The 3 Deadliest Mistakes You can Make on a Motorcycle in 2022 

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I always ride with the thought that everyone else on the road is trying to kill me. I've got no one to impress. I just want to survive and ride another day. Thank you for all your great videos.

I'm a very experienced rider and one thing that I do--is when I stop at a redlight behind a vehicle, I try to put myself at the outer edge of the vehicle in front of me in case there is a rear end collision behind me and the car behind me is hit and pushed forward, I will not be pancaked between the vehicles. Just a little thing I have found that will save you if this happens.

For over 30 yrs now, as a police officer I’ve been investigating traffic collisions in the Los Angeles area. Left turns at I/S’s is the #1 cause of m/c collisions and m/c fatalities. I’ve had people tell me that they saw the m/c and turned anyway because they were focused on cars ( go figure). If your riding over 40mph in a metropolitan area your going too fast. REMEMBER THIS: People will ALWAYS turn in front of you on a yellow phase light. M/C riders should always try to stop.

If you leave your ego at home then you will have a much better chance of seeing it when you get home.

That Yammie Noob comment!! Hahahaha! 10 points!!

Im a Police Officer and have been investigating Motorcycle accident Deaths for (21) years now and I can tell you with 100% certainty that "Right of way" often ends in Death. Yes, you may indeed have the right of way but often at the expense of being "Dead Right". So save ur righteous attitude for ur Caged Car!

Who are the people giving a thumbs down to these vids? Everything he says will save your life. I know first hand.

Hi from UK. I always ride like everyine is trying to kill me. Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly!

Finally, a competent moto channel. Good reminders. My main rule is "ride like no one sees you." Helped me survive riding bicycles in NYC traffic and will hopefully help me survive riding motorbikes.

I'm a professional semi truck driver / instructor. Your advice is solid and very wise. I always remember that if many drivers can't see my 75+ foot long rig, they sure won't see my cruiser bike. Drive as if your life depends in it, and it does. Be safe.

I just recently started riding again after 15 years without riding. What’s scary to me is that I don’t remember being so afraid to make left or right turns from a dead stop. And my bike is about 900 lbs and that causes me to feel like I’ll tip over. Anyway I suppose being 35 years old versus being fifty now has a thing to do with it considering I’ve matured and now have a sober respect for how easily one can lose their life or be seriously injured. Thank you so much for these videos and keep up the good work

I was a State Trooper for thirty years and just to add some information on intersections, when there is a right turn lane and a vehicle in that turn lane making a right turn, you are more than likely hidden from any vehicle that maybe on the intersecting road either making a turn or going straight through the intersection. The person stopped at the intersection is looking to their left and all they can see is what is way behind the vehicle in the right turn lane and never will see you in the lane next to that vehicle. Adjust speed, change lane positions or whatever you can do safely to make eye contact with that driver and also get your bike visible to the .

I love that you call out Yammie Noob, he's reckless.

Hi Kevin: another great video. And as I tell my students: the right-of-way is always given, it is never taken. And as you stated, it doesn't matter who's at fault, it's the rider that's going to get hurt or killed. And I like the fact that you make a clear distinction between the race track and the roadway - very, very professional. One of my pet peeves in traffic safety is race car drivers giving driving tips to drivers on the roadway. All the best, Cheers Rick

Wonderful information! I've watched several videos and they have helped me so much!!! I've been riding 3 years now, but I never ride beyond my skill level and ALWAYS wear hi-viz clothing! I just upgraded my running bulbs to white LED and well as my headlight. I have ordered a strobe flash for the brake light too! Thank you for all they knowledge! Stay safe!!!

Dude legit never blinks

Video actually starts at 2.15...

Dad taught me well 45 years ago. You sound like my dad. Great job.

After riding motorcycles for many years including taking a motorcycle course you are absolutely right on everything your teaching you have to be aware of your surroundings and avoid deadly situations ride with caution and safety first!

Sir, thank you for the awesome videos! I am from Brazil, and I really appreciate the way you speak this clear English of yours, which makes it easier for us, non-native speakers of English. Keep up the great videos! God bless the USA!

