Suggestions for staying alive? New Rider

Hello Folks.
I'm a new rider. I've got an xj650 that will be my first street bike. I have a lot of dirt bike experience and I am a pilot. Flying airplanes creates a sense for safety and an understanding how easy it is to kill one's self. I understand that the road is a much different place than the desert. Slick asphalt is much different than dirt and there are plenty of collisions to watch out for.
I plan on preparing myself before I begin the daily commute with some practice and knowledge. The local rider safety classes start up in March, I plan on attending both the beginning and advance courses. I'm used to driving '50/'60s hot rods as daily drivers. Bad brakes and steering I'm used to. I'm not used to being invisible though.

What suggestions or words of wisdom can you provide to a new rider? What mistakes have you made and learned from? I noticed that a forum member recently lost his life while riding, what could have prevented his loss?

The following reads have been suggested:
David L. Hough: Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (2008 update)
Keith Code: A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding maybe get from your local library via an interlibrary loan--valuable book for the "survival reactions" that are instinctive, natural, and wrong.
Lee Parks: Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques Great passenger chapter.
Bernt Spiegel: The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine

 

Welcome aboard, and welcome from a fellow pilot. You already know the important things that apply to flying: good judgement and self assessment.

Just like flying, you always need to maintain situational awareness, and establish your personal minimums until you build experience and confidence with your own skills and the strengths and limitations of your bike.

 

Right on. This pilot welcomes you too!

Awareness is the key. Try to know whats going on around and foresee any changes.

The courses are the way to go. They'll walk you through it all. The 2 big things I would point out:

1. CORNERS/BENDS Watch for them and never come in too hot. NEVER brake while cornering. Lose traction with either tire in a corner/bend and you WILL go down.

2. Watch Your 6. Weather your braking, accelerating, or just in thick traffic, be aware of how the guy behind you is driving.

Flying is certainly tricky at times but it doesn't compare to rush hour traffic in the city. Be smart, stay safe!

 

I hate to be the one to come right out and say this, but some common sense would have saved Doc. Let's don't go into it any further. We lost another member to the stupidity of a suburban soccer mom in a mini van; I don't know that anything could have been done differently in that one. The guy regularly wore a reflective vest and he ran a headlight modulator.

I've been riding on the street for over 43 years, and have only had two wrecks; one stupid one and one bad one involving a car.

I use my 550 to commute into and out of Detroit, 120 miles+ round trip. "Entertaining" is putting it mildly. More like urban combat supermoto.

For me, the single biggest factor in staying alive is also SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. You absolutely have to be 100% aware of what every numbnuts in or approaching your vicinity is up to at all times. Put on your "fighter pilot" head. Make sure you have some good mirrors, and warm up those neck muscles.

If you'd like some really good reading, start with the experiences and input from the members of this forum; a lot of them more qualified than myself to share advice: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=11852.html Eighteen pages of some really good stuff.

 

Hello & Welcome!

If you read that stuff and take a course, you should be good to go. The only thing I would ad is "everyone is out to get you!". It's like playing tag, but you're always "it". When stopping in traffic, I always leave an escape path and watch all traffic in the mirror as they come up from behind. I never follow too close to a vehicle in front because I need the time to move away from anything they just ran over. Try and use the same pre-flight check mentality with the bike as with a plane. Safety is always first! I've been road riding for over 35 years and these are the things I've relied on for a perfect safety record. Now, I'm considering flight school.

 

The motorcycle safety course, as well as the advanced course, are great places to start.

Also, if there is a track near you, check into one of the racing schools. they have classes from beginner to pro, and some even provide the motorcycle.

 

Not so much if it's the rear and you know how to handle it.

This is where dirt bike experience is invaluable.

I haven't been on an actual dirt bike in over thirty years, but the experience gained in regard to losing traction, especially in the rear, comes in very handy. Once learned, it's not something you "lose." While I certainly don't go about trying to duplicate the experience, I've had more than one street bike quite sideways, "crossed up" and managed the corner just fine. One of the best attributes of the Avons I have on my Seca is how they slide so predictably in the rain. Plus it's not all that hard to crack the rear end loose on any XJ if you're not judicious with the throttle when cranked over in a corner and into the "good part" (above 6K) of the powerband.

OP has dirt bike experience. I doubt a rear wheel slide would drop him.

 

still has a way of getting those glutes tight though

 

I'm living proof of that fact.

