STREET SMART

yohji · October 14, 2006

endlessloop

Thanks for taking the effort to comment on my post! I finally got the time to respond. My replies are in blue.

These are just my personal comments.

First, you have to decide what is your choice:

- Do you want to ride fun but short?

What I mean by this is: Use the road as a convenient race track.

Corner as low and as fast as (even hanging-off) you can at your favourite bends (is that what you mean by using your tyres more fully?).

Yes I do mean something like that. The sides of my tyres are so untouched right now haha! Hoping to improve each time at a place that I am familiar and comfortable with. My aim is to make my rides more thrilling

Pull willies when there are opportunities. Get a thrill of showing other riders on the road that you can ride faster than them.

Motorcycles are small so they are meant to squeeze. No to squeeze and zip in traffic is being silly.

I don't know how to pull wheelies on a motorcycle and I don't think it is necessary on the road. I am also against it. I do not like to compete with others on the road. I like to mind my own business and I hope others can leave me alone too (though it's a bit hard because of my loud pipes haha). I don't squeeze on the road unless I am in a hurry (I always try to have ample time for the journey to avoid being impatient on the road) or there is a terrible jam. I don't think it is silly. I think it is safer. I sweat like a pig with FF helmet, gloves, armoured riding jacket, touring boots and jeans and NOT squeezing. But I'm used to it already. Maybe others will find me stupid, but I am thinking that by doing what I do (not squeezing, zipping in and out, etc.), I can change the perception that drivers or the public have on motorcyclists. I want to show them that not all motorcyclists are reckless and impatient. I want them to know that it doesn't mean that I am out on the road to speed and do stunts or challenge someone to a race if I am wearing full riding gear. I wear them to protect myself. I wish I can do without those things if I could (wear splippers, shorts and singlet)! It's a bit crazy to wear full riding gear everytime I ride in this weather (but I have been doing that!)

- Or do you want to rationalise and ration your fun but have a long long riding career?

What I mean by this : You don't mind other riders on the road overtake you. You don't mind missing traffic opportunities which means a slightly longer waiting and a little later in reaching your destination. So long as you reach your destination safely, you have accomplished your mission.

I do want to have a long riding career. I'll get crazy and reckless on the road sometimes (I think we all do sometimes) but overall, I am quite tame I guess. Yup I don't mind and I don't care if other riders overtake me (unless they do that in a very ofensive manner). I always stay in the centre of the lane behind cars at traffic lights. People may find it stupid but I just feel more comfortable doing that. Yup, as long as I reach my destination, I am okay

I'm not a believer of so-called "defensive riding" (try defining what it exactly means) courses, centered around slalom cones, simulated wet braking, racing tracks.

Hmm as for this, I don't have much to say because up till now I do not know whether the defensive riding course really helps. But I've heard good comments. Maybe it just boosts the confidence of those people who attend it (a psycological thing?)

Regarding the "zoo" analogy, I have different take. If I am Rossi and I earn living in MotoGP, then the track is my "home ground". But if I am just using motorcylcing as a transport, then day-to-day road riding is my "home ground".

I agree. I think what I would like to have is a mix of both worlds. Being Rossi all the time is too dangerous and being "safety rider" all the time is too boring. So a mixture of both is what I am wishing to have

So the more I do day-to-day road riding, the more I am honing and practising my motorcycle roadcraft, the better I will get.

You think road riding is boring? There are ways to make it interesting. You think track riding is not boring? Try lapping the same track 30 times per track session just to practise being proficient at one particular corner. Then mulitply it by 100 sessions at the same track so you can then move to the other corners of the track. It's the same scene over and over again.

This is how I get my satisfaction from day-to-day roadriding:

1. I concentrate and focus on my ride.

This is an essential part to safety, but I found that it is also very therepeutic and relaxing at the end of the ride. The principles behind are similar to that of yoga, tai-chi, golf and other competitive sports.

