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But we already know that.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/vi ... 5946570176

Over 40's
About half rider error.

Is this the returning rider?

SteveD wrote:But we already know that.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/vi ... 5946570176

Over 40's
About half rider error.

Is this the returning rider?

This is the untrained rider.

Some returning after a long hiatus, but many are first timers.

Yes motorcycling is dangerous enough as it is, with all the morons in cages trying to kill you, without making it even more dangerous by riding like a hoon. As apparently this guy did, riding at 60 MPH in a 40 MPH zone on the city streets. 50% over the speed limit on the mean, crowded city streets where any idiot not paying attention could pull out in front of you. Which is exactly what happened.

The commenters in this article almost all blame the motorcyclist because he was speeding. I guess if you are speeding on an MC and a car pulls out in front of you, it's your fault, not the idiot driver. To some extent I can understand that, if you are really hauling ass in a situation like this you are just begging for death.

Man on speeding motorcycle killed in Aurora crash

That being said, I often find myself tending to be more aggressive and speed more when on the MC as opposed to driving the cage. Going the speed limit is frickin' boring on a MC, well except when on the freeway. On my "naked" bike, going really fast is not that fun due to the wind blast. But on secondary roads I like to go faster than most cars. But I don't get totally carried away, doing 50% over the limit, like the guy above allegedly did (how do they know how fast he was going anyway?)

And yeah, sometimes I pass on a double yellow line in places where I would never do it in the cage. On the MC you can pass a cage so quickly that you are in the danger zone for only a few seconds.

It's just different when you are on a MC. I have no patience for slow drivers then. I guess I feel like since I am taking the extra risk to ride the MC, I want to enjoy it more too, and I don't when stuck behind slow morons. So I pass 'em sometimes in places I probably shouldn't, and never would in the boring old cage.

Cage driver's just don't understand the MC experience. It's like having to ask why does a mountain climber climb mountains. If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.

I was sort of hoping my post might spark a debate on passing on double yellow lines, riding styles, and so on. Oh well...

The last few days my riding style has mellowed considerably. I dunno why, but people seem to get angry when you pass them on a double yellow, even though it can be done safely in some cases on a MC, where it couldn't in a cage. For the last few days or so I've been trying to get where I'm going without pissing anyone off.

Or maybe it's just been too cold for spirited riding...

It was 28 degrees when I pulled into work this morning. Probably won't be riding the MC to work for much longer, until the winter is over.

You must have more horsepower than me. I will pass on double yellows sometimes, but the car has to be going really slowly. Sadly, they sometimes do. I don't like passing. I really don't like outrunning my sightline.

Yeah, cold wet pavement slows me down even more. And riding in the dark/fog/rain half the time. In a month it will be all of the time.

We've had a rise in rider deaths this year. The papers are contributing to our communities education.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/biker ... 17i98.html

I'd prefer to see the real figures, from real studies myself. Here in Melbourne we do have a University department dedicated researching road trauma, and prevention. I want to see their numbers.

Had a close one today.

It was one of those incidents stopped at the lights, waiting for the change to green.

I was rolling slowly to a stop, no cars immediately behind, so I instinctively aim for the left of the lane (think right in NA).

Left foot out, right heel on the peg, pointed laconically almost at right angles to the frame...

Check the mirrors...WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XF Ford bearing down at speed, not far back, and not slowing down. I see his face turned to his passenger! Lights still RED! No time for anything, not even a jump off. At the last nanometer he's veered right, must've just seen me, passing to the right, and managed to touch my boot, as it sticks out. It was so faint as to feel like it hadn't touched, but I felt something f'sure.

FAAARK that was close! He proceeded thru the red light, I've shat myself, and checked for more turds of the car kind in the mirror!

Nuthin' coming and the light goes green. I'm off, caught up and gave the prick a verbal bigger 'n Texas..nah that's too small...bigger 'n Queensland it was.

If I was stopped mid lane, I was mince. If I had the panniers on, it might've hit...

M.F.

Glad you are still with us, Steve.