My strategies are 1. If I derive thrill, I'm faster than required. Be extra careful.. 2. Full open throttle only if I can see the road entirely. Not in corners, not in traffic lights and not when a lot of cars are around. 3. Stay alone and away from traffic as much as possible. This way I'm not prone to mistakes made by someone else. 4. Watch not the car in front of you, but the car that you can see the farthest ahead of you. Look through the windows of car in front of you to see this. If you react to the car in front of you, you might not have enough time. 5. The moment I'm not able to see the road, I don't accelerate and put two fingers on the front brake. The reaction time, in case anything goes wrong, will be faster. 6. Divide the lane you are riding into four lines. 0 percent, 25, 50 and 75. Starting from your left. Always ride in 50 percent line of your lane. Only move to 25 when a big vehicle is overtaking you. In other cases you wont be taken seriously. When taking a right corner, go 25. Because between 0 and 25 there will be mud and slippery sand and it will wash you out. Go 50 or 75 you are prone to being hit by a big truck or a bus since their turning radius are so high. When taking a left corner, go 50. Because you have less vision of whats coming through the corner. There may be a car parked on 25 or a person walking. Here you can go wide as the buses will not hit you since their extra length is now on the other side. 7. Get your speed down to 40 whenever you see a town. Even if it is empty. 8. Honk everytime you sense danger. 9. Know the limits of your motorcycle and stay within those limits. Try breaking hard, remember the distance and stay in your limits.
👏👏Superb. I would add 1. Learn to relax using conscious attention/ mindfullness. Especially relax the shoulders, arms, and grip. A tense body slows down reflexes. 2.Scan the road, do not fixate on tunnel vision, nor peripheral vision. Look far, midway, near, and left and right with the eyes only. Use your conscious brain to register potential dangers, obstacles, skid zones, etc. Also look out for dogs/deer/etc. emerging from the sides of the road.
It will be nice to have a video where you and Karthik talk about your bikes, your riding journey, gears you had and how you upgraded with time. I'm sure people will learn a lot from that.
Someone once told me. Everyone who rides a motorcycle has 2 pots. A pot of luck, and a pot of experience. You start with a pot full of luck and an empty pot of experience. Your objective is to fill your pot of experience before your pot of luck runs out. Ride safe.
Some of my crashproof strategies are 1. Never show your emotions through riding. Eagerness, Anger, Happiness, etc. That bike riding itself is an emotion. Don't Mix it with anything else. 2. Always expect bad riders everywhere. 3. Don't make haste if you missed a turn. 4. Follow traffic rules and expect others not to. PS:- Yet I have crashed many times, once so badly hurt , couldn't walk for 6 months with no fault on my side (I was waiting for the traffic to move)(expect bad riders everywhere).
Whenever I ride very cautiously, I end up not riding my best or even losing my focus a bit. But whenever I ride normally at the speed which I am used to , I always end up with my best ride.
In the words of Modern Family’s Phil Dunphy, ‘Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.’. That’s been my usual strategy for avoiding crashes in cities. Paid off so far!
Shumi is like an elder bro or uncle trying to prevent people like me from doing silly things by teaching the insights he got from his experience & it's absolutely awesome. I'm a young rider with a licence to drive a gearless vehicle but still this insight is like yeah that's reasonable the reward & consequences come with the licence & I'm the one responsible 💯
Some great points mentioned here. Adding a couple more that helped me many a times. 1. If it's a regular commute like office to home, remember the road (where potholes are, where's sand etc.) for a smooth ride, but always keep in mind that a memorized road is prone to surprises when something changes. So, don't take your eyes off the road just because you know it well. 2. When riding behind a 4 wheeler, always follow at one of it's sides and not at the middle/center. 4 wheelers avoid potholes and debris by driving over them between it's wheels.
Good Points, and to add to the second one, when there's any sort of oil leak it will definitely come out from the middle of those 4 wheelers, or they would use the same mindset of avoiding any pre-existing oil on the road so if you follow in the middle you also have a high chance of slipping and skidding, you never know, so always pick a side. And if overtake is not allowed as per the street lines, you best be on the safer side.
A wise man once told me- " you will find fast riders, you will find old riders, but you will never find fast old riders" Been riding bikes for almost a decade now, have just had one crash and I intend to keep it that way.
@@dushyantk95 thats more like it. Lot of old and fast all around the world. May be he should have written rash instead of fast. Rash is not the same as fast. One can be fast and safe but not rash and safe.
@@hari4406 Driving faster than the speed limit is breaking the law, and breaking the law constitutes rash driving. Therefore, exceeding the speed limit is not only illegal but also endangers everyone on the road. Let’s drive responsibly and respect traffic rules to ensure safety for all.
@@adityadubey177 rash riding or driving is entirely different. You can go very slow and within speed limits and still be a rash driver/rider. Similarly you can go fast and sometimes even break speed limits but without endangering anyone, without giving heartattacks. Its a big difference between either rash, fast or doing rash and fast at the same time. Rash drivers/riders are typically called chapri.
