Defensive Riding for Motorcyclist

[darkhorse2009]

I am taking my class 2B now and i have a question to ask.

 

As a cyclist whenever i approach junctions, i would slow down, give hand signals and look if the driver see me before i proceed to avoid accidents.

 

If i riding my motorbike,should there be any difference? I cant possibly slow down drastically everytime i approach junction right? ( Esp when i have the right of way )

 

Also, i cant be riding near the curb anymore right? In fact i feel less safe on the motorbike than on a bicycle as bicycle is at much slower speed. Any one can help me overcome this fear?

[sh3rman]

usually if approach junction

frm i learnt was to cut throttle when

u approach the first arrow.

this shld give u enough time to react

and maybe have a lookout around like cars filtering

and etc..

[xiaobanz]

Riding exp is the most impt thing when riding a bike. If you are not confident, always slow down. When you slow down, tap on your brakes to signal slowing down to allow behind vehicles to take note of it.. They will not kiss your back juz cos you tap your brakes.

 

Then from here you slowly look around and see for vehicles at the junctions, etc..

[WawanAprilia]

U hav to access the situation whether to accelerate or not ... Must be attentive and anticipate ... Tats wat i did to stay safe ... And smile wen riding yah !!

[vespaboy]

hmmm what I normally do is to throttle off (not slow down suddenly) and then look at the rear mirror to see if any idiotic taxi driver is trying to run the lights and then check left and right - just in case.

[crazydj]

If you happen to have a YBR and also happen to pump unleaded 92, do what i do. Stick to the most left lane and slow down. When you are in the "pocket" to do a right turn and think you can't make it, don't. You know your bike best and again, if you have a YBR with unleaded 92, you either wait or high rev your engine just to get a respectable pickup. Gooddest luck bro!

[chris 525]

When riding a motorbike, you don't have to ride on the double yellow line. You can ride anywhere in the lane you want. Someone recommend to me that you ride on the tyre-tracks left by the cars and other vehicles. (you got 2 choices). Left and right.

 

When approaching a junction, you should always slow down (a little bit) and observe if there is any nonsense going on. The traffic police always say that most accidents occur at junctions.

 

When you see car joining the road from the left, or you know a U-turn is coming. Also observe for nonsence, cos the driver might not see you and make his maneuver and you will kena one.

 

When you see bus drop a load of passengers off, also need to slow down cos they rush across the road in-front of you, thinking that your vehicle is small and not such a threat to their life.

 

As for overcoming your fear of riding on the busyy road, try to find someone to pillion you and practice, practice, practice. Do alot of the self-practice.

[Demon]

If i riding my motorbike,should there be any difference? I cant possibly slow down drastically everytime i approach junction right? ( Esp when i have the right of way )

 

When you are riding a motorbike, there is no such thing as "right of way". There are always drivers who are supposed to give way and they don't. In any accident, bikers are always the losers.

 

Any one can help me overcome this fear?

 

Familiarise yourself with the handling characteristic of your bike.

Road confidence comes with practice. Some people are natural and some are not. More ride time on the road will bridge this difference.

 

Ride safe.

 

[xiaobanz]

Maybe if you wanna gain experience fast, try going PIE, CTE, AYE during peak hours.. If you really wanna know how to gain even faster experience in lane splitting, try jalan besar (opp SIM LIM SQ) and Bukit Timah Road after 6pm. But do that in your own risk, cos the cars there is super, cos of the packed roads, drivers usually don't sign and check blind spot.

[s4dreamer]

Hi darkhorse2009,

 

You might want to try out Hazard Oriented Vision (HOV) which will give you confidence in approaching junctions and looking out for hazards on the road.

 

I attended my HOV session and found it very useful! Go check the thread out!

[karmatrix]

Yes, T-junction is the most dangerous place. Had a car turning right but not giving way to me, hit my face on his windscreen and lost 7 teeth. Not a good experience.

 

From then now, I'm very careful when crossing junctions, My tatic now is to ALWAYS slow down, look at the direction of the driver/rider that is turing right, only after I have confirm that he/she is slowing down/stopping then I open throttle again.

