Okay, I'll start

'TARGET FIXATION"

'Fixating' on something means not being able to take your attention (your eyes, for example) away from it. In the case of riding motorcycles, for example, this leads to the phenomena wherein our motorcycles tend to go in the direction we are looking....so that if you see a pothole in the street ahead of you and you don't take your eyes off it, you are likely to hit it.

Saying "don't fixate" is okay, but once it starts, you need a positive technique to get yourself out in one piece. So once you are in trouble, use target fixation to save your skin.

Don't look at the oncoming truck/tree/pothole; figure out where you would rather be and fixate on that instead.

Wolf, Serow and Star,

Thank you.

I will be the first to admit. The reason I dropped my bike and put a "shanker" in my leg the first morning was nothing more than 48 year old "man pride".

I should have taken an MSF course, or better yet, gotten the guy I work with that has over 150k miles in the saddle to go with me and spend 30 minutes going over the basics again before riding at any speed over 1st gear.

My learning curve has been quick. I finally broke down and asked him to take me thru some curves here around home (mountains of NC). He was a former MSF instructor. 20 minutes with him thru the curves, stopping occasionally to ask questions and get advice made me a 100% better rider than I would be now without it.

So here is a question. After reading the last couple posts about some of our brothers getting broken up at intersections (Godspeed on healing to them) is there any other advice other than, lane position, covering the levers, head on a swivel?

Thanks again, everyone on this forum has been so helpful with all my questions. I appreciate it.

Scott

I'm not an old codger yet but I'll add a couple of my favorites.

1) Practice emergency stops regularly.  Find a vacant parking lot and practice them over and over to reduce your time and distance.

2) Evaluate "what ifs" constantly.  While riding, systematically evaluate surrounding traffic and conditions and think about potential problems and escape scenarios.  The more you evaluate, the more you've mentally prepared, and the quicker you are to react to any you pre-evaluated.  There are always some you won't anticipate.  However, this mental game also helps to keep you alert instead of just skylarking.

Always pay attention.......one other thing always pay attention!!!

Stay out of the center of lanes at signals and stop signs lots of leaky fords have been there....oil on bike tires equals slick......

Keep your thumb on the high beam switch and flash people that show ANY indication of pulling out in front of you...this tip works!!!

Check your tire pressures at least once per week most tires leak.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMENT......Looking cool in a casket is not cool !!

Know your limitations, every ones skill level is different.

T shirts shorts and flip flops...turn you into hamburger if you go down! If you ride long enough you WILL eventully, Besides people that ride like this are stupid and look that way!!!

Look for sand dirt holes debris wet leaves really slick as well as the paint on the roads even dry its slick.

Check your mirrors at traffic lights some people get hit from behind be prepared to move quickly!

Dont ride drunk, you are not as good as you think!!!!

All of these things i have experienced or seen! One last thing ALWAYS pay attention to everything around you!

Assume everyone is a brain dead idiot (not much of a stretch). Imagine how you could react to the stupidest thing they could possibly do (they will probably do it).


--Steve

Bess227, ive only been back on a street bike for 27 months(10,000 miles so far), used to ride the snot out of dirt bikes many years ago.

As a beginner heres a couple of tips thats helped me.
When riding alongside in traffic keep a wary eye on their front wheel. Thats the first indication of them comeing across into your lane. Don't expect a headcheck or a signal.
STAY OUT OF BLIND SPOTS! That means don't just pull up beside them but pull slightly 'AHEAD' of the driver side window.

At intersections check and check again before you ride through.
Even if your first in line and the lights switched, WATCH for that last idjit thats in a hurry and blows through just as or after the lights changed!
Be very careful if your city/state allows right turns on reds. Most folks don't stop, they just glance left and go through the turn.
The traffic to their left can and will block their view of you.

Stops of any kind. Clutch in, first gear, right foot on the brake, right hand on the throttle, one eye on the rear view mirror untill the car behind you comes to a complete stop. Look for an escape route around the car(s) in front of you when you come to a stop. It may be between the cars, into the road ditch or even into the on comeing lane IF theres no heavy traffic.
Be READY to vacate your space and have a route planned. ALWAYS!
I usualy angle the bike 'slightly' towards my expected escape route at lights. I believe this gives me a slightly wider profile for that soccer mom on the cell phone running up my arse to notice

I ride centered or in the left side of my lane. This gives me optimum maneuverability(room to evade) to the right OR left if someone encroaches on my space. OWN your lane. I believe it also makes me more visible then riding on the right side of my lane.

Riding in the country when topping hills i usualy let off the throttle a bit. Especially if theres a house or farm on top of the hill. Its a blind spot and you never know whats comeing out. Tractors pulling hay equipment or wagons don't move real fast. Works good in town to.
Some dairies run cattle across the road to milk each day to. Cows don't leave a clean trail and its slippery as chit...literally...lol


2 second following rule is good, 3 seconds is better. But expect some yahoo to try and slip into the space. They will even try to edge into your safety zone at lights(our room to evade behind the car in front).

Do NOT expect them to see you. Even if you've made eye contact!
Ride like your invisible and ride defensively at ALL times.
Ive had em turn and look out the driver side window right at me beside them then try to push me into on comeing traffic!
Expect the unexpected.

Ride at your comfort level, within your skill and ability level. Don't worry a bit about what anyone else is doing if riding with others.
And when you think you got it all mastered, think again. Get complacent and your putting yourself at risk.
Right about the time you think you got it all down pat is about the time you screw up and go down. Just ask these guys n gals.

I was'nt going to post to the thread and here ive run off at the mouth...lol
27 months riding year round and i STILL consider myself a beginner bess.
Oh yeah. If you ride in the winter like i do keep an eye on the temps. I don't ride below about 35 degrees. Bikes n ice don't mix...lol

Good advice all, i even learned something after 41 years being in the wind. I agree take an advanced class if you cant pass you dont belong on the road and give a copy of this post to the students!

An idea for the mods, maybe give this thread a new name No offence Wolfman..i think its great and put it some where that will keep it around awhile for oldsters and noobs to read, maybe it will save a life!