As someone who rode a bicycle to work and home for decades in cities that were borderline oblivious to riders, the "I need to focus on getting there in one piece" logic really payed dividends. I am dirt bike rider who is going to, late in life, start riding motorcycles on congested roads. My training and preparation is partially going to rely on the bicycle rides that sharpened my senses, augmented with new skills and heavy focus on "environmental awareness". One thing for sure, when I finish the day and get on bike (pedal or power), I re-focus on the environment, and by the time I am home, the workdays' malaise is gone. Washed out by the concentration. End result almost feels like an out of body 360 degree aware meditation. Cleansing. PS Great channel, some of the most eloquent videos and conversations. Aces!
Take Precautions...speed and preventative maintenance...🙋🏾♂️ Are my safety lessons after only 2 accidents in my life... 1) at age of 25 in Bajaj Chetak 🛵 2) at age of 50 in Suzuki Access 🛵 With parking hazels and petrol prices.. Best option to ride a scooter to Metro Park and Ride.
My top most factor is ‘ability to see 30 feet ahead’ and sense all elements in it - Vehicles, gaps, people, driving behaviors, upcoming signals, opposite side traffic and traffic in rear view mirrors - all this as a one scene in a pulsating manner. The moment, I loose it, I am exposed.
Can we make a suggestion? Instead of 30 feet ahead, think of it as three or four seconds head. That'll give you the range you need no matter what speed you're going.
but what will happen when suddenly calf enters into the road on a blind corner! which was happened with me(had full riding gears) and i managed to escape without hitting it. one moment my and fellow rider's heart came to mouth. after that I ride slow at blind corners.
One important temptation that I have overcome is "OVERTAKING". Never overtake if ROad is not visible and never overtake on curvy roads. Limiting speeds and avoiding night rides.
First of all a brilliant video there. 😊 1. I would say never ever ride out if you are not at mental peace.. And if you lose patience because any reason during your ride, just stop have a snack or a coffee or whatever and cool off before you get back on. 2. Skill up. Improve your skills on braking, handling, sailing through chaotic stop and go traffic, wet conditions 3. Know your bike understand it's pulling & braking power, responses at various conditions 4. Be as patient as possible (I am still working on it though 😊) 5. Don't get tempted/distracted by the street racers and reckless riders around.. Just let them go slow down give them a substantial lead 6. Never get into one ways, wrong sides, prohibited turns left/right or U
Thank you so much! Great points! The level up from Point 1 is to be able to enforce a state of calm once you click into first gear no matter what your emotional state is 😊
I follow a simple strategy “that every other vehicle or person on the road is going to come and crash into me“ so now it is completely up to me to save myself from all of them.
General rule of thumb which has always worked for me be it driving or riding is to look not only the vehicle just ahead of you but atleast 3-4 vehicles beyond, this has saved me a couple of times when someone braked suddenly and I had that info well ahead in time, so I could brake in time without crashing into the vehicle in front to me. The other thing is to also make use of the rear view mirror and keep an eye on rear vehicles/traffic the same way, we have so many reckless drivers these days, keeping an eye on them and getting out of their line is a wonderful way to save yourself. Basically defense driving is what we require in India and unfortunately this is required these days, unfortunately because now a days most of the new drivers are not at all know how to drive on the road. Road for them seems to be a race track.
I've seen people remove their rear view mirrors ... when I asked the whyyy in the world you removed them... the reply I got was "It was not looking nice", "It was ruining the looks of the bike", etc ... I was like ... WTH did you just said 😧... #DumbPeople 🤦🏻♂️
Love that “1 emergency braking manoeuvre everyday “. I like to keep my brakes preloaded ever so slightly in anticipation of emergency braking. This would give an advantage in such a scenario. Also in every intersection, I anticipate that someone’s gonna cross from left or right. And every time I remind myself not to rush the commute and get in one piece to destination.
Having had two recent not so serious crashes after me riding a motorcycle after a hiatus of 10+ years, I loved everything on this video. Thank you very much.
I believe that 'Anticipation' is the most important trait for a driver, even more than the driving skills. In this congested urban world, full of idiots and flouted rules and norms, you can not survive by just doing the right things, but to know what are the wrong things that may come your way. For eg - Looking stratight and simply whizzing past a Green light is never a good idea as there is always an idiot who decides to jump the light and come crashing into us. Worst case, a dog or any other animal can jump right infront of you. So 'Anticipate' 'Anticipate' 'Anticipate'....
100% agree with you, another basic strategy that I've recently started following is ride a slow bike fast it gives you the thrill it's easy on the pocket and it's fun and safe. (Safer when compared to the big bikes and 40bhp machines) Self formulated: Slow bike fast rules 18bhp is all you need in life having 25 is a bonus, anything above is unnecessary for the city.
I know exactly what you mean ! however consider this that some of the bigger bikes come with excellent brakes, suspension, tyres which make them safer at say 100kmph then the lighter smaller counterparts. Also overtaking and getting out of high risk positions/areas is much faster on high powered bikes so you spend minimal time in high risk areas on the road. eg, a z900 at 100 will be easier to control then a pulsar at 100 IMO ...what are your thoughts ?
