STREET SMART

[endlessloop]

I think it's not surprising that I do have a pair of blind corner mirrors fixed to my bike side mirrors.

 

The blind spot mirrors are very useful and greatly greatly reduce the need to turn your head 180% back. But I do echo that you cannot 100% depend on them. The reason is that at very steep angles, such as when there is a hidden bike/car, at exactly your 3 or 9 o'clock position, no curvature on earth can reflect at such angles.

 

So the blind corner mirrors do not 100% remove all blind spot. But with them, your probably can cover 90% angles. Therefore you only need to take care of the 10% still blind.

 

By being aware of their failings at 3 and 9 o'clock , you only need to c*** your head a bit sideways and your peripheral vision can detect cars in those areas.

 

When traffic very light (cars are a couple of hundred meters apart) or when traffic very heavy, the blind mirrors are very effective.

 

The blind spot mirrors are not substitute for maintaining your situation awareness. They are tools that when you maintain your situation awareness (that is knowing whether there are cars behind you), then most of the time you can rely on them to check blindspot.

 

When I am overtaking more aggressively, I totally don't use them and I fall back on turning my head and shoulder 3/4 rearwards as this is much faster and I have much more confidence.

 

Interestingly, I started using the blind spot mirror when I first rode my powerful litre CBR954 sports bike. The bike was so fast even at small throttle openings that several times I found myself almost hitting the car in front from the split seconds when turning my head round to check blindspots!

 

So the blind spot mirrors greatly reduced this danger. If I can put blind spot mirrors on sport bike, you can put them on yours too!

 

Think that the blind spot mirrors will take up too much space on your rear side mirrors?

 

Actually, if you analyse carefully, you really use a very small area of your side mirrors. They tend to be the other edges.

 

So the right place to put the blind spot mirror is at the inner edges as these areas tend to reflect slightly of your shoulder so the space is useless anyway.

 

You can get blind spot mirrors at many places including Autobacs.

I suggest getting those rotateable ones instead of fixed ones.

[Spectrum]

The Phase Used is call a "Lifeline"

 

Simply, it means turning your head to check behind.

As endless said.. us those blind spot mirror as

an added device for awareness...

 

But There is no substitution for a head check.

 

So always throw yourself a "lifeline" whenever u filter out...

[singrider]

One thing abt blindspot mirror is tt objects appear further, (even spacious) than they really are.

[Guest czh2002sg]

To drive home the point... for first time users or those considering buying them... Look at the same blind spot mirror pic again. Notice how small the black car appears in the blindspot mirror, when it is actually quite near as you can see half of it in your side mirror. Just imagine at night the fella switch off the light

 

If you're constantly scanning for hazards... actually without blindspot mirrors you will know there's a car/vehicle in your blindspot. To see without seeing

But to have this additonal eqquipment to add to my "battlefield information" is something extra i dun mind having

 

If you're buying one too, fix it at the petrol kiosk... take a look at the signboard behind you and see the signboard in your blindspot mirror.. or the car in our blindspot filling up... Get used to it first before relying on it more. Suggestion: 3 to 7 day trial period.

Black rim blindspot mirrors may be better cause silverbendit commented that silver rims rusted for her.

And nothing beats turning your head to check blindspot...

 

Price at SPC: $3.35

Ease of situational Awareness: Priceless

 

Disclaimer: Use at your own risk

 

PS: I tended to keep looking at it for first one or two rides out. Use it only when appropriate. Dun let it change your riding. Adapt its use to complement your riding to make yourself a better rider.

[kckerk]

Anyone interested in Defensive Riding Course for 2B riders? I am thinking of finding 6 like minded riders and we book a date either with SSDC or Comfort Driving.

[Technician III]

Hi, I've installed the blind spot mirror on my right mirror.. I didn't put it in my left mirror coz i always travel in the left most lane.. Hence, most of the lane changing will be done on my right..

 

My thoughts after using the blind spot mirror are:

 

1) In day time, they are dependable.. able to see objects almost 3 O' clock.. I still practice turning my head to the right, but most of the time I assume there is nothing beside me..

 

2) When judging the rear vehicle's distance from myself, i still prefer to use my rear mirrors.. Another reason y I nv install the other blind spot mirror on my left mirror is I tend to use the left mirror for judging the distance of the vehicle behind me.. I still not used to having 2 mirrors on my right..

 

I haven't been riding lately coz my ankle is still injured.. it has been 4 mths since i met wif my accident.. Sometimes I still wonder how come the accident happened.. it could be avoided.. I'll post more of my feedback when I'm fit to ride..