I hit a big chunk of semi rubber travelling on the interstate, following my friend who was pulling a trailer. In hindsight, I was following too closely and might have been able to avoid it if there was more distance between us. Luckily, I hit it squarely and didn't crash. At the time I had 30 years riding experience to draw on, but it still shook me up & taught me a valuable lesson!

i just started riding 2 months ago thanks for all the tips keep up the vids!

I just found your channel, and have been watching your videos. I wanted to send a thank you your way. Even though I've been riding a long time, you've have reminded me that you can never learn too much... Keep up the informative videos...

I make a ritual of checking both mirrors, instruments, and turning my head to check my blind spots as I ride in heavy traffic or light. On long runs, this helps keep me focused on the job at hand and gives me views of the scenery as well. Approaching stopped traffic at a light, I will stop at a 45 degree angle to the car ahead, 10 to 15 feet behind. This way, I'm a larger profile for drivers behind and give myself space to get out of the way if someone still misses me. The angle also makes it easier for me see behind me. As a motor officer, I learned never to assume that red lights and siren, stop inattentive drivers. I also watch the front wheels of vehicles in round a bouts (traffic circles) and left turn lanes.this gives a clue to what the vehicle is actually doing. Mix points in traffic is no place to look cool at the expense of traffic avoidance!

I love how you call out certain motovloggers on their bad habits. Nothing against the person, just wish there weren't so many negative examples running rampant across RU-vid.

Thanks so much, I just started riding last year, and took an MSS course. Motorcycle riding is so enjoyable I cant succumb to all the people telling me its going to kill me. I am a safe rider and am constantly looking for advice and tips from more experienced riders on how to be safer, thank you for your channel!

MCrider - I recently started riding & motovlogging my experience. Your videos rock my friend - appreciate all the great advise!

"Giving up" is a killer. Riders who face an emergency in front of them and, choked by panic, fail to apply maximum braking. Practice emergency braking to train your muscle memory. Even if the crash is unavoidable you want to slow as much as possible before it happens. Dissipating energy reduces injury. Of course, so does avoiding the accident altogether. Often a swerve or burst of acceleration can get you out of the kill zone. Don't freeze. Riders who are suddenly gripped by fear that they are going too fast once already in a turn often quit actively riding the bike. Grabbing the brake then means you just decided to crash. Call it survival response or target fixation, but it's really fear induced paralysis. Don't give up. Countersteer harder. Lean into it. the bike is more capable than you think it is. If you truly reach the bikes limit while turning too hard you will "lowside," dropping just a short distance to the road with the several hundred pound bike sliding away from you. This is always better than sitting up and running off at speed looking for a wire fence or tree.

Yammie Noob, LMAO. I was thinking of him while you were going over point #3, and never in my wildest dreams expected you to utter his name. Oh, you forgot to mention, doing wheelies, basically doing anything to show off. People think they are awesome until they become pavement pizza

I’m a returning rider and am so glad I found your videos. Going to a church parking lot tomorrow to get more comfortable with my motorcycle which is a 2009 Honda shadow spirit. Keep up the informative videos. Thanks

So very True! This is excellent advice/instructions... I hope every rider "tunes" in to what you posted. IMHO, these are lifelong lessons on how to ride safely!!!

Some of the best advise I have heard and I totally concur, it is true many accidents are caused by cars that are not paying attention but at the end of the day no matter whose fault the driver will be going home, never assume they see you, never assume they will obey the traffic laws, always prepare for the unexpected, if some one pulls up to a stop sign assume they will go through it just as you approach them, assume that car in the intersection is going to turn in front of you and know what and where you are going to go and do if they do! I have been riding on the street for 31 years, I have only been caught by a cager once when I was young, and that is not because they haven't tried but I always assume the worst, I am always on point expecting every car to come at me every corner to have sand or gravel in it and ride at a speed and lean angle so I can deal with the unexpected it is why I am still here in one piece to tell the road stories! I actually hate all the stickers and posts that say "look out for bikers" if you are expecting them to look out for you it is only a matter of time before one gets you!