2. I spot hazards and react ahead in time compared to other cars and bikes.

Eg: I spot a broken down vehicle on the lane that I am in, way in advanced maybe 200-300m or 6-10 cars ahead. None of the cars and bikes around me have switched lanes yet. I am the first to switch and only later, I noticed the others start to react.

This is an essential part of my Hazard-Oriented-Vision for road safety.

With the same skill, there were rides when I approached a corner with a fellow rider. I instintively dropped my speed significantly. The fellow rider figured it is safe to enter the corner at a higher speed than me. I was right.

3. Decline in close-encounters.

When I first started riding and practised my own safety riding techniques that are shared in this post, I do count the number of close-encounters, close-shaves or near-collisions that I have for each riding trip.

The average is 1-2 near mishaps per trip, 2-3 near mishaps per day, or about 5-10 near mishaps per week. Yes, it is that risky in Singapore to ride. Each trip could almost be my last.

After a few years of practising my own safety riding techniques. I noticed the numbers start to decline. When it dropped to around 1-2 near mishaps per week, or barely any mishaps per trip, I know I was doing something right. Unless you are saying that Singapore drivers have become more road-friendly to motorcylces that caused my numbers to decline.

Now I get the satisfaction from barely any close mishaps per month.

4. Go for touring trips up north.

Need not be multi-day types. Even a within-day trip lets me appreciate that I have picked up motorcyling.

I've always wanted to go to the tracks but didn't do that till now. People say going to the track can improve skills and confidence. I did went for a couple of trips (once to Malacca and once to Cameron Highlands). I totally love the twisties on the way down Cameron Hghlands. But I don't do that anymore. Mainly due to health and financial reasons. Once again, thanks for sharing with me your experience. I hope I can make my riding more exicting in time to come and still stay in one piece and I'm really looking forward to the outcome of the "Meet the TP session". Hope there will be good news for all riders in Singapore

:thumb:

PS: All my replies are merely my personal opinions. I apologise if any of my comments have offended anyone.

Finity · October 14, 2006

hai saw the dialogue sess today ... too late to attend, so any braders able to summarize or give some info wat the sess about today ? tks

Finity · October 14, 2006

Hmm talking about squeezing most of my friends also said tat buy bike dont squeeze as well buy a car .... haha sometimes i do mind wat road user think ... but for me in my mind is because i want to reach my destination safe n sound ... so i always hide or line up like a car did ... onli once a while i squeeze in the lane at traffic junction. I seldom or dont squeeze during moving

endlessloop · October 14, 2006

Yohji I think you do have a safe riding attitude in you.

If you can maintain that through out your riding career, and you could add and practice safe riding roadcraft, no reason why you would not have a long, safe and enjoyable riding experience.

I was at the Satety Talk by the TP's Safety Branch today.

It is not possible for me to summarise the session. It is an invaluable session, even for a safety nut and preacher like me. I urge all to go if there is a next one.

I would just put down a few good phrases that sums it all up and can enhance your safety:

1. When in doubt, slow down.

2. Do not proceed or make the move until you are 100% absolutely sure.

3. Surely our head is worth more than $20 or $30 right? So get a good helmet.

4. Be patient. If you just miss a green light, at most you wait another 2-3 minutes for the next one.

We watched actual video footages recorded from those cameras on singapore expressway. It is like watching the most dangerous accidents on American TV. Only that they are real and happening in Singapore. We saw the gruesome effects of what can happen to you once you fall off the bike.

The TP is not making all these up. They are then to attend to every fatal scene. They clear bodies, find body parts, take photographs and have to investigate what happened and why they happened.

There are a few things that I have changed, after hearing the TP session:

1. I used to ride full face only when riding in malaysia. In singapore, it is so hot and since I am so safety conscious and have a clear record, I wear a good open face helmet with visor.

Now on, I will wear full face even in singapore.

I saw how badly the faces of the victims were damaged.

