Top 5 Motorcycle Safety Tips that can save your life

Canadian Rider

Canadian Rider

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Top 5 Motorcycle Safety Tips
After my friend in his R6 made some rookie errors which caused him to lock the front brake, slamming his motorcycle into the back of another car on the highway I wanted to make a discussion showing some of these motorcycle safety tips that would have saved him, and I hope it can save others.

Safety is one of the most important things all riders need to be educated on when taking their motorcycles on the streets, it could mean the difference between life and death and he got LUCKY and lived. He specifically failed on #3 and #4.

1. Checking your Motorcycle's Condition & key components before every ride
2. Wearing the best motorcycle gear you can afford
3. Defensive riding, riding the left or right tire track(Blocking positions) and being aware of your surroundings, create a defensive bubble!
4. Preparing for the road and weather conditions
5. Riding your OWN ride!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPIUzq01eKQ

I posted some pictures in the video i made discussing this which show the damage to his gear ( thank god he was riding with good protection) and the damage to his bike and how tip #3 can really save you from so many of your OWN mistakes.

I hope this can serve as a reminder to many of you, as some of these basic principals can keep you alive, because the last thing you want is for your loved ones to have you ripped from their lives. Stay safe, ride cautiously and be careful out there
 
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Question on point #3 - what is your opinion on blocking position when on a multi lane highway ? I get the left track for right lane and right track for left lane but what about middle lane or . as is the case on many highways now, what about middle two or three lanes
 
Hmmm. Slamming into the back of another car on the highway with an R6 is going to need stronger medicine than Top 5 Motorcycle Safety tips. Let's hope he's signed up for more training, practice and introspection. Good to hear he survived, hopefully with nothing more than bruises.

Blocking position is always dynamic. You're trying to see and be seen, simple as that.
 
malamute62 said:
Question on point #3 - what is your opinion on blocking position when on a multi lane highway ? I get the left track for right lane and right track for left lane but what about middle lane or . as is the case on many highways now, what about middle two or three lanes
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Good question, I think ideally you want to AVOID the middle lane at all costs as it does not provide you with a "Out" to get to the emergency lane on the side of the road. Though if you are in the middle lane, I really don't think there is a difference which blocking position you take, unless someone has a better understanding of this?
 
Centre lane : riding on the right track will be the best. Thinking about cars' side mirrors, the cars in the left lane have a wider viewing angle out of their side mirrors and can see you on the right track. The cars in the right lane however have a much smaller viewing angle and can only see you in the right track of the center lane. Albeit no if you're in their blind spot.

Stay out the centre. If u have to ride the right track.
 
Sonduren said:
Good question, I think ideally you want to AVOID the middle lane at all costs as it does not provide you with a "Out" to get to the emergency lane on the side of the road. Though if you are in the middle lane, I really don't think there is a difference which blocking position you take, unless someone has a better understanding of this?
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Whist in the middle lane, I put a leg out a la Rossi, strongly suggesting to all, though shall not pass. Which leg depends on tire track.
 
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Following too closely is easy to do when you first start riding. Learned not to do that pretty quick. Luckily I never hit a car but I did lock up in the rain and go down from following too closely. But I'd assume by the time you're on an R6 you should have learned that already? Wait, why is a rookie on an R6?
 
unL33T said:
Following too closely is easy to do when you first start riding. Learned not to do that pretty quick. Luckily I never hit a car but I did lock up in the rain and go down from following too closely. But I'd assume by the time you're on an R6 you should have learned that already? Wait, why is a rookie on an R6?
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To be honest, it doesn't matter what motorcycle your on, from a 250 to a litter bike, the mistake he made would have punished him on all motorcycles ( ABS may have saved him though).
 
malamute62 said:
Question on point #3 - what is your opinion on blocking position when on a multi lane highway ? I get the left track for right lane and right track for left lane but what about middle lane or . as is the case on many highways now, what about middle two or three lanes
Click to expand...

If you are in the middle lane, ride on the side where there are more cars that need to see you. Typically this would mean the right tire track, as you should in theory be passing vehicles in the slow lane. If for some reason the slow lane doesn't have many cars but the passing lane does, then switch to the left tire track. Essentially you want to be visible to what you are approaching from behind (and may veer into your lane) more than anything else...hence why it is called 'blocking' position.
 
Sonduren said:
I know huh! Cant believe he didn't know about this "tip"

I will pass it on, though he might get mad at me LOL
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Tell him to be careful where he directs that anger; only one guy to be angry at from the video I saw ;)
 
Sonduren said:
To be honest, it doesn't matter what motorcycle your on, from a 250 to a litter bike, the mistake he made would have punished him on all motorcycles ( ABS may have saved him though).
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Glad I'm safe on my 125. :lmao:
His wallet would be punished less if he started on a cheaper smaller bike.

I'd love to have a litter of bikes.
 
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unL33T said:
Glad I'm safe on my 125. :lmao:
His wallet would be punished less if he started on a cheaper smaller bike.
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He's got a point.. I beat the crap out of my 250 and when I sold it, I made $100. Also having ridden everything from a 250 all the way up to the 1000cc bikes I have now, trust me, the small bikes are far more forgiving every situation. This one included imho. Brakes on an R6 have way more bite; whole lot easier to lock in a panic.
 
Slowandsteady said:
Centre lane : riding on the right track will be the best. Thinking about cars' side mirrors, the cars in the left lane have a wider viewing angle out of their side mirrors and can see you on the right track. The cars in the right lane however have a much smaller viewing angle and can only see you in the right track of the center lane. Albeit no if you're in their blind spot.

Stay out the centre. If u have to ride the right track.
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This is what we were taught in the learning curves M1 exit course. But again, it's more of a guideline than hard rule.
 
It surprises that riders and their friends (non riders or fellow riders) don't mention the obvious.
Riding a motorcycle is not for everyone.
It's like downhill super g skiing...it's not for everyone.
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