@@ShivanshuSJC I agree, I've ridden a few liter class bikes for me personally I can not resist opening up the throttle. Hahaha. But I guess we should all do what works best for us. Cheers
@@ShivanshuSJCwhat you've said is also true, but adding to the original comment i think that if a bike is less powerful then it would also prevent you to ride recklessly. a pulsar can be fun enough at 60-70 kmph, but a z900 since it has more power will feel very boring in those speeds, maybe you'll be in second gear at low rpm constantly, hence it will push you to speeds you're not comfortable doing
I have been riding motorcycles for 25 years now. Praise Our Lord God Valentino, I've never crashed and I intend to keep it that way. Sometimes I feel like I know everything that I need to know about riding safely but then I watch you gentlemen and am humbled. Thank you guys. Yours is the only desi motorcycle channel that I follow and watch. Good day.
I remember being 18 and rash driving in every road I went to. The only feeling I derived later was of embarrassment and guilt of having near-misses. Strategy I follow now is a warm heart and a clear cool mind in the everyday commute, where my Duke 200 is my buddy, with more than enough power and a manageable reasonable pace in every road condition I meet. For me its not about others looking at how good or how fast mine is, rather how good or how care-giving I could be to my machine and everyone on the road. Another great conversation Shumi, always a fan
I never miss the videos It’s not just about bikes but whenever I hear shumi speaking I get motivation for life I feel like shumi uses bike as metaphors sometimes when he wants to talk about life Amazing job You guys are doing great I have my exams coming up It’s really helps me to stay motivated thanks
Earlier i was always the guy starting a little late and trying to catch up by riding fast in city traffic. Starting on time or a bit early by considering commuting like any other work related task actually helped me! Lesser the stress, better the ride.
Superb Video filled with wisdom and very good points and replies overall in the discussion as well. To add a few: 1. Get a good night’s sleep if you are heading out on a long ride early morning next day. 2. Avoid highway hypnosis and also cramping by making sure to take a decent number of reasonably paced breaks while riding long (to stretch limbs, hydration, etc.)
What I have learned from my little experience (regarding the strategy for not crashing) is - Do not trust other drivers/riders on road that They will wait or make a reasonable decision of their maneuver, just do not trust or pre-assume. Better slow down when you feel like the other one is coming in your way than guessing.
I've been crashed 2 times in past 10 years, 1st one at Fresh Rain. & 2nd one at unfortunate accident ahead me & emergency braking didn't helped me(because of no practice). But as a pillion I've seen death waving at me 2 times..that changed my perspective & I've been riding with ATGATT since than & Not being a pillion with anyone. For City rides with moderate traffic letting others go first & having some extra patience worked for me. Mostly riding slow bikes at 60-70 kmph gives you much more Happiness. For highway (not over)speeding at empty patches & looking for junctions & maintaining 2-3 second gap worked for me with extra patience of letting pass 4-wheelers in Hurry gives you extra advantage.
Learnt new things and will implement it immediately. After few crash and falls what I have learnt the most is calm riding. Eventually I'll be there more or less the same time with less stress (me and on the machine) compared to the same earlier me when I used to ride hard like a lunatic and getting stressed and close calls. Same applies for highway but with higher speed. Calm and steady wins the ride 😊. Happy riding
1. In my 5 years of ridding experience what I think is going slow is dangerous it makes people tempt to over take you which could end up crashing. 2. Avoid riding along side by side other vehicles as much as possible. 3. I always look at rear view mirror atleast 2 times a minute, sometimes I do think its a bad idea. 4. If im going fast then im looking for people or other vehicles to cross me. 5. Try to avoid aggressive moves.
love the minimal modern feel that you have in your videos. This channel just came out of nowhere. just one year but looks like it is a matured channel. Good job Shumi and team!!.
As a guy involved in 5 crashes, my strategy that worked after the last crash so far was to 1. understand the centre of gravity of the bike and ride accordingly 2. Trust your instincts on how fast to go. As soon as I have the feeling of going overly fast I just dial it down. 3. Master braking. As a great knowledgeable man once said “speed doesn’t kill. Stopping does”. Master the art of stopping and maintaining a stable centre of gravity. 4. Make oneself comfortable to the fact that no one likes to follow the rules. So think ahead and plan well. These worked for me so far apart from wearing protective gear.