[Finity]

Originally posted by kckerk@February 08, 2007 05:27 pm

Anyone interested in Defensive Riding Course for 2B riders? I am thinking of finding 6 like minded riders and we book a date either with SSDC or Comfort Driving.

hai i booked mine @ ssdc on valentine's day ... u can call to cek wats the earliers date ... nowadays ssdc are very busy with many learners ... for class 3 now have to wait 6 months b4 can take tp as the queue very long ...

[gohjohan]

Originally posted by Finity@February 09, 2007 01:44 pm

hai i booked mine @ ssdc on valentine's day ... u can call to cek wats the earliers date ... nowadays ssdc are very busy with many learners ... for class 3 now have to wait 6 months b4 can take tp as the queue very long ...

must be the cheap car prices

[Guest czh2002sg]

Originally posted by Technician III@February 09, 2007 11:34 am

2) When judging the rear vehicle's distance from myself, i still prefer to use my rear mirrors.. Another reason y I nv install the other blind spot mirror on my left mirror is I tend to use the left mirror for judging the distance of the vehicle behind me.. I still not used to having 2 mirrors on my right..

 

I haven't been riding lately coz my ankle is still injured.. it has been 4 mths since i met wif my accident.. Sometimes I still wonder how come the accident happened.. it could be avoided.. I'll post more of my feedback when I'm fit to ride..

Maybe you can tilt your side mirror a little bit more towards yourself so that it allows you to gauge your rear better without having to shift your body towards the outside of the bike to see the rear? (the one with blindspot mirror)

 

If could share your experience of what caused your accident, I believe many riders who read it here will learn something from it too. I wish you a speedy recovery

[byon]

thanks czh2002sg for your advise, it made alot of sense to me and will definitely help me avert accidents in time to come. good news. i enjoyed reading your nsh experience.

 

i just witness 4 cars (2 each), with the back-car knocking into the front-car for not keeping a safe distance away. they might have forgotten their 2-second rule below the safe limit speed.

 

by the way, do you have any advice for the riding between cars? should we swerve btwn them during traffic jams? (e.g,. the CTE highway-jam daily)

[Guest czh2002sg]

Originally posted by byon@February 10, 2007 02:58 am

should we swerve btwn them during traffic jams? (e.g,. the CTE highway-jam daily)

I hope you mean moving from centre of a lane to in between cars and back to centre, and not literally swerving left right centre and weaving in and out all over the expressway. Haha... Thats... not very... healthy.

 

Finally found this link attached at the bottom. Please read all 3 pages and not just one page to fully understand the arguments/counter-arguments. I'm inserting this link here because I'll rather not see a war between riders of different styles, skill level and experience in this street smart thread. Lane splitting, or filtering is a matter of contention rather than consensus.

 

I urge you to read all 3 pages, make up your mind based on your own riding style, experience, bike characteristic, safety gear used and most importantly recognise that this is a matter of choice. Don't let other riders' opinions affect you too much because you have a whole different set of factors different from him to consider. Hope this helps.

 

Have a safe ride. Cheers

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....260&st=0:cheer:

[Kenix]

Thanks for all the advises, think I should perharps put a blind spot mirror as well since I'm a new rider..

[Guest czh2002sg]

If anyone very free can read this two pages on squeezing.

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....l=squeeze&st=30

 

Read first post and can stop liao lah. Some of the attitudes of the "experienced" riders i won't encourage anyone to emulate. IMHO, "humility" is sonething than can be practiced across all classes. But its good to know that such riders exists. How safe they are? You decide for yourself. Experienced? Definitely.

 

Some problems I observe in SBF after much reading is two fold, but centres around small bike bashing by more experienced riders.

 

Some young riders really don't know how to spell "die", some cannot fathom the meaning of experience, and some ride very dangerously, and the danger is compounded by lack of experience. I feel that humility is something that can be practiced by small bikers. If you're squeezing, just let others behind you overtake you by moving by into a lane. Recognise you are inexperienced, like me, stupid triangle plate also haven't take out what for be gung ho? There will be a time for me to do more "hazardous" riding when I'm ready.

 

Big bike riders-Nothing to say. But some can get carried away with their experience. You know your own limits better. I rest my case.

 

I'm writing this because I feel that many riders make mistakes in riding when they cannot curb their own emotions, on the road and off, be it in reaction to other road users, or not being able to stand the criticisms of more experienced riders, or taking a swipe at inexperienced riders when constructive criticisms works better. If you read thru the 2 pages you'll know what I mean.