2. I used to think that the singapore authorities are too kia su kia si when they put up those 50kmh speed limit on the roads.

Now, I will really slow down and not take corners on public road even when I know I still well within my performance envelope.

Why?

Because once I fall, even at low speeds of 40-50kmh, the pavement curbs act as knives to cut off arms and tear your torso apart;

the metal railings also act as even sharper knives that can slice a body into two and hard walls to break your bones and internal organs;

the numerous trees on every road that make singapore such a green pleasant city are fatal once you hit them. Same goes to the lamposts. Yet why so many motorcyclists are so fond of hitting trees and lamposts and die? Why can't they fling themselves out of the tree and lamposts ways? Next time, when you ride on the road lane adjacent to trees or lamposts, you will realise that because they run parallel to the road, once you fall off your bike, your momentum will carry you towards them like a row of bowling pins.

So it is almost fatal to fall off a bike on singapore roads, even when at low speeds.

So I'm not going to take a corner any lower than I have to anymore.

I will save my horizontal cornering skills for pasir gudang where I have 50m of sand pit and gravel for me to slip safely without hitting anything hard.

3. I better keep my eyes open, see as far as my eyes can see and keep situation awareness at all times and doubly hard apply my Hazard-Oriented-Vision concept.

The TP revealed a surprising fact. 70% of motorcyclist fatal accidents are caused by themselves and not through the fault of others!

So motorcyclists are killing ourselves. Not cars! Not taxis! Not lorries. We are killing ourselves on the road through our own mistakes!

I saw the video footages of at least 2 singapore motorcyclists that smashed head on straight into statonary broken-down vehicles, when many other cars and motorbikes before them have easily filtered into other lanes.

Finity · October 16, 2006

tks for the info about the safety talk sess hope that there will b another 1 soon ...

sfowner · October 19, 2006

Can we request for them to make this into a documentary for TV... or have they already done it?

Spectrum · October 20, 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/StreetSmart150mm.jpg

Street Smart Tip of the Day #150

There's somethings we can learn from the Malaysia Riders...

They process a high degree of Survival Skill...

I have notice quite a few of them at 2nd link puting on mask.

And we should put on our mask if when we ride...

It will be good & healthy to keep all these haze out of our bodies.

Time to bring out those mask left over from SAR Days...

or pick up a pack at the next closest pharmacy.

Haze are solid particles.

Our nose will filter some, but being minute

It will go thru...

If your throat feels dry...

The Haze is in your body...

And it will continue all the way to our lungs.

Not very good at all...

Mask Up Time!

endlessloop · October 21, 2006

Singapore Traffic Police Safety Talk 14 October 2006.

Specially for bikers from SBF! First in the history of singapore!

Here are some of the pictures taken during the event:

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00783_.JPG

Bikers from SBF at Ubi TP.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00724_%7E0.JPG

TP gave some very useful information on why bikers crash.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00730_.JPG

Q&A.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00731_%7E0.JPG

Buffet plus up-close-and-personal with TP Safety CO.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00742_%7E0.JPG

TP Talk on how their laser camera works.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00752_%7E0.JPG

U don't have to get a ticket to be close to this TP VFR800.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00743_.JPG

TP's turbo-charged Subaru WRX Impreza.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00756_%7E0.JPG

TP once had this type of TP bike.

http://www.picturesky.com/albums/userpics/11669/normal_DSC00755.JPG

Do you believe if I tell you that somewhere inside the Ubi TP HQ, there is a TP museum?

Much of the information shared are very useful, even for seasoned bikers.

A summary of the talk can be found in my blog loudexhaust.blogspot.com.

Go read.

This event was organised by MrLau.

The thread could be found under SBF/Rally Point/Dialogue Session with Traffic Police

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....0entry3347611

There are a lot of invaluable information that can help increase your survival on the roads of Singapore. I urge all to read Bikes & Bytes/Street Smart at:

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....0entry3353404

StingRhea · October 21, 2006

best to have another one!