An experienced rider and x racer told me years ago when you assume other drivers can't see you it goes a long way to keeping you safe. That stuck in my mind and I have always practiced it, and I've found that it's true. It may seem like you have eye contact with another driver at an intersection, when their pulling into the road, coming out of a driveway, etc. but they can miss and not really "see" you altogether, or they can misjudge your distance because of the bike's size or acceleration time. I always just assume that other drivers can't see me even if their 20 feet away from me and appear as if their looking right at me. This causes me instinctively to cover the brake, keep a safe distance, move to a part of my lane to try to help them see me, and it keeps me prepared for anything that may happen. I have never had a collision with a vehicle in 20 years of riding.

Great info even for those of us that have been riding for 50+ years

Heres something that you touched on, that I do all the time when I'm in any situation where sh!t can happen......... Cover my front brake with 2 fingers. If something does happen, the time you save , is priceless. You can have a better feel for pulling in on the lever too, verse having to throw your fingers up there and then panic brake by pulling to hard and locking up. Thanks for all your vids!!!!

Just discovered your channel, MCRider! Thanks so much for all your valuable advice. Much appreciated.

Mr. MCrider, I watched many of your videos before taking the MSF safety course to obtain my endorsement to operate a motorcycle. In class I was knowledgeable, and on the range I was comfortable and confident. Thanks for taking the effort to produce these videos, they are truly helpful.

Kevin, another excellent video! I really appreciate your channel and have learned a ton. I bought my first bike last November, took an MSF course, bought the best gear I could afford and started riding as soon as the weather cleared up. I constantly refer back to your vids because of the info and the no nonsense approach of your instruction. Keep up the great work, your voice is constantly running through my head while I ride and my trophy at the end of the ride is always arriving home safely to be with my family again.

Kevin, thaks! I being wathing videos last couple of days, and you are helping me to develop the initial pad to learn and practice and develop skils and learn every day. Thanks!

I learned soo much from this channel! Thanks MCrider!👍

all 3 can be summarized as "Making bad decisions" - the more I ride, the more I feel that Good Decision making is probably the most important aspect of riding.

Excellent advance for me as a newbie, taking so much info in is so good for me.

Hi Kevin. Roger here from White Rock B.C. I’ve just been watching your I tube videos and I am very impressed with your professional experience and input for riders. Keep up the great work that you are doing to help all riders alike. Roger 🙏

Very informative and he is absolutely correct.

Just saw your channel. We all need a refresher once in awhile. Thanks for calling out Yammie Noob . new sub

Hey Kevin, just found your site a couple of days ago. Thought I recognized the places in your videos. I live off Esters road in Irving. Really appreciate things you train for and techniques. I was out of motorcycling for a while and have just been getting back into it. Spend time practicing techniques and rebuilding skills. Your videos help. Thanks.

Been riding a long time. Not long enough to know it all. All riders need to be open to new defensive measures. Thanks brother!

Very nice voice and pleasant face... good advice too. I'm a new rider learning how to ride a bike for the first time on a restored 1987 yamaha srx400 in the philippines.

as a high-perf sportbike rider for almost 50 years i watch in amazement at the youtube vids of kids trying to make public roads racetracks. The only thing these guys are really accelerating is the natural selection process of getting the dullest out of the gene pool during their prime reproductive years. Anyone who has hopped on a hayabusa understands the thrill of being shot out of a cannon, i do it now on a lonely straight, just to get the heart started, (but only in very small doses with the radar detector on.) There is a way to experience the rush of high performance without risking your life (and the safety of others), but it requires hyper attention on the street...and prudence. Riding in groups with other sportbike drivers and mixing testosterone and ego is often a death sentence for many. Have seen it on the CA backroads more than once. Thanks Kevin for this reality check.

I love your videos, Kevin and I heard about your channel by word of mouth from up here in Canada. Keep it up and ride safe!

Thanks for your efforts on creating and posting informative and useful videos on MCrider for the (motorcycle riders) beginners like me. Thanks so much! I am following your posts for the past few weeks and I would say - it’s truly amazing !