I've been riding in Indian traffic for 15 years and as a quick rider, these are my 10 rules to be safe and efficient: 1. Always read the road to the FARTHEST your eyes can see and anticipate speed/brakes as per that. 2. When you see the road with gravel/water, even though you have ABS, you should REDUCE SPEED. 3. Only accelerate when you see 50% your lane free from both to your left and to your right. Also in corners or in the places where you don't have 100% vision, DO NOT SPEED. Blind spots of bigger vehicles are to be analyzed. 4. When overtaking always leave ENOUGH GAP. No close calls. Also tap horn at least once when overtaking. I disagree when people say it's noise pollution. Because most of our Indian vehicles don't see rear view mirrors. 5. When you have a big vehicle within your radius of 10m or so, slow down no matter what and make sure you STEER AWAY as soon as possible in a slow manner. I feel like the more you are around big vehicles the more the chance of getting caught into a serious trouble. 6. Always have TWO FINGERS on your front brake even while accelerating. May be not while accelerating hard on 100% empty roads. 7. Always practice ABS THRESHOLD BRAKING. Meaning -> when you apply max squeezing pressure, you feel ABS kicking in, then release pressure slowly to some extent and then re-apply pressure. This is called threshold braking and this will make sure you apply 100% of your braking efficiently. Trust me, this is hard to learn and it is really an important life saving skill a rider should learn. 8. Always be in the RIGHT GEAR because sometimes the unnecessary shifts can reduce your reaction time to do some important maneuvers. 9. Always keep an eye on your REAR VIEW MIRRORS. Some maniacs drive past you very closely. You can catch it early and steer away from them. Always refrain showing road rage. 10. DO NOT DRIVE UNDER ALCOHOL INFLUENCE. This is deceptively bad. PS: Make sure you invest in protective gear, especially for your helmet (as per current rates, no less than 4k). Also make sure you check/clean brakes quite often.
One of my learnings from Bangalore traffic : Always ride predictably. Follow lanes, be consistent in ypur acts. Few minutes you save riding aggressively is not worth the extra minutes you get on couch when you spend it tired. As Karthik said in riding fast for safety video : Identify your mental safe zone. Faster or slower is risky.
I can truly say that, Shumi is that elder brother that never leaves. The amount of precision while being concise with his experience is just amazing. Every word he speaks, gets visualized immediately. And how can we forget, that how therapeutic it feels to hear someone of such caliber and knowledge... Great Vid as Always 🔥🔥🔥
This blew my mind bro! Really happy that you guys started this channel. I am learning a lot from you guys. I am a young rider (only 8 years on the saddle). My crash proof strategy so far has been a combination of: > Focus (trying to reach John Wick's level) + > Planned periodic maintenance of the motorcycle (when the bike's good, less chance of crash due to some failure) + > Riding gear (even when commuting no matter who makes fun of us at work) + > Riding the motorcycle as much and as frequently as possible + > Never taking any other vehicle or pedestrian on the road for granted even if it is a TVS moped (as calamities come in all shapes and sizes lol) + > Best road tyres I can afford for my motorcycle (no compromise on grip/traction) + > Avoiding food that will make one feel heavy or drowsy + > AHO (always headlight ON in low beam of course) + > And finally, praying to the ancestors (not for crash free rides, but to give me and my motorcycle the durability to survive whatever comes our way and keep riding). Like all crafts, motorcycling gets better, the more we do it wholeheartedly without distractions. And it's okay to be 10 minutes late than never reaching the destination.
For most of us who do 90% of their riding in cities/towns, the probability of crashing is surprisingly low as long as we ride with patience and sensibility. While having safety gear is good... If we ride like lunatics, no matter how technologically loaded and expensive our gear is, it won't save us. If I don't want to crash, I will ride with not just the responsibility of me being safe but also with respect for others on the road. And yes with a whole lot of patience to deal with the 'not so sensible' drivers/riders. Pointers that I like to keep in check; In city riding- Don't use your horn as a statement! Slow down/ Stop for a while if you witness rash/reckless riders/driver. Don't try to School anyone. Have the basic lane manners while turning. Rearview mirrors and turn indicators aren't just for decoration. USE THEM! On Highways/Long rides If you have to cover long distances, start as early morning as possible rather than starting late and then compensate with excessive speeding. Always keep a check at a minimum of 2-3 vehicles in front of you for giving yourself the reaction time needed to brake without panicking. Learn the different lane markings and their meanings. Never speed when crossing a town (even if the road is empty) Never overtake from the wrong side no matter how empty the road is. Don't ride with a dirty/scratched visor, even the smallest light flare can cause miscalculations. Lastly, regardless of where and what you are riding, always make sure that the vehicle is in proper condition mechanically as well as its documents and the tyres are good and well inflated.
This is a great video! I have been riding for almost a decade and have had few crashes but luckily I have always come out with minor injuries or damage. These are the things I do to minimize damage 1. ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) 2. Practice emergency braking every time you take the bike out. Ripping the throttle is easy but braking hard takes skills especially on non ABS bikes 3. Make sure to inspect the bike before every ride 4. Parking lot drills. Practice emergency braking, sharp U turns, body positioning 5. Avoid target fixation 6. Body position. Don't lean the bike as much and instead use body position to take corners without insane lean angle 7. Accept that you will fall. Once you do that, your brain will think about how to fall in a safe manner. 8. Most important thing - Ride within limits
Always consider what would be the hardest thing to react to that could realistically happen and ride accordingly. I worry about blind spots caused by large vehicles, people opening car doors on the main road and cars or trucks turning into my lane, people merging into the main road without checking, so I take those into account and give myself room and time to react to those things.
