Gonna Buy a Motorcycle

[morethanpretty]

NO NO NO! Motorcycles are too dangerous, do not buy one. Great now I'm going to be dreaming of horrible bloody motorcycle crashes.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

NO NO NO! Motorcycles are too dangerous, do not buy one. Great now I'm going to be dreaming of horrible bloody motorcycle crashes.

1) I won't ride fast.
2) I am the most paranoid driver you've ever met.

I rode for years back in the 80's and never came close to an accident. I leave many vehicle lengths between me and the vehicle ahead. I scan intersections from blocks away. I practice panic stops. I am a very confident and non-risktaking rider.

[Jill]

Originally Posted by Elspode

1) I won't ride fast.
2) I am the most paranoid driver you've ever met.

I rode for years back in the 80's and never came close to an accident. I leave many vehicle lengths between me and the vehicle ahead. I scan intersections from blocks away. I practice panic stops. I am a very confident and non-risktaking rider.

So is my husband. None of that helped him when he was struck from behind while stopped at a red light! Thankfully he wears full protective gear head to toe, and remembered to let go of the bike when it went screeching out from under him. Walked away without so much as a bruise. It could've been so much worse -- a motorcycle cop was killed in exactly the same way, when he was thrown into the intersection and hit by oncoming traffic. KEEP THE SHINY SIDE UP!

I love your idea about the brake light on the back of the helmet. I had no idea there was any such thing. I'll have to look those up and see about getting the hubster to use one. He also got a strobe adapter for his headlamps, which I also recommend.

If you do plan on riding with a passenger, especially on a longer road trip, I cannot recommend an in-helmet intercom system more. We took the bike up Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco a few years ago, and it was a godsend to be able to talk to each other along the way.

Enjoy!

[Elspode]

A guy here in the KC metro area was just killed by being rearended. It does happen. I check my mirrors when stopping to see if it looks like the person behind me isn't aware.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Elspode

A guy here in the KC metro area was just killed by being rearended. It does happen. I check my mirrors when stopping to see if it looks like the person behind me isn't aware.

Most importantly in that situation is never to take your bike out of first gear, don't ever get to close to the car in front of you, and every time I stop I am looking for a quick escape spot next to or between the cars in front of me. That way if someone comes in to quick I can move to that spot quickly. You will see a lot of guys come to stops in those situations and put the bike into neutral. Don't do that. I also always stop to the far right of any vehicle so that I am looking right into their side view mirror and they know I am there.

[Jill]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Most importantly in that situation is never to take your bike out of first gear, don't ever get to close to the car in front of you, and every time I stop I am looking for a quick escape spot next to or between the cars in front of me. That way if someone comes in to quick I can move to that spot quickly. You will see a lot of guys come to stops in those situations and put the bike into neutral. Don't do that. I also always stop to the far right of any vehicle so that I am looking right into their side view mirror and they know I am there.

Most of that is irrelevant when you're the first vehicle in line at the light, which my husband was. Being in first or neutral would also have been irrelevant.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Jill

Most of that is irrelevant when you're the first vehicle in line at the light, which my husband was. Being in first or neutral would also have been irrelevant.

None of that changes the importance of the tip. It is important to have a place to go when at a full stop so hopefully you can glance in your rear view mirror and bale if you get the chance.