Tips when riding

[Greg goes wild]

YES i know that you all know how to ride your GTS n so on but here are tips for more safety. On a 3 lane rd. i get
over into the fast lane n do the speed limit. Cuz i am sick n tired of people in cars going half way past me n then
start moving into my right hand lane. I mean WTF they just saw me in the right slow lane doing 40 mph n they
cut me off what for???? The horn i use a lot cuz of idiots in cages i could be in the slow lane or the 3 rd lane it
does not matter people do NOT look for us on 2 wheels. i could be in either lane i start to see a car starting to
move into the middle lane i hit the horn to let them know i am there. That HELPS a lot believe me.

I like to use my flashers when i come to a stop light day light or night time to be seen. I don't wear black
jacket at all when riding. I have that greenish yellow motorcycle jacket winter riding. Cuz i do night time
driving in a city with LOTS of cars n so fourth. I do NOT get close to cars when stopped at light stay at least
6 ft away. You could add your suggestions when riding as well.
I have to assume that people in cages do not see me that's why i call myself Ghostrider Greg

 

[Ceesie76]

On highways I tend to ride in the carpool lane as the safest one (nobody to your left) and the main risk is cars suddenly moving into that lane when not permitted (double yellow line) and not watching for traffic before veering left. To be able to ride comfortably in the carpool lane I have to be able to go at least 80 mph in SoCal but as long as I can do that, that's where I feel safest. Regularly of course, all traffic is stopped or moves slowly, and then I ride between the carpool and the next lane over, in my own lane as it were (filtering/lane splitting) and then again the main risk is cars moving between the two lanes without warning and without checking.
I don't like to use my main beams, hazard lights or auxiliary lights, as I think it has a negative impact on car drivers' 'sympathy' for motorcycle riders. For the same reason, I don't 'revbomb' or honk at cars that are too close so I can't get through, I just slow down and wait for them to notice me and move over, then I pass and thank them with the 'two-finger' low hand gesture when I can (it's safe for me to take my left hand off the handlebar).
In the city I just ride with traffic until I need to lane split again, then it's less risk because in the city traffic is much slower, typically standing still or almost, and I can just glide through.
When I lane split on the highway I don't ride too too much faster than the cars, so I tend to get passed by other motorycle riders who do. I tend to maintain a speed differential not more than say 20-30 MPH but some are happy to take that to 40-50 MPH which I find too dangerous to be able to react to the main risk (cars moving over suddenly and without warning).

 

[DrCohen]

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/813466 offers an assortment of interesting facts (not opinions) about motorcycle safety. It makes interesting reading.
Some factors statistically associated with fatal crash involvment include

• No valid motorcycle license.
• License suspended or revoked within previous 5 years.
• Alcohol-impaired (BAC of .08 g/dL or higher).
• Driving too fast for conditions, *or* exceeding the posted speed limit.
• No [certified] helmet.

 

[Greg goes wild]

On highways I tend to ride in the carpool lane as the safest one (nobody to your left) and the main risk is cars suddenly moving into that lane when not permitted (double yellow line) and not watching for traffic before veering left. To be able to ride comfortably in the carpool lane I have to be able to go at least 80 mph in SoCal but as long as I can do that, that's where I feel safest. Regularly of course, all traffic is stopped or moves slowly, and then I ride between the carpool and the next lane over, in my own lane as it were (filtering/lane splitting) and then again the main risk is cars moving between the two lanes without warning and without checking.
I don't like to use my main beams, hazard lights or auxiliary lights, as I think it has a negative impact on car drivers' 'sympathy' for motorcycle riders. For the same reason, I don't 'revbomb' or honk at cars that are too close so I can't get through, I just slow down and wait for them to notice me and move over, then I pass and thank them with the 'two-finger' low hand gesture when I can (it's safe for me to take my left hand off the handlebar).
In the city I just ride with traffic until I need to lane split again, then it's less risk because in the city traffic is much slower, typically standing still or almost, and I can just glide through.
When I lane split on the highway I don't ride too too much faster than the cars, so I tend to get passed by other motorycle riders who do. I tend to maintain a speed differential not more than say 20-30 MPH but some are happy to take that to 40-50 MPH which I find too dangerous to be able to react to the main risk (cars moving over suddenly and without warning).

I want people to see me like on I 10 in Houston i can not get on the carpool lane cuz
they have barriers set up. I usually 3rd or 4th lane over. I have seen several cars coming
on I 10 n they start to move over into the 2nd then the 3 rd lane without looking. That has
happened to me once i was in the 3rd lane n a guy entering the hwy. moved over in the
2nd lane n then kept moving over. I had to get over into the 4 th lane n throttle it. There
was a car about 4 ft behind me n he saw what was going to happen. I had NO choice but
move over ASAP cuz i would have been a part of that car that was moving over into me.
As far as the flashers i use them only when stopped behind another vehicle at night. Then
when the car behind me stops i turn the flashers off. Here in Tx. it's illegal to lane split n i
i have seen crotch rocket bikers do that n stand up on there bikes while lane splitting.
Even Harley riders i have seen do that or ride on the shoulder to avoid traffic. That's
very DANGEROUS cuz i have seen cars riding on the shoulder n another car makes a
right turn right in front of the guy on the shoulder n wham. That's why i would NOT
rider on the shoulder or lane split no thank you. For the most part when i ride on the
hwy I 10 they give us bikers room n i do not ride dangerously on the hwy. I do about
60 or 65 cuz i am NOT in a rush to my own funeral. I do not drink n drive.

 

[Ceesie76]

Thanks, the drink and drive one is critical - in motorcyclist death statistics, a couple factors really stand out: (1) wearing no helmet (duh), (2) alcohol or other drugs, and (3) speeding. As DrCohen already pointed out above, I see now. Those three factors are involved in a huge proportion of motorcylist fatalities. I like me a beer or good glass of wine but never ever before riding any of my bikes. For the same reason (safety) I never listen to music, the only sound I may have on is navigation instructions through bluetooth off my phone.