Spectrum · October 21, 2006

It's a Big Plus for Improving Our Safety to know That the

TP cares...

It is therefore Important that We Contribuite our Ideas

And work as a team...

Deputy Superintendent Simon Ng... a gd man.

He's dead serious about keeping us alive....

Haha... excuse the pun.

It is a good effort...

So... Do feel free to post your comments here on "Street Smart Thread"

And we can collectively forward your suggest to his Dept.

Eg. Title your post: "cc to tp road Safety.."

I'll email the contribuition to him.

Suggestion #1: "let's have another one" by StingRhea...

For those who miss the 1st mtg @ tp ubi hq.

Suggestion #2: A big video screen to show some video of how

bikers get into accidents. Sort of like what was shown during the 1st mtg.

And Safety Messages...

Positon at 2nd link & Causeway immigration pts. where msg will be seen

bikers in th queues.

There is already a board there.... but more can be done.

kckerk · October 22, 2006

More publicity should be given about this event. Email broadcasts would be useful. I had no idea this event occurred.

kckerk · October 22, 2006

I find it is almost impossible to put on a full face helmet with my spectacles. Even if i try to put my specs on after i put on a full face helmet, it is not possible. How can i solve this problem? I am trying to play safe and buy a full face helmet.

Spectrum · October 22, 2006

kckerk: U have to put on your full face

Then... Wear your specs.

The Helmet shop should be helpful in showing u...

Wearing a Full Face take some getting use to...

But after a few rides... it's routine.

TO WEAR A FULL FACE:

U need to pull the both straps to stretch the helmet wider.

Then pull it over your head.

Then u can wear your specs or sunglasses.

Some more costly helmets has a slot for the spec to slot in

In that way, the area above your our ears are more comfortable.

http://www.streetbikerider.com/i-products/shoei-helmets-rf1000-diabolic1.jpg

Remember... a Full Face helmet must be tight.

To check... Just push your face against the helmet...

If your face hit the visor...

U gonna loose a few teeth when u fall face down...

Well, that's better that getting your face crush in

with an open face helmet.

(and there's plenty of photo at tp ctr on facial injury)

As long as it protect our face.

Invest in a good helmet... it's worth it.

As with the Next TP Session:

Will pm u...

Just keep a tab on this thread... will be posted here.

Spectrum · October 22, 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/StreetSmart151mm.jpg

Street Smart Tip of the Day #151

Whenever u enter a corner...

Bear in mind... 50% of bike accidents happens when cornering!

100% Concentration is what that is needed.

Nothing less...

Slow in... Fast Out...

Drop a gear or two pending the sharpness of the bend.

Many crashes is a factor of speed... too much of it.

All that is needed is a small distraction...

Could be a thought, something that catches your eyes...

Turn late in turning, too fast, wrong gear... bike over runs...

hit a curb or barrier...

rider... hopefully just fly and not hit anything!

A riding buddy that races on the circuit put it a simple way...

when he brief us on how to ride the tracks...

"See someone that had over run... u will also overrun!"

What he's trying to say is that any distraction can get u in trouble.

Keep your eyes on the road/tracks!

A Good Piece of Advise...

Another situation:

On one of my trips across the 2nd link...

I say a car... crash against the barrier on the 1st turn after the final police check.

Spore side.

So me think... how can that be... starting off at such low spd.

Till one day...

I almost crash into the same barrier cos I was distracted by a thought.

Just a tiny thought...

Was just a little late in manevering the turn.

Lucky to escape....

