Security
The cost of a mistake when driving a motorcycle is incommensurable with a car: those who are on two wheels, do not protect either the body, or belts, or airbags. What is the first thing to know and remember?
The Ten Commandments of a Motorcyclist.
What is the first thing you need to know?
1. Do not exceed
Any modern sportbike can reach 200 km/h in about eight seconds, and the top speed sometimes even crosses the 300 km/h mark. But when your speedometer shows 200+ in everyday life and not on the track, you should definitely understand that you become a real stealth – completely invisible to most motorists. Therefore, any, even contrary to the traffic rules, maneuvers of cars that will interfere with you, will be on your conscience. And any contact with a car or other road object at that speed will almost certainly leave you with no chance.
2. Attention, intersection
The places where roads intersect sometimes cross someone’s fate as well. Yes, a motorcycle is more maneuverable than a car, and in most cases it is the first to get on the green light or the last to get on the “long green”. Or not in time. And you – such a sudden and always first – just not ready to see at the intersection of the other road users, who are also used to catch a “long yellow”. Yes, and they are wrong. But your loved ones are unlikely to be comforted by this knowledge.
3. watch out for rain
Water on the road is very dangerous! And alas, many of our tracks are not designed in the best way in terms of safety. Therefore, poor water drainage, cracks caulked with tar, joints, combs and a lot of other surprises from road builders in bad weather can easily lead to a fall.
4. Away from the cables
Recently, cable barriers have appeared on many highways. They are cheaper to produce, but there have even been actions and protests in Europe against cables, which pose a real threat to the lives of motorcyclists, even in the case of contact at low speeds. Be a hundred times more careful!
5. Tricks - NO
Wheelie on the public road – taboo! Even if an extra-experienced motorcyclist rides in general traffic at 200 km/h on the back wheel, the slightest mistake on landing or contact with a car can be fatal: I know at least five sad cases. Demonstrate the skills of stunt riding should be on indoor tracks!
6. Take care of technology
Jammed brake calipers, torn main gear chains, worn tires – all these malfunctions on a motorcycle can be fatal. The condition of the equipment should be evaluated like in aviation – before each flight.
7. Take into account the realities
Any mistake you make can be fatal. For example, on one of my journeys along the Chuisky Tract I mistakenly estimated the traffic as minimal and took almost every turn “on my knee” – which surprised the local resident, who is not used to motorcycles, lying in the corner at speeds well over 100 km / h. And I was so surprised that he continued to move straight at me, tightly clamping the brakes on the right-hand drive. I managed to separate literally in millimeters, but it was a mistake on my part: you always need to consider the local realities and not to go out of the generally accepted framework. Say, in Italy, all used to fast motorcyclists in bends – of course, you can not break the traffic rules and there, but active riding on the serpentine you will not surprise anyone.
8. Thinking for others
A very common type of accident is when a motorist either turns left or turns around, and a fast and sudden motorcyclist, deftly overtaking everyone on the left, suddenly and too late notices the side of the car in front of him. Even if there is a double solid line in this place, you are unlikely to feel better. Try to anticipate the actions of others: whether someone is going to make a maneuver that is dangerous to you?
9. There is no such thing as a motor lane
Of course, there is no motorcycle lane next to the separating barrier on highways like the Moscow Ring Road, but with traffic jams on the Moscow Ring Road around the clock, motorcyclists ride there. And many are not driving, but rather flying. And if someone decides to open the door or just move to the left to assess the situation, your chances of staying alive will tend to zero.
10. Mentally draw the axis
Roads without a dividing strip are still the majority in the Russian Federation. Just imagine that with oncoming 90 km/h and your own speed, for example, 110 km/h, you get 200 km/h at the time of the collision! What do you think are the chances of a motorcyclist surviving such a scenario? Therefore, on such roads you need to mentally complete the missing markings and stick to it.
