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Not always a bad thing to play it safe...

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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 11:53 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Not always a bad thing to play it safe... Reply with quote
On my way to work this morning and traffic was a nightmare. Felt a bit cautious as a result so wasn't filtering or overtaking as much as I usually do. Wasn't holding up any traffic, but I still felt like a noob twat, not zipping around like the other bikes.

Got 5 mins away from work and there's a big police diversion and road block, ambulances, the works. Turns out a biker was seriously injured this morning (Embankment area) as he was filtering through the heavy traffic. Made me feel a bit less of a twat. There but for the grace of god, and all that. Stuff like this gets me wondering how long before one of my close calls becomes an actual incident. Sad
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.....
Quote Me Happy



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: 11:56 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I ran down the stairs this morning, I heard someone hurt themselves doing that once.

From now on I will only ever go down using ropes and full body armour.
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 12:19 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Joe wrote:

From now on I will only ever go down using ropes and full body armour.

Tut Tut - footwear is important too!
Ships can be very dangerous places, so it's important you take appropriate safety precautions:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p757909213-2.jpg
Not only will they reduce lateral impact damage, but they can be taken off and used as a throwing-hammer in case of terrorist attack.
On this basis, I lived wearing these for ten days in unfamiliar foreign climes. This included their use for hours of walking (Amsterdam can be a very dangerous city!), rock climbing and as a protective fashion accessory at the Monte Carlo water front!

Anyway, erm, to the OP... the trick is to get a good understanding of the true risks you are taking and accept them.
All well and good taking it easy on the bike, but as Joe suggests, if you actually put your self in more danger taking the steps two at a time, it seems a little 'wasted' missing out on the fun of the bike.
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rob-willz
Two Stroke Sniffer



Joined: 29 May 2008
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PostPosted: 12:33 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I know what you're saying. I was coming home the other day, filtering following another biker. I pulled in a few cars before the round about, but the other biker went with the traffic and got knocked by an audi TT. Nothing serious just a wobble but still made me think about it.
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Flip
Super Spammer



Joined: 28 Feb 2004
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PostPosted: 12:47 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Joe wrote:
Stuff.


I think the op was talking about listening to and acting on gut instincts.
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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 12:57 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Joe wrote:
I ran down the stairs this morning, I heard someone hurt themselves doing that once.

From now on I will only ever go down using ropes and full body armour.

Lol! Laughing

Fair enough. But I am a new biker, and still learning what I can get away with. I always wonder if I'm pushing it too far, or not enough.

Guess I'd rather be slow and dull than dead. Never had a serious spill and I'm hoping it stays that way.
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Muscle Bike Rider
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2009
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PostPosted: 13:10 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I know what you mean mate, sometimes you just get a bad feeling and take a bit more care. Last night coming home through Bethnal green I was in the outside lane to go straight ahead, scaffolding lorry on the inside to go left, I was alongside him so couldn't see his left indicator but he caught my eye checking his outside mirror rapidly so was paying him extra attention when suddenly he started to swing in to my lane, had to brake sharpish as I had nowhere to accelerate to as car was in front of me. Just managed to avoid being clipped by the rear of his wagon, filtered up beside him at next lights glared at him for him to shout whats your F ** problem you dont need a whole lane Shocked what is it with these people, no care for other road users, are bikes not seen as legitimate forms of transport entitled to the same rights as other road users?, I know we all acknowledge the didn't see you mate but Yea I saw you but dont care attitude really is taking the michael...Rant over Mad
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 13:19 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
A5tra_G wrote:
are bikes not seen as legitimate forms of transport entitled to the same rights as other road users?,

I used to think this was the issue, until I found people treating me similarly in my tank of a £115 passat estate - not an easily missed vehicle or one the majority would come off better in a crash with!
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Doovy
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Joined: 21 Jul 2008
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PostPosted: 13:36 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
i consider myself a bit of a mad filterer, i.e i filter whenever i can.. but i always trust in my own safety cautiousness.

My observations and concentration is much greater when filtering, obviously.

