A few thoughts

[DTTW]

Sad news Dave, sorry for your loss.

All fun comes with risk, riding a motorcycle is not an exception. Rarely we understand the risks early enough. Probably most of us have encountered a near miss situation and that's the moment when you should latest acknowledge the risks you are facing when riding. I did, and I'm lucky that I did.

After my near miss I changed my bike from a sports bike to my 14 (not that my 14 is any slower than my previous bike, but the nature of 14 does not make you go nuts every time you drive it). I changed my riding gear to more protective. I studied and read articles about riding a motorcycle safely. I went to training courses for riding at slow speeds, braking etc. and courses for enhancing your cornering skills. Actually yesterday I was on track with my 14. Gives you confidence to know that you can trust the bike and your ability to steer the bike.

What they don't normally teach you is how to take over. Those are wise words what you wrote Dave.

The biggest take away from my near miss (which was not a take over related, but cornering) is that I started to analyse everything when riding. I guess you could call it that sixth sense or third eye someone mentioned here.

Just take it easy and acknowledge the fact that anything, any time, any place, on the road can cause you serious damage, if it happens to happen. You can still enjoy the ride, but be much safer driver.

[Andre]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e0gSHUWTD8

Oh, and read post #1 by Dave again

[Mick_J]

That's an interesting vid Andre, I'll admit to being one of them in the early 80's when riding in groups was what I did.  Over the last 25 years I've taken on quite a few advanced training courses and generally ride alone but I do see these people on the road and wonder when not if they are going to cause an accident so tend to avoid them.

[Andre]

@mjgt I would never admit to ever have had a Beta Male Complex. I was born an Alpha Male with the wisdom and behaviour of Buddha

I don't ride in groups either. Too much added complexity for me and I like to take my piss whenever I feel like it.

[Globalrider]

A while back WE lost an experienced rider in a Busa accident - speed was the culprit and a slight misjudgment on a decreasing bend - His girl friend who owned a pink Busa succumbed to an RTA almost on the same date a year later - speed was again responsible. They were both in their late 30s. That had a profound effect on me as I was always going somewhere at a 1000 miles an hour!! As WE get older our reactions slowdown hence the reason I gave up dirt riding - having an off now really hurts! So! .....all those prolific words should be heeded. I now am pretty sedate and smell the roses on outings.   Sad for your loss Dave.
Stan   

[Rynglieder]

Barmy,

Thanks, it never hurts to post this stuff, sorry it is the loss of a friend that has prompted it.

I'm normally out on the road on my own but on the couple of times I've led  2-4  bikes out for a day I always warn following riders that my habit is to "leapfrog" lines of traffic travellimg at moderate speed, I'll rarely attack the whole row. I'll also tell them if they want to pick the pace up, feel free and have a burst ahead of me (but don't forget to let me catch up before a major junction as I'm the only one who knows where the night's hotel is!)

We should all ride in a manner that we are comfortable with and in control of - or at least as best as you can be given other road users.

Pete.

[DP1400]

Riding in groups of more than one or two other likeminded riders is a `no-no` for me nowadays. Too much peer pressure and too many distractions for my liking.
That said, riding with a respected mate or two of equal riding ability and experience is a great day out, especially with our respective `priceless cargo` on the pillion! A run down to the coast certainly hits the spot.
It does however, mean that we stick to our basic riding `rules`. By adopting the following we get to ride quickly and as safely as we can.

• We remain in the same riding order
  We decide and stick to a planned route
  We always overtake as individual bikes each separated by at least one other vehicle

On straight stretches of road we don`t ride directly behind each other, but stagger our riding line to provide us with the best view ahead
We are aware of each others progress through junctions/traffic lights etc. and adjust our speed accordingly

This common sense approach has always seen us ok and relatively safe, and it allows us all to enjoy the ride without the worry of having a loony or two in the group whose sole aim is to impress everyone within a 5 mile radius, except of course, the ambulance crew...... [/list]