im 19 and leaning how to drive, i'm really enjoying it. i like to watch motorbike videos so i can understand more of motorcyclists vulnerabilities, and what i can do as a driver to make it 'safer' on the roads, for riders - and because they are generally entertaining to watch. once i get my license and become more confident with the roads, i'd like to take a beginner lesson on a motorbike, to get a feel of what its like on two wheels, and to have the experience.

The UK insurance companies did conduct a study that, to the surprise of absolutely no one, showed drivers who also bicycled had a crash rate half that of drivers who only drove.

I think as a rider myself, you need to know what you're getting into before you get into it. If you lane-split, be prepared for a reaction from others. If you drive fast and dangerous, you're not helping the stereotype. You are on a motorcycle that is significantly smaller than most cars and trucks, you are absolutely harder to see, you need to understand this, and hopefully are at least twice as attentive as most drivers out there.

@anthonycross9310

7 күн бұрын

Couldn’t agree more Car drivers out number bikes massively. If you want to ride a bike ( and I do ) you need to be aware you are the minority and will be treated as such always

both my parents started on bikes, it was the norm back then. Everyone started on two wheels and progressed

Said the same years ago , newbie and oldbie car drivers better understanding of the roads via motorbike view point 👍🤔👍💯🇬🇧

Just bought a bike for the first time in over 30 years ,got it two months ago and already had 3 clowns in cars pull out in front of me .its simple car drivers that have never ridden bikes don’t see you ,or more often are never looking for them ,junctions and roundabouts are the worst and I’m so aware of it .maybe new car drivers should be forced to do a cbt , anyway I’m enjoying being out on the roads on two wheels again ,most of my riding is early mornings and evenings at moment ,loving the experience again .

@TheScortUK

7 күн бұрын

You get used to it - by the end of your first year, you'll have 'how to ride a bike' as muscle memory, and the processing power that was used for that, gets used on situational awareness. You'll start to notice how distracted drivers are, and to get them out of your way ASAP. There's a good few videos out there about 'selective attention', which goes some way to explain why some/most drivers don't see bikers - their brains are simply doing a bit of shorthand and are looking for larger vehicles; possibly due to the perception that they will do more damage to a car, or because they expect to see cars/vans/lorries more. SIMDSY is just a fact of our hobby, and I doubt there will ever be a solution, even the 2015 rule about headlights hasn't helped, so you have to upskill yourself and always plan ahead; plan for the worst and hope for the best really. Bit like ATGATT

@TheScortUK

7 күн бұрын

Also, don't go down the knob jocky route of sticking a duck on your handlebars - unless you're a scooter riding asbo teen 😂

An old lady cut across a dual carriageway, the SUV on my right blocked my vision. The 40mph impact knocked me out, i was unconscious for 45 minutes. Smashed rib cage and a collapsed lung. The police reviewed CCTV and said if I wasn't wearing fully armoured jacket, trousers and boots, plus a good helmet, I'd be dead. Yes bikes are dangerous, and that is part of the attraction for me, and they're addictive. I was riding again 8 weeks later and totally trust my gear....i was on a mint 98 C1 9R.

yes they should take the cbt and a test retake after 10 years. The cbt is a great way to push 2 wheels onto the road as well. furthermore it pushes them to bring habits into their cars aswell, life savers etc. In philippines, people dont have enough money for the cars so giving them no option to take the motorcycle and most people stay with motorcycles because of how its much more easier to park, quicker to get around the city (that is going around helmet only and go) this also will give the motorcycle a higher population which will allow manufacturers to sell more and will theoretically lower the likely theft percentage due how accessible a motorcycle(wont lower scooter snatch and run theft thats for sure).

I agree with what you said that the majority of uk drivers are good but mistakes can be made, although £200 is not a small amount of money I know it's a pair of trainers for some and half a weeks wage for others. Maybe if on the test it was an instant fail to not use your handbrake at any junction not just a stop sign.

