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Dumb Motorcycle Advice You've seen on the Internetz?

Most bad advice (or what seems so to me) is well-intended, but hopelessly tainted by confirmation bias--"since I began/installed/wore ????? I haven't had any close calls".


But today's gem comes from world of Science. As everyone with the brains god gave a goose knows, Science is not to be disputed, questioned, or viewed askance. Ala the bumper sticker...
Science says it. I believe it. That settles it.​
What Science tells us today is that you're taking your life in your hands when you ride under a full moon:
MOTORCYCLE DEATHS LINKED TO FULL MOONS

Research published Dec. 11 in The BMJ points toward another potential distraction for motorists: the full moon, gracing the sky with its brightness around 12 times a year, and the dazzling supermoon, which comes into focus around once a year.

The researchers found that on nights illuminated by a full moon, fatal motorcycle accidents increased by 5 percent compared to nights without a full moon. On evenings when the supermoon decorated the sky, this increased to 32 percent. The study included data from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

While this observational data cannot prove any firm conclusions, the researchers warn drivers of the risks of seemingly minor distractions, urging constant attention while driving at all times.

"Drivers face a number of distractions behind the wheel — from texting, to phone calls to road obstructions and more," said study co-author Eldar Shafir, the Class of 1987 Professor in Behavioral Science and Public Policy and professor of psychology and public affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. "Our study adds to the literature that small distractions can sometimes lead to life-altering consequences."

"Glancing at the full moon takes the motorcyclist's gaze off the road, which could result in a loss of control," said the study's lead author Redelmeier, professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. "The average ride on a motorcycle is more dangerous than a drunk driver with no seatbelt traveling the same distance. Because of this, we recommend riders and drivers orient their attention, ignore distractions and continuously monitor their dynamic surroundings."
​
If you think this is half-assed, flyover-country Science, you're sadly mistaken. It is, in fact, full-strength Ivy League Science from Princeton University, where Albert Einstein spent 20 years.

The next full moon will be on January 1, 2018 and will also be a Super Moon (not to mention the drunkest day of the year). Stay off your motorcycle on New Years Day. I would advise you to use public transpo, but for many that would mean BART and a good mugging. So just stay home.

Do I hear grumbling? You don't doubt Science do you? Hater.
 
kurth83 said:
Seen mostly on cruiser forums: Rear brake is where most of your braking is.

And my fave (see my sig): You don't need ABS (pretty sure this one alone can start a flame war).
Click to expand...

Yea, could be a flame war.
They Kurth, how long you been riding? Do you ride ... or ever ridden dirt bikes? Know your history.

I love modern ABS but early ABS systems were not great. Go try out a K100RS from around 1992 or so. Tell me how that ABS worked out on that bike. :laughing

BMW were pioneers on motorcycle ABS and it took them 2 or 3 generations to really get it right. Kind of a rough road but it's good now.

Now? It's fantastic. But all that said ... I'm old school and learned to ride and brake long before ABS came along. Good riding technique trumps ABS every time. Dirt bike riding/racing will also teach good braking technique.

So, I would say that "some" riders may not "need" ABS. But for me it's nice to have and much prefer it to NOT having it ... but it won't save you if your technique is horrific. :teeth
 
Rumbo Sur said:
I love modern ABS but early ABS systems were not great.
blah, blah, blah
Click to expand...
Yes Lou...

picture.php
 
Helmets could break your neck in a bad crash upon impact.
 
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Sprockets

Change em and your rsv go so fast....

You won't believe it cuz my dad's an engineer and he said so
 
Car tires on motorcycles: Because motorcycle tires are a scam purpetrated by the motorcycle industry.

Do a search on AdvRider for 'Darkside' to find a bunch of idots that actually believe that car tires are not only cheaper but actually work just as well if not better than motorcycle tires.
 
"Had ta lay 'er down"
"Front brake'll kill ye"

This is actual shit I've heard from actual meatspace meatbags on more than one occasion.
 
Hoppalong said:
Car tires on motorcycles: Because motorcycle tires are a scam purpetrated by the motorcycle industry.

Do a search on AdvRider for 'Darkside' to find a bunch of idots that actually believe that car tires are not only cheaper but actually work just as well if not better than motorcycle tires.
Click to expand...

