Newbie Riding question

[Unagi]

Wah... everybody give advice liao ah, so pro somemore... I'm late... .

 

Anyway, I'm one of those who rides at 50km/h (sometimes 60km/h) hehee... so don't worry about going slow IDevil. Important thing is to ride at a speed you're comfortable with, so that you can do a mind check of possible obstructions and danger signs coming your way.

 

That said, I hope the speed you're comfortable with is not 150km/h or such. Try to keep within the speed limit of course. If you think you're obstructing traffic, or feel that the vehicle behind is pressing on you, don't be shy to give a hand signal or wave for it to overtake you. Most will gladly do that.

 

acid is right, don't just speed up just because you're on the right lane. Signaling helps, trust me.

 

Ride safe guys!

[IDevil]

Originally posted by tridagger@February 23, 2007 02:35 am

Wah... everybody give advice liao ah, so pro somemore... I'm late... .

 

Anyway, I'm one of those who rides at 50km/h (sometimes 60km/h) hehee... so don't worry about going slow IDevil. Important thing is to ride at a speed you're comfortable with, so that you can do a mind check of possible obstructions and danger signs coming your way.

 

That said, I hope the speed you're comfortable with is not 150km/h or such. Try to keep within the speed limit of course. If you think you're obstructing traffic, or feel that the vehicle behind is pressing on you, don't be shy to give a hand signal or wave for it to overtake you. Most will gladly do that.

 

acid is right, don't just speed up just because you're on the right lane. Signaling helps, trust me.

 

Ride safe guys!

My comfort speed is the same as yours

 

Once again, all the advice is very useful and important to me, THANKS!!!

[IDevil]

My dad asked me to pillion him today around, he gave me alot of useful tips

 

I was rejecting it at first, saying its too dangerous for me to start pillioning and that I should Just follow behind my dad's bike.

But he ensure me there is nothing to be afraid of

 

I learn alot. Now I am more confident to be on the road

 

Cheers

 

---

May the God Speed be with you

[Me_No_Money]

observe how drivers behave is impt.if u think u ride slow then keep to e left lane.if u r not on e left lane n a car is approaching u fast frm behind, change lane so that him can overtake.

being 100% alert is very impt.be it riding fast or slow.

good luck in gaining road experience.

 

ask ur dad to pillion u on ur bike.could be another way to noe ur bike as well as gaining road experience

[DM]

Please read this up, thanks.

[IDevil]

Scary incident experienced on my 3rd day riding on the road.

 

Today while riding, further infront were a couple of trucks, I am guessing the furthest truck dropped a metal piece on the centre of the lane, which I didn't know.

I am travelling on a 2 lane 1 way road.

 

Good thing I was keeping a distance from the truck infront of me and riding at 50km/hr.

 

The truck infront drove over the metal piece on the road, I only got to see it after the truck completely drove over it.

 

I tried to swerve to the right but still hit on the metal piece resulting in a bump.

It is a big piece of metal with the edges bended up.

Lucky it didn't punctured my tyres.

 

I am thinking if I have tried to dodge it completely, I might have skidded to the right lane and kana bang by the vehicle behind. The driver behind did gave a horn when he saw me jumping over the metal piece.

[compfused]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 25, 2007 01:41 am

The driver behind did gave a horn when he saw me jumping over the metal piece.

Ride safe..Be ready to anticipate just about anythin..Care to impart your skill of jumping with the bike to avoid the metal pole?

[IDevil]

I didn't jump over literally

 

Its not a pole, its shaped something like this /__\

 

I hit on the edge, thus resulting my bike to jump up, its like a bump.

[contrarian]

Some advice to keep in mind:

 

An intersection is that part of the road where a vehicle may cut across the path of other vehicles. When a motorist approaching an intersection sees a vehicle poised to make a turn across his path, the first thing that he must prepare for is the possibility that the other driver will make the turn before he clears the intersection. He must watch out for any indication that the driver might do so. Above all, he must drive his vehicle at a speed that enables him to react appropriately should this occur.

 

The last thing that he should assume is that the vehicle will definitely wait for him to pass merely because he has the right of way according to road traffic rules.

 

Road users are entitled to assume that such rules will generally be followed, and indeed any person who fails to comply with any of these rules and breaches the law as a result may find himself charged with an offence and punished accordingly. But this assumption must be tempered with the realisation that, as in any activity, human failings and weaknesses always exist. These range from matters beyond the control of the individual to honest errors of judgment to intentional breaches of the law.

 

An example of the first category is vehicle failure, such as brake or engine failure. Examples of honest errors of judgment are mistakes as to the law (eg, whether a U-turn is permitted) or mistakes as to physical factors (eg, the speed of oncoming traffic).

