RIDE before its too LATE! Tips for new motorcycle Riders and Born Again Bikers! 

I will agree with that 100%

As a Manc living in Liverpool that mantra has some truth for me also 😂

@@howardrogers1147 And that's just walking the streets ! 😂

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I regard 'all' Cagers as possible assassins. When approaching roundabouts/junctions I just assume they [Cagers] are not paying attention, texting, yapping on their phones or some other occupation not normally associated with good driving practice. In fact I would say with the coming of cell phones 'accidents' involving motorcycles have increased..

@@brianperry Best way to ride. Defensively. Eyes wide open, think ahead. Very smart comment Brian.

@@RichardsModellingAdventures I wish all bike's had flashing button s for turn signal lights becoming like flashers on cars. Anything to create just that one more visible sign that says,,IM HERE! Another thing is, what's with horns that wouldn't wake up a cat. Whom we know, spots every thing. Put horns on bikes that can be HEARD!

@@RichardsModellingAdventures Very sorry to hear. Can only imagine on a roundabout though. Very much like playing chicken. Sincerely hope you weren't too seriously hurt. And that the rearender had very good insurance. And that they pay though the nose. Good luck, and ride safe in the future.

I dont have time! too busy making videos!

@@stuartfillingham Keep making the videos!

@@stuartfillingham Audiobook? :D

Ive been riding since 1963, I concur with your fathers sentiments. Even in 1963 riding a motorcycle was hazardous. (many of my acquaintances didn't survive the early riding experience)........57 years later I believe it is more so, for a number of reasons. Firstly there is far more traffic, impatience seems to have increased, possible because of congestion. And my 'pet subjects' Cell phones!! They are in my opinion one of , if not the largest problem in modern traffic conditions.

same hear not sure me who told me but soon became apparent

@@brianperry Enlighten me with your experience,I'll be much delighted to learn from you.

My dad told me the exact same thing and it helps a lot when riding.

In the aviation business it says: "There are bold pilots and there are old pilots but there is nearly no old, bold pilot"

@Yama Satru Im in Thailand, its a bit of a bloodbath on the highways...

“Old bikers......are old bikers for a reason” is very sound advice

Luck does play into that statistic I'd have to say,as well. It's like wearing total protective gear,every time you ride. For 25 years I rode to work and just around, in shorts, jacket, when cold and work boots. I work in home construction. Good weather,bad. No accidents. Can I attribute that to luck,or good riding habits,or both? Yet now it's,,,Oh my God, you ride without full gear?! Safety first.

SO EASILY DONE BY ANYONE , so easy to forget ,,,, i double click on mine ,,,just to be on the safe side

" a hefty pull on the handlebars to switch from lane to lane.." -don't "practice" this in the wet guys..!

@@tridentmusic5570 - That is so wrong. You never do any hefty movement on a bike. Specially on the handlebars. A small push on the side you want to go, and the bike turns just fine. If you want to pull, you need to pull opposite side of where you going. That is not smart to begin with. And rather learn that when you have push to muscle memory. Because that is what you do in an emergency. If you try to learn them both at the same time, their is 50% chance to turn the wrong way, when you have to do it fast with out thinking.

You're going to do it!? Wow. I'm 74 too and everytime I watch one of Mr. Fillingham's videos the urge, after better than 50 years since last riding, sweeps over me. I haven't given in yet but I've been checking around for local RE dealers...just in case. I really enjoy these videos. Thanks Mr. Fillingham.

well IAM needs to review its teaching policies colin because comments on this video and others I have made are very contrary to the position you have made. so obviously there is a huge failure in communication somewhere. I have also experienced this behavior when in the company of people who have taken the course, Who have tried to bully myself and others into adopting their superior riding practices of making progress!

@@stuartfillingham I can only speak from my experience Stuart and as being part of one of the biggest IAM motorcycle only groups in the South of England and reaffirm the training in our group. I will also add that one of the biggest issues with born again riders was in fact getting them to slow down not go faster.

@@colinculverwell325 one of the biggest issues with born again riders was in fact getting them to slow down not go faster. hence this video!