Spectrum · October 22, 2006

STREET SMART

CONTENTS For your "Quick Reference"

1. 50% of Crashes happen within the 1st 6 min

2. The Art of Soft Lane Change

3. Intersections - Most Frequent Place for an Accident

4. Less Traffic = Fewer Hazard (choose your route)

5. See & Be Seen (Be obvious)

6. Vision: Whose is more important. Yours or others

7. It's All about Speed

8. Risk in City Street Vs Expressways

9. Good Time... Bad Time (different time in the day/nite)

10. 2 Min Check (Pre-Ride)

11. How long it takes to get use to riding a new bike

12. Recognizing & Respond to Hazards

13. Wet Weather Riding

14. Emergency! Chain Snap! (pg 2)

14a. Blind Spots

15. Something Heavy on your Mind...

16. 2 Most Dangerous Risk to the Biker

17. The Attitude to Learning

18. Swerving

19. 3 Deadly Junction in the West

20. Change your Gears before entering a Corner

21. 4 Things that seperate You from the Ground22. Bikers Wt vs Bike Wt.

23. Tires indicates the Drivers Intentions

24. Taxis... $#%%!

25. Taking a Left/Right Bend

26. Tunnel Vision

27. Crash & Injuries Pattern

28. Best Protection is Distance

29. Filtering Between Lane

30. Entering Expressways

31. The U-Turn

32. Shadow Watching

33. When Sun Gets In Your Eyes/Sand (Pg 3)

34. Take a Break

34a. Wear Protection

35. High WInds

36. Overload

37. Overtaking Commercial Vehicles

38. Under the Bridge

39. Being Noisy Could be a Good Thing

40. Beyong Your Envelope

41. Life Saver

42. Bikes on Tour

43. Overtaking a String of Vehicles

44. Offside Overtaking

45. Wet Days

45a. Big WHEELs small wheels

47. Which Bike Should I Steal?

47a. Riding Skill... Physical/Mental

49. Slippery When Wet

50. Be Cool!

51. Stop & U Drop

52. Keep to the side when turning

52a. Look out for that Cow!

53. Height has It's Advantages

54. F.A.S.T.

55. Target Fixation

55a. Space

56. When u see a slow car... (Pg 4)

56a. Entry Speed (pg17)

56b. Tyres

57. Stoney Island

57a. 1000th Hit Post "Don't Rush"