Great video Shumi & team! 11th February 2023, me and my friend thought of going on a road trip. I was the rider, and he was the pillion. The bike was RC 200. It was an outer ring road, and I was riding a bit aggressive and touched 140kmph - am a heavy ass guy (107 kg) including my friend (60-70 kg) and two back packs. The bike felt awesome and planted. I always have a good confidence when am riding bike and my friends felt the same too. What the turning point was, when there was a corner, and I was at a speed of around 90-100kmph. There was a group of people on the left most lane moving slowly in lower cc motorcycles. I was on the second lane cornering. An older guy in his Honda Dio overtook the one who was in front of him, without watching the side mirrors, coming into my lane. I crashed onto him. I was cornering and tried to break as hard as possible and still crashed at 60-70 kmph. I was thrown off the bike and landed on my front. My friend was thrown in front (Yeeted). The bike slid Infront. That old guy (60s) fell to his left side with minor injuries (Scratches on his shoulders and thighs). Both mine and my friend's dress were torn. I thank gods that nothing worse happened to my friend. I landed on my front (I was wearing the back on my front) and my friend landed on his back (He was wearing his bag on his back). He sustained some minor scratches and impacts, and I sustained a minor shoulder rotator cuff tear (Thankfully 90% recovered now) and deep depreciations at forearm and my lower abdomen (That extra fat round my belly to the rescue!). So, the single most important thing that single handedly saved both of us was - HELMET. I cannot stress enough on the fact that helmets are important, and it can save your life. We both were not wearing any riding gears - we both didn't had any means to own one and took it for granted and paid for it. So please people "*WEAR HELMET*" always. Without helmet never get on a motorcycle. If you are unable to buy riding gears, please avoid planning long trips on a motorcycle and better work towards buying proper riding gears (Which am currently doing) and then plan for long trips. Thankfully there were no heavy vehicles coming behind us at that time and the locals were generous and helped us to sit down and called an ambulance. "Please if you were to witness any road accidents, please, if possible, help them out. Call an ambulance if needed. Try to make them sit down and clear way for others." After treatment, the old man was good to go with a bandage. Both me and my friend had to take home rest for months. Sometimes, instances like these make us believe that there is something more powerful than us. As much as there was mistake on the old man, there was mistake on my part too. Remember you are responsible for everything that you do on the road. The mistakes that I made was: 1. Riding long without gear 2. Short sitedness (I remember having just a short field of view in front and not full - till the end of the road). 3. Over Speeding at the corners (wrong move at wrong place) 4. Going my 100% when am with a pillion. Lessons learnt: 1. Always wear a helmet. 2. Invest in good riding gears. 3. Always have a large field of view until the end of the road when on an highway. 4. Practice hard breaking as Shumi mentioned in this video (Must). 5. Never go your 100% when you are with a pillion. 6. Learn from your mistakes. P.s. Pardon my English, I'll learn.
Im done with bikes and Im switching to cars altogether.. I used to track my Triumph Daytona 675R, but it got evident to me that moving to the advanced levels, crashing was inevitable.. After seeing a few riders being taken away in stretchers, I decided that this is where my hobby ends.. Now, I'm tracking my 328i on autocross tracks in Detroit .. Not as much fun, but i do feel alot braver in pushing it 😐
Loved the video. I have had my fair share of crashes which have taught me the following: 1. Always wear your gear 2. Gears are not guaranteed to save you from serious injuries either, so don’t be a moron. 3. Be calm
I crashed my Fazer250 a few years back on a ride in the hills, it was a pretty bad crash and i fractured both my hands with now metal inserts in them. But somehow i did get back to riding and from that day till today i tried my bit everytime to improve every bit of me in riding. I ride the same motorcycle but somehow now i brake better (without abs)even on emergencies, i drive quicker and faster yet safer, became more proactive in anticipating traffic. Shumi's blind spot judging lesson helped a lot. So all in all, i would say its really upto us how we learn to be a better and safer rider. Try things and you will learn and unlock a lot about yourself. Thanks Shumi for this video.
I love this format, Keep doing this! A suggestion - let's have a segment where you talk about the habits and skills of a good rider. A discussion about things one must have or learn as a rider. I am all ears when you talk 😊
My strategy - look ahead. Anticipate all the idiotic behaviour on the road and try to stay clear. Don't go fast where you can't manoeuvre the bike, don't go slow where everyone is going fast.
I have two strategies. One is to have gear all the time no matter the distance i ride or is it a scooter or my motorcycle I ride. The other is to be conscious about the speed that I can ride on a given road. Sometimes my speed is a mere 20kmph on roads where I know that going a bit faster will increase the chance of a crash by 20%. I have been ridiculed for this a lot many times but i believe that it's good to be safe than to be sorry.
One simple thing to keep in mind is keep your ego aside when riding. You don't need to be quickest guy on the road. Please start second season of podcast.❤
I had a crash while I was going fast from a narrow lane and a dog suddenly came in front of me…from that day till now I look at every intersection on the road in front of me to be aware of any animals and vehicles…it definitely has increased my attention while riding!
