Riding style ponderings

Over the last, ahem, 35+ years, I've been lectured by well meaning siblings, friends, random people about my impending death by motorcycle addiction.
Always fun.
So let's face it. Walking on a highway at night in a dark outfit is what it seems like to most people.

So... Riding style.
I'm not dead yet so...
Offensive riding is how I ride. (I don't be offensive or rev up the engine etc).
So... Head turning, moving about in the lane just in case that car on the side road didn't see you, hitting the brakes when a car looks like it might not see you etc etc.
So a bit stressful.
The tack I take is never dwell in a confusing condition. Drop back behind or get way ahead.

Obviously Im scared shitless when I drive a car.

So. I'm writing this because I know we're all pretty much veteran riders but it's nice to know we managed to get through the, I trust other road users to not squish me, stage.

Glad to be here and still capable .

 

I gave a guy in a Lexus the finger today.
He came right over into my lane, I was about 2’ from his ear when I offered my friendly jesture
He seemed to be wondering why I was straddling lanes.

 

Been riding for many yrs and have just a few things I do to "be the rabbit". On blind hills, I always run on the right car tire path of the lane. It seems the more people are on their phones, the more they cross over the center line. On a blind hill, it cuts your reaction time.

I was living on Andrews AFB and worked at the Pentagon. One day a Mercedes benz SL500 came across all lanes of traffic while coming off an on ramp. Pushed me over to the left, just far enough to no catch the guard rail. I replied by kicking the left rear panel of the car and left a nice dent. All she did was wave at me.

Have to ride like you are not seen, all there is to it. Keep eye contact with all vehicles at intersections. I always wave at vehicles that stop for me at signs or traffic crossing just to thank them.

 

Got it in one!

 

Yes!

I'd like to see some stats on riding risk based on style. Motorcycle injury/death is obviously higher by mile, but how skewed are the stats based on high risk riding? I'll accept that riding carefully is still more dangerous than the family Volvo, but dash cams and GoPros are prolific these days and more often than not, bad wrecks seem to be accompanied by recklessness.

Maybe my adrenaline threshold is just lower than average...

 

@Roast644 , agree with you all the way. When I was young and only had sport or sport touring rides, I would push it often. I would only ride by myself and away from heavy traffic. When you get these groups of young riders in heavy traffic, and they start to ride out of the ordinary, let say, then things happen more.

For example, anyone that has a flip up plate on their bike, or a way to hide the plate from being seen, they are just waiting for the change to do maybe not so safe things. Now that I am pushing 60, I feel my reaction times are slipping, and I should not ride that way anymore. I am even thinking of selling my Bandit 1250S, only had it out twice this yr.

If you riding style is making others traffic uncomfortable or get a lot of one fingered waves, maybe you should find a track and have a fun day.

 

There is only one thing, spatial awareness wise, is the rear view mirror cars have. Simple and effective in your line of sight.

In my 20s I went to work at the same time every day and saw the same cars everyday.
So... Before sena (music to ride by).
I pulled up at a red light and heard this sqealling.
Checked the side mirror and saw a ute barreling towards me, with wheels locked up(I think). So I went through the red light to evade. God knows how it all worked out. But at the next set of lights the ute pulls up next to me and the guy apologises like crazy... Late night, half asleep... Etc etc.
Obviously I eyeball my side mirrors all day everyday when I'm stopped at a set of lights since.

Mind you... I had a lady try to run me down because I trundled up to the front at a red light and took off ahead of her. When I evaded and eventually caught up with her at the next set of lights she explained 'your not gonna get in front of me!', with lots of spurious wanking motions, not sure what that was all about. Haha.

Good times, now that they are memories.