58. Regulating your speed

59. Don't want to Hit Anything when I fall

60. Hydro Planning

61. Decreasing Radius Turns

62. The Wobble

63. Engine Seizure

64. Skids

65. ABS Brakes

68. Thunderstorms

69. Speed Vs Gear

70. Signal Your Intentions

71. Flashing Your HeadLights

72. Junctions

73. Taxis

74. Hand Signals

75. Courtesy

76. Responding to other signals

77. Learning from our mistakes

78. Attitudes Towards Speed

79. Attitudes Towards Other Road User

80. Attitudes Towards Risk Taking

81. Heavy Vehicle on the overtake...

81a. Looking but not seeing

82. Red Mist

83. Traffic Jams

84. Group Riding

85. Ride within your comfort zone

86. Overtaking Decisions

87. Midnight

88. Sleepy Heads

91. Fatique cause accidents

92. Wet Days

93. Safest position when filtering (Pg 5)

94. Be selective who u are following

95. I didn't see the bike

96. Droping gears before corners

97. Exit & Entrances - Last min. changes

98. It need not involve u

99. A Wet Tale

100. Think Buffer

101. Don't Share

102. Biker take note when the surface is just getting wet

103. Looking here looking there

104. Punctures & Blow Outs

105. Your Riding Behaviour

106. Animals

107. Clear & Present Danger

107a. Hantu lorries

108. Reading the Roads

109. Reaction Time

110. One Eyed Joe

111. Snap Out

112. 2 Seconds - That's all u got

113. 2 Seconds Rule

114. True stories

117. Pick up zones

118. Look out for danger

119. Taking Position

120. Famous Last Words

120a. Speed

121. Body Language

121a. Riding on the shoulder

122. Below the waist

122a. Traffic Jams are a source of stress

123. Snooze & u sleep on the roads

123a. Lane Selection

124. Gears

124a. Wet Towels

125. Tire Pressure

126. Dress for the Fall

127. Reconizing your ability

128. Dressing

129. Your ability to sense danger

130. Statistic... u need not be one

131. Interesting Figures

132. Who is most likely to be involve in an accident (Pg 6)

133. Where are accidents likely to happen

133a. We don't learn from our mistakes

134. Our own count

135. Riding 2 Up

136. Precious Cargo

137. What makes a good rider

138. No Lines... Don't Squeeze

139. Buying a bike.... Infomation

140. Which bike

141. New or Used Bike

142. New Bikes

143. Popular bike or individualist bike

144. Scooter or motorcycles

145. Cup Kia

146. Brand

147. Buying a Used Bike

148. Know your strength & limits

149. Our Roads are not racing tracks

149a. Helmets

150. Haze

151. Concentration

Note: the edit button is gone.. as such I can't paste this updated list

of content on pg 1..

can the moderator help me do it. thks.

saboon · October 23, 2006

Thats a nice touch, a content page.

Maybe the next thing coming up would be a webbie/bloggie set up by our dear Spectrum so that access to the pointers would be just at a click of a button?

Just a comment. Know it takes a lot of work to set up a street smart webbie or blog.

If i sound rude or demanding, my apologies.

Spectrum · October 24, 2006

Saboon: Thks for suggestion...

:thumb:

Spectrum · October 24, 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/HappyDeepavali02copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Selamat01.jpg

Enjoy your celebrations...

yohji · October 24, 2006

Spectrum

I really salute you for doing the contents page! You've really dedicated so much of your personal time in helping fellow riders educated about road safety.

BTW I found this an article from another thread. It's an article illustrating the importance of riding gear (from the BMW MotorCycle Club of Singapore). It is a PDF file with real pictures of injuries substained by the author himself and his pillion with riding gears on. So imagine what will happen to them if they only wore t-shirt, shorts and slippers. Anyway, I hope everyone can take their time to read through the article, especially the first paragraph. It really makes me think much more about riding gears (they can cause injuries to the rider even when protecting him. but at least it's better than not wearing them). And now I can show this article to whoever says I am crazy by gearing up like a Power Ranger when I ride in Singapore's weather. Haha!

Here's the link: http://www.bmwmcs.org/documents/The%20Usef...tive%20Gear.pdf

Enjoy!

Spectrum · October 24, 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Selamat02copy.jpg

Sorry about the above mistake.. on raya...

Hope all our muslim friends had a wonderful day.

Spectrum · October 26, 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/StreetSmart152.jpg

Street Smart Tip of the Day #152

It does not matter who the driver is...

The Right Turning Vehicle kills the most Bikers! Period.

The next time u approach a junction...

...have a escape plan...

Just in case the killer decides to drive into your path!

We are invisible!

Spectrum · October 26, 2006

Originally posted by yohji@Oct 24 2006, 11:03 AM
Spectrum
I really salute you for doing the contents page! You've really dedicated so much of your personal time in helping fellow riders educated about road safety.

BTW I found this an article from another thread. It's an article illustrating the importance of riding gear (from the BMW MotorCycle Club of Singapore). It is a PDF file with real pictures of injuries substained by the author himself and his pillion with riding gears on. So imagine what will happen to them if they only wore t-shirt, shorts and slippers. Anyway, I hope everyone can take their time to read through the article, especially the first paragraph. It really makes me think much more about riding gears (they can cause injuries to the rider even when protecting him. but at least it's better than not wearing them). And now I can show this article to whoever says I am crazy by gearing up like a Power Ranger when I ride in Singapore's weather. Haha!

Here's the link: http://www.bmwmcs.org/documents/The%20Usef...tive%20Gear.pdf

Enjoy!

Good article... we should always try to dress up...

Never can tell when we get into a spill...

Was told About 20 bikes drop about midnight riding into R & R Gelang Patah

home bound due fuel/diesel spillage at the entrance.

One of our buddies sustain fracture on arm & cut on chin.

Slow spd.