Awesomely explained sir, my strategy to keep crash at bay (as much as possible) is to fix to my mind "everyone else except myself doesnt know to ride / can do wrong, so i have to be 200% cautious...........😀😀"
This is so TRUE. I am a 30 year old who has never ridden a bike. I have been exclusively a car guy the last 12 years. The only way to keep a crash or even a scrape at bay is to anticipate how stupidly can the other person on the road behave. PS - Planning to get my first bike very soon.
I am still a newbie when it comes to riding, with approx 12k kms of riding experience from , Vespa S 125 (first two wheeler), G310R (first bike), Himalayan 410 (Leh circuit) and newly bought VStrom 250 . I have had a minor accident on Vespa (while going to office), a couple of drops near parking and a close call in G310R. I love to ride with all gears but when I am commuting (to office and within the city) I only wear helmet, gloves and boots (on Fridays). I like to anticipate what’s ahead of me and use engine braking (along with blipping the throttle while downshifting) so as to have a gradual/non-abrupt deceleration and less usage of brakes, unless it’s really required. I think I also need to practice emergency braking now so as to make my subconscious mind aware of how to react when such a situation arises . As always thanks for the video Shumi 😊 PS - I consider myself quite an adept driver (with more than 18 years and 1.5 lac kms of experience in different parts of India) but have miles to go before I can call myself a confident rider.
Anticipation anticipation anticipation... I find it most effective to avoid crash. If you can anticipate crash in advance, you have a better chance of avoiding it. Also an advice you gave in a previous video "if you are feeling that you are going fast, you are probably going faster than your skill." not the exact words, but similar to this. Whenever i feel i am going fast, i get extra cautious.
One strategy that helps me a lot while on road (not exclusive to motorcycles, applies even when you are driving a car or just walking by as a pedestrian): Everyone else on the road, except myself, is nuts. This always keeps me in check and my anticipation instincts high!
As you mentioned, you knew how to break when there's an emergency and I totally agree that it is the most crucial skill one should possess while riding or driving. Once you know your vehicle and how it breaks, then and only then, you can speed accordingly. If you don't trust the breaking, don't increase the speed. I had watched a video few years back where a guy asks the other one, what is that one part/terminology of a vehicle that allows you to speed. And the other guy said, engine, horsepower, torque, accelerator, etc. But the answer to this question was "Brake", because if you know you have brakes and you can stop when you want, then only you will dare to speed. And I totally agree to this. And braking is not just a technology, it is a skill that one has to develop with the vehicle.
Hey Motorinc I have crashed my bicycle and omce a scooty, and manifested the fear internally that even tho I needed a scooty I didn't buy. I started yulu again on very busy road-Dwarka highway, CP etc etc, coupled with Metro,this served my purpose. Now I am in Mimbai, I booked Yamaha-ZR yesterday even tho I wanted to buy Aerox, I chosed to start slow and build my confidence. I hope to ride better, I love my travel. My fear had crippled my freedom! This was motivating! I have watched so many of your videos and shorts! Thank you for being awesome! 😊
I haven’t owned a motorcycle for a while now. But when I used to have one I was lucky enough to be someone who had taken a fall or two and nothing more serious than that. I think to avoid crashes it is important to be aware of the surroundings and acknowledge your limitations. Also, it helps if a rider respects the rules - no abrupt lane changes, no over speeding etc. I know it might sound boring but it has always helped me in keeping the rubber side down on the tarmac.
Good insight. As a rookie;riding a typical commuter bike, What i understoof myself was that one should put their egoes aside when you are on road.Never ever Road race with somone. Next thing is to follow traffic rules.They are there for a reason and are designed to make us safe. But most people think 'rules applicable only when police there'
I focus on vision, gripping the tank , smooth progressive application of the front brake, downshifting early so that the engine braking helps, and every time I perform an overtake no matter how clear the mirror appears , I always turn my head for a last moment check and it has saved me many many times... Long story short whenever I am riding I am always thinking about practicing a particular skill ..... I have this OCD that am not practicing enough. Watching Motojitsu Videos since 2019 has changed my approach towards riding... I am faster without trying to be , calmer, confident.
As a rider, I always practice defensive driving. I am aware that every road and bike has the potential for speed, and it's essential to evaluate our own abilities, regardless of the road or bike conditions. I appreciate your suggestion of practicing emergency braking, and I am determined to implement it from now on.
I always thought of getting a bike but was always afraid of falling.. i am still and i will not get a bike but the words spoken in the video were so insightful.. battle on everyday.. respect for riders..
@shumi, you're the enlightened one. one suggestion from my end, it's the awareness and be conscious on the road and making sure all of our senses are working optimally.
Don't remember where or when I started following this " its good to learn from our mistakes, but we also have to learn from other's mistakes too." And so far its been my strategy.
Giving space to others while driving and letting the people in hurry to go before you be absorbing your own ego is the biggest strategy that's worked for me. Keeping myself safe by not rushing unnecessarily has taken away 50% of problems on the road. Especially in Bangalore
Superb session on safety and basic hygiene needed for motorcycling. I try to over anticipate the surroundings during ride. My daily commute is 40 km on highway and city traffic from baner to TML plant. Every day is learning. Not relying on traffic to make right decisions helps. Keep excess distance from everyone. Avoid the urge to overtake in narrow passage between cars. The last minute home sickness? The confidence of breaking rules in 'My area'? Dont have ego. Care for others on the road by letting them have some space.