 

Its easy to sit behind a computer and type. But do you walk the talk? Do you want to make a difference? Or are you contended with just talking the walk? Its a question for self-reflection. No offence, I'm just another small biker trying to enjoy my ride.

 

A sincere plea for those who really want to do something to make riding safer...

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....howtopic=148091

[Technician III]

Originally posted by czh2002sg@February 10, 2007 02:06 am

Maybe you can tilt your side mirror a little bit more towards yourself so that it allows you to gauge your rear better without having to shift your body towards the outside of the bike to see the rear? (the one with blindspot mirror)

 

If could share your experience of what caused your accident, I believe many riders who read it here will learn something from it too. I wish you a speedy recovery

Hi, below is the thread which I created.. Feel free to browse it thru..

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....howtopic=134804

 

Tink I realli learnt alot during this accident..

[Guest czh2002sg]

What makes a good rider?

 

1. Attitude

2. Skill/Experience

 

Too much has been said about skill and too little on attitude. You find many posts in SBF on better cornering, better this better that. It is important. But attitude is the basis on which such skills should be based, especially for young riders (like myself) who have not mastered the skills. Because attitude can be in-born in some riders, unlike skill which needs experience to hone it to perfection. You see the safety-conscious attitude in certain type of riders who ride certain type of bikes in a certain way right from the start. Their insurance premium happens to be the lowest because the profiling shows they are least likely to get involved in an accident. A friend of mine, kckerk is one just person. His riding style tells you with one look on the road that he is a very safe rider. Others, like me, have to buang first before I take an interest in safety. Technician III had a bad fall, and you see the interest grow in him in all things safety. This is commendable. Many do not have to chance to do so. Can we spread this attitude to others? Not easy, but can. Some questions to reflect on.

 

Do you feel the need to show another biker who accelerates harder on your right that you can out-accelerate him?

 

Must you necessarily perceive other's hard riding as an offensive challenge to you to race with him?

 

Have you considered that your fast acceleration from the traffic lights or your perfectly legal, safe but fast acceleration in ovetaking him actually made him think you are challenging him when actually you're minding your own business?

 

Its his fault if he feels like racing with you. But can you let it pass, or do you feel the urge to out-throttle him? Are you just like him then? Without knowing it.

 

My questions are directed more towards the amount of self-control you have. Face it, experience counts for little when you cannot curb your temper and emotions on the road. Yes, you may have better skills and can make more split second judgements. You can take on more risk and manage it and get away with it more often. But this is the one thing that you have not mastered. All the experience goes down the drain, because it was an immature act, unbecoming of experienced riders. Experience in skill but not attitude works better on race tracks.

 

Think you're really good at squeezing and have mastery over your machine?

Watch this man. Tell me you can match him.

 

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=9768 courtesy of MrLau

 

There's more on him. He's the real ghost rider in US. Run a search on google with the keywords street racing and ghost rider together, so you don't get directed to the official websites for the movie.

 

By the way, dudu told me he died. Someone else replaced him for the production of street racing clips. He deserves it, i hear you say. He's is dangerous riding. I'm not, you claim. Skill wise, he beats many of us. Attitude wise, we win hands down. To him, track racing can no longer test his supremacy in handling his machine. He is a god. He needs the thrill of street racing to keep him going, according to dudu.

 

The next time you lose control of your emotions, remember him. Losing control is not so much different in essence, only in magnitude.

 

To act (ride fast) and to react (out-acclerate another because of pride) is a matter of control. Without control, to react with your emotions exposes you to more than you may think you can control. Its a fine line between the two. Some have it in-born, some learn form bad experiences. Some never will.

 

 

Skill, on the hand, can only be built over time, with experience. Its all that the past 40 pages is about, although the safety conscious attitude is inherent without being explicitly mentioned. Its when you are so familiar with your bike you become one with your machine, and when you have seen so much on the road you can sense things before it happens. This is experience, that you can pre-empt and "siam" before it happens. But there is only so much you can do. The process of aqquring experience and skill can be hastened through socialization though. Get a riding group, share experiences, ask questions, seek advice, hear stories. I'm blessed to come across a good riding team (you know who you are ) And I'll like to think I've learnt much more from them than i could have without. Nothing beats your own experience, but socialization helps.

 

For something to happen... all it takes is...

http://www.tacsafety.com.au/upload/TAC-dialupV9.wmv

 

courtesy of MrLau

 

With a safety conscious attitude, a moment of late reaction could cause you this senario. Just reacting a little too late to a car's swerving in. Let alone when you're hot and in pursuit of a target for your rage, your mis-directed pent-up frustrations.

 

So lets not take on more without being able to assert control over ourselves.

