yes, agree. I see a lot of riders that habitually take the short way around the corner, like they are racing or under time constraints. It's sloppy riding on the road not to arc your turns maintaining proper lane position. Then they get pissed when some cager cuts across the line on a blind curve. Americans in general, that is bikers and cagers alike, don't take their riding skills seriously, present company excepted of course. hahaha

 

As an MSF Instructor, I love these threads. These are some good tips. Hard to say what is the single most important thing but here's a few I like. My personal street riding philosophy is to assume ALL vehicles that share the road with me will try to kill me. Not intentionally, so I don't take it personally, but try they will. Diligence is key on the street. You're never allowed to take even a second's break from your scanning and planning for hazards and what ifs. If I had to pick one, I'd say where you look is probably the most important. I put it like this: Look where you WANT to go, not where your going. Eyes up, focusing ahead pointing in the direction you want the bike to go. In a turn? turn your head and look through it. Going straight? Look as far to the horizon as you can. Worried you won't see the bike or road underneath you? Fear not, you have this thing called peripheral vision. Use it, it works. The bike goes where you look so if you want to go down, look at the ground, if you want to plow into that tractor trailer, look right at it.

Some talk about lane position and corners prompted this suggestion: outside, inside, outside. That's the path you should take through turns. Start to the outside, at the apex you move to the inside and if your rolling the throttle properly during corner exit it will automatically push you to the outside. It gives you the maximum visibility of the entire turn and it's the straightest path through the turn, requiring the least amount of lean angle. BTW for you wanna be knee draggers it happens to be the fastest path through the turn as well. Inside, inside, inside looks cool and seems fast but is the worst line you can take while cornering. Well I gotta get ready for work now or I'd ramble on and on. Love this topic. Ride safe everyone.

 

I'll add this; be aware of all around you. Try this exercise; what color car is behind you?
What color car is in front of you?....a lane over?.. two cars back?...notice the car at the intersection on your left? Look at the wheels. Are the wheels moving?.. Yes! Well it is getting ready to pulll out in front of you.... Are you prepaired to perform an evasive manuver?....you need to be.

 

On warm days be sure to only wear tank tops, shorts and NO gloves. And make sure the skinny little (clueless) passenger is wearing the same but with high heals. To top it off, put one of those mohawks on your helmet so you can be seen on your GSXR a lot easier. And, don't forget that it's "cool" to do a wheelie with your passenger on the back.

For the responsible people in the room, do the exact opposite of the above! But feel free to come to Southern California for the show

 

look at door windows in park cars when ride close to them - if its open there is a chance that car will start drive.

 

I ride as if i am invisable..... i figure if i assume they CANT see me then i always will put my self in the greatest advantage. Also an earlier post said " cover the brake" i would say cover the clutch and use it. never outride your headlight, good luck bikers

 

Gear up! Sacrifice a cow or kangaroo to save your own skin.

 

+ a million.

 

Spoken like a true MSF instructor. Sounds familiar even to me as I've taken that course and would suggest everyone who rides take the course. It will only enhance what you know or think you know.