but trying to explain it to my SO, it's like, maybe because there's just a lot more awareness on the bike. It's almost like I can see now how vulnerable I am in the car. It doesn't respond as quickly, and it's easier to get caught up in a situation not of my doing that's harder to get out of. It's just easier riding in traffic than driving in it.

Am I falling off the deep end?

You're certainly right about the awareness. I'm much more aware on the bike. I think part of it is the vulnerability and part of it is the immediacy. You really are right there, not cocooned in a cage of steel, air conditioning and stereo. Of course the ability to use the maneuverability of the bike to control your situation enhances that. It’s like being in a F-18 instead of a 747. You look farther ahead, you consider more factors, you think more. I think riding a motorcycle is the next best thing to flying.