How riding a motorcycle makes you a better driver

[SupraGuy74]

So heres my rant feel free to add any information as well.
In my short 23 years of life, i always considered driving as something thats enjoyable, its fun to go fast and drive like im in a race car, i even went as far as to build my 1991 supra to make upwards of 500rwhp. This being said, i purchased my first motorcycle, a 2001 Monster 900SI.E and have been commuting daily on it for the past 3 weeks. Its funny how things that i used to do in a car i find to be so utterly stupid now, that its not even funny.

Long before i got a bike a close friend of mine who commutes daily on his CBR600RR was riding with me in the car (while i was driving like an asshole) and said this to me "your the idiots i look out for on the freeway, one day you could get me killed driving the way you do." As rude and absurd as i thought the comment was, after commuting in socal traffic everyday, it rings more true then anything hes ever told me. Now with the small amount of rain were having in CA the duc stays at home in the garage covered, and im driving the supra, slowly realizing things that i used to do that were so stupid before.

So basically what im trying to accomplish with this topic is, me being a new rider i never really understood how my driving effects everybody elses riding, and having new people who have never riden daily joining this forum all the time, i think they can benefit from reading things that have changed daily riders, into better drivers.

- im a smoker who used to throw butts out the window after finishing them, until i got hit in the face with one sending sparks all inside my helmet
-i used to be the notorious one click turn signal drivers that california is so famous for
-i used to do the typical "california stop" because i thought it wasnt that big of a deal
-i used to shoot across one or more lanes of traffic sometimes signalling, sometimes not
-i used to think of motorcycles as in the way, and used to get angry at the guys hauling ass past me on the freeway
-i used to hold my steering wheel with my knee whenever i was lighting up, looking for something in my car etc.
-i used to show no care about the infamous double yellow line unless a police officer was around
-i used to swerve in and out of traffic abruptly not really checking to see if anybody was there
-i used to think that changing that brake light bulb, headlight bulb, or turn signal bulb could wait until a later time
and the biggest most important thing i will never ever do in a car
-i used to text and make phone calls while driving.

i know you guys out there with years of experience have much more you can add to this list. Please do

[Howie]

Great post!

I need to work on the directional signal thing

[ab]

After i begin riding, I  noticed that I drive lot slower and am more aware than before.

And yes I've been hit by idiot smokers throwing their lit cig.

Never try to race a biker on a car.  I know a rider who is now 1/2 blind as a result of being pinned down by a car.

Never tail-gate a biker.  One mistake, you will kill the rider.

Never hit twisty road with wanna be fast drivers who go out of their lanes and will kill you.

I always go next to a driver they was just texting and shake my head in disgust.  Those pregnant doges scare me.

Stay clear of any van.  Stay clear.  Those are the most distracted drivers EVER with all the kids in the van screaming at them

[Slide Panda]

Nice

- I learned more about the mechanics of a turn and traction in a few months on a bike than I had in years in a car.
- I am more conscious of riders when I'm in my car.

[Novelo]

I find the more safe I try to be the more I tend to get into situations I don't want to be in, I just stop trying. If I do something stupid on the bike its on me and if its a bad one I hope I don't make it. 

[DonJuanDucati]

I think I know what you mean, when I AM generally following the speed limit is when cars like to turn left in front of me, cut me off, ride my ass, merge into me, run stop signs and lights in front of me, etc. Whereas if I just blast everywhere those situations don't happen so often. Maybe it's going faster separates me from the bulk of traffic, or maybe its just coincidence.

[bdub]

Whereas if I just blast everywhere those situations don't happen so often.

That's what I do

[xsephirot]

I find the more safe I try to be the more I tend to get into situations I don't want to be in, I just stop trying. If I do something stupid on the bike its on me and if its a bad one I hope I don't make it. 

This.

I was driving in my car yesterday in a 3 lane road on each side. Just crusing alone to the speed limit as I was in no rush. I was in the left lane as I saw a car pull out towards the medium like they usually do (because of heavy traffic in the dc area alot of cars just wait in between until they can get in). I let go of the gas as I was unsure if hte car would pullout or not. And the car stops in the medium so I start to get on the gas again. As I'm entering the point of no return for an accident this dumbass hispanic pregnant dog pulls out. I slam on my brakes, lock them up, while holding my horn. And this dumbass decides to brake. My tires were completely greasy and I had to countersteer it for a bit just to prevent from going into another lane and hitting another car. I have no idea what I could have done differently. Had I been on my bike I probably would have been that dead rider on the evening news.