Years ago I read of a taxi driver who was lauded for completing a million accident free miles. When asked his secret he replied, "I always drive as though the other guy is trying to kill me." I have taken this one step further... I treat all other road users as contract assassins with my name on their contract.

@@davidgalt8107 My thoughts exactly, well put sir!

I do the same, l treat every other road user like an idiot whether l am driving my van or on my motorbike. It really does amaze me how many totally clueless drivers out there. Keep yourselfs safe, NO-ONE ELSE WILL.

@@davidgalt8107 - Don't think that is going to make you any safer. Only more tired when something actually happen. And it is not better to ride too careful. Then you start getting pushed around. And the others in traffic walk all over you. Then you start making accidents, and you already know it is their fault before it happen. Then you get passive Aggressive, that is worse then to Aggressive. Best is to be calm and relaxed, but drive a little aggressive. And always look at all the other vehicle, and try to figure out what they are doing, where they are going and how they drive. Then you spot stupid, before they do anything stupid around you. And keep away from them. Then you mostly are in control of the traffic around you. And always smooth and consistent on all controls. Even the blinkers… Let those blinkers go for a while.

@@Gismo3333 I wouldn't think that in 60 years of riding I can be accused of being 'pushed around' by other users. Moderation comes to mind.

Thanks. I saw the title on Amazon and wasn't sure whether it was worth it. A video that I found very interesting is from Bret Tkacs called Motorcycle Myths that Kill. Can't vouch for his data, but it seems that the vast majority of motorcycle deaths - not accidents, but deaths - are self-inflicted, generally by an inability to handle cornering. Motorcyclists always claim that it's distracted car drivers that get them - and I suspect that's true for low-speed accidents - but in terms of deaths, we're our worst enemy. Regardless, if motorcyclists learned to handle curves and rode as though they were invisible, we'd be a heck of a lot safer.

@@themats7975 the book road craft is mainly about driving a car, I took my advanced motorcycle test a few years ago and was advised to read it by the instructor.... the book doesn’t give you technical advice on handling a motorcycle but gives you advice on being a road user...which you can adopt what ever you are riding or driving... it gives you an insight to all road users which does help you anticipate any danger ...with this book and the lessons I was able to score on my test A1 ...top mark ...I agree with you about cornering and that motorcyclists forget that they are on the hole invisible to most road users but I believe in this saying above all else “ speed kills “ ... keeping that in mind on every ride is the golden rule .... I will check out the video from Bret tkacs ..... cheers

@@woodcutter2479 Looks like there's a motorcycle version as well. Btw, you're spot on with "speed kills." When I was considering getting back into motorcycling, I started poking around the statistics because it's kind of what I do. Anyway, the stats were stunning in several ways. First, at least in the states, motorcycles are around 28 times more dangerous than cars. With numbers like that, you have to be just this side of suicidal to ride one. However, when you dig into the numbers a bit, you find that an absurd percentage of accidents - and, particularly, deaths - involve speeding, alcohol or both. Don't speed or drink and that 28 times drops to probably four or five times. Still dangerous but not insane. Another interesting stat - again, for the states - was that huge % of accidents involved riders with less than a year's experience on that bike. Yes, new riders in general got in more accidents, but also experienced riders on a new bike. Take time to get to know your bike regardless of your experience level. Parking lots and empty back roads are your friends. Finally, I have to thank Uncle Stu for pointing out a great British (actually, English) study. (Rule Britannia!) Instead of just compiling statistics gathered by others, they actually recruited individuals and tested various visibility aids by having them look at pictures and video, then standing on corners of intersections and finally, sitting in a car as cars and motorcycles passed. The findings completely back up Fillingham's observations. (Btw, could his name be any more English? Might as well be named Fish and Chips.) Hi-Viz gear just wasn't that effective. Hi-Viz helmets helped a bit, but the vests didn't do much. What worked best by far was adding lights. Basically, take a motorcycle course. Practice first in a parking lot. Practice on quiet streets at higher speeds. Learn to brake. Learn to take corners. Practice emergency situations. Don't speed (or, at least, always stay well within your ability). Don't drink and ride, which seems ridiculous that I have to say. Learn to take corners. (I'd suggest learning trail braking, but, again, it takes time and practice, but make corners far more safe.) Ride when traffic is light. Ride as though you are invisible. Do those things, and your odds of something bad happening are only marginally worse than in a car. Motorcycles will never be as safe as a car, but they can be more than safe enough to justify the joy of riding. Now, if only the weather would warm up around here, I could ride the back roads of Loudoun County, VA, and enjoy the horse and wine country.

