Advice from an Old School Scooter Tramp : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

alakso · 12-02-2008, 04:46 PM

I'm sure someone has already posted this info some where and at some time here but I thought it might be of value to repeat it again.

Back in 1977 when I was 19 years old I bought my first HD. A '71 Sportster chopper with a 4,000 degree rake and 18,000 feet of extended springer. At a bar with my cool new HD I met an Old School biker who taught me two rules of riding to live by.

1) Make believe your invisable.

2) Make believe EVERYONE is out to GET YOU!!! (and they are!!!)

Simple, but these few words from an Old Timer have saved my skin more than a few times.

Also, when passing or encountering other vehicles coming in the opposite direction, or just as a general rule I always look at where their tires are pointing to see if the driver is possibly changing direction from what I expect them to do. I also especially pay attention to "Danger Zones" where a vehicle can turn into a road, house, apt. complex, store, etc..

Keep the rubber side down my friends!!! alakso

sonoffatboy · 12-02-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alakso

I'm sure someone has already posted this info some where and at some time here but I thought it might be of value to repeat it again.

Back in 1977 when I was 19 years old I bought my first HD. A '71 Sportster chopper with a 4,000 degree rake and 18,000 feet of extended springer. At a bar with my cool new HD I met an Old School biker who taught me two rules of riding to live by.

1) Make believe your invisable.

2) Make believe EVERYONE is out to GET YOU!!! (and they are!!!)

Simple, but these few words from an Old Timer have saved my skin more than a few times.

Also, when passing or encountering other vehicles coming in the opposite direction, or just as a general rule I always look at where their tires are pointing to see if the driver is possibly changing direction from what I expect them to do. I also especially pay attention to "Danger Zones" where a vehicle can turn into a road, house, apt. complex, store, etc..

Keep the rubber side down my friends!!! alakso

heard it many times..but you just need to keep it in your mind all the time when we're out on the road...

mark_bert · 12-02-2008, 04:52 PM

Much in the same vein... I was told to ride like half the cars can't see you and the other half are aiming at you.

Nazzdak · 12-02-2008, 06:29 PM

My girlfriend wants to ride her own bike.

So I laid my road king on its side, and showed her how to pick it back up, unassisted. Then I said "if you can do that, then you can ride your own motorcycle. This part, is, by far, the hardest part."

As for safety tips, I would say that the most important element of riding a motorcycle is balance. Most people I see are incapable of starting or coming to a complete stop with both feet on the boards. In my opinion, everything starts and ends here.

Without balance, and it really doesn't matter what else you learn. For when push comes to shove, you will still most likely PANIC and stop riding the motorcycle altogether. it is at that point that dumb luck runs out. Time and time again, I have seen many, many people completely abandon the floor boards of their motorcycles at precisely the wrong time, and extend their feet out as if their limbs were some sort of landing gear..

These people are VERY Visible and are extremely vulnerable, for they have absolutely NO control over their motorcycles. If I were to walk over to them and push their bikes over the ground, I'd bet you dollars to doughnuts that most of them could not pick it back up.

Thus, the very basics of motorcycling have nothing at all to do with being invisible, in my opinion. The very basics of motorcycling are much more about starting, and stopping, with absolute and complete control of the vehicle. It's like dominoes. If you get the very first lesson right, then all of the rest ( riding like you're invisible, head and eyes, friction zone, feathering the rear brake, countersteering etc..etc..) will easily fall into line.

David

claydbal · 12-02-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_bert

Much in the same vein... I was told to ride like half the cars can't see you and the other half are aiming at you.

yep, i aim at them!! freaks em out and makes em try to dodge me.

thehuskybear · 12-02-2008, 10:44 PM

Good advice... Im not so sure about being invisible... you dont have to 'make believe'...to most cagers, you are invisible! I think the key is to drive aggressive... If you take the offense, you are more likely to be noticed and be in a better position to get out of trouble. Stay a head of the pack and you are mostly safe (if you are a competent rider).

Its not me Im worried about... its everyone else driving around me! You could be the best biker in the world and still get taken out by a left turner...

Of course, I live by the old saying... ride hard and die fast!

thehuskybear · 12-02-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claydbal

yep, i aim at them!! freaks em out and makes em try to dodge me.

claydbal · 12-03-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehuskybear

. Stay a head of the pack and you are mostly safe (if you are a competent rider).

Its not me Im worried about... its everyone else driving around me! You could be the best biker in the world and still get taken out by a left turner...

Of course, I live by the old saying... ride hard and die fast!

got that right!!!!!! almost got took out by a dude that was riding with us!!!!! had been cruisin at around 70, and stopped for aa red light. a silver flash went by about 2 feet to my right. at next stop, i asked him what that was about and he was still cruising at 70, watching some kids and never saw the light, looked forward in time to wonder why i was stopped!!!!! this is why we ride solo.