- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 9 months ago by Rab.
First commute
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June 26, 2008 at 6:06 pm #1607BuddParticipant
Today was the first time I have ridden my bike into work. Got a Silver ’05 EX250 Ninja on friday and messed around with it in my neighborhood over the weekend. Had my wife follow me out in non rush hour traffic on the main roads yesterday and felt pretty comfortable, so today decided to commute on it.
I usually take the interstate but I stuck to the secondary streets. I want to hit an empty stretch of interstate on Sunday morning to ride at interstate speeds before I even think about getting it out there on a road full of road raging cars. The morning commute was non-eventful, which is real good. Did some nice safe lane changes and kept with traffic and tried to stay out of blind spots. My commute took about the same amount of time as it normally does. It was nice.
Lessons learned: 1) Once you see the intersection is clear and nothing is cutting in front or trying to merge with you, get through the intersection as quickly as possible before that situation changes. 2) Tunnels suck when wearing sunglasses (and I guess a tinted shield), I could see fine and then “woosh” into darkness I am cast. 3) Line up your angles when stopping at lights so that you can see the light too. 4) keep the bike in the power band for quick manuverability.
One guy looked like he didn’t see me and was turning left as I went through the intersection, but he may have just been trying to get an early start on the turn. Anyway, I saw his wheels turn and knew where I was in relation to him and traffic. I had the Ninja in the power band and opened it up through the intersection before he had a chance to turn in on me (it was either that or slow down and I made what I think is the right call for that situation.
June 27, 2008 at 1:54 am #7900RabParticipantGood for you and well done for making the fun and earth-friendly decision to commute by motorcycle.
I’d suggest getting some more experience under your belt before doing it full time though, as rush hour traffic and the freeway can present challenges that you may not be ready for yet. Maybe commute one day a week at first; Friday is good as you’re more likely to take it easy.
Once you feel confident, and I know it’ll be tough not to, but DON’T try to emulate the “good” (i.e. fast) riders who weave easily through traffic. Think *safety*, not speed; you’re only going to work after all I see one of those “good” riders lying beside a smashed-up bike at the side of the freeway about once every week or two here in the S.F. Bay Area. I’m not trying to scare you, just make you aware of the dangers if you’re not careful (and possibly even if you are). You might also want to fit a loud after-market horn, and use it to wake-up the car drivers who change lanes without looking over their shoulder to see into their blind spot (or don’t even look in their wing mirrors).
On the freeway (or anywhere), try to leave at least two seconds stopping distance between you and the car in front (four seconds on wet roads) because now and again, traffic will come to a dead stop when you’re not expecting it to and that can be fatal. If that does happen and you can’t stop in time (which if you’d left enough distance between you and the car in front you would have been able to), you can always lane-split in between the cars, legal or not, as a ticket is preferable to a crippling injury or death. Make sure you wear good protective gear too just in case. Also make sure that you get your bike serviced/safety-checked regularly. Look well ahead so you can anticipate trouble so that means don’t get stuck behind trucks or vans which obscure your view of the road ahead.
Check-out the following web site which has some decent resources if you hunt for them.
June 27, 2008 at 2:58 pm #7961BuddParticipantThanks for the link and advise. I have full gear, Cortech FSX textile jacket, Tourmaster Quest textile pant, Power trip street unit gloves, HJC CL-15 helmet, and a full leather pair of combat boots. The pants seem a little hot though. I put my work pants in my backpack on the ride and my legs are soaked when I change. They should be nice when it starts getting cooler though. The jacket is great. It has a lot of vents and keeps me plenty cool at 35mph at 90 degree temps.
“I am the best I am at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
June 27, 2008 at 3:02 pm #7963megaspazParticipantFor tunnels, hit your high beams.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 30, 2008 at 3:56 am #8069RabParticipantI use Olympia Motosports Airglide jacket and pants for 3 season riding and use a waterproof touring jacket in the Winter.
The good thing about the Airglide stuff is that both jacket and over-pants are two-piece. The outside is a mesh and cordura, armoured jacket / pants and they both come with waterproof and windproof liner jacket / pants. You put the liners in / out as the weather dictates.
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