I've ridden behind a couple Darksiders... the shit that tire does around corners makes one gasp in awe and horror.

However, the Darksiders I've come across think they are God's gift to motorcycling yet are SLOW AF in reality.

Srsly, anyone who does that shit invalidates their opinion of their entire existence.
 
That riding without a helmet is just as safe as riding with a helmet.

That electric start is somehow inferior to a kickstart

That Jap(anese) bikes are shit compared to Harleys
 
How about advice about tires, oil, maintenance, helmets, taillight/license plate "clean ups", etc?
 
aminalmutha said:
"Had ta lay 'er down"
"Front brake'll kill ye"

This is actual shit I've heard from actual meatspace meatbags on more than one occasion.
Click to expand...

True story.

Me, my scooter, parking lot at a gas station. Why, yes, I was a young, new rider.

I had the scooter pointed towards a car, and I reached for the front brake.

However, unconscious to me, likely because of the gloves I was using as much as anything else, as I squeezed the front brake, I was turning the throttle. So, as I squeezed it harder to try and slow down, instead I was going faster.

Now "slow" and "fast" are relative here, but perception is 90% of reality. Felt "fast" to me. I was definitely "going faster".

So, instead of letting the scooter lawn dart some poor souls car (and take me with it), know what I did?

I laid it down. I basically simply hopped off and let thing fall down and stop.

It was probably a foot away from the car in the end. I was fine, scooter wasn't notably damaged. Picked it up and moved on.

But, yes, the front brake was going to "kill me", so I "laid it down".

Anecdotes aren't data, but there's an exception to everything.

Similar thing happened to my poor wife at a dirt bike school, grabbed some front brake and accelerated, then her "10 points of attention" went to 27. She didn't lay it down, she hit a small tree and got an introductory course in acrobatics and gymnastics over the handlebars -- and thus ended the lesson that day.
 
Loud pipes save lives.......probably the worst one for me.

Loud pipes just annoy the fuck out of everyone. I've heard MC's from miles away and it's rude and insulting. They piss me off almost as much as lifted trucks, which are also against the law. But like loud pipes, the people who are suppose to enforce the regulations, don't. (except when it benefits them at some level, just my experience)
 
senpai71 said:
That Jap(anese) bikes are shit compared to Harleys
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Aw the old saying " if it ain't a Harley it ain't shit"
And the many who said that and failed to see the irony in the statement. Lol
 
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rsrider said:
Loud pipes save lives.......probably the worst one for me.

Loud pipes just annoy the fuck out of everyone. I've heard MC's from miles away and it's rude and insulting. They piss me off almost as much as lifted trucks, which are also against the law. But like loud pipes, the people who are suppose to enforce the regulations, don't. (except when it benefits them at some level, just my experience)
Click to expand...

Loud assed pipes is what got motorcycles kicked out of the upper parking lot at Mt Hamilton Observatory.
 
berth said:
True story.

Me, my scooter, parking lot at a gas station. Why, yes, I was a young, new rider.

I had the scooter pointed towards a car, and I reached for the front brake.

However, unconscious to me, likely because of the gloves I was using as much as anything else, as I squeezed the front brake, I was turning the throttle. So, as I squeezed it harder to try and slow down, instead I was going faster.

Now "slow" and "fast" are relative here, but perception is 90% of reality. Felt "fast" to me. I was definitely "going faster".

So, instead of letting the scooter lawn dart some poor souls car (and take me with it), know what I did?

I laid it down. I basically simply hopped off and let thing fall down and stop.

It was probably a foot away from the car in the end. I was fine, scooter wasn't notably damaged. Picked it up and moved on.

But, yes, the front brake was going to "kill me", so I "laid it down".

Anecdotes aren't data, but there's an exception to everything.

Similar thing happened to my poor wife at a dirt bike school, grabbed some front brake and accelerated, then her "10 points of attention" went to 27. She didn't lay it down, she hit a small tree and got an introductory course in acrobatics and gymnastics over the handlebars -- and thus ended the lesson that day.
Click to expand...

Bad form is not an exception, it's just bad form. :D

But srsly, I've had people look me straight in the face and tell me, serious as can be, they never use the front brake "cuz it'll send ya right over the bars".
 
From a BARF thread: If you're a short rider, lower the rear tire pressure to lower your bike.
 
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