 

The other extreme, intentional breaches of the law, would include speeding, illegal U-turns and running a red light. In between these extremes are instances such as inattention, or being distracted by the radio or a passenger or a mobile phone.

 

The law requires every motorist to be aware of such realities and adjust the manner in which he uses his vehicle on the road to take these into account. It is a tragic fact that too many serious accidents have occurred under such circumstances, particularly in cases where the vehicle proceeding straight is a motorcycle (due no doubt to the fact that they are smaller and therefore it is more difficult to see them or judge their speed).

[boofeng]

the advice so far is more at the "strategy" level, how to read situations and react, etc. (and it's been very good)

 

you should also slowly work on technical aspects, e.g. how to steer, brake, clutch, throttle, shift, so that when the "strategy" calls for it, you can apply it more easily, and thus spare more attention for the road/traffic/conditions.

 

i think it's quite useful to spend some time in safe conditions (e.g. in wide open carpark, very empty roads) working a bit on the technical things, so that you can execute things when you need them. but practice safely ya...

 

another thing about 2B bikes, they don't always perform like a bigger 2A or 2 bike. it makes a difference in how you would ride. e.g. if a big bike chooses to keep this much space around it, or that much gap in front of it, that's because its brakes are that good. how much gap would you choose to keep on your 2B bike, at the same speed? what speed can you approach junctions safely at, compared to a bigger bike?

 

ride safely ya...

 

btw don't follow trucks or vans or things that block vision too closely, that's tail-gating. if you follow cars at least you can see thru their windscreens, or around their left and right, and notice if the vehicles in front are braking and bunching up (e.g. if there's an obstruction usually vehicles in front will start braking and you can notice it). the less you can see, the farther you would be (relative to your normal) from the vehicle in front.

[angu]

Originally posted by boofeng@March 02, 2007 04:48 pm

i think it's quite useful to spend some time in safe conditions (e.g. in wide open carpark, very empty roads) working a bit on the technical things, so that you can execute things when you need them. but practice safely ya...

Yeah, I've thought many times that I should find a safe place to work on my braking, and other skills. For example, I'd like to practice e-brake from higher speeds than 30kph (which I find is a bit insufficient), but that would reqire quite a lot of space to do safely. Any suggestions where to do that (preferably in the southwest)?

[Guest czh2002sg]

Originally posted by endlessloop@February 22, 2007 10:03 pm

Welcomed to the wonderful world of riding.

 

I suggest you read from beginning till end of Street Smart

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....0entry3715921

 

You are not alone with this problem. Many new riders have faced similar problems as yours.

 

Go there and you shall find many useful survival tips.

 

 

 

I second Endlessloop's advice. Do read the street Smart posts. The situations mentioned here are covered entensively in the 40 plus pages. All that and much much more. Basically a comprehensive Q&A or almost anything you find hazardous on the road. Till today questions are still being asked and answered.

Have safe ride. Cheers

[IDevil]

I am very worried... Less than a month after getting my license.. I buang today..

 

Now for the story sharing

 

Was travelling in a 3 lane straight road. Was travelling at the right most lane because need to turn right at the junction further up.

I noticed many cars in front is signalling to the left lane and overtaking a pickup infront.

 

Eventually, I am right behind the pickup. The driver is driving at a very irregular pace and at around 40-50km/h. Found it pretty dangerous so I decided to signal and change to left lane.

Right after I finish checking my left blind spot, next thing I know, I buang onto the pickup infront. Dunno why he suddenly brake. I tried to swerve to the left to avoid full contact. But still hit on the left most edge, my bike spin and I flew out. Landed on the middle lane.

 

Good thing no car speeding on that lane.. or I am a goner liao.

 

Lessons learnt:

1) Check blind spot faster

2) Don't follow too close(I should have kept a longer distance knowing that the driver tend to speed up and slow down regularly.)

3) Learn to ride more towards the lane divider.

[Tourer]

You probably should have kept a longer following distance knowing that checking the blindspot would take up some buffer time to react to the braking. It's okay, everyone learn from their mistakes. Get up and ride safer next time.

 

Glad you are not seriously injured, ride safe.

[IDevil]

Originally posted by tourer84@March 12, 2007 08:40 pm

You probably should have kept a longer following distance knowing that checking the blindspot would take up some buffer time to react to the braking. It's okay, everyone learn from their mistakes. Get up and ride safer next time.

 

Glad you are not seriously injured, ride safe.

Thanks.

 

Still thinking that if the driver didn't brake suddenly, I wouldn't have met this accident

 

But thank God I am still alive with my limbs intact.