I noticed one particular day last week, that it seems "Experienced" riders can pick another Motorcyclist when they are driving a car... I mean sometimes I make it very clear I am getting out of the way for Them!. But other times... what I must do has to be so subtle that only an Experienced Motorcyclist would notice, and respond in a way that motorcyclist only do to other Motorcyclists. Even road position. they may be only just appearing in my mirror, and I will move over maybe 6 inches, and they notice from 100m away. raise a finger or two off the clutch lever to say Hi as they pass by, seeming ly knowing that I will be looking enough to see them do it. yet give a very different one finger "wave" to someone further up the road!

yes yes and yes. Every driver should first do a CBT before getting in a car. Either done on a scooter or geared let them see how vulnerable a motorbike rider is when it comes to cars being idiots

Have far to many cars pull out on my every week most of tge time i can tell when there going to pull out

so i had a cbt before i got my car license so obviously you can get it at 16 but cant get a car till 17 in the uk.so i was on a moped for a year(i have grown up a dirt bikes). people really do overlook how vulnerable it is riding. down to little things that i do now years and years later without even thinking about it even little things like see a bike filtering in your mirror just move over in my lane a little bit do people have to but there is no reason not to just makes the roads safer .

If car drivers did the CBT they would have to learn how to really concentrate, really be aware when on the road and plan all manoeuvres, instead of being 'asleep' and isolated from the world in comfortable metal box

I've just had my first bump on my new 125. I've ridden it to work the last few days because the currant bun is out. I was stopped at the junction at the bottom of our works road waiting to turn left. The traffic was non stop from the right so I relaxed a little. I looked right again and a wagon had cut the flow off to the right so it was clear. I was just about to set off when a car hit me from the back on the right side. It think he just looked right, saw it was clear and then just noticed me at the last second. Fortunately he only tapped me and there was no damage but as you know it always causes a brown trouser moment. If I'd have been on my PCX scooter he would have probably damaged the rear panel so in a way I was lucky. It wasn't a junction pull out but it was still a SMIDSY, I'm going to have some choice words with him tomorrow.

@janwanderer7660

6 күн бұрын

on really busy roads with 2 lanes I don't turn left, instead go right and turn on a calm place, happens rarely but IMO better in the long run. Sometimes there's a car hidden behind the one coming and you think it is clear but then the last sec you notice that car now visible...

Agree

Drivers def need to b taught more awareness towards motorbikes and horses they shud all be put on a horse an taken around the rds an put at least on a moped so they understand what it's like x

Forcing it on drivers wont go well and asking for understanding these days is far too much for joe public. BUT if the DVLA opened up a CBT/ or a course designed for driver awareness that gave a discount on your insurance im sure a lot of drivers would take it. (It should mirror the CBT in that it expires after 24months and you have to do it again. ive seen drivers who passed their test and i honestly think if you tested them 2 years later they would fail.)

A cbt for a bike is the equivalent of a permit licence for car drivers. Imo would just over complicating the process of legally being able to drive and will make less people inclined to get a licence.

You know the problem I've got with bikes is people are generally scared of them not to mention that simple things like going to the gym or shopping is misery as you just can't carry as much. Plus its essential to bring protection IE. a chain or disc lock unless you want a little kid eyeing up our prized rides... honestly I'm thinking of just switching to a car but I'd love to be talked out of it ((I ride everyday using my bike as transport/A way to shop or visit friends))

@Pommo70

5 күн бұрын

Just get yourself a cage, you don’t have the right mentality. If you find it so miserable, then why are you doing it?

@originironwolf514

5 күн бұрын

@@Pommo70 I don't, I was just mentioning how inconvenient things can be with bikes and the fact that I'd love to be talked out of it... That and I only ride a 125 so speeds a little off the table.

@MegaNayton

2 күн бұрын

For shopping days just catch a bus or taxi rather than risk your bike being stolen by scum bags. I seen a spat of recent posts on fb where bikes and cars are taken from shopping centers and supermarket car parks so the thieves know its the best time and place to steal them. As for bringing more protection with you get a top box fitted or ride a scooter they may not be cool to some but that under seat storage sure is handy at times

Great idea, chance of it ever happening 0%. Down side to what you're saying, what about disabled drivers

They do see you, but dont care or are anti bikes. It is same with Trucks are Cars. Trucks pull out as they know car is zero threat so they bully their way out. 1 in a 100 is genuine mistakes, most is just bullying you off road.

The sooner you realise your invisible you can just enjoy the ride instead of being a victim and blaming everyone else. And car with steel cage is much safer than 2 wheels, thats just common sense🤣

I think that everyone should have to take a test every 10 years or so to confirm that they are still driving to a reasonable standard and that everyone should be doing driving tests in a Verity of vehicles for example doing a CBT for a bike. Driving a car on the road. driving a bus. And driving a lorry. So you have more of an idea on how other vehicles will behave on the road

Bikes are getting uglier again.