I don't want to fall off my new SV650S teach me not to

Originally Posted by suzsv650

be as rude as you want! they cant see you through ur dark visor what do you care! i personly do this as i dont let cars out or give them any Luxuries

Can I offer an alternative point of view to this?!

I drive a car, as well as loving riding my bike. When I drive my car I'm not an ignorant cow - and I will always try and make way for bikes in queues etc. Similarly, I try my best not to have an 'attitude' when I ride my bike. Riding a bike is not the place to 'prove' anything to anyone - find other areas in your life to do that.

When I'm on the bike, if I'm not in a hurry then yes, I will let out a car or van in front of me (it's so much nicer to get a smile and a wave, than 2 fingers and a blast on the horn), and no I won't cut up some old dear and frighten the life out of her. There's no room for road rage or attitude when you're on a bike - the chances are that you're the one who will come a cropper if your mind is focussed on anything other than the road and traffic conditions around you.

We are equals on the road with everyone else on it - and while some car drivers / bus drivers / cyclists / pizza delivery mopeds often seem to have a driving style / attitude that stinks - I don't want to be one of them. Yes, it's fun to get away from the lights quicker than anyone else - but don't put yourself in danger - or the other people around you. Manners maketh man...

Go out and have fun - and if you do it with a positive happy non-aggressive head on your shoulders, then the ride will be so much better!

Cazza

scenario - you driving along, see car at junction so slow down, make eye contact with driver and think great they have seen me, and start to accelerate and bang, they will put out right in front of you... it happens regularly! Wear a fluorescent vest at least when commuting.

Sunday drivers often use public transport during week and decide to take car out on sunday and are typically inexperienced drivers, especially in city's like london.

You often don't realise how much faster you are accelerating on your bike and standing traffic can come up to you very quickly and catch you unawares... also as stated before, slow down before corners, but often one doesnt realise your speed and the corner is there before you know it..

The stock dunlop tyres slide very easily but alot of people on here say it is a controlled kind of slide.. regardless i think they are lethal tyres even when warm especially in the city where one does quite a bit of sharp braking

Do not drive off a pavement in neutral, your feet will not be able to touch the ground if your bike stops moving and you will fall over. Always go off a pavement in gear so you can keep momentum going

When turning into a road wait till you are straight before powering on the gas especially with cold tyres

relax, dont panic!... enjoy

Originally Posted by jump

Do not drive off a pavement in neutral, your feet will not be able to touch the ground if your bike stops moving and you will fall over. Always go off a pavement in gear so you can keep momentum going

Oooh that's a good one. I'll remember that!

Originally Posted by jump

Wear a fluorescent vest at least when commuting.

Don't however assume that because you are wearing one that they will definatly see you. I can assure you that isn't always true. I had a car pull right into my path whilst wearing a full length fluorescent jacket and headlights on. Result was a written off bike and metal work holding my shoulder together.

I would say that wearing a good quality helmet is a good idea, and wearing it the right way also helps .......

omg! that is the funniest thing ive seen for a long time!

she's not even blonde!

Originally Posted by misssurferrosa

omg! that is the funniest thing ive seen for a long time!

she's not even blonde!

She might be one in disguise - you'd need to compare collar and cuffs to be sure.

...oh why pretend? - i thought that too!

My last one was an Er-5 - beware the brakes on the Sv - way more powerful, and will lock both wheels if you use the same sort of force you could use on the Er-5!

I don't wear a fluoro jacket - personally I think it looks awful, it makes very little difference as to whether people see you or not (unless you have the white helmet and pan european bike and flashing blue light to go with it) and worst of all it gives you the confidence that people will see you and - splat.

Don't go any faster than you feel you should - it's easy to be pressured by other riders and drivers but best thing is to just let them past and carry on enjoying it... definitely replace the original dunlop tyres unless you enjoy sliding around.

If you do see other riders then follow them and pick up tips on how to ride and also on how NOT to ride

And remember that when/if you get knocked off, it will most likely be at the time where you don't see it coming, cos you've switched off your wally radar and someone is about to do something stupid. Also, as hard as it is, don't daydream or think of anything else apart from the ride, leave it til you get to the other end, or you may never get there

But most of all - enjoy!

About the attitudes of bikers to others, not everyone is safe on the road including me :P

Last night I was coming home from Bassetts pole and there were around a 1000 bikes milling around.

As I came into Tamworth on the way home, there was a kid on a SRAD summat or other, He was sat about 8 inches away from my rear indicator filling my mirrors literally with his front tyre level with my back tyre. he was there for ages, if I puled to the left he did, If I rode in the centre he did that too. It just intimidates everyone else. I was having to concentrate more on where he was then looking into roundabouts. I stopped and he came past me looking like I had 2 heads.

Later on he was sat at the road side waiting for another bike to follow I thiink.

Basically give everyone room, and expect a bit of room from them