Deadly Dozen, the motorcycle safety myths and urban legends.

[Clint]

LOL. Catchy!

[Uncle B]

Myth 7: A Skilled Rider Should Be Able to Handle Almost Any Situation



The sharpest, most skilled motorcyclist in the world isn't going to be up to the task when a car turns or pulls out in front of him a short distance ahead and stops directly in his path broadside.



Believing that your superior skills will keep you of trouble is a pipe dream, even if they are as good as you think.



No matter how skilled you are, it's better to ride to avoid situations that can turn ugly.



Slow down, scan farther ahead, and think strategically.



And dress for the crash.

[Papke]

Originally Posted by 919Hooligan

"Defensive driving and education saves lives! Healthily loud pipes are cool and may help you get noticed! Unbaffled blatty canons piss people off!"

Haha, think that'll fit on a bumper sticker?

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Papke

Haha, think that'll fit on a bumper sticker?

I'm workin on it...

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Uncle B

Myth 7: A Skilled Rider Should Be Able to Handle Almost Any Situation

If by handle you mean get out of unscathed, then I would call this a myth, because as you said, all the skills in the world won't get you out of some situations.

However, I think we can all agree that the way you handle yourself in certain situations can determine wether you come out of it with some scratches and bruises or a body cast. An experianced rider who's been through some spills may stand a better chance than squid boy in his first year of riding.

[Uncle B]

Myth 8: If You Are Going to Crash, Lay It Down

I suspect this line was developed by riders to explain why they ended up flat-side-down while trying to avoid a crash.

They over-braked or otherwise lost control, then tried to explain the crash away as intentional and tried to make it sound like it wasn't a crash at all.

Maybe motorcycle brakes once were so bad that you could stop better off your bike while sliding or tumbling. If so, that hasn't been true for decades. You can scrub off much more speed before and there be going slower at impact with effective braking than you will sliding down the road on your butt. And if you are still on the bike, you might get thrown over the car you collide with, avoiding an impact with your body. If you slide into a car while you are on the ground, you either have a hard stop against it or end up wedged under it. Remember that the phrase "I laid 'er down to avoid a crash" is an oxymoron, often repeated by some other kind of moron.

The only events where being on the ground might leave you better off are:
1) on an elevated roadway where going over the guardrail will cause you to fall a long way,
or 2) in that situation you see occasionally in movies, where the motorcyclist slides under a semi trailer without touching it.
That's a good trick if the truck is moving.

[Clint]

I always lay it down to avoid crashes. I've been down 37 times, but haven't broken any bones yet. It works.

[Uncle B]

The way I see it if you {lay it down} get your bike off it's wheels you have crashed!

[Uncle B]

This one is going to step on some toes!!!
Myth 9: One Beer Won't Hurt

Maybe not while you are drinking it, but if you get on your motorcycle after that, the effects of a single beer can get you hurt for life. No matter how unaffected you are sure you are, all the studies say differently. You increase your risk to yourself and to others when you drink and hit the road. Also, as you age, your metabolism slows down, and those "coupla drinks" you had last night may still be affecting you when you hit the road the next morning.

[inspiron]

Motorcycle = fun.
Beer = good.

Beer + Motorcycle = long hospital stay.

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Motorcycle = fun.
Beer = good.

Beer + Motorcycle = long hospital stay.

Much agreed. One night I rode the bike to a bar to meet some friends. I ate dinner and had four beers, then sat around for about three hours talking and drinking soda. When I left I felt 100% sober, but I'll be damned if I didn't get on the bike and could absolutely tell that I had been drinking. I assume it's because, unlike driving a car, a bike takes absolute precision from muscles you don't even know you have to coordinate and keep your balance.

[RampageRider]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Motorcycle = fun.
Beer = good.

Beer + Motorcycle = long hospital stay.

+1

[Uncle B]

Myth 10: It's Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes

In most parts of the world, motorcycles split lanes all the time, everywhere traffic is heavy. Here in the U.S., people often act as if lane-splitting is insane. But when someone actually studied it in the only place in the U.S. where it's legal (California), they discovered it's actually slightly safer than staying in the lane in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Still many motorcyclists berate others who do it, when they should in fact be endorsing it.

[ChicsterMG]

I think this one should be a matter of personal preference. If you feel safe enought to split-lanes, then by all means, split lanes.
If you don't feel safe enough, well then, don't.

[Clint]

Of course, as with anything.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by Uncle B

Myth 10: It's Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes

In most parts of the world, motorcycles split lanes all the time, everywhere traffic is heavy.

This may be true, but it is still illegal. Most of the time, the police are "forgiving" when they see bikes creeping up in a traffic jam. But if they wanted to, they could issue a ticket which would result in a heavy fine and up to 3 months suspended license. It all depends how the LEO is feeling, and how inappropriately the biker is behaving. Slowly "creeping" forward at low speed is one thing, blasting forward between cars is another.

[JRoc]

Is it illegal in Switzerland? Wow, I thought it was legal in all of Europe. I've been to Basel twice, the Basel Fair, and I never noticed. I've also never ridden a bike while there, couldn't find anywhere that rents. Found a Harley dealer in Germany right across the border, and alot of Harley dealerships rent bikes here in the U.S., but they just looked at me funny when I asked if they rented. It's funny, they had the same harley attitude there! I wonder if they charge a tarriff on importing the attitude??? LOL Sorry, back to thread.

I think one of the reasons it's illegal in the places it's illegal is because of guys that ride really fast while splitting lanes. Gives the whole concept a bad image. Splitting lanes should be legal, going over 20-30 mph while doing it should be illegal. You gotta remember, Most if not all, of the people making the laws DON'T ride motorcycles. Why would they have motorcyclists best intrests in mind when making laws??? Also, how jealous would you be if you were sitting in traffic, while late for whatever, and you saw a motorcycle go wizzing bye???

[inspiron]

Yes, it's illegal. In most of Europe, I believe. In Germany and Switzerland it is certainly illegal.

Next time you're coming over, let me know. I know of several dealers who rent bikes ... it isn't cheap, but it is certainly possible. The Suzuki dealer right around the corner from my office rents bikes, for example.

[Uncle B]

Myth 11: I'm Safer on the Street than on an Interstate



The thinking here must be that slower is safer, but that's only really true after the accident begins.



Controlled-access roadways are inherently safer because all the traffic is going the same way, and there are no side streets from which someone can pop into your path, no pedestrians, and, often, less roadside "furniture" to hit if you depart the roadway.



Running down the road at 70 mph side-by-sidewall with the whirling wheels of a semi may feel hairy, but you are actually safer than at half that speed on a city street or even a country road.

[ChicsterMG]

I tend to agree with this one. Most accidents on Highways (less traffic jams) are caused by poor maintenance or mechanical failure. I notice on controlled access roads, while I am cognisent(sp) of other vehicles around me, I am less likely to have my head on a swivel, so to speak.
On local roads, you are constantly looking for vehicles coming from side roads, running red lights, leaving a parallel parking spot, etc. On local roads, and we can all be guilty of this, cagers are more comfortable with thier environment and tend to pay less attention to people and vehicles around them. It's called complacency. When we get complacent we tend to be less attentive.