One of my uni lecturers who rides an SV650 came off last week while whilst she was filtering in middle of road at 15mph up to traffic lights because a pedestrian with earphones on with shopping stepped into middle of road right in front of her from between 2 vans. my lecturer lowsided to avoid impact (not sure if she had time to brake as i am sure she would have, i dont know...)

just shows anything can happen anytime.
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 13:42 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
She lowsided to avoid impact Confused Confused Confused - how does that work? The vast majority of the time you have a lot better control and rate of deceleration with the rubber in contact with the road, rather than a few bits of metal.
Also, not sure how you'd lowside without using the brakes at 15mph.
I find a loud exhaust blipped warns pedestrians and in cases where I can't see around the vehicle, I will often slow, especially in places I know they are likely to walk out.
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Feasty
World Chat Champion



Joined: 01 Nov 2006
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PostPosted: 14:10 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's not a bad thing for me to be playing it safe at the moment with a knackered rear shock. I've got one on order but it's taking a week and a half to get it sorted! And I can't do without the bike, it causes all sorts of problems...
Unfortunately I've been getting used to riding a bouncy castle as a bike and when pushing a little too hard 1 or 2 times felt a rather big shudder from the back of the bike when braking or accelerating hard. Not good. Shocked

Had a pincer movement done on me this morning though whilst filtering through 2 lanes of traffic. Scaffolding lorry in front of me in the right hand lane started indicating to get in the left hand lane but left space for me to get through, I could tell he'd seen me. So I carry on filtering past when next thing I know the car in the left hand lane next to the lorry just starts pulling over towards the lorry and beeping!! I think he thought the lorry was going to pull into him, no idea why he headed towards it though - I just managed to nip through the gap and carried on going so no idea what happened behind me. Think I might have frightened the car driver a little though! Laughing
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).
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Alexio
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Aug 2009
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PostPosted: 14:10 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
G wrote:
She lowsided to avoid impact Confused Confused Confused - how does that work? The vast majority of the time you have a lot better control and rate of deceleration with the rubber in contact with the road, rather than a few bits of metal.
Also, not sure how you'd lowside without using the brakes at 15mph.
I find a loud exhaust blipped warns pedestrians and in cases where I can't see around the vehicle, I will often slow, especially in places I know they are likely to walk out.


First time I ever had to do an emergency stop (just 2 weeks fresh out on to the road with no experience) I lowsided. I didn't use my back brake at all - forgot it even existed.

Luckily, the few bits of the bike still touching the floor did actually manage to stop me before I hit the taxi in front of me.

So maybe if they're very inexperienced they could lowside from 15MPH? Still doesn't sound right though.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 14:15 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yea, probability (nine times out of ten, etc) is that people panic, slam the brakes on too quickly low side and don't hit the obstacle.
If they could do this, they could no doubt brake a little more gently initially and easily stop in time.
I have had plenty of experience controlling braking (long rolling stoppies etc), but I still do sometimes panic brake. These days I am better, but far from perfect, at predicting such incidents and thus avoiding them - or being able to smugly stop just before the silly pedestrain in a controlled "I'm better than you" manner Smile.
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Flip
Super Spammer



Joined: 28 Feb 2004
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PostPosted: 14:17 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
G wrote:
She lowsided to avoid impact Confused Confused Confused - how does that work?


Well, you grab a handful of front brake, drop it and then lie and tell people you "put her down". Laughing I still can't believe people say that. Laughing
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Alexio
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Aug 2009
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PostPosted: 14:32 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
flip wrote:
Well, you grab a handful of front brake, drop it and then lie and tell people you "put her down". Laughing I still can't believe people say that. Laughing


That's what I told one or two people!! Laughing looked like such a cool deliberate slide, how were people to know how bad I was at riding?
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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iooi
Super Spammer



Joined: 14 Jan 2007
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PostPosted: 15:22 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
doovydoo wrote:
my lecturer lowsided to avoid impact (not sure if she had time to brake as i am sure she would have, i dont know...)

just shows anything can happen anytime.


So she went from a 2 foot wide bike that was going to hit the prat to a 4 to 6 foot wide lump of metal sliding on the floor to miss them.....
Sorry that just don't make any sense.... At 15 mph you would stop quicker on the brakes.

In fact it would take longer to think and drop the bike than, it would to think and brake.......

Or was it more a case of braked too hard and lowsided, but is trying to blag her way out of it Rolling Eyes

To the OP....

More people die in bed every day, does it stop you going to bed, or do you even think about it Laughing
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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 15:58 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
iooi wrote:
To the OP....

