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[Trapperdog]

Thanks for your Excellent Advise, everybody..I will take it all to heart..Mark, my wife thinks your writing ability at 4:30 am is amazing...!!! Stan

That's 5:30 PM our time so so It's all good    Mark, ironhorse owns the Ride Like A Pro West Coast so a word from him is a word from the wise.
Try his class when he returns from Afghanistan in a bunch of months. 

[Jerry/MD]

Here are my top three:

1. Avoid tunnel-vision. Keep your eyes scanning.

2. Never stay in a car's blind spot. I don't care if you have to go a bit faster than desired...get around 'em.

3. Always look toward your exit point if a hazard appears. Your hands will follow your eyes.

Be Safe,
Jerry

[GregKhougaz]

Motorcycle Tips & Techniques:  This link has 273 short articles on various aspects of safe riding.  I have read each.  Most you'll know.  But even if only a couple of times you learn something, it may save you someday.      

[bubtrauma]

Once again someone starts a thread that brings out the wisdom of this Site.

Koodos to all that replied.......

GREAT ADVICE ......and FREE.

Bub

[Heatwave]

Great stuff.  One more.  DO NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING!  I don't care if you think it's a leaf from a tree.  It may turn out to be a piece of steel and cause a blowout.  Don't ask me how I know!

Further, "dodging" road junk is very good practice.  Just be sure you're, uh, alone and clear of everyone and everything.

If you MUST run over something that is, let's say the size of a 4 x 4 or larger, brake as hard as you can before you hit it.  BUT, just before you hit it let off the brakes and accellorate.  Your shocks will take an extremely large barrier if they are decompressed.  If they are totally compressed you could very easily go down.  Or UP, as the case might be for a moment! 

Generally I agree with this tip. While safely avoiding a stationary object in the road is good advice, if you have a choice between maintaining your current path or trying to avoid hitting a squirrel/rabbit/chipmunk trying to cross your path, don't try to avoid making it roadkill. More than likely if you try to avoid it, it'll run under your tire anyways. Your efforts to avoid hitting small critters can put both you and others at risk with potentially bad outcomes. When it doubt with small critters, just maintain your course and speed. If you hit them, you'll barely notice. If you attempt to evade, the odds of a bad outcome for both the critter and YOU will generally rise.

[sjrcvo]

Unless your wearing a full face helmet "alwasy wear eye protection". Anything in the eye can cause a serious problem at even the slowest speeds.

[Cat Eye]

leave your road rage at home and never give the finger.....stand down and keep you bike in a safe place while riding.  At any given time a pissed off driver can turn their car into a deadly weapon.......you are at a huge disadvantage.  Stay calm and enjoy the ride.

[Porschestan]

So far everyone has given Great advise, and I am sure more will come..you guys are the Real Deal!!
I'll be reading and hoping for more...

Stan

[Deep Blue Dives]

Being a new rider doesn't make you any less susceptible to the things we all encounter on a daily basis.  As people have mentioned, the Motorcycle Safety Class, and the Advanced Classes are the best thing you can do right away as a new rider.  The classes will totally make your comfortable with many drills that you wouldn't do on your own.

For me the most beneficial aspects were evasive maneuvers, and quick stops (without ABS).  They have both saved my bacon in city highway driving many times over.

[guppytrash]

What everyone else has already said.  See everyone that doesn't and does see you.

Avoid when you can rush hour traffic, and Friday and Saturday nights ( when all the drunks are on the road ).

Always leave a way out.  What I mean by that is plan ahead...like at stop lights, leave room to go left or right around the car in front of you incase the car or cars behind you do not stop.

If you get stuck riding in the rain... ride like you are on ice.  Slow corners with very little lean angle...give yourself more stopping distance.

Last one sounds wrong but in my experience is way safer....if you are riding multi-lane freeways, get in the left lane and go fast. 
You will generally have nobody on your left to worry about and the drivers merging on and off the freeway will not be trying to take you out.  If you are not comfortable at 70 or faster this probably won't be for you.  That being said, Please don't get in the left lane and go slow!!

[RatMonkey]

One thing that I always remember is to ride in the tire track of the car ahead of you (pick one)..

Dont be in the middle of the lane.  If that car ahead of you straddles a cinder block, you are in big trouble (happened to a friend)

Use that lead car as a check on debris by staying in his tire-line-path.

I hope that helps and other more experienced riders agree?   I am fairly new, so I enjoy these tips immensely. 

Thanks

[Heatwave]

One thing that I always remember is to ride in the tire track of the car ahead of you (pick one)..

Dont be in the middle of the lane.  If that car ahead of you straddles a cinder block, you are in big trouble (happened to a friend)

Use that lead car as a check on debris by staying in his tire-line-path.

I hope that helps and other more experienced riders agree?   I am fairly new, so I enjoy these tips immensely.  

Thanks

Another reason not to ride in the middle of a lane is the fact that there will always be less traction in the middle of a lane than in the worn tire track due to oil drips in the middle by thousands of cars. Braking in the middle of a lane will almost always take longer than braking in the tire track for this reason.

[dayne66]

Stopping in the middle of a lane can also make the reach to the ground a bit further....and sloped slightly away.

[dlaws01]

Always leave a way out.  What I mean by that is plan ahead...like at stop lights, leave room to go left or right around the car in front of you incase the car or cars behind you do not stop.


I consider this as "always do" advise. The only thing I would add is that while stopped at a red light, keep an eye on your rear view mirrors, and as you see vehicles approaching from the rear flash your brake light on and off repeatedly to better get the approaching vehicle's attention.  This is a habit I've developed over the years and is really effective after dark.

[SDCVO]

I have to say that I have been riding a MC since I was 14 (a very long time ago...) but I have picked up (maybe re remembered) some great stuff on this thread! thanks to all that have contributed over the last few days and "keep em coming"..