Attitude and skill/experience may not overlap and often may not develop together at the same time. You see some 2B riders and some class 2 riders seeking death in the way they ride. The reason why you see less such class 2 riders may be because they've had more falls, enough to assert more control over themselves.

 

Look at the uncle riding Vespar and Chopper. Some may not have rode litre bikes before. Some may have been poor all their life and rely on it for work. I will bet my money he is safer than those of us with ff helmet and riding gears. I'm not saying we should ride like him, cause its no fun anyway, bit I'm saying we could learn some of his attitude. the restraint he practices.

 

Next time, before you get hot and want to out throttle the guy who overtook you, stop for a moment... He could have just been enjoying his ride, like me.

 

Apologise for the lengthy post. I must have failed summary writing back then. What I can't put in a a summary I hope to convey through a more words... If you're an experienced riders and the force is strong with you, thank you for bearing with me. What probably appeared to be common sense to you may be a something young riders like me and still getting to terms with.

 

That you bother to let me finish what i want to say to you suggests you have patience and take a safety-oriented attitude to riding. You are at lower risk. Bring it onto the road, as much as possible. Have a safe ride. Cheers.

[Finity]

Yesterday went for the ssdcl def.riding course. 2 hr lecture ... almost like the theory information ... followed by 1 hr of simulation ride ... finally the pratical riding.

 

Not used to the bike tat i used to learn frm the school. Cause its lighter n diff frm the bike i am owning now so feel very weird riding.

 

p/s: kckerk if not wrong there are 3 types of der.riding the school is providing.

 

0.5 day course = mostly for saf pers. as they need the cert to ride in camp

1 day course = more pratical

2 days course = no idea ... saw some1 mentioned it in the forum ... can call to school to cek.

 

u can look for Mr Ahmad Aljunied [frm ssdcl] if u want to sign up any 1 or 2 day course. Try to get 5 pers. min to have the course on-going ...

[Technician III]

Hmm.. I agree wif czh2002sg.. I mean our brains works best when we r focusing on 1 thing.. When we ride, there's so many things tat we hav to focus all the time.. Looking out for traffic, whether the traffic light will turn amber then red or not.. Izzit safe to change lane.. And lots and lots of factors.. Tat's the reason y yr safety awareness drops when u r thinking about something while riding.. example could be "how's my results?", "how to settle the quarrel wif my gf/wife?"

 

So when u try to outrace someone, almost all ur brain focus ability goes to chasing the rider in front.. Hence, i wld think it's dangerous.. If on the track tat's a different thing..

 

For me, i dun bother if someone accelerates hard to overtake me.. I dun hav tat kind of racer blood in me.. But i admire those who ride class 2 bikes.. I'm not qualified to ride such a big cc bikes and I dun hav the financial means to afford 1..

 

I'm not an experienced rider, i onli ride for bout 8 mths like tat.. Aft tat i buang my bike liao.. But I learnt alot of safety issues while I'm injured.. So pls dun learnt the lesson tha hard way.. Ride safe everyone..

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/StreetSmart160m.jpg

 

STREET SMART TIP OF THE DAY #160

 

An interesting sharing for a friend.

Two bikers waiting to do a U-Turn.

One was mowed down by a vehicle from behind.

 

Whenever we are the 1st ones to stop when the lights turn red.

It is an good habit to have a look at our rear view mirrors.

That's to see if the vehicle behind is also stopping.

 

A suggestion to stop with our 1st gear will certainly help us

to pull away if the one behind can't stop in time or decides to beat

the red lights.

 

It is usual from me to go down to neutral.. but I do have a glance

behind to see if someone coming real close or fast before doing that.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/ChineseNewYear01copy.jpg

 

Have a Good & Safe Year!

:cheer:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/cny03copy.jpg

[zhiyuan]

I just rode in the biggest rain I've met on the roads(e-way).

 

I couldn't even see the rear lights of the car infront of me, due to the super heavy rain. To make matters worse, a large vechicle was weaving in and out between the 3rd and 2nd lane. Also, I did not bring my raincoat out with me, only my rainpants.

 

So I had to ride in the heavy rain drenched, cold, numb and still had to be extra safe because of wet roads. I knew I could have stopped by and waited for the rain to be smaller, but I just felt like going on and learn a rain safety lesson.

 

It was a definitely dangerous rainy lesson, but I survived with another rainday under my helmet.

 

Take everyone, ride safe.

Happy chinese new year too.

[Guest czh2002sg]

Quote: I couldn't even see the rear lights of the car infront of me, due to the super heavy rain.