More people die in bed every day, does it stop you going to bed, or do you even think about it Laughing

Not sure what you mean here. I didn't stop doing anything, I was just a bit more careful, and when I saw the accident I was glad I had my sensible head on - that's all.

*shrug*
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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 15:58 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
and again... Evil or Very Mad

Last edited by Pickle on 16:07 - 20 Oct 2009; edited 1 time in total
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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 15:58 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
oops - fecking computer!

Last edited by Pickle on 16:05 - 20 Oct 2009; edited 1 time in total
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Doovy
World Chat Champion



Joined: 21 Jul 2008
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PostPosted: 16:03 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
G wrote:
She lowsided to avoid impact Confused Confused Confused - how does that work? The vast majority of the time you have a lot better control and rate of deceleration with the rubber in contact with the road, rather than a few bits of metal.


i thought the same.

iooi wrote:
doovydoo wrote:
my lecturer lowsided to avoid impact (not sure if she had time to brake as i am sure she would have, i dont know...)

just shows anything can happen anytime.


So she went from a 2 foot wide bike that was going to hit the prat to a 4 to 6 foot wide lump of metal sliding on the floor to miss them.....
Sorry that just don't make any sense.... At 15 mph you would stop quicker on the brakes.

In fact it would take longer to think and drop the bike than, it would to think and brake.......

Or was it more a case of braked too hard and lowsided, but is trying to blag her way out of it Rolling Eyes


i know what you mean lol, i think she braked too hard and lowsided. i never seen her ride so i cant say what she is like on the road.

the way she explained it was the pedestrian just appeared about 2 metres in front of her, but didnt have time to brake properly. whatever, i wasnt there but now her SV needs a new clutch lever and foot gear selector, and has some big scratches.

she also smashed the pedestrians yoghurt in the bag as she collided into it whilst coming to a stop. lol
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Name_goes_here
Two Stroke Sniffer



Joined: 08 Oct 2009
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PostPosted: 18:18 - 20 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Does anybody know why we get the abuse when the blind idiots nearly wipe us out? Getting a bit sick of the cheek to be honest, Was on my way to college today going down a dual carriage way when a guy in a mondeo went to change lane and nearly wiped me out!! He indicated AS he changed lane before he actually saw me next to him.. then give me the dirtest look when i went past! would of had more to say but was late for college so didnt stop. Rolling Eyes
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields Smile
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Kwaks
I'm not a fast rider



Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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PostPosted: 06:20 - 21 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Joe wrote:
I ran down the stairs this morning, I heard someone hurt themselves doing that once.

From now on I will only ever go down using ropes and full body armour.



Tut Tut No mention of the body harness there
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dodgydog
World Chat Champion



Joined: 10 Sep 2009
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PostPosted: 11:01 - 21 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
A5tra_G wrote:
I know what you mean mate, sometimes you just get a bad feeling and take a bit more care. Last night coming home through Bethnal green I was in the outside lane to go straight ahead, scaffolding lorry on the inside to go left, I was alongside him so couldn't see his left indicator but he caught my eye checking his outside mirror rapidly so was paying him extra attention when suddenly he started to swing in to my lane, had to brake sharpish as I had nowhere to accelerate to as car was in front of me. Just managed to avoid being clipped by the rear of his wagon, filtered up beside him at next lights glared at him for him to shout whats your F ** problem you dont need a whole lane Shocked what is it with these people, no care for other road users, are bikes not seen as legitimate forms of transport entitled to the same rights as other road users?, I know we all acknowledge the didn't see you mate but Yea I saw you but dont care attitude really is taking the michael...Rant over Mad


You really should be aware that a long wheelbase lorry will HAVE to move over to make enough room to get round a left turn.
Rear end will swing across as they turn, I've had to stop half way round left turns when driving a bus, so as not to clip cars, knock cyclists and bikers off, just wait a second or two!!
Hazard perception and all that.
Leave yourself an escape route too, don't be overtaking with nowhere to go if it starts to go wrong.
Stay safe!!!!!
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Muscle Bike Rider
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PostPosted: 12:59 - 21 Oct 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yup realise that but he was going straight on, no indicator on as I approached him, traffic then started to build up and he decided to change lane, if I was in a car maybe he would of waited till there was a gap to go in instead of having the opinion of us both fitting in the same lane.
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Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300
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