Good riders

[Kickstart]

Hi

What single and measureable feature of a riders style would you say would identify a good road rider?

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Itchy]

its either a toss up between:

confidence/self belief*

Knowing ones limits and not going too far over them


*this isn't conclusive however since you get over confident people too

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure that those are measureable though.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Itchy]

I was just thinking that myself being that those are intangibles

[innominate]

The distance they keep from the vehicle in front.


I would say observation distance, ie how far in front they would identify something that could pull out. But not sure if this is measurable...
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[Alastair]

Measurable is the word there, I can't think of a way to measure most of the enviable traits most good riders display;

Courtesy
Common sense
Cool head
Confidence

Best skill to have is knowledge I think though. If you know why a bike does what it does and how it will react to certain conditions/inputs then it can only help you extract the best from yourself and the bike. Being caught by surprise is probably the undoing of most people.

[dainesefreak]

Are we talking road riders, track or both here? Just reminds me of an interview with John Surtees in Bike.

[Raffles_Gentleman Thug]

I'd say how often they use the brakes, a very good rider will only ever use the brakes to come to a halt, all other speed control should in theory be done with engine braking and perhaps the back brake.

Of course anyone who's giving it some will want to use the front brake to slow down, and everyone over-cooks it every now and then.

But in theory, my vote is brake useage.
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"Is sir addressing me or is he masticating on a house brick? Because either way sir loses his teeth."

[bazza]

Information management and prioritisation.
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[biggerjohn]

Observation and Planning



Defiantly the key to safe use of just about any type of vehicle from a skateboard to HGV

[Steve H]

Arse crack visibility

If you can see it they're shite (Sitting too far back on the bike which in turn creates a longer reach ot the handlebars, poor clothing protection, no consideration for other road users who have to see it).

If you can't then they're capable (Upright posture which in turn assists traffic awareness, Sufficient clothing defence specifically in the butt area, Nil windchill factor).

Of course if they're wearing low rise denims then you can chuck the aforementioned submissions in the crapper.
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The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[HurtMePlease]

I think general reaction time comes into it
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Hear Thy Call..............................
Rs125 (97) <-Sold|Riding->ZXR400L2(92) Yamaha R6(01)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Main point I was trying to come up with was that it must be measurable.

Reaction times are a part of it, but good reactions are worth nothing if you are only observing a metre in front of the bike.

Personal idea for a measureable way of seeing a road riders quality would be the amount their speed varies .

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[numark1]

The amount of hi vis clothing they are wearing.

[dr evil]

smooth flowing riding
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not laughing anymore

[Wave2k]

Balls, the fast riders main tool.

Observation-The road riders main tool.
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[sickpup]

[IronMaiden]

Good as in skilled or good as in well behaved?

Not sure if you can measure someone's style....

1. How many accidents they have had (if any)
2. How long they have been riding
3. Distance they have riden (impossible to measure)

[map]

[.....]

Observation, without a doubt - and according to the Hazard Perception Test it is measurable.

[Kickstart]

[dainesefreak]

I think I would find it difficult to pick any one particular measurable aspect of riding and say "this is it". I believe it varies from one rider to another, some may be stronger in one area than another, e.g. have better forward planning, another better reactions, etc. I would also put experience down as being another fairly big factor as well as those already mentioned, but how it could be measured I'm not sure.

[fuzz]

[Black Knight]

The single most measurable sign of a good rider is quite clearly how many Ginsters he can eat in one sitting.
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[the grim reaper]

You can't measure distance from vehicle ahead except in a non-overtaking situation.

I don't believe that there is any one thing that is measureable and can define a good rider but I would say that the level of braking is a good one. Roadcraft states that, if you have to brake heavily, then your planning isnt good enough, I'd go with that.

Cheers

Grim
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