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[RedDevil]

Concur,
The MSF Advanced Rider's Course is a great course to take...it brushes you back up on the skills you already know and probably will give you a few you've forgotten or didn't know.  One thing I always do when I'm riding, is practice "counter-steering"; the most effective obstacle avoidance technique you can use at any speed.  This has saved my hide a couple of times now, when the unexpected jumps out infront of you, or the idiot in the cage on a side street lookes right at you and pulls out in front of you.  Being seen is the biggest defense you have as a rider.   I always expect the cage driver to do the unexpected.  When I pull up behind on the driver's side of a cage I look in their rear view mirror on the door to see if I can see them looking in the mirror...(this doesn't work well at night, obviously).  If I don't see them looking, I know they don't see me.   I've gone with the attitude that I'm invisible, so I drive with the attitude that they don't see me and try to expect the unexected from them, such as knowing that a cage driver will inevitably attempt to occupy the same space I'm in on the road at the same time.  My wife actually prefers to ride with me on the bike more then she does in the truck because she says I'm a much more defensive driver on the bike...and she's right.  I practice my riding skills daily on the road...constantly run scenarios through my brain and look for avenues of escape...I try to give myself as much of a fighting chance as possible no matter what road I'm on.   As we get older, we get more wary.  You can never be too prepared....
Cheers ,
 

[TCinVA]

Terry,
Okay, so now you know why I want that REALLY LOUD HORN... .  I ride to work in the stress-free capitol of our great country.  I've had so many near misses caused by inattentive drivers I've lost count.  I practice at least once a month.  I take an advanced riders course every other year (these are great, by the way).  Like Howie, I'll probably get in trouble here, but one of the things in my area that seems to be causing us "older" riders problems are the younger riders on sport bikes.  Whether in "packs" or alone, they seem to be trying to impress anyone that will take notice.  For example, this past weekend - great weather, lots of bikes out (I'm still recovering from the surgery, so I'm in the cage).  Wife and I stop at a traffic light at a major (3 lanes each direction, plus double turn lanes.  There's a rider on a sport bike across the intersection from us.  I watch him slide to the side of his seat and "check his six".  I told the wife that he'd go through the intersection on the rear wheel.  She said no (silly girl).  Light changed and guess who was right.  So wingnut heads down the street on his rear wheel and here comes a car in from the merge lane (which happens to be behind an earthen mound.  Imagine the rider's surprise .
All I'm saying here is that I feel the sport bike guys (and gals) aren't helping motorcyclists gain any respect from the folks we share the road with.
Okay, I'm done.
Tony

[iski]

This is one of the best things I have done. Learned a lot. I only went along with my wife who has only been riding for three years and I thought I knew all the maneuvers. After 25yrs of ridding boy was I wrong. Seven hrs of obstacles/scenarios you could never think of. A lot of vans pulling out in front of you or them slamming on brakes. HOG will reimburse you the fee if you pass. Would highly recommend to all.

Guy across the street teaches motorcycle safety - I will check to see if it's Riders Edge.  Believe he said his advanced course was 4 hours though. We teach the Rider's Edge basic course to all our new HOG road captains currently for group riding skills, etc.

HOG will reimburse as well - icing on the cake!  Sounds like it was a good time investment for you.

[07 CVO]

I agree with keeping your skills sharp and practice is essential. I for one as a MSF Rider Coach practice all of the exercises prior to Demonstrating them to a group of riders. You would be amazed how much you can improve you riding skills with a 7 hour MSF ERC (Experianced Rider Course)

Mark

[IronButt]

What, if anything, do you guys/gals do?  How many here find that drivers seem to be getting worse and worse?  Or am I just getting old and more concerned about it?  Or is it just a matter of odds:  the more miles you ride/drive, the more likely you will be in situations with stupid people?  If there is some specific behaviors I can learn and incorporate into my riding style, I want to hear about them.  TIA...

Out here in California I have discovered a curious thing. Weather I am in the truck or on the bike, drivers seem to emulate what is around them. If I ride close to someons bumper the surrounding traffic and vehicle behind me rides close. If I leave the recommended 2 seconds the cars follow suit. At first I thought this was a fluke, so I, practised it over and over.

It is like that personal space psychology game, find someone's personal space and you can lead them around or push them back just by manipulating their personal space.

Sure there is the occasional jerk that is passing everything on the road, but for the most part the above works for me in California city and highway.

I do not follow close.................. On the highway I ride in the #1 or passing lane( safest lane against merging vehicles) until a mile or so before my exit. Same thing in the city, the left lane is the safest, less cars coming in and out, no one pulling in from a drive or side street etc. If I need to go right I move over a block or so before and go slow all the way until the turn.

ALL 100% of the times I have gone down was my fault! I was either racing or playing around. Play with the Bull and you will get the horn!

Try giving the 2 second rule a real chance you might be surprised. Again, I ride with the flow of lane #1 if traffic is going 65 I am going 65 if 80 I am doing 80. This might not work in the middle or slow lanes, I don't ride in them I would not know. The right lane is bad but the middle lane is real suicide. Most main city streets out here are 3 lanes each side.

You can't put the Genie back in the bottle....

Best Regards.

[IronButt]

HOG will reimburse as well - icing on the cake!  Sounds like it was a good time investment for you.