[Vishwacorp]

...My tires were completely greasy and I had to countersteer it for a bit just to prevent from going into another lane and hitting another car...

I missed the part where you said you were in your car and I imagined you controlling your bike after locking up the tires and wanted to  to your riding prowess haha!

But I know what you mean, I've had people hesitate and then pull out in front of me at the last minute. I'm not sure whether they're complete idiots, lack depth perception, or a combination of both. 

[SupraGuy74]

This.

I was driving in my car yesterday in a 3 lane road on each side. Just crusing alone to the speed limit as I was in no rush. I was in the left lane as I saw a car pull out towards the medium like they usually do (because of heavy traffic in the dc area alot of cars just wait in between until they can get in). I let go of the gas as I was unsure if hte car would pullout or not. And the car stops in the medium so I start to get on the gas again. As I'm entering the point of no return for an accident this dumbass hispanic pregnant dog pulls out. I slam on my brakes, lock them up, while holding my horn. And this dumbass decides to brake. My tires were completely greasy and I had to countersteer it for a bit just to prevent from going into another lane and hitting another car. I have no idea what I could have done differently. Had I been on my bike I probably would have been that dead rider on the evening news.

Glad your alive sir, living in Los Angeles the stupidity never ever ever ends, as soon as i start to assume that a driver isn't going to do something, they decide to prove me wrong.

[mszilves]

I think I know what you mean, when I AM generally following the speed limit is when cars like to turn left in front of me, cut me off, ride my ass, merge into me, run stop signs and lights in front of me, etc. Whereas if I just blast everywhere those situations don't happen so often. Maybe it's going faster separates me from the bulk of traffic, or maybe its just coincidence.

I agree. I read somewhere that the safest speed on a motorcycle is actually slightly faster than the rest of traffic. I don't mean blowing by cars, but by going a little faster ensures that you're not stuck in those "packs" where you have 8-10 cars all stuck together going the same speed. (I'll never understand how people cannot distinguish between a driving lane and a passing lane...)

To the OP, glad you have come to realize some of the things you did that weren't necessarily the smartest.

Unfortunately where I live and a lot of other cities, we don't have any real tracks or other outlets for those with a need for speed to vent on. Like your experience on the bike, I believe that in much the same way if we had a track or other outlet, those of us that like to go fast would let it out on the track, and realize that that's where it should stay. Driving a car like an idiot with disregard for public safety should be punished more severely IMO.

[Duc796canada]

Interesting posts! Speaking of tail gating, how does one alert the driver ho likes to creep up to your bike at a stop? My story, riding home from work, I stop for a light, this lady pulls up up to my ass, I mean less than the length of my bike, I look back just to say show her that I disapprove. I take off, next light, she does the same thing, again I look back, both times not gesturing or anything. We pull away, and she is now tail gating me, I give her the back off rear with my clutch,  she was totally oblivious to the personal space, I just became one of those idiots and pulled away from her!! How do you folks deal with people like that, short of marbles in their wind-shield, I mean they are endangering you, should someone rear end them or you have to make a sudden stop!!

[jrswanson1]

This.

I was driving in my car yesterday in a 3 lane road on each side. Just crusing alone to the speed limit as I was in no rush. I was in the left lane as I saw a car pull out towards the medium like they usually do (because of heavy traffic in the dc area alot of cars just wait in between until they can get in). I let go of the gas as I was unsure if hte car would pullout or not. And the car stops in the medium so I start to get on the gas again. As I'm entering the point of no return for an accident this dumbass hispanic pregnant dog pulls out. I slam on my brakes, lock them up, while holding my horn. And this dumbass decides to brake. My tires were completely greasy and I had to countersteer it for a bit just to prevent from going into another lane and hitting another car. I have no idea what I could have done differently. Had I been on my bike I probably would have been that dead rider on the evening news.

This drives me nuts.  If I pull into the median area, I'm assuming you're maintaining a constant speed and base my merging on that.  If you slow down, you throw my timing off so I don't know where you actually are.  You had three lanes, if you want to be nice, move to a different lane. 

[koko64]

A buddy of mine recently got his special licence to drive large buses/coaches. The instructor commented during the driving test, "Ah, you're a motorcyclist!".  My friend asked how he could tell. The instructor said he always picks the riders due to their excellent observation skills and awareness of traffic.

[ducatiz]

Head-swivel

you can always tell the riders by that...