An important one you missed is to never ever overtake a vehicle in front of you, when approaching a junction. A guy I know tried doing this a few months ago and is lucky to still be alive. The transit van in front of him decided to turn right at the last second , knocking him off his bike - result - broken pelvis, leg, arm and ribs. Now only just able to hobble around on crutches, after 3 months !
That will teach him a lesson, even on a blind corner where you cant see the incoming traffic never overtake specially if you are not familiar with the road, I've seen lots of squid get into horrible accidents doing that stupid thing
Great list. I particularly like the 'don't ride angry' one. My one to add....Check your tyre pressures regularly. It is surprising how much they leak over time. Get to know your leakage rate. AND if you push your bike out of the garage and it is harder than usual, immediately check for a low tyre.
To take that a step further... it only takes a minute to check your tire pressure; if you check every day (cold tires) your tires will keep you safe always instead of leading you to potential disaster!
Did my DAS 3yrs ago, and the no.1 piece of advice I took to heart was definitely RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. I was riding with guys who'd been riding for nearly 40yrs, no way was I going to even try to keep up. Don't ride with an ego, if you're newbie, you ain't got the skills or experience, so don't let your ego tell you otherwise. Also, two finger braking really helped me be more delicate with the brakes, stopped me panic braking
Very wise advice. As a mainly city commuter, invisibilty is key. In Paris, not only do drivers not see you but they don't care even if they do! Anger and taking things personally are also high on the list. And yes, ride to your own ability at all times. Much is a question of ego and bikes boost ego if you aren't careful🤣🤣
#2 avoid panic braking in a corner. Correct, but you offer no alternative. LOOK where you want to go. DON'T look where you think you'll crash. This will get you out of a bind 99% of the time.👍
#6 is on the money. I had 3 push bike offs and now treat this as gospel sinse passing test. Have told many folk now learning 'if you treat every other road user as if they out to kill you, wont go far wrong'. Some great little tips here. Mistakes i witness every time i ride.
Every time I have had or almost had a boo-boo I lost my concentration. Focus on the next curve; pat yourself on the back for the one you just rode like a pro, when you get home.
One tip that sounds obvious yet is ignored so often.. Only overtake when you have a clear view of the road ahead and have time to do the manoeuvre. So often I see riders overtake just before a blind bend or brow of a hill and often they only just get away with it. Some dont! Also Never overtake where there is anywhere other than straight ahead for the vehicle in front to go. Laybys and residential driveways are lethal. Ride safe folks.
Part time trainer here. I've often said about Overtakes that they are like flying; you need a good Take Off (pulling out) Flight (the actual overtake) and Landing (pulling back in). Put your brain a few seconds ahead of where the Bike is NOW and all will go well ;) .
Something I never hear said about filtering regards exhaust fumes. If you're in a car behind another car you're relatively well protected, but on a bike a helmet is not a gas mask. If you have to sit behind a car in traffic you're being poisoned full stop. For me this is the single most important reason to filter & not be stuck in a plume of exhaust fumes in heavy traffic.
Well said, and it's kinda the point of having a bike is to be able to make progress safely and get to destination in good time , not riding like a idiot taking stupid risks,, but at a good pace not to fast or not to slow and enjoying the ride. 👍😁
These days I live on a farm in rural Herefordshire, but 21 years ago I moved to Oxford & lived there for 10 years. Being on a bike was the only way I could avoid spending an hour in rush hour traffic just to get 2 miles. Hundreds of times I came across aggressive car drivers that took offence to my filtering. In the winter with humid cold air where the exhaust fumes get suppressed down it felt very toxic. I even petitioned local council to start an educational campaign to inform the public that filtering is not just legal but important for bikers health. Unfortunately my plea fell on deaf ears. It's a problem I just think collectively we need to do a better job of talking about & educating. PS. I ride a Honda 650 Transalp & it's not going anywhere very fast lol.
I usually ride alone, but the last multi day trip I took was with a guy (he happened to be a Brit too) who just kept increasing speed while we were on the road. I just kept my comfortable pace and let him go. Each day I wouldn't see him until we reached the daily destination. The point is, I'm not going to go faster than I want just to keep up with someone else, let him go. If he doesn't want to hold up to keep together that's fine. I'm riding my own ride.
Good tips, Should mention the important quick 2 min pre-ride check around the bike.. Tyres ( and pressures ) shocks, electrics, chain brakes, leaks and any potential loose bits. Not good to find out at 100kph.
For me the first is do is practice how to drive in lower dispalcement bike and not go buy directly a 600cc and higher displacement bikes without any prior knowledge and know hows on riding a motorcycle, smaller displacement bike will teach you confidence and the do and don't, the basic driving skills and you'll develope your own proper cornering techniques and know your limits. I've seen lots of new riders crashing on a slight bend and corner on a freaking nice paved roads and no incoming traffic from the other lane.
#4: Yup, two seasons ago I went off with my disc lock still attached. I didn't have much time to accelerate but the bike stopped so hard I almost dropped it. Bent the disc, had to wait for about a month for a new one and it cost quite a bit. Never again!
I had a friend who tried to ride off with his disc lock on twice in a couple of years and broke the same ankle both times. He switched to a chain after that.
Excellent video mate and all Ten are on my radar anyway 👍 Number 11 for me and is my number one point. Never ever trust anyone else with your life. Most road users really don't care about motorcyclists in anyway 🙄
Could be the most important one, to be fair - riding with confidence is the key. Lack confidence? Post-test training of any kind will definitely help build that up.