[skateboy]

always think of your own safety when u r riding. ride within ur means. ride within the bike's capability. n one advise, right of way can kill!! so dun always stick to ur right of way. it will get u into trouble someday. it wun kill to give way or to wait slightly longer. think safety, anticipate the worst scenerio n react accordingly.

cheers...

[kraikk]

Yes I think it is very useful to slow down before every slip road and look at the driver before proceeding. I do that both on bicycle and motorcycle. No need to slow down drastically, just close throttle and cover brakes. Even then be careful. Some drivers can be looking straight at you and still enter your lane. Hand signals help but they are not really necessary.

 

As for lane positioning I prefer to use the right of lane on a motorcycle. It prevents other vehicles from doing half lane overtaking manoeuvres. But make sure you keep a reasonable speed.

 

When I started riding a motorcycle I kept closer to the curb like I would on a bicycle. But you will lose the fear very quickly. Just get used to riding and gain confidence in controlling the bike.

 

When keeping left on any vehicle watch out for the 'left hook'. This move often occurs before junctions with a road to the left. If you are going slowly in the left lane, cars are likely to cut in front of you, brake hard, and turn left. A variant of this is the 'cab hook'. Here a cab driver spots his lucrative fare a short distance in front of you. Instead of following behind, he cuts in front of you and jams his brakes. Majority of my near accidents on a bicycle have been in these situations.

[MonoWorld]

defensive riding is expect the unexpected. treat drivers really blind and stupid.

[s4dreamer]

defensive riding is expect the unexpected. treat drivers really blind and stupid.

 

+1 on that!

 

Yes, assume that they can't see you so that you will take more effort to make them see you!

[lutein]

I have been filming my rides, and some of the stuff I've recorded are gems. Talking about right of way is pretty meaningless unless you're already in an accident and the police has to decide which party to charge! Well, we all want to avoid accidents, so do as what others say - slow down at junctions, watch for traffic, before crossing.

 

Otherwise, people like this uncle will give you free lesson on giving way

[darkhorse2009]

Thanks guys! So much advices! I am surprised so many replies to my simple questions as i came from togoparts, bicycle forum where replies are usually not a lot. I suppose there are more people here than togoparts.

[adesmond2]

hmmm what I normally do is to throttle off (not slow down suddenly) and then look at the rear mirror to see if any idiotic taxi driver is trying to run the lights and then check left and right - just in case.

 

MUST MUST LEARN AND DO IT!!!

 

I kana one time.. i stopped at traffic light, next thing i hear a bang.. HENG!! nothing happen.. onli jerk one time.. stupid cab bang my wheel.. lucky it's a light one.. guess wat?

 

bearrings inside all gone liaoz.. nv claimed cause i still P-plate that time..

 

Maybe if you wanna gain experience fast, try going PIE, CTE, AYE during peak hours.. If you really wanna know how to gain even faster experience in lane splitting, try jalan besar (opp SIM LIM SQ) and Bukit Timah Road after 6pm. But do that in your own risk, cos the cars there is super, cos of the packed roads, drivers usually don't sign and check blind spot.

 

not recommended.. can go and see.. not practice.. super dangerous..

 

always think of your own safety when u r riding. ride within ur means. ride within the bike's capability. n one advise, right of way can kill!! so dun always stick to ur right of way. it will get u into trouble someday. it wun kill to give way or to wait slightly longer. think safety, anticipate the worst scenerio n react accordingly.

cheers...

 

yeah.. agreed...

 

Thanks guys! So much advices! I am surprised so many replies to my simple questions as i came from togoparts, bicycle forum where replies are usually not a lot. I suppose there are more people here than togoparts.

 

alot of people has given your their experience.. just listen and earn from theirs.. dun earn yours...

 

lastly.. DUN road hog on lane 1 even it's jammed.. prevent from going lane 1 if you dun ride fast in betweens cars..

[ahbang]

Most important thing to me when riding is to CONCENTRATE! When ever I relax my concentration like semi-concentration I nearly get into accidents. So my advice is put 101% concentration and always anticipate...

[adesmond2]

oh yea.. i learn something like.. accidents MOSTLY happen within the FIRST 6 min of riding.. it's true.. be careful while you start to ride for the 1st 6 min..

[MonoWorld]

btw dun hesitate to use ur horn. it's there for a reason..

[Hydher]

get some riding skills. Play around corners at nights and stuff.