Fall the moment he tap on the brakes!

Action: If u notice a spill.. sand or oil/fuel/diesel

- don't hit the brakes...

- Drop gear & slow down gradually if u can (chances u can't)

- Best if u can maintain a straight line thru the hazard

(if that is possible... )

- and always wear protection... include a full face helmet, gloves.

saboon · October 26, 2006

Originally posted by Spectrum@Oct 26 2006, 09:32 AM
Good article... we should always try to dress up...
Never can tell when we get into a spill...

Was told About 20 bikes drop about midnight riding into R & R Gelang Patah
home bound due fuel/diesel spillage at the entrance.

One of our buddies sustain fracture on arm & cut on chin.
Slow spd.
Fall the moment he tap on the brakes!

Action: If u notice a spill.. sand or oil/fuel/diesel
- don't hit the brakes...
- Drop gear & slow down gradually if u can (chances u can't)
- Best if u can maintain a straight line thru the hazard
(if that is possible... )
- and always wear protection... include a full face helmet, gloves.

I wear gloves, flip up helmet, mesh jacket with elbow, back and shoulder armour, jeans and shoes as often as i can.

But i am not sure how well all this would help me in the event of a crash.

So i would like to ask what do you all usually wear for protection when riding in Singapore? Power Ranger? Ninja Turtle, Spiderman or Superman(underwear wear outside)??

It seems there is nothing as perfect protection. Cause the human body isn't built to withstand impact and abrasions

Dino Bravo · October 26, 2006

From my experience... a painful one... here are my humble views and advise

Many people think that by wearing protection, they are invisible gods. doesn't matter if they take a bad spill.

you may be decked out in a full suit head to toe with the most expensive helmet, yet all it takes to kill you in a crash, is to fall and break your neck upon impact. be it the tarmac, or some foriegn object like a car/lamp post.

wearing protective gears offers protection, BUT NOT immunity.

i'll offer 3 diff live examples that have actually happened to people i know.

1) "G" was riding on NSHW, well within the legal speed limit.

he was wearing 3/4 bermudas, t-shirt and sandals with an open face helmet.

it was dark. with light traffic. there was a slow moving lorry ahead of "G". so he decided to overtake, checked his blind spot, and overtake the lorry. trying to past it as soon as possible. as the lorry might swerve anytime you never know, DRIVER MIGHT BE ASLEEP or SLEEPY. so in a way, what he did was a safety measure and logical. BUT, there was a malaysian registered car, without lights and taillights on the adjacent lane, travelling SLOWER than the lorry itself. for whatever reasons God knows. "G" hit the car, not very hard, but he lost control and crashed. fortunately, he didn't crash into anything. he sustained serious road rash all over his body including his chin and cheeks.

that is what you have... @ about 100km/h with no protection.

His scars will remain forever without the help of expensive plastic surgery

2) This happened to myself. was travelling on NSHW. it was daytime, bright with clear vision ahead. traffic was very light. almost no traffic.

I was decked out in pretty good gear.

Nice riding jacket with armour in critical places. Full leather gloves. track boots. full face helmet. BUT, i was wearing jeans. minius points for that.

but heck i was touring up KL, can't expect to wear a full suit as its not practical.

was speeding due to my playful nature. more of wanting to test the new bike.

i knew that protection can't protect me 100%. and i'm thankful i held back and didn't twist more of the throttle.

long straight road ahead of me. at least a good 1km or more. clear vision. checked and double checked as far as i could see ahead.

checked beside and behind me. all clear.

whacked the straight. some distance and about 3min later or so, noticed a lorry on the left lane. about 500m ahead. from far looks like its not carrying any load. as i was approaching, checked again, empty load. but i was wrong.

it was carrying condemn tyres laid at the bottom of the lorry bed. concealed by the side and tail boards. lorry looks like it took a bump, hell the tyres started to fall off the lorry!