I believe the HOG reimbursement is $50.00 and some insurance companies give good discounts if you submit your certificate.. 

Even with out these bonuses, It is an excellent thing to do. 2 of my regular riding buddies teach. I could tell you some stories

[Ceej]

Must leave following distance, yeah they will fill it, but don't let their actions affect your plan. Plan your ride, ride your plan. I know in urban area's this is tough, but not as tough as Physical Therapy. Remember, that following distance isn't just for the car in front of you, but also your out if the guy in back is a lil slow in reacting to a braking situation due to cell phone/radio/magazine etc. I have a brake modulator, 3 quick flashes before full brake solid lights. I have reflective decals on the bike and helmets. Finally, I ride a bike people can't help but notice - 

[IronButt]

I know in urban area's this is tough, but not as tough as Physical Therapy.

You said a mouth full there!!!!! 

[iski]

I believe the HOG reimbursement is $50.00 and some insurance companies give good discounts if you submit your certificate.. 

Even with out these bonuses, It is an excellent thing to do. 2 of my regular riding buddies teach. I could tell you some stories

I have been riding since I was 15 - like a lot of other riders when I began I never had any course - just passed a motorcycle driver's test.  Riders Edge gets good reviews from everyone I have spoken to.  A good friend just took an advanced course and he said it was very helpful - he was already a very experienced rider.

Another thread to tell some of those stories you referred to would be an excellent idea.   "Bike Riding Horror Stories" is one I could contribute to - some new group riders, shall we say, pose unique challenges.  Then there are the poker run behaviors that just boggle the mind.

[JCZ]

I have been riding since I was 15 - like a lot of other riders when I began I never had any course - just passed a motorcycle driver's test.  Riders Edge gets good reviews from everyone I have spoken to.  A good friend just took an advanced course and he said it was very helpful - he was already a very experienced rider.

Another thread to tell some of those stories you referred to would be an excellent idea.   "Bike Riding Horror Stories" is one I could contribute to - some new group riders, shall we say, pose unique challenges.  Then there are the poker run behaviors that just boggle the mind.

Looking forward to your post when you get that thread started......

[Smiler]

Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule.  Don't worry about cars jumping in - if they crash they are protected.

Ride safe my friend

[Screamin]

Right on w/ the two second rule. Not only do you have a chance to stop, you also have a chance to swerve and avoid that rusty muffler that appears from the between the tires of the vehicle in front. And, if the idiot behind me is too close, the two seconds may become three. My attitude is space, create it and live in it and always have an escape plan. There's just no one good place to ride in a lane. I'm constantly adjusting to vehicles and potential obstacles which can come from any direction. To identify those things my eyes are constantly moving. Ahead, mirrors, head check, ahead. I look for the little old blue haired ladies, the soccer moms on the phone, the idiot reading the paper or taking notes from his cell phone, the traffic warning / construction signs. There clues tell me where to be and what to be ready for. I don't pace beside vehicles and I don't follow trucks. Trucks drop things and I once saw a tire blow in front of my buddy. What a fricken mess that was and he was really lucky not to splash. Also, you just can't see through em. I also don't hang in the fast lane unless traffic's wall to wall. Not many pass me but I've been scared chitless several times by cars, including cops, that come out of nowhere and blow me away. I think a huge part of survival is mindset. I'm sure they're out to hurt me and it's a constant mental and physical exercise when in heavy traffic. Generally I even enjoy the challenge. I see survival in the traffic jungle as every bit challenging as the curves on 129 and though it's not as satisfying to get to work as to slay the dragon, I find satisfaction in a job well done when I arrive, invigorated and ready to go. Unfortunately, I have to go in to work instead of back out in it.

[HogBreath]

I took a 200 mile trip yesterday just to run errands. I almost got run over three times.

The first time an old woman who appeared to be in her 70's turned left right in front of me. Luckily, I was watching and managed to slow down enough to miss her. Thinking this is going to hurt me more than it does you.

The second time an old man pulled right out in front of me. He had no idea I was there. Again, I managed to get slowed down enough to miss him. Good thing I've got the reflexes of a cat.

The third time I was pulling out of a parking lot close to an intersection where two four lane city highways meet. The light was red and traffic was stopped. I had to cross 4 lanes of traffic plus the turn lanes and there was nothing coming. I made it across the first two lanes and was in the turn lanes when I noticed a guy in a truck darting from all the way across the street. He was looking toward the red light for on-coming traffic and away from me. He turned the wheel directly for me. It all was happening so quick, I couldn't find the horn button, so I clutched it and raced the engine WFO (his window was down) I had already started turning away from him but he was still turning towards me, until he heard the V&H pipes. At the last second he saw me and turned away. Loud pipes saves lifes?

By the time this happened, I was wondering if someone was trying to tell me something. An hour later the skies opened up and it came a downpour. "Is this what will finally get me today?" I thought. Rest of the trip was uneventful. When you least expect it, it'll happen. It'll happen so fast, it's scary!

[iski]

Looking forward to your post when you get that thread started......

After what happened yesterday afternoon, started sooner than expected.

[mr_magoo]

Took the experenced rdiers course a few years ago and for a s long as I've been riding I got something out of it.  Now I'm going to take the advanced riders course.  It's done at a local track at speed which I think will be a good.  And yes Hog will reimburse you with $50 worth of chrome buck if you take an MSF course.