[Unagi]

Hey bro hope your injuries aren't serious.

 

We gotta watch out for our own butts on the road. Blame the drivers also no use cos we're the ones getting hurt in the end. I wanted to type out my experiences but too long liao. If got chance I tell you personally better.

 

I myself buang less than a month when I got my license too! Haha... but I learnt my lesson and now, 2 years liao still accident free. Glad you learnt something too.

 

for all our riders! Ride safe!

[Tourer]

I second tridagger's views. Sometimes on the road, only you can look out for your own safety, no point thinking that other road users will keep a lookout for you. This is Singapore, the perception of respect for human lives is very vague, especially on the road.

 

Having that said, what if the driver was braking because he/she saw an elderly crossing the road infront, or even trying to avoid squashing a cat? Or perhaps due to some other reasons that you did not fathom. Regardless of the reason, it is the following motorist's fault to not able to react to the vehicle infront.

[IDevil]

Originally posted by tridagger@March 13, 2007 12:48 am

Hey bro hope your injuries aren't serious.

 

We gotta watch out for our own butts on the road. Blame the drivers also no use cos we're the ones getting hurt in the end. I wanted to type out my experiences but too long liao. If got chance I tell you personally better.

 

I myself buang less than a month when I got my license too! Haha... but I learnt my lesson and now, 2 years liao still accident free. Glad you learnt something too.

 

for all our riders! Ride safe!

Thanks Bro, my injury isn't very bad. Bruises and ache all over (Like finish running SOC)

 

Safe Riding God Speed

[IDevil]

Originally posted by tourer84@March 13, 2007 10:30 am

I second tridagger's views. Sometimes on the road, only you can look out for your own safety, no point thinking that other road users will keep a lookout for you. This is Singapore, the perception of respect for human lives is very vague, especially on the road.

 

Having that said, what if the driver was braking because he/she saw an elderly crossing the road infront, or even trying to avoid squashing a cat? Or perhaps due to some other reasons that you did not fathom. Regardless of the reason, it is the following motorist's fault to not able to react to the vehicle infront.

Yes, lesson learnt

[acid]

i am quite embarassed to say it, but some time ago, i nearly hit the car infront of me while checking for blindspot. i had to make a big swerve. so regardless of new riders or not, we all need to be alert. cos every ride is different and bring new unexpected situations.

[IDevil]

Originally posted by acid@March 15, 2007 05:25 pm

i am quite embarassed to say it, but some time ago, i nearly hit the car infront of me while checking for blindspot. i had to make a big swerve. so regardless of new riders or not, we all need to be alert. cos every ride is different and bring new unexpected situations.

Now I tend to keep a very long distance onfront of me, about 2 cars length

phobia of hitting again. Can't let me precious Spark injure any further

[roseonfire]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 09:46 pm

I always try not to exceed the speed limit... But the vehicles behind are driving so fast, I got no choice but to speed up too.. Stressed feeling having a car follow so closely behind me...

I experienced it before.. Thats y i alwys kept in d left most lane.. Coz.. If im in d centre lane.. ther is alwys a car coming close.. But most of d time they overtake me lar.. so it depends.. if heavy traffic i go to the left lane.. if not jus stay in d centre n let them overtake.. Dun stop followin traffic rules coz of others.. ther r many who dun follow d road speed limits.. at a rd wher only 70 is allowed they go at 90 and stil can expect us to speed up but i wun. For our own safety we have to follow d rules and aso pedestrians who may run across d road around d neighbourhood area

[redbeacon]

Suggestion:

 

Position your index finger behind your back. Poised perpendicular to your body, swing it back and forth to denote the distance between you and the car.

 

Make sure your finger is in the view of the driver. He'll probably back off.

[Ettaque]

Originally posted by redbeacon@March 21, 2007 12:13 am

Suggestion:

 

Position your index finger behind your back. Poised perpendicular to your body, swing it back and forth to denote the distance between you and the car.

 

Make sure your finger is in the view of the driver. He'll probably back off.

i try that..but with middle fingers for taxis...sumtimes, they tailgate you like nobody biznes even thou u in the second lane travelling speed limit...dangerous sia..

[Tourer]

Originally posted by redbeacon@March 21, 2007 12:13 am

Suggestion:

 

Position your index finger behind your back. Poised perpendicular to your body, swing it back and forth to denote the distance between you and the car.

 

Make sure your finger is in the view of the driver. He'll probably back off.

You tried it?

 

Actually I thought of doing that also, sometimes I would do it by tapping my brake to flicker the tail lights. Does the finger thing really work? Or you are just kidding us? LoL