too little time, too much speed... i braced myself grip onto the bike tight. hoping to go over the tyres and prepared for the worst. hoping that the bike would at most suffer some damage.

but i crashed. last glance at the speedo was at 230km/h. when i went down, it should have been a good 180km/h i guessed.

after much sliding and rolling and trashing... i felt like crap.

picked myself up slowly. i was thankful i could still stand.

checked damages on my body. not good.

i slowly made my way back to singapore with much help.

the results came when i was admited to a hospital in singapore. bad road rash on small areas. mainly left shoulder, left forearm, left thigh. fractured a few soft ribs, chipped a bone and couldn't move most of my body for the next 3days. its like i badly sprained every joint of my body. horrible feeling.

i was thankful i was wearing protective gear. i realised i could have lost my life without protection, or lose all my skin and even grind some bone. even with protective gear, i only managed to REDUCE the amount of damage done. mainly reduce road rash. but i still sustained fractures and all sorts. which i think is unavoidable even if you wear a full suit. you can still break a bone or two.

i'm thankful i wore protection that day... and i'm still looking as good as before the crash... plus some ugly scars that can be easily covered with a t-shirt =)

3) lastly, this unfortunate incident happened quite a few years ago.

the gear this rider was wearing is not important in this incident.

he was travelling at a speed most of us would consider slow, not more than 60km/h. a drunk driver did a right turn (as spectrum had mentioned earlier on, killer turn)... didn't notice the rider...

the rider slammed into the left side of the car...

he lost his life...

he lost his life due to internal bleeding. punctured his lungs if i'm not wrong.

in this case, protection or not, doesn't save you at all.

he slammed squarely into the car.

the impact at 60km/h is very great. greater than you can imagine.

try riding up/into a kerb at 10km/h squarely. you will realise that the force is enough to throw you off your bike a good few meters.

the reason i'm explaining these 3 scenerios in detail... is because i hope that from it, we can all learn a thing or two.

learn from other's mistakes.

learn from yours, and its gonna painful.

too many mistakes to be learnt and corrected, you cannot possibly make all the mistakes yourself for you to learn.

i do admit that sometimes i do take things for granted and ride without a protection. but the minimum i did was to at least wear a pair of jeans and decent shoes.

so i'm not saying that you have no other options but must wear full protection everytime you ride.

you can if you want to.

but if you choose not to, at least protect yourself reasonably with at least a good helmet, jeans and shoes. that... is the MINIMUM. and its reasonably comfortable.

if its too hot to wear jeans and shoes... its too hot to ride... betta to take a cab. serious

even if this post helps to save just 1 person from nasty situations... it has served its purpose...

so... like saboon said.... : there is nothing such as perfect protection. our bodies are not built to withstand such impacts, tourture, beatings...

protection only protects you up to certain extend, it does not offer you immunity.

the perfect and best protection we can have, is really between our ears... the brain.

ride with care and apply simple logics...

ride safe my friends...

BodilyPartsOnTheRoad · October 26, 2006

Good one dino~~

i really haf to agree with u. There are too many bikers that lost their lives on the roads. And yet i seen many fellow riders who like to test their skills or machine limits on the public roads. And public roads are full of everything oil spills, gravels, sand, newspapers, styroform boxes, leftovers from crashes~~~ and many more (then u can imagine) . Its a public road , so any one can "leave " anything behind or do anything they wish( racing , test topspeed ~~ etc). So pls be very careful

Kind souls like alan, dino are here to share their experience. But what about those who didn't haf a chance to share theirs~? do we need some ignorant biker to do what some regreted doing and dun even got a chance to live to share~?

Do take minute think about hows riding life for the past few yrs of life~~ Did u escape any near accidents~? If yes and u are still here likely been blessed by ur guardian angels or ur lucky stars had been shining real hard on u~ Think about what if~~~~~

i urge all to ride with extreme care. If possible gear up. Treasure ur life.

Pls take riding seriously.

Ride Safe.

Just my 0.001cents

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