An instructors thoughts about defensive riding skills for motorcyclists. This video gives an overview and a few examples of defensive riding, but is not exhaustive.
its because some riders think "I've past my test , that's it now" The fact you've got a license and a bit of paper to say you can ride a motorbike don't mean you a good or safe rider ..at end of day you NEVER stop learning .. I don't care if they been riding 20 years .. always something new to add to your toolbox of skill .. I really wish people would understand that
Hi Phil Speaking as someone who ran my own Motorcycle Training School this information you are giving everyone is second to none , excellent stuff , keep up the good work All The Best Alex
When I did and learned all about defensive riding in the 60's much of it was about positioning. Positioning is something we possibly take for granted but without safe positioning everything else fails but with correct and safe positioning everything else will fall into place. What I am talking about is the giving of safe space to all other road users. I liken it to being on a fairground with the dodgem cars. If you are in the general melee with many cars around you and all so close together they cannot but hit you and others time and time again. That is part of the fun of the fairground but out on the roads we need to be by ourselves and well away from any other vehicle that can possibly come into contact with us. So as with dodgems if one wants a safer ride without collisions then we should take ourselves away from the crowd and ride or drive by ourselves. By that we need to move away from the general melee and find or make our own space. Should anything be seen and identified of invading that safe space then we should and would if riding defensively immediately be aware of a potential for danger and take any and all appropriate actions. That can be in regards to speed, positioning etc.. The actions that we can take depends entirely on the amount of safe space we have given ourselves. If we give too little space ie. possibly following on at just the Thinking Distance prior to an overtake for example then we have little room or no room to manoeuvre should something un towards occur to that vehicle or vehicles in front of us and we can then suddenly and unexpectedly be confronted with what is basically now a brick wall made now of metal car parts that we cannot avoid and must collide with and due to that lack of both safe space and the lack of vision that it has of afforded us. If however we stayed well back, perhaps taking into account the safe stopping distances at least those distances then and only then will we have both safe space in which to slow or stop in but also the vision that safe space has afforded us in order to make an earlier decision that some defensive action should or must be taken. SAFE SPACE SAVES LIVES.
Scooter rider at 13:31 wasn't asking himself 'what if?'..... the pedestrian stepped out. He did well to stop but the urgency could have been taking out of it by....... riding defensively. A great video! 👌🏻
Massive thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. My mod2 test is coming up in two weeks by watching your videos I picked up some useful information. I am sure this will help me riding a bike during my test and in general minimising the risks while motorcycle riding. Another great video👍
Your videos are so helpful for a new rider! Thanks for making these. Your audio quality is some of the best I've heard on a bike channel and your ability to speak with minimal pauses makes these videos very watchable!
Phil, I get my BMW GSA in March. Haven't rode a motorbike for 2 years and that was a sports bike and whilst practical (ideally, with training) riding, gaining experience and knowledge is the best way forward, watching educational videos like yours is up there in a good position. Thank You. Martin
@Martin Hi Martin, thank you for your comments. Expect you are excited to be getting a GSA, i would be! Im glad the videos are helpful, hope you enjoy the new bike. All the best
Thanks for your time and effort in producing these videos. I am an experienced rider of many years, currently taking instruction for my IAM test and I am picking up some good information to supplement the advice given by my IAM mentor. We are never too old or experienced to become better, safer riders. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Would like to just say Thank You for all your videos and everything you do. I have my DAS in 3 weeks and all this information is very useful and I will be using it for the Das and beyond. I currently drive and have done for 15 years and now wish to move to motorcycle as I have always loved motorcycles. I also have a young family so this is very important to get the safety element drummed In to reduce the risk of the unfortunate happen as much as possible. Thanks again!
Just wanted to add an extra thank you today, for all of your videos. I had complimented my 4 day Das training with your videos and today I am a proud owner of a full A licence! I had done my mod 1 two weeks ago with the intention of doing my mod 2 straight after. But due to examiners going off sick It got cancelled So I had a two week period after my das of no riding, then to jump straight back into it today to complete my mod2. During those two weeks I kept watching your videos to keep my memory fresh. I passed my mod 1 and mod 2 on a clean sheet for both. I will continue to watch your videos and also look forward to videos in the future. Thanks again!!
Passed my mod2 today for A cat. Your videos were very helpful (plus my instructor) cheers, will still be watching your videos as you can never learn enough.
Did you notice on this video that 2 bikes came up the left side, one of them turned into a side road and almost ran into some people who were crossing. Definitely approached that turn with no anticipation at all.
Given your comments on phones and other distractions for car drivers, I wonder how you feel about similar distractions on motorcycles? I see bikers with helmet comms connected to phones, music streaming services, and more, and I note that the new Honda NT1100 even has Apple CarPlay. Bikes can also now alert us via the instrument panel to incoming texts and calls. To me, such potential intrusions on my concentration and enjoyment are to be avoided at all costs!
hi Charles, i totally agree with you, there are far too many distractions now with technology. I do find that even with the menus on my newer RT vs traditional buttons on the older RT can be more distracting. Ride safe
I only cover levers if I intend or anticipate their use. Otherwise I won’t cover them. I generally won’t cover the front brake until the throttle is closed, but I will often cover the clutch if travelling slowly or in tight areas. HTH? All the best
Your Canadian watcher (the new rider you referenced) forgot to mention that in the "new" Canada, run by radical leftists, smoking pot is legal and many of the drivers out there are now smoking drugs and high while driving. Just yesterday, I was riding and the wanker in front of me was toking - the rancid smoke pouring out his window and into my visor. Only a matter of time before a stoned driver kills me. But thank you for all the defensive driving tips.
1:36 You were not being defensive as you approached the junction 😂😂😂 Just as you made the point on having good observational skills... You could have t boned the lorry if the lorry driver was not alert
thanks for your comment, we ll have to disagree on that one! I know the jct and yes you could argue that I could have slowed a bit more, notice i did move more to the offside but i couldn't do it earlier because of the white Mercedes coming towards me. I did notice how the LGV had looked and reacted so i was happy to proceed without doing anything else. But it shows there is a limit to avoid all hazards and situations as we cant realistically slow to a walking pace to check out every junction as we would create problems behind! We re always vulnerable on 2 wheels, al the best