I cut my riding teeth at 16, after riding bicycle up till then. When I got my first car, the "rule" of being invisible stood me in good stead, and still does at 63. Due to remembering that, I have avoided quite a few collisions, sadly I was caught napping on one occasion... My wife, after 30 years together, still asks me why I slow down at every green light and stop street crossing! I gave up bikes after a very close call, 8 years ago, not to do with other traffic, but rather a sudden flat rear tyre in a bend at about 110km/h.
I never use a disc lock. I use a lock on the rear sprocket. If you do forget it, the engine is going to stall, and rear wheel will skid to an easier stop rather than being pitched over the bars. And save you having to replace a pair of discs and pads
I buy cheap long sleeved bright coloured t shirts to go over my leathers. This has saved me from numerous car drivers/chancers who know saying 'sorry mate, didn't see you', would be bs.
I relate to No.7, too many people think a ride will help improve a bad day, though the opposite is true as you should never ride distracted... BTW guilty of No.10!!!! LOL
On invisibility I'd add "Because you're invisible, be aware of everything that's moving, has moved or is going to move. After all, you are invisible, not invincible"
Been riding 50 years + and after seeing motorcycle mishaps, I’ve a name for the people who ride in the summer , shorts and short sleeve shirts etc . Peelers , because when they hit the deck , the skin peels back , damaging muscle and bones etc . These comments may upset people etc but it’s reality 😊👍
Wel to add some i allvais use a orange west so i am more visible and also use the daytlight and the fog light on every time i drive for maximum visble to others!
God damn it......but I ride to de-stress and relax...... I'd say that riding pillion or with a pillion will actually bring a far greater sense of freedom and control when you are alone....That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be in full control of the bike when you are the driver and the pillion is giving his life for you to safeguard.
Have to disagree with the mantra of filter rather than queue being safer. I have had to avoid countless dodgey vehicle manoeuvres while filtering yet, in over 40 years, I have only been tail ended once - by a fellow biker. But do watch your mirrors, always.
Agree, i'm a fairly new rider, aged 51, riding two years, have filtered a bit but still uncomfortable with it, i don't think it's something you can start doing as soon as you have passed (though some might), it's a skill that needs to be developed, besides i'm never really in that much of a hurry when on the bike (even when commuting), so unless the traffic is at an absolute stand still and i have no choice i tend to just sit in it, sometimes glad for the wee rest.
I filtered past about 200 slow moving cars on the A64 from York to Malton today. Pretty much everybody either stayed to the left or pulled over to the left. Only one dickhead and he was driving a mahoosive Audi - standard.
On a motorway never ride slower than traffic. Ride so that you are overtaking all vehicles. You don't have to go much faster but what this does is place all your potential problems in front of you and removing the ones you can't see coming from behind.
I always filter to the front of the lights, 9times out of 10 the driver always thinks it’s a sign to grow a pair and thinks he’s at Donnington park and must get to the next bend first. Just let him go and prove he’s only Ronnie Pickering!
Don't trust car drivers in any way shape or form. I've came across more than one that use their turn signals to indicate that the will turn left and then instead turn right (or the opposite) without further notice. If they use their turn signal at all. Maybe turn signals was an optional extra or a subscription service on some cars that they didn't pay for. Also, there are way too many car drivers that instead of driving use their phone for texting or surfing behind the wheel. Don't, ever, trust car drivers while on a motorcycle. It's not that I am invisible, it is the car drivers that are way too obsessed with something other than driving a car. Also, drinking and driving is a bad combination, especially on a motorcycle.
#6 is the most important one here... assume you are invisible. I always say: motorcycles never have the right of way, and I know many riders who were "in the right" but got into accidents regardless.
Side roads - if you see some car creeping out, just sound your horn - let them know you’re there and about to pass. The horn is great to gain attention of idiots, not revving the shite outta your bike
Had to laugh at the guy giving the finger to people when riding angry ... so guilty of this just the other day when someone rolled through a stop sign with out even a hint of slowing down.
I laughed at that too, have a work mate we call "Angry Jim", he thinks everyone is out to get him, i thought that must have been just like him on a bike, standing on the pegs shouting, funny thing is he is a nice guy, he used to ride bike probably better now he doesn't.
Another thing missed and very important... ALWAYS, Always wear proper protective gear!!! I see way too many scooter and motorbike riders in shorts, t shirt, no gloves. How stupid you have to be to ride without proper equipment? If you are one of those riding like an idiot in no gear, please change your habit. It WILL save your skin and life in the event of a crash
I think most bikers , unless u have the patience of a saint of done the 10 rules,, I know I did the let's try and drive off with the disk lock on to be rewarded with the sound of metal on plastic leading to a big bill,, dohh,, my excuse was I was young and I didn't have the disk lock cable at the time,,,, plus I was in a rush to leave work as you are lol,, 😂😂,, as for riding angry,, unfortunately it gos with the territory of bike ownership when some1 dos something stupid,, u do take it personally and obviously you should be all zen, which is easier said then done in the moment as everyone is HUMAN,, which most people forget these days.every one makes mistakes, car and bike,, cyclists,,pedestrians,, you name it everyone makes mistakes,, you just have to take that chip off your shoulder and own up to it,, 🙄😏😁😁😂
On my bike if im going slower than the bike behind i wait till a straight road then move to the side and let them past. Had many a time a car tried taking advantage of this, they go past till about side of then edge over till i go off road often enough i end up with their mirror on my lap while im riding away, i do give it them back further up the road after handing a officer the evidence.