My Strategy - Knowing what's my limit(not everyone can do similar speed & have 100% control), knowing what's doable on a certain road/area(at times speed limit marked on a road at particular time of the day is NOT doable...), never get intimidated by other vehicles(specially the bigger one) and lastly if you dont feel well enough physically just take the car..... Had quite a few bad falls in my 20s but I am now more calmer & careful rider. Unfortunately i cant understand why everybody else in our country are always in a hurry when on a 2 wheeler...
I can relate wholeheartedly with the part starting at 3:15 . Foolishly decided to skip the helmet to got the market 10 mins away and boom, two finger mouth opening for a month. I am always thankful that it wasn't anything serious, but it could've been A LOT more serious.
For Daily Commute to office I have marked points on roads as Accident Prone Zones and alternate paths. In decades of riding , I have managed to remember almost entire city of Kolkata are surroundings that way. I believe my strategy worked for me. I have avoided serious crashes but still got many minor hits here and there. But finally I have upgraded commute to a tiny car.
Had a crash or two but not a major one. Had many near miss. My major strategy to avoid any type of crash is to always mind the blind spots. If I can't see behind an obstacle, I always assume there will be the most dangerous surprise. So my mind is already prepared to act quickly. After doing this for for some time willingly, it became the second nature. And always were a full face helmet. Both time I have been saved for that. Happy riding.
Good video I myself crashed on all motorbikes I owned till now learned these lessons in hard way. never ride fast in town & do not indulge in street race. always ride in defensive way.
I ride my bike very simple, according to me the road surface plays a key role in riding like wet,dry, slightly mud surfaces, cement road etc, i will ride my motorcycle according to road condition and one of the thumb rule i follow is visibility of front vehicles and the last one is my way combi breaking experience from day 1 of riding motorcycle and continue to learn new things from the experts like u people from TH-cam ❤.
I had a recent scooter crash in which i had to apply emergency breaks. It's been 5 months now since that crash, I have one major injury for which i will have to go through a procedure after which i can get back to normalcy. I am still working on the thing where i will have to get back to the two wheeler but there is this cautious feeling inside which has developed recently. And now i will prefer to ride it for general purpose than for the thrill feeling. All said, this crash has humbled me down. What Shumi said resonated with me as well and helped in a way to understand that the crash should never be the part of riding but all you can do is prepare yourself to prevent from it as it is highly likely that it may happen.
Apart from safety gears, I would like to highlight the most ignored factor which is Ergonomics. A bike from factory is like a plain fabric from the textiles. We have to tailor it to our needs. 1. Suspension Pre load 2. Gear lever position 3. Handle bar position 4. Brake/clutch levers These may sound silly, but these will aid you get the most out of the motorcycle for your setup.If the setup is right, you are always quick,responsive and you know your setup better which is confidence inspiring. Always the Setup should be ahead of your skill. If your skill goes high, your setup goes down. Then comes the upgrade part ! It’s all a learning curve fellow riders. This is my view with 17 years of riding experience.
I have always felt that Before Sunrise is a philosophical film masquerading as a romantic one. Similarly, MotorInc feels like a philosophical channel masquerading as a motor review one.
Having a fresh and meditative mind. Not always wanting to consider all other vehicles as my opponents . Enjoying the ride rather than achieving speed Just few mindset to avoid crash 😊
Ohh man, what a video. Time stamp 5:25 , when Shumi started stating that I am a rider who is trying to get home safe .sharing my experience and decision matters. True said, Well Said. This Fan signing off.
Many people see only till where they will be going after 5-10 seconds in a straight line My best strategy is to look that search for vehicles that may be coming to your way rather than looking onto your path in a straight line Constantly moving your eyes slight left & right has helped me a lot
True.... My Dad always said.... Unless you fail.... Or in this case Fall you won't be serious about learning. And it was some what correct. After many a fall and some were just outright embarrassing I understood one thing.... The fault is not always yours ...but the rider has to be blamed always. So ride safe, with proper gear and follow traffic rules. Thank you Shumi for your insights 🙏
Few months back I also fell down on a two wheeler which was a kind of lesson for me. My bike doesn't have an ABS and the back wheels are getting locked sometimes. When I fell down I got the motivation and I started applying breaks perfectly i.e.., 70% front break and 30% back break. The wheels are not getting locked anymore.
My strategies are - 1. Maintain your speed as per the road conditions . 2. You should always know where there is potholes and speed breaker are situated. 3. Never ride with emotions . Its best to Stay away from road rages . 4. Try progressive breaking to avoid panic breaking situation. 5 . Use your horn and reduce your speed in populated area . 6 . Ride in the middle of your lane because during sudden changes of lanes of front vehicle you have two sides to move to avoid collision. 7 . Always honk and use your high beam during overtaking , if your front vehicle is accelerating his speed never try to overtake let him come to his cruising speed then you should overtake . 8. Always wear proper rinding gear .