Good clip. As a "newbie" there are times when it feels like there are 50 things I have to worry about. But I have to agree with the 3 big 'uns called out here. Love this channel.

oh and a tip I have learned for those on the highway. when traffic comes to a sudden stop don't be afraid to take the shoulder and merge back in a couple of cars up. it is safer for you and most people don't mind as long as you are nice and not riding the shoulder for ever. I have never had a cop think twice about it and it is your safety, personally I would rather have the distracted driver hit the car rather than hit me.....I'm squishy, cars are crunchy.

Thanks for taking the time to make this video , been riding 53 years and agree with everything you said. Semper Fi

Thank You! Love this. Going to buy a Goldwing in Dallas soon.. and this is helpful and makes sense!

Another good practice I engage in is, never run a yellow light if you can stop safely.

I've been riding since I was 10. I'm 71 now and still enjoy my Fatboy. I've had my share of spills and close calls over the years. I totally agree with your talking points. I hope other guys who read this realize you speak the truth. Thanks for sharing.

I fell yesterday and hit a sign post because of cornering mistake... went too fast and too wide...lesson painfully learned! ✅

I like this. Just what my late father taught me when I was learning to drive a car at age 14. Three very same things, also important for defensive driving in any vehicle. I never forgot it and it helped me when I began riding motorcycles 20 years later. I like to think that it was partly his influence that has spared me from any accident thus far. Plenty of close calls, but I think that also goes with learning what the limits of your bike and your skills are. Good advice!

Around here the most dangerous thing is driving to fast. I don't like to ride with other people n groups because they all seem to want to ride 20 miles per hour over the speed limit a bad idea.

Again, I appreciate Kevin's common sense explanations and easy to understand riding concepts. Back in the day when I was a motor officer, it was more common to have intersection crashes due more to engineering than driver or rider errors. We used to call left hand turn right away crashes "21801a" crashes, in other words, citing the California Vehicle Code section dealing with right of way violations. What really improved the safety of the motorcyclist was simple engineering of signal lights and roadways at well travelled intersections by installing dedicated left turn lanes controlled by their own dedicated signal lights. Prior to that it was a free for all and the cause for many motor vs car collisions. As Kevin indicated, most of the crashes were caused by the car driver turning in front of the motorcyclist, so obviously defensive driving is at a premium under these circumstances. However, these helpful engineering improvements should not lead any rider to believe they are now protected by some sort of magic wand and blindly assume since the green arrow for them clears a path where no one on the opposing side steps over it. After all, there are still plenty of uncontrolled turn lane scenarios to deal with every time you go out riding and many ways to subconsciously be in the best possible position to deal with them. Thinking this way narrows your peripheral vision and that is the one learned skill I took with me from my days riding a police bike. Most people know you should look as far up the road as possible, but you should also have a keen interest as to what is going on with cross traffic as well. It is a trainable skill, you just start scanning and expanding your field of vision and before you know it becomes second nature. I always assume someone is going to break the intersection from the side, or, how do I know someone is trying to evade arrest and running from the cops while busting intersections at high speed? Adding to that I always have a finger on the brake lever and I believe Kevin has covered this more than once and by doing that cuts your reaction time down considerably when you need to apply your most powerful stopping tool, the front brake. There were many times when I was in a situation when smooth but heavy braking was required and if that wasn't enough I would do an easy to learn maneuver we were taught in the academy by braking then swerving by counter steering. Thanks again Kevin for your calm demeanor and directly to the point tutorials we should all appreciate.

Excellent advice and the three dangerous situations you are emphasizing continue to cause many motorcycle rider accidents and deaths. Your videos are saving a lot of lives. Thanks!

Kevin, this video is gold. Well done! So much of safe riding comes down to attitude and roadcraft. Love your approach of keeping it simple and focusing on just three key areas for this video. Makes it much easier for new riders to remember and apply.

I loved that short playback of a GP corner video. Go back and take a look for yourself. Those guys are all leaned over way more than I ever will but they had one more thing in common. They were definitely looking through the corner to the last man.