I raced motocross as a youngster and being able to recover from a rear-wheel slide saved my butt twice last year.

Once when I reminded myself that wet railroad tracks are very slick. (40mph in the rain)

And once when myself, and the semi on my butt learned that manhole covers and 100* temps make for slippery surfaces. (30mph, thankfully, and a nice sunny afternoon leaving work.

I was very thankful that I practiced these maneuvers as well as panic stops, in an empty parking lot.

And understanding how the rear brake acts when trail-braking can actually help you turn. This is something they teach you in the racing schools.

 

Watch out for gravel and drivers on cell phones.

 

Thank you for the quick feedback, I really appreciate the info. Money doesn't allow for too much flight time anymore, I was hoping that riding would help to scratch the constant flying itch. Banking turns and heightened awareness hopefully should help.

MoralDK, be careful of flying; it's an expensive drug!

Bigfitz, I'm glad to hear about the Avons. My bike has a new set of Avon white walls!

Strange as it sounds I actually really enjoy riding a dirt bike in the snow. Being at the limit for traction and balance at a slower speed is a lot of fun.

I know reactions have to be quick but I would like to think that there are some options for staying upright with a loss of traction mid-turn.
A racing class would be great as well. Check out this vid, as road racing and dirt racing experience come together for riding in the rain:
http://youtu.be/P1Etb_kqxnI

 

Rain riding on a well-handling motorcycle with predictable tires can be an absolute blast.

The "well-handling motorcycle" and "predictable tires" are absolute requirements however. Dirt bike and road racing experience certainly don't hurt.

 

No traffic is always a plus too.

 

Welcome, good advice above, my two cents; slow moving cars are the most dangerous, he's looking for a parking space or something, not looking for you and can turn much faster when he spots it than a faster moving car. Attitude, I spent 6 years as a motorcycle courier and I am quite aggressive on the road (injuries; broke a big toe, couple of bruises) those I saw get hurt or worse were the guys who let themselves get angry when the cars pullout in front/ run the light/ cut you off or as has been said lose situational awareness. A reasonably loud exhaust really does help car drivers notice you, and NEVER pull up at the back of the line at a traffic light, I've known a few guys to wake up in the middle of an intersection wondering what happend (you only have to hear locked tyres on a wet road behind you with a car in front of you once) split those lanes! Always be in the right gear to accelerate ( don't have to tell a dirt rider “if in doubt power out" and don't sit in someone's blind spot. Expect gravel on roads in hilly areas after rain ( look for the wheel tracks and follow them), gutters can be used as berms if you overcook it into a corner (or deliberately if you have a high risk tolerance )
Steven

 

Welcome, good advice above, my two cents; slow moving cars are the most dangerous, he's looking for a parking space or something, not looking for you and can turn much faster when he spots it than a faster moving car. Attitude, I spent 6 years as a motorcycle courier and I am quite aggressive on the road (injuries; broke a big toe, couple of bruises) those I saw get hurt or worse were the guys who let themselves get angry when the cars pullout in front/ run the light/ cut you off or as has been said lose situational awareness. A reasonably loud exhaust really does help car drivers notice you, and NEVER pull up at the back of the line at a traffic light, I've known a few guys to wake up in the middle of an intersection wondering what happend (you only have to hear locked tyres on a wet road behind you with a car in front of you once) split those lanes! Always be in the right gear to accelerate ( don't have to tell a dirt rider “if in doubt power out" and don't sit in someone's blind spot. Expect gravel on roads in hilly areas after rain ( look for the wheel tracks and follow them), gutters can be used as berms if you overcook it into a corner (or deliberately if you have a high risk tolerance )
Steven

 

After a good rain, sand washes into odd places, and can be the color of the road.
I was making a left thru an intersection, went thru some sand, and the FRONT tire washed out a bit, then grabbed. No skill involed - the bike saved me !

 

Great advice. So if I come up to a light with a line of cars, or if traffic slows down quickly on the freeway. I should choose an outside edge of the lane to give a braking car room to go around me?

The only accidents I have been involved in is when I have been hit from behind while sitting in a line of traffic. Three times it has happend in the last ten years. Each time I was in my old Camaro, that poor rear subframe looked like Frankenstein.

Has anyone increased the brightness of their brake light with flashing LEDs or something? It would be interesteding to build an LED block that fits inside the rear brake light housing.

