Total Motorcycle Community Forums

RocketGirl wrote:So, I'll not be commuting to work anytime soon. Bummer, since I bought a pair of motorcycle winter-riding pants. At least I can still ride on the weekends and I'll try to stick to open wide areas or just putt-putting around town during the day. Ride Safely

The deer calm down a bit going into later December - November is the worst month. I commute by motorcycle through the winter when it's warm enough but I try hard not to be riding on back roads after dark in November.

I draw the line when I perceive my traction or visibility will fall below a minimum level.

For instance, I wouldn't ride at the start of a light shower, but if it's been already been raining for a while, why not.

I don't mind riding at night, but if it reaches the point where I have difficulty seeing (night + fog, for instance), I assume people have difficulty seeing me.

I draw the line cause well my bikes in the shop.

Mud, sand, gravel, rain, freezing cold, 4 lanes of hell, lane splitting, and blasting the breakdown lane (where legal, still risky though). I don't really HAVE a line... Just a lot of gear. I may even try snow this year

Scott58 wrote:I don't draw a line. I go where it takes me.

+1.

If you set yourself up with "drawing the line" as a rider, then you leave yourself possibly unprepared for things you can't control. Like riding on a metal bridge, or in heavy traffic.

I'm not advocating TRYING to put yourself in danger, but how else can you expand your experience and improve your skills unless you stretch a bit now and then?

Like the agoraphobic person, who's world gradually shrinks and shrinks because they try to avoid the things that bring on panic attacks. When they eliminate one thing, something else seems to bring one on... and soon they don't leave the house at all.

If you never learn to handle the tricky things, then you may find yourself paralyzed one day (or faced with a long detour) when you unexpectedly encounter one in your path.

Personally, I used to HATE/FEAR gravel and sandy surfaces. My bike is tall and topheavy, and I have NO dirt experience. I dropped my previous bike when I slipped on a sand-covered driveway, and dropped my current ride twice in one day on gravel roads.

Since grit-covered pavement is nearly impossible to avoid 100% of the time, I've at last learned how to manage my bike on such surfaces. And can manage without panic. Yesterday, I went for a ride to a local winery for an event. I would have had to ride back home if I hadn't at last gained some confidence on gravel, because the driveway was gravel.

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Lion_Lady wrote:

Scott58 wrote:I don't draw a line. I go where it takes me.

+1.

If you set yourself up with "drawing the line" as a rider, then you leave yourself possibly unprepared for things you can't control. Like riding on a metal bridge, or in heavy traffic.

I'm not advocating TRYING to put yourself in danger, but how else can you expand your experience and improve your skills unless you stretch a bit now and then?

Do common-sense appraisal of what's likely to be a valuable learning experience vs. what's just likely to get you hurt.

I really don't like metal grate bridge decks with misaligned sections. But when they're dry, I make myself cross them. In a rainstorm, I find a different bridge.

Yesterday I was tooling my Bonneville around on packed sand roads in the Pine Barrens. I've been doing this lately (while Mrs. follows on her dual-sport!) But I know better than to try loose sugar sand on a street bike - it goes very bad very quickly.

In August, my wife and I pushed fully loaded touring bikes up an unfamiliar, curvy, bumpy mountain road (Cabot Trail, Baddeck to Neils Harbour) at the end of a 350+ mile day, in steady rain. Six risk factors together: fully loaded & top heavy, unfamiliar road, curves, bumps, rain, fatigue. We got through it, but I could have done without one or two of those risk factors in the mix. Given a repeat opportunity, I would have "drawn a line" and found a place to stay in Baddeck.

jstark47 wrote:Given a repeat opportunity, I would have "drawn a line" and found a place to stay in Baddeck.

But the experienced you gain can't be measured. if anyone of those situations comes up again quicker then you ever wanted it to you are that much more prepared to deal with it. If you avoid every situation that appear dangerous (and maybe it is) you won't be ready when you absolutely have to be. If I were in charge of all these training programs you guys talk about you would in fact spend several hours on a street bike in sand before i allowed you to pass the course. Along with trials riding, enduro and a bit of knee dragging. Every technique I have ever learned has been applied on the street at one time or another to stay alive. motorcycles = dangerous. The only thing that reduces that risk is experience. Don't over think it.

Right there...at the bottom of this post.

A lot about road conditions have already been said. Thick fog is dangerous, so I won't ride in it. Drunk drivers are dangerous, so if you know of an area where you're likely to encounter them, then stay clear. Ditto for other hazards, as they'll be different for each rider's area.

I draw the psychological line when I feel I can't fully concentrate on my riding. Something may have happened to me during the day that distracts me, usually a negative event. If I'm preoccupied with this I know that a dangerous traffic situation could slip under my radar and put me at risk, so I don't ride.

goodies wrote:Riding is all about assuming risk. Where do you draw the line?

My MSF instructor talked about this alot. There were roads he refused to ride on, like the high traffic thru town 4 lanes etc, bad weather conditions(provided you are given the choice.) He had rode for years and years.

Being very green, my risk assumption is pretty low right now. I don't want to risk something ugly by being in a situation I can avoid until I am ready to handle it, and being scared off the bike for good. Example I live in a pretty highly congested area, I will not even attempt to ride in peak hours or bad traffic times. It does limit me in a big way, but......

Your MSF instructor is a "girly man".

What a lot of dodo, if he is that scared he wont do poor weather and congested traffic then he has no buisness on a bike.


WTF is he going to do when he is out on a day ride and the weather turns foul? get off the bike and hide? or maybe not ride at all that day for fear it may rain, what a cigarette !!!



Go out and do all the riding you can in all conditions, cause sooner or later you will be faced with congested traffic combined with poor weather and with out the skills where does that leave you, ill tell ya, in a whole lot of potential grief



I am a handsome sexzy man



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