Safety Tips from Seasoned Riders for CB1100

[the Ferret]

I signal him to go ahead and go. Rather wait a few extra seconds than take a chance.

[cb400four_imp]

Here's one to think about. I call it the "Biker's Dilemma". When approaching an intersection that is a two way stop where you have the right of way, a car on the cross street is waiting to pull out. He starts to roll forward slowly so what do you do? You're not sure if he sees you so you hit the brakes in case he doesn't. Seeing you slow down, he assumes you are turning even though you haven't signaled and he pulls out. If you don't slow down and he does see you fine but if he doesn't, you are going too fast to stop. What would you do? Personally, I just cover my brakes and depend on my gut reaction and take that. Not enough time to think about it when it's happening.

I agree with the original poster's approach. I cover my front brakes and maintain my course and speed. Usually my left thumb covers the horn and I give a couple short blasts. In the hypothetical situation you describe, in the one or two seconds you have, it is hard to verify with absolute certainty there is noone behind you; the alternative of stopping and letting the car proceed (where I don't have a stop sign and I have the right of way) would be unexpected by the (possibly marginally in attentive) cager behind me. I try to keep tabs at all times of the vehicles behind me but in this situation I'd prefer to double check and I wouldn't have time.

Like many on this site I spend a lot of time riding my CB1100 on undivided two lane roads with many intersections and this situation is common at least where I ride, thanks for highlighting it. I'd also like to hear people's thoughts on the similar situation where an oncoming car is stopped and ready to take a left into your path: this is my least favorite situation. One of our members posted a video and a good discussion followed.

[the Ferret]

I think I misread the previous situation. I thought there was a stop where you had right away but car was encroaching. If the two stops are to your right and left and you have a straight thru and a car is approaching from one of those two sides, I slow down, cover brakes and will often stick up my left hand telling them to stop or I will point at them.

I will also do the same in the situation described above with a car ready to turn left...raise my hand with the stop signal, point at them, wiggle in my lane, stare at them... whatever it takes. ( I rand into the passenger door of a car that turned left in front of me in 1969.. it was not fun )

[cbdtran_imp]

While I've owned a motorcycle for a 10 yr stretch in my younger days, I don't have near the miles that many of the forum members do. As I get back into riding, I'd like to get the thoughts of the seasoned riders on this forum on how to ride safe and is there anything that specifically applies to the CB1100. It's a much heavier bike them I'm used to which has its advantages & disadvantages.

As I get back into riding, my underlying philosophy is to ride like no one can see you, and if they can see you assume they're trying to kill you.

Thanks in advance for you input.

0) Ride with all visibility - if you are invisible, people will hit you even when you walk.

1) Hone your riding skill and emergency reaction (counter steering and braking hard) and all surfaces

2) Pay attention to intersection IN or DURING red light.

* When cross the intersection from red line, if possible, have both sides covered by cars
* slow down a bit, look left and right when approaching intersection on green lite
* while wait on red light, if you see a vehicle approaching - use your left arm with up down motion to tell them to slow down.

3) glance in front of you for debris, sand on straight line or during turn. people say, look where you go, but also look close in front of you. some falls because of oil patch on turn.

4) go to parking lot (empty) and practice turn at low and higher speed, learn to brake and brake hard, learn front brake until the rear end almost lift up - this is for emergency braking. Learn to avoid debris by counter steering. practice braking with both brakes,

5) Keep at least 3 sec from car in front or behind

6) Pay attention to traffic around you. Pay attention to opposite traffic

7) Ride with confident but assume NOTHING, don't assume you have the right of way or everyone else is safe driver / rider and respect your life. On desert road, pay attention to dog / animal so just don't assume you own the road.

8) middle of the road tend to have oil patches, use the left or right side

9) body protection / condition of your bike / learn your bike / have a feel of your bike.

10 ) DO NOT SHARE LANES WITH CARS - treat your bike like a car, one car per lane

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If you are a good driver, then likely you are a good rider ... riding is 100 times more dangerous because you don't have second chance.

go to Youtube and search for motorcycle accidents.