5 Life-Saving Habits for Motorcycle Riders

Summary

This video provides an in-depth guide to safer motorcycle riding, blending physics, human perception, and practical habits. It covers techniques like preloading brake levers to avoid panic braking, understanding tire adhesion and hysteresis, and adapting scanning patterns for better hazard detection. The speaker emphasizes proper body posture in cold or wet conditions, using the rear brake for stability, and recognizing risky behaviors in new or group riders. Real-world examples, including the dangers of the 'accordion effect' in group riding, highlight how physics and reaction times influence safety. Ultimately, the video teaches riders how to anticipate, adapt, and ride more effectively.

Takeaways

• 🏍️ Preloading your brake levers is safer than covering them because it ensures progressive braking, reducing panic reactions and potential crashes.
• 🛞 Tire adhesion is affected by weight transfer; heavier contact on the front wheel increases grip, but fast braking can exceed the tire's available adhesion due to suspension delay.
• 🔥 Rubber hysteresis causes delayed energy return, meaning rapid braking can overwhelm the tire’s ability to maintain grip, increasing the risk of skidding.
• 👁️ Scan left-center-right, then right-center-left, especially for bi-directional readers, to improve threat detection and reaction time on the road.
• ❄️ In cold or windy conditions, keep your body relaxed and chest open; tensing up reduces control and increases the risk of losing traction.
• 🦶 Biasing your head left and using the rear brake during stops improves stability and safety, particularly in slow-speed collisions.
• ☕ Frequent stops and relaxed posture help maintain focus and prevent fatigue during long rides.
• ⚠️ Group riding is risky due to the accordion effect: trailing riders need more distance to react, increasing crash likelihood if they try to match faster riders.
• 📏 Faster riders should stay at the back in a group to protect less experienced riders and reduce the danger of sudden braking scenarios.
• 🧠 Habits and awareness significantly improve safety: developing proper scanning, braking, and body positioning can prevent crashes even in challenging conditions.

Q & A

Why do Canadians cover their levers while driving, especially near Timmy's drive-through and in moose country?

Canadians are advised to cover their levers to be ready to brake quickly in case of sudden obstacles, like moose, or situations requiring quick reaction, such as stopping at a Timmy's drive-through. Covering the levers ensures that the rider can engage the brake faster in an emergency.

What is the difference between 'covering' and 'preloading' the brake levers?

Preloading the brake levers means gently holding them just before the brake pads contact the rotors, while covering simply means positioning the hand on the lever without pressure. Preloading allows for a more controlled, progressive braking response, whereas covering can lead to faster, potentially more erratic braking in emergencies.

What does 'adhesion' mean in the context of motorcycle tires?

Adhesion refers to the friction between the tire and the road surface, which determines how much grip the tire has. The more adhesion, the better the grip, allowing for safer braking and cornering, especially under heavy loads or in challenging conditions.

How does suspension dampening affect braking performance?

Suspension dampening affects the time it takes for weight to transfer to the front tire when braking. A slower suspension response can delay the increase in normal force on the tire, reducing available adhesion and grip during fast braking.

What is 'hysteresis' in tires, and why is it important for braking?

Hysteresis refers to the lag between the compression and rebound of the tire as it interacts with the road surface. This lag results in energy loss and heat buildup, reducing the tire’s ability to quickly return to its original shape and thus limiting the immediate braking performance.

What is the 'glass transition' in tire behavior, and how does it impact braking?

The glass transition is a point where the tire’s material becomes too rigid, like glass, and loses its elastic properties. This reduces the tire’s ability to absorb and rebound from forces, which can cause dangerous braking performance, especially when rapid braking is required.

How does the direction in which people scan the road impact their safety?

Studies show that people from cultures who read right to left (like Arabic and Hebrew readers) scan the road faster and more effectively than those who read left to right. Training the brain to scan both directions, as bi-directional readers do, can reduce search times and improve perception, potentially preventing accidents.

Why is scanning the road left, center, right, then right, center, left recommended?

This scanning pattern allows riders to focus more on the right side, where they might be more likely to miss obstacles or threats. It ensures that riders give themselves twice the time to assess threats on the right side compared to left-to-right readers, potentially improving reaction times.

What is the best body position for motorcycle riding in cold, windy, and rainy weather?

In cold, windy, and rainy weather, riders are advised to loosen up and sit up with an open chest rather than hunching to stay warm. This relaxed posture helps prevent the rider from transferring wind gusts to the handlebars, which can cause instability and loss of control.

How does the 'accordion effect' pose a danger in group riding?

The accordion effect occurs when riders in a group adjust their speed in reaction to the rider ahead. If one rider speeds up, the following riders must accelerate to catch up, and if the lead rider brakes, others brake too late, creating a chain reaction. This delay can lead to crashes, especially in high-speed or cornering situations.