Look who's behind you

[karen_moomin]

Help me...because I have a serious problem with this.

Here's the issue...

I rode to Keith's house on Sunday (about 35 miles or so from where I live), which was quite a long journey by my standards and where I'm up to in my learning.

The problem I had was looking over my shoulder to see what's behind me...I couldn't see past adjacent to me (i.e. what's by my side) unless I physically moved my upper body round to get a better look. However, on a wobbly NSR this just isn't safe. My not being able to see my blindspot resulted in me almost being killed a number of times.

I'm also scared of taking my eyes off what's in front of me, and my mirrors are crap (will get some new ones so that's that problem solved).

Any advice before I give up biking altogether?

[JonB]

Sorry, I am a tad confused, do you mean your neck is not physically allowing you to look right round or what?
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[karen_moomin]

[Jammy-G]

How were you trying to look behind you? I find it difficult to turn my head when I keep my head in the same vertical position. I have noticed sportsbike riders tend to look down and behind (tilt head downwards and look at the same time.)

Move your shoulders horizontally to the direction you want to look, tilt your head down and then look behind. I find it alot easier that way.
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[Sadie]

This will become easier. As you learn to control your bike better you will be able to look over your shoulder by moving your body round.

Why don't you take the bike onto an industrial estate at the weekend or some quiet road and practice it while there is no traffic about. It will soon come.

The other trick is to pretend that you have no mirrors. This concentrates the mind wonderfully when it comes to looking behind you. I rode for a month without mirrors when I was learning so that I would have to use my lifesavers.


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With experience comes age.

[Annabella]

Karen, try not to look intensely. Normally, a good glance will be enough to sense whether there is something there. Try to use your eyes, without moving my head I can see what is alongside me.

Definately go for some better mirrors That will improve your confidence for sure.
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[Smoto Bob]

its because you on a crappy sports bike lol and leaning forwards i could never see behind me on the cbr, trick is to get a 600 then you don't need to see behind you just whats zooming towards you rapidly in front

Better wing mirrors will help no end, i dont have any on my trials bikes but then i just just turn around nerrr
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[NickD]

If you're on a sportsbike you may find that your head movement is resticted by the chinbar on your lid touching your shoulder. If this is the case try pulling your body more upright when you need to check your blind spot, the more upright you are the further you will be able to turn your head.
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[carvell]

To see into the blind spot just look alongside you, mirrors should cover the rest.

If, for whatever reason, they don't, try ducking down and looking behind, it allows you to see much further back.
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[Zen Dog]

I have pretty much the same problem on my NSR. All I can see in the mirrors is my armoured elbows (which look funky ass, but thats not the point...).

And I can't really turn my head far enough to check my blind spots, only right next to me. Neither of these were a problem on my KMX.

I can either move my whole body to one side slightly so I can turn to look properly, or the other alternative is to bend down and look under your armpit, but both techniques need a bit of practice to avoid wandering all over the road...
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[dainesefreak]

It can also be down to the helmet/gear combination you have. It's recommended that you sit on a bike similar to what you have when buying kit. I know that's not always possible though.

You do get used to turning your body more to look around as you gain more confidence and experience. I regularly turn right round to see what's going on behind me. Spacial awareness will come with time.

Good luck.

[zaknafien]

My mirrors get half obscured by my elbows, I just tuck them in when I want a good look. When looking behind with my head I look slightly down and then round. Work's fine for me.

Should all come together with experience karen, just keep on riding.
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[map]

Been trying to think how I look behind as it's something you just do, not think about
Think my technique is more of a drop left shoulder and tilt head sideways. Not quite sure if that'll work okay with all the weight on your wrists with a sportsbike thou

HTH
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[nc30 chick]

I cant turn my head that far either, i just tilt my head down and to the side, like your looking towards the floor and it seems to give me a better view, I also use my mirrors alot. My elbows also get in the way but i just move them when i need to check directly behind me. mmm, not sure if that made any sense at all but i know what i meant!

[Mr Pants!]

It is definitely a skill you aquire with practice. My rear observations feel a little untidy sometimes. Like Sadie said, go somewhere quiet and practice.
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[flat spot]

Don't see the problem.......

[Bendy]

I can't twist my head very far to the right and it was a source of constant exasperation to my DAS instructor who took to grabbing my helmet and trying to twist my head round further than it would actually go (bad neck).

Don't have a problem myself though - good use of the mirrors means you're not really looking behind you, the blind spot is more to the side and back than directly behind. It only bothered me when I had the aftermarket fairing on the CB5 - the mirrors on that were terrible so I really did need to see behind. Now it's a kind of nudge elbow in, shuft in the opposite direction and look sort of thing... hard to describe.

Left side I can twist my head further so I do that 'normally'.

[Kris]

Maybe a different technique is required. Try shifting so only your right bum cheek is on the seat and turning your shoulders around to the right.

I've seen a few riders do this on the motorway before..
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[Git]

Try a few neck exercises when at home watching tv or something, I had a similar problem and found giving the muscles a good work out on a regular basis worked wonders.

Even if it doesn't help your neck will feel great

[aqualung1]

i did actually try a blind spot mirror on the off side mirror, this did help for a while. it really is just practice, i used to drift badly when lifesaving..

the main thing is however you do them, the lifesaver is just that..
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[Fallen Angel]

I can second the fact that the mirrors on the NS125R are crap, however, but I just tuck my elbows in and as for turning around I do what some people have mentioned before and look down and round, if not, my helmet seems to restrict me slightly!

Maybe you should take up yoga Karen!!!
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[hustler]

I used to tuck my elbows in on the NC30, had that same old problem of only seeing my elbows in the mirrors.

Once you get more confidence you end up being able to turn your head quite alot with a twist of the upper torso too.

Most important thing if your doing a major move to look behind you (rather than a simple life safer), is to make sure your not in danger of running into something in front of you
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[stinkwheel]

Check to the rear, observe to the front!

I have ridden many bikes with no mirrors at all, either for styling or because they have fallen off and I can't be arsed to fix them...Come to think of it, any bike I have owned has rapidly mutated into having no more than one mirror. You soon get good at checking behind you.

On a sports bike I pull my elbow in and look behind me kind of along a line a third of the way down my upper arm. It isn't really BEHIND you that is an issue, you should see that in your mirrors. It is the car alongside you that you couldn't see in the mirrors that is the point of lifesavers.
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[Adam_P]

I went out last night - after not being on the bike for about a fortnight - and thought about what you said Karen.

I don't really turn my head more than level with my shoulder, the rest of the look is turning my eyes so I can see as far back as possible, but really, if you can see to the side that there's nothing there, then you're clear and can go.

Don't worry about it. I'm sure it will get better the more you practice.
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[karen_moomin]

Thanks for all your tips and advice. You've certainly made me feel better about it all.

I think it was the almost killing myself bit which worried me and made me think about if I'm good enough to be out on a bike.

I know I need to practice, but I'm scared to get out on my bike now

I discovered that my lid could have a part to play in all this...it's got a big chin which catches on my jacket when I turn my head. May have to look into getting a new, less 'Jimmy Hill effect' of lid.