 

OK, I see that I'm late to the "advice party" but to add my 2 cents.....two things....keep your head on a swivel and learn how to brake, especially with the front....and I don't mean "how to slow down and stop it using the front brake".....I'm talking about practicing enough that you'll be able to "haul it down PRONTO with the front brake.....in the RAIN" kinda practice....because when that last 6 feet is truck, you want to be able to stop well beforehand.
OK, I'm cheating, one more thing.....when you see someone coming towards you and making a left turn in front of you and they look right at you, their brain WILL NOT SEE YOU...so swerve back and forth quickly so it will register in their head that you're there....

All the other stuff mentioned is good advice(especially about cell-phones).....heed and live, it's really very simple....don't, and you won't......


Welcome to the club!!

jeff

 

Welcome to the site bradyb. I work just down the road from you in Kaysville. Everyone is giving great advice. The cages don't see you (they really don't see each other most of the time) so ride like your invisible. If you ride during the winter (I ride year round) dress properly to keep from getting frost bite. Practice the avoidance moves and quick stops in a parking lot (or even a high school driving range) so that you don’t have to think about what to do to keep from getting hit.

As far as coming to a stop light, I angle my bike a little so that if I have to I can get out of the way of a fast approaching vehicle. If you are too far to one side of the lane the cage may try and occupy your space. (I have had this happen to me once) Most Utah drivers forget how to drive safely during the winter so watch out for them and ride safe.

 

That’s awesome.
What are you currenty using for winter gear? It's easy to spend as much on gear as I did on the bike. I was thinking of stopping by Wright's in Salt Lake this weekend and seeing what they have.

I'm thinking reinforced boots, probably construction boots rather than specific riding boots. Reinforced gloves protecting the hands and wrist, may shell out for some decent riding gloves. Good full-faced helmet, something that won’t fog like a snow mobile helmet. Strap on body armor to wear under a snow coat so I can layer for the temperature. A good scarf. Kevlar Jeans to be worn under snow pants. And maybe a heated vest if I can find something at a good price. If you keep your core warm then the warm blood will keep flowing to hands and feet.

If it snows I'll drive the truck.

 

I have a good pair of cowboy boots with thick socks. Slacks with thermals (My legs would be fine if I get some chaps) Legs get cold but the thermals take the bite away. Normal riding jacket with insulated insert (core stays warm) winter thinsulate gloves hands stay good down to 25* on the XJ (with the Venture I'm good down to 10* with the faring) I have a set of hippo hands that keep my hands warm. Full-faced helmet with balaclava (head sock) that covers my neck also. As long as I'm moving the visor stays clear. I sometimes have to open it at stop lights.

 

I also drive the truck if it's snowing or the road have not been cleared.

 

All of the top manufacturers make either fog-free or heated face shields for their helmets. This is the better way to go as not all snowmobile helmets are DOT approved. Although I never understood why not.

 

you may already know this, but just like driving a car, the roads are most slippery when it begins to rain. this is because the oil and grease from the cars on the road haven't washed away yet, and make it a slick combo with the water at first. when you're on a motorcycle, its magnified.

 

I remember sitting at a light and some pirate on a Harley pulled up in the lane next to me. It was the middle of summer with no rain. The rider stayed in the middle of the lane. As he approached the intersection he rode right into a few drops of water that had been left in the middle of the lane from some car's A/C system. He locked up his front wheel and hit the ground pretty hard. I got out and helped him pick up his 900 pound bike. I felt bad for him but I wondered why he did that.

 

Don't be afraid to use your horn, I know it has saved me a couple of times.

Always where your gear, leather will save your skin.

 

Yes on all of this info especially Watch Your 6. Buddy tried to buy some parts off a wrecked V-max. Turned out the rider was waiting to turn left on a highway and got hit from behind by a very large truck hauling a very large trailer full of scrap iron at 60 MPH. Even the little computer control boxes were all broken not a usable part on it. Oh welcome.

 

Alot of these guys get into the habit of running a single brake because the front brake on a Harley now actually works, and you don't ever really need the back. (that's the mentality)

Then, reaching for the back brake is like starting a text message on someone else's phone, and they dump the bike.

 

dont trust anybody. people do dumb things on the road. especially in a resort town. watch their eyes and tires

 

leave your ego at home, nothing will get a beginner in trouble faster than trying to keep up with a faster rider.
they'd rather know your coming late rather than wonder if you made it.
if you know a experienced rider, have them follow you and point things out at the next stop.
learn what fixation is and avoid it like the plague, look there and go there