 

If you really must continue, switch on your signal lights. They show up better than under very poor visibility. It could make the difference whether someone behind you sees you in time to e-brake

 

On the return trip from Melecca with my riding team last year we had a similar situation. Some of us stopped under the flyover. Some pressed on. In hindsight, keeping near the emergency lane with left signal on could have been somewhat safer... in case...

[Technician III]

Hi, I juz took my bike out for a ride to check whether the bike has any problems after being repaired. It was fun indeed, riding for the 1st time in months due to injury. However, juz when I was happily enjoying the night breeze, I recalled the last moments of my accident. And this recall pays off.. I encounter something which I think I wld like to share wif u..

 

Lessons Learnt

 

Date: 16 February 2007

Category: Phase 2 – Basic Road Riding

Road Conditions: Dry, night time

 

Situation: Overtaking a slow vehicle nearing the end of a bend

Actual Scene:

 

• Riding behind a slow lorry, noted a vehicle in my right rear mirror.

• Distance is still far away from me.

• At the end of the bend, wanted to overtake the front vehicle

• Check mirror, but couldn’t see the vehicle, so turn my head to check

• There was nothing in my blind spot area

• I turned back my head, only to realize the front vehicle was very close to me.

• Brake to almost a stop, confirm no vehicle, then I lane change

• Turn out the front vehicle wanted to make a u-turn.

 

What I have Learnt:

 

• Don’t overtake a vehicle during which the road is still curving. Wait till the road is straight then overtake.

• When the road is curved, the mirror cannot give you a complete view of your rear.

• Leaving a safe following distance only allows you to perform e-brake safely when it is required. It is a different thing when you turned your head to check blind spot. i.e. Not focusing in the traffic in front.

 

The factor tat makes me nervous is I couldn't see where the vehicle was when I look in my mirror.. I know it's somewhere behind me.. Even my blind spot mirror also empty.. Then I repeated the same mistake that caused my accident again.. Checking blind spot without checking the traffic in front. I couldn't believe I almost let history repeat itself. Looks like I got to do more safety practices in the future.

 

Guess what, I felt something inside me at that moment, tat kind of fear.. dunno how to describe it.. The above situation is what I recommend.. Any recommendations from experienced riders here?

[Unagi]

It is very true that when you are at a curve, there are certain areas that your mirror cannot reflect. This might be due to one or more of these factors:

 

1) the tilt of our bike or the handle bar in order to negotiate the curve;

2) the angle of the curved road behind;

3) the vehicle behind might position itself at a different point than we have expected. ie. some vehicles like to change lane while turning etc.

 

Technician III, I have encountered what you experienced many times. Thus in situations when I'm certain that there WAS a vehicle behind me, but is now gone, I will NOT change lane or overtake. I will stay within my lane and focus on the road in front. Trust yourself and don't get to anymore sticky situations.

 

Congrats on having your ride back.

 

ps: This is also why our driving centre instructors tell us not to change lanes during a curve - always before or after.

[endlessloop]

Technician III

 

Congratulations on surviving another close encounter.

Give yourself a pat on the back!

It could be that you have learnt from your previous encounters, that triggered the instincts in you this time and this could have saved you.

Every close encounter that we met, should be taken as an opportunity to be reviewed and to learn something from. Not to get mad at and blame others.

A hundred encounters later, a hundred times wiser and smarter you will be, and a hundred times safer you will become.

 

 

[Spectrum]

Over taking in a Turn

 

Generally, I would try not to do any overtaking on a turn.

There are just too much risk involve.

I would patiently wait till the turn is over.

Following behind at a safe distance.

 

As endless had said.. U did well in avoiding the vehicle

doing the U turn.

I know of one that hit a vehicle doing a U turn...

 

Even on a fast sweeping bend on our highways...

It is best to delay the overtaking..

Heavy Rain

 

As I always say...

"When the going gets tough... the tough go shopping"

When Visibility is bad... and visor/glasses starts misting or

rain is seaping thru...

Go find shelter.

And remember... Find a safe spot to park.

It is usual for moto cyclist to bunch up under a bridge...

And it will not be difficult to imagine a car ploughing thru the bikes.

 

Remember... It's is condition like this that causes Accident.

U can't see, they can't see...

Brakin is poor... Best go drink Teh.

 

 

The last ride back from Thailand...

Was faced with heavy rain before KL

It was Nite... Half the left lane was under construction.

Traffic was heavy.

My visibility was poor.

Me pull into the nearest R & R petrol stn.

And was seriously considering staying over in one of the

Highway Hotels.. and ride back the next day.

In Clear Bright Sunlight... 20/20 vision.