I did #3 when first learning to ride going through a roundabout too fast I nicked the curb then over corrected and high sided the bike I don’t think any beginner rider understands how quickly the bike gets out of control before you first drop it

I'm a new rider and these videos help a lot thank u👍

This is the best and the most useful video I've ever seen. Thank you, and keep the good work!!

Great advice here, many thanks. One hazard at intersections that I encountered yesterday was a main street with a two way stop for the cross traffic. I was on the main through street and there were two lanes on my right at the stop sign. One for straight through or left turn and the other for right turn only. As I approached that intersection I saw a car turn right and move away from me, no problem. But then a large truck pulled up in the left turn lane and it occurred to me that truck was blocking the view of the next car that might try to turn right. The driver would not be able to see me and would have to pull part way into the intersection to even have a view of oncoming traffic because the driver of the truck did not stop at the white line as he should have. There was oncoming traffic and I realized if a car pulled out I would glance off the side of the vehicle and ricochet into the oncoming traffic. All that thinking took a split second after I saw the first car turn right and move away from me. In an instant I checked the mirrors, no tail gater, I hit the brakes pretty hard, got down to about ten miles per hour and sure enough a car started pulling out to get a view of oncoming traffic. But now at my reduced speed that driver had more time to see me and I could easily have stopped had he continued pulling out. As soon as you realize you might not be visible to a car, you must take action. In one other video you stressed the importance of staying visible. Thanks for that, I think you spared me a crash.

never ever take your bike out of gear waiting at a red light give yourself room from the car in front of you in case a dumb ass comes up from behind always keep an escape planned in your head for what ifs be safe

Thank you for teaching new riders. My Dad had me on a Honda 50 at 5 years old. Motorcycles are a life long love and at 44 I still ride as much as possible. My personal safety rules have kept me safe all these years. 0 incidents, knock on wood. This information is vital to survival. Thanks

Love to learn from your vids.. Helps a ton. Thanks. Subscribed!

always be on the defensive, read the other persons move.

Kevin, how about a video about riding in the wind? We get some pretty windy conditions where I live and some strategies would be great. Thanks again for the vids, just signed up at Patreon.

Thank you for your time it save other life on two wheels if we ever listen to this advice.

Nice Video MCrider keep up the Good work! I remember watching this video last year when I was in the beginning stages of being a "Yammie Noob/Research Rider/600 starter", and this video helped out a lot! Now having to bump into this video again especially now that I've been even more comfortable, and experienced when riding safely, feels like I leveled up from a level 1 Yammie Noob to a level 2 Yammie Noob lol because I do catch myself sometimes and seeing this video again is just you reminding me again! Thanks MCrider!

nobody seems to mention a very important technique. yes breaking and down shifting and hover clutch and front brake is all very important. yet always going into a intersection or approaching intersections where traffic enters on to a major road. its important to teach new riders. that your throttle can be your best weapon. braking is not always the solution. hover that clutch and brake down shift multiple gears roll that throttle real smooth manuver and throttle up hard shifting back up the gears. Stopping in all occasions will get ya killed as well. ya have to think about the car thats coming up from behind as well. it a battlefeild. every ride on the street. your the soilder. and your bike and gear are your weapons. learn to use them as such you will live to ride another day. God bless all the riders out there keep the rubber side down. peace

You missed a VERY important one ! NEVER pull up directly behind a vehicle at a stop sign or light ! I ALWAYS pull to the left of the car in front of me( because most drivers yank vehicle to right ), leave some room and look in mirrors to make sure person approaching is going to stop. I always give myself a pathway of escape. This action saved a friend of mines life. I do NOT want to be in the middle of a car sandwich. Too many people texting and not paying attention to driving !

Thank you for the reminder. Now that you've mentioned it, I _do_ tend to ride too close to the next vehicle. Thanks man! Subbed.

Informative video, thanks! That yammie burn was ace as well

I always ride as if no one sees me.

Excellent advice here. Approaching intersections, I always have fingers and toe on the brakes so I am ready. I have found running the headlight on high beam during the daytime makes me more visible. The low beam usually wears out first anyway. PLus, if I suspect the driver trying to turn left is not seeing me I will flip the headlight from low to high to catch their attention.