@@themats7975 really great advice. Thank you for sharing

@@themats7975 i will check this book out ..thanks ..ride safe ...

Stick with your instincts Richard!

I can still hear my instructor now after 30 saying, remember your life saver....its not called a life saver for nothing. Made me a much better car driver as well. It didn't stop me riding like a tit in my younger days,but it has stayed with me.

Absolutely right: it's called acceleration sense.

Steve Inskip. I often think back to the crazy days of the mid 70s with both fondness for the good times, and amazement that none of our lot died on the roads. We had our share of incidents and hospital visits but thankfully, we are all still around to talk about it.

I've never seen any official figures to support the "successfulness" of the 125 law. Unless you include putting off people from starting to ride as a form of "success".

@@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968 the moped law in the 70's didn't put anyone off, quite the opposite. Nearly everyone had them then went onto bigger bikes. And the best selling bike in the UK last year was the 125 Honda.

@@SteveInskip The 50cc and 250cc laws of the 70's was my whole point. Now you have to get a 125cc because that is the law as it stands now. Did I imply that the 50 cc moped "put anyone off" ?

@@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968 I think a 125 is a pretty good starting point but I wish they would open it up to 16 year olds as they did with the mopeds. Most countries in Europe allow youngsters on small capacity restricted bikes. I think it’s 15 in France and there’s shed loads of younger people riding.

@@RichardsModellingAdventures I rest my case!

Nice job Mr. Fillingham, love what/how you do. I think that you and the people who add comments covered most of the likely hazards on riding a motorbike. But I guess you forgot one that I usually see in urban riding in Barcelona city. DON'T SMOKE WHILE RIDING. It sounds funny and incredibly, but true, even when the smoker is using a full chin helmet.

I'll answer for Stuart - his accent is 100% Hull/East Riding of Yorkshire (but more Hull), a unique accent that is like nothing else. You don't have to go far from Hull for it to change - about 15 miles in any direction....

Epic

It’s better to arrive 5 minutes late in this world than 20 or 30 years early in the next.

I sometimes listen to classical music, something soothing....not 'Born to be Wild'....

Just what I was thinking, about the lovely little BMW 02 Series. Good advice Capt Trevor and good advice as ever from Stuart.

The “cleaning thing” is spot on. Apparently, in the ISDT (1913 - 1981) when riders were riding to exhaustion but had to do all their own maintenance for the six days, they would still clean their bikes at the end of the day because that was the way they could spot a problem before it became a problem which would take them out of the event (or away from a gold medal). If those guys did it, then anyone who is blasé about it is a fool. Like Stu said. Les

Yes, the car looked great. Driver seemed a bit "impatient", though 😂 Another great video SF👏... well done, but for me I'd prefer if they were a wee bit more "concise"

Hi I've just passed mod 2 after 40 years since riding. I found that indicators are awkward on bikes. In my mod 2 it was very cold and pouring with rain. On one occasion I missed an indication into another lane cos my fingers were so cold I missed the fiddly indicator switch. ( I had done plenty of shoulder checks and observation to ensure safety)Also it is easy to occasionally miss cancelling signals, especially when you are used to auto cancelling in cars. Perhaps bike manufacturers could spend time finding a solution to auto cancelling indicators rather than the miriad of new improvements that they come up with

@@beverleynorth4914 it's before my time, but I gather some manufacturers did used to have self cancelling indicators. Also, BMW used to have non standard indicator switches with huge buttons that were really easy to find. But because they were non standard people whinged about them and they've stopped using them on bikes. Something else - I learned to ride in december in the uk and it was pretty cold. One thing my instructor did which really worked was to get some of the free plastic gloves from a petrol station (the ones that are there to avoid getting diesel on your hands). If you put on a pair of the plastic gloves underneath your motorcycle gloves they work surprisingly well to keep your hands warm and dry.

Welcome back , Ride Safe & Enjoy !