Little things I've learned from riding a while...

[marvellous]

The Parkway that runs through town here literally has sections with signs saying 'Rough Road'... they aren't kidding... It's from all the vehicles with studs on during the winter and big huge chunks are missing... fun riding... heh

[dkoi]

Thanks everyone for the tips. That took me a long time to read but was well worth it. Being new to motorcycles is intimidating and this really helps.

thanks again

[ducati44]

I'm planning a cross country trip from my home town in Chicago, Il to Orange County, CA. I am set to take off roughly 1-2 weeks post Cubs season. Any additional tips or suggestions that may relate specifically to my ride would be greatly appreciated. However, the true purpose of my reply is to gather a consensus on what tires i should go with for such an excursion...any input???

[ducati44]

p.s. - i have a 1996 M900, that could be helpful in your responses. Thanks in advance!

[ducati44]

p.s.s - typo it's a "94

[ducati44]

...and it has 20k miles, well maintained.

[realgraverobber]

So much great info on this thread, apologize for repeating stuff others may have said.

Operate as though no one knows you are there.

At stops, stay in 1st gear. Once a guy ran up to attack me and I laid rubber through an intersection only because I saw him running up at me in my rear view mirror to tackle me in traffic. Awesome.

Make your passenger hold onto you. If they can lock their hands, make em do it. The previous entry reminds me of this importance.

I signal early and leave it on as much as is proper. My feeling is that the more bright blinking lights and ways to let others notice me for safety -- the better.

Be an assertive rider. Don't be afraid to strongly pass someone, get away, etc. Getting around and away from cars keeps us alive.

For the rear:

Signal cagers to the back by flickering your brake light. I tend to use the front brake to jiggle lightly only to catch attention of cagers in back of me. Non-regular flashes are most recognized by people (psychology undergrad degree).

Try to stop in the center of the lane if traffic abruptly slows. My reasoning is that the cager behind me will see the larger brake lights of the car in front of me + my tail light. If it's oily in the middle, use your best judgement about being in the middle.


To the front:

I wiggle my handlebars to flash cagers in front of me if they seem to not notice, be upward stopped on a hill (may roll back onto me).

Also keep 3-8 feet back from the cross walk if I am the first next to it. Cars go over their lanes and I want to stay away from their senseless nature.

Nodding to other drivers when they are looking at me can help wake them up and think "there is a person there."

Stay out of blind spots on both sides, away from the direct sides of cars, and always add space between you and the car. Often I count when a car passes an object (post, landmark, whatever) and try to keep 3 seconds between the car passing the object and me passing the object. The faster you go, the more distance this gives you.