I really respect your view, and whole hearted agree, been ridin for a while, Little over 40 years, just bought my first Road King Harley Davidson, what a fun machine, guys like me, need a dose of reality once in awhile, thankyou

Hi Kevin, just decided to take the mc safety course after 20 years not riding. Thanks for your video about 5 mistakes. I won’t be able to take the course until fall so that will give me some time to shop for a light bike. Looking forward to learning from your other videos. Thanks for caring.

Stay focused and don't look at women and don't ask me how I know.

The first thing that came to my mind was riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Hi kevin . A rider for about a year now. I watch your vids all the time just to get more knowledge on riding properly. Thanks so much . I will continue to watch anf and learn. Ive told freinds about your vids as well. Again thank you

Thank you Kevin. I enjoy all your videos and instructions. I have been riding for about 12 years and have been in some situations. I feel I have become a bit " cocky". My following distance needs attention. You are saving lives. Subscribed .....

i‘m watching your videos from germany and find your advises so incredible helpful. i show them all of my younger friends and colleages who are beginning in driving motorcyles. actually i can still learn alot after 23 years of expirience. thank you and thumbs up!

Loved the yammie noob reference, hopefully more people heed the advice.

Thank you for all the advices,I've got just over a year of riding and I did avoid crashing because of learning from your videos! Something is unclear, I look on your channel for advice regarding that situation. Thank you for all the advices coming from your experience! God bless you!

I've been seeing as much of all of your old and new video feeds. "I'm really enjoying it!" Please keep up the good work.

I just began riding 5 weeks ago. Your videos are SUPER helpful in keeping me safe! Thank you!!!

1 Driving to close to the vehicle in front of you 2 driving in the dead corner of a Truck 3 Going to fast in sharp corners 4 driving without a helmet 5 driving with alcohol 6 being dumb

I went into a blind corner using all the caution techniques I’ve learned and been taught ( and still ) almost slid out as there was some loose pavement stones that had just plain worn out of the road luckily I was able to play it through without going down or serious injury but it just goes to show you never are above having an accident safety and constant trying is a life saver I watch all your videos and everything you say and teach is gold my friend keep up the great work !

Love your channel thanks so much for the advice! It’s helped me a lot

God bless you MCrider. In a sea of 'unhelpful' bike videos, your vids are always a dose of reality and good helpful tips for riders. You know what they say - *perfect practice* makes perfect.

I'm 72 & have been riding daily since 1970 when my father bought his 1st Shovelhead & gifted me his 1 owner 1955 FL Panhead, my daily rider is my father's 1 owner 1938 EL Knucklehead, I taught my son's to ride on the road using a 350 Sprint enduro ,each son I taught how to counter steer and drilled counter steering into them ,I taught them to ride dirt track on the 250 Harley Sprint I used as a flat track bike and that's where my best knowledge was passed on ,learning extreme counter steering that could save your life is best & quickest learned on a dirt track ,once I saw they had learned how to push into a corner using heavy counter steering I then moved on to teaching them how to lay a bike down instead of hammering the brakes & riding into a car or something else ,laying your bike down is best learned on dirt wearing full leathers and a braced full faced helmet ,I spent 5 years with each son teaching on dirt & up & down our 35 mph road before ever allowing them to ride on city streets ,by the time each boy was 18 they had 5 years of dirt riding with hundreds of hours flat tracking ,extreme counter steering as well as becoming comfortable laying their bikes down & pushing off the Machine to glide to a stop ,at 18 each son could only ride on surface streets, highways & expressways with me until I felt they had learned enough ,my eldest got his 1st Harley of his own at 19 yrs old when I gave him a little 883 ,my 2nd son got his 1st Harley at 20 when I felt comfortable about his experience & skills, he chose my 1971 Ironhead Sporty, my sons are teaching my grandsons to ride dirt right now using the same flat track I thought them to ride on .

I watched this for the 5th time. Outstanding video! Thank you Kevin for sharing valuable advice in a clear and concise manner. You rock!!!

very sensible, thankyou