I apply LOOK strategy 😊 L = Look (after your yourself and your machine O= Over confidence (is bad) O= Observe (your surrounding and other motorists while riding) K= Knowledge (to understand your limit and your machine's limit)
I recently came into motorcycle riding. Was used to riding cars. I think some of the knowledge I gained can be helpful to many. 1. Always keep your vehicle well maintained (brake lights, indicators, headlights, ABS, etc.). These can be really helpful not just for you but also others to make good decisions based on your vehicle movement. 2. Low beam in city or when passing by can also be helpful. Even if you are calm, it will irritate others and they might sometimes not see you and come directly onto you. 3. Cars have good braking than bikes. Near speed breakers and etc. cars tend to brake fast while bikes take some time. So, always watch out for those and keep good distance and within limits of braking. 4. Watching not just front for long distance, but rear as well and estimate how to avoid dangers from behind. 5. Know what speed to go where. Even if it’s an empty road like village, people tend to suddenly appear from nowhere and come all the way from left far to the divider opening. 5. Dangers on bike are far greater than car as you are completely exposed and don’t have the shell to protect you. So, be extra careful. 6. Know where you will be visible to a car or a bigger vehicle driver and let them know in advance if you are overtaking them. There is a lot of blind spot for car (especially on the left) and in seconds they will feel like magic happened and the bike came from no where and sometimes might lead to accidents. 7. Properly use the indicators, headlights and hazard lamps and keep them in check as it might lead to others think you are going the other way. 8. Even when you are slow, and there is a traffic coming in, try to slightly brake so that brake light is lit and people behind will know to slowdown. 9. Never ever jump a traffic signal and try to stop before stop line. This reduces risk of others hitting us. 10. I had sometimes been aggressive due to others on road and had my car through tough times. It was car and I was fine, this shouldn’t and can’t be seen when riding motorcycle. Your anger/ego is your enemy. There are a few more things that I can write about, but doesn’t come to writing right away. All I could say is a bit of common sense and knowledge of surroundings can majorly save us from accidents.
I agree 100 percent that I had to emergency break everyday on deserted road or "seemingly deserted road". I feel like I am anticipating all the mistakes the vehicles in my line of sight can make and be prepared for it. I am always on my guard.
Great topic to discuss. I, also felt for 4-5 times in my 12 years of bike riding with different bikes & different situations. I personally feel it’s not the reason how you r riding, majority of the time it’s how others are riding surrounds you. Whether on bike, car, by-cycle, auto, riksha etc even walking. You have to focus on them, if you don’t want to fall.
I purchased a Honda Hness recentlyy, it was my first ever motorcycle. Within a month, I had slipped and crashed it by applying the front brakes while driving down a granite ramp. This devastated my confidence and I was thoroughly afraid to sit on the bike again. But slowly, after I started riding it again post repairs, I have the confidence back up. I now know not touse front brakes on slippery surfaces, and to avoid gravel/oil/watery surfaces if possible.
My strategies are
1. If I derive thrill, I'm faster than required. Be extra careful..
2. Full open throttle only if I can see the road entirely. Not in corners, not in traffic lights and not when a lot of cars are around.
3. Stay alone and away from traffic as much as possible. This way I'm not prone to mistakes made by someone else.
4. Watch not the car in front of you, but the car that you can see the farthest ahead of you. Look through the windows of car in front of you to see this. If you react to the car in front of you, you might not have enough time.
5. The moment I'm not able to see the road, I don't accelerate and put two fingers on the front brake. The reaction time, in case anything goes wrong, will be faster.
6. Divide the lane you are riding into four lines. 0 percent, 25, 50 and 75. Starting from your left. Always ride in 50 percent line of your lane. Only move to 25 when a big vehicle is overtaking you. In other cases you wont be taken seriously. When taking a right corner, go 25. Because between 0 and 25 there will be mud and slippery sand and it will wash you out. Go 50 or 75 you are prone to being hit by a big truck or a bus since their turning radius are so high.
When taking a left corner, go 50. Because you have less vision of whats coming through the corner. There may be a car parked on 25 or a person walking. Here you can go wide as the buses will not hit you since their extra length is now on the other side.
7. Get your speed down to 40 whenever you see a town. Even if it is empty.
8. Honk everytime you sense danger.
9. Know the limits of your motorcycle and stay within those limits. Try breaking hard, remember the distance and stay in your limits.
That's a very thorough plan! Well done, Anand!
👍very detailed analysis. The 4th one is crucial
👏👏Superb. I would add
1. Learn to relax using conscious attention/ mindfullness. Especially relax the shoulders, arms, and grip. A tense body slows down reflexes.
2.Scan the road, do not fixate on tunnel vision, nor peripheral vision. Look far, midway, near, and left and right with the eyes only. Use your conscious brain to register potential dangers, obstacles, skid zones, etc. Also look out for dogs/deer/etc. emerging from the sides of the road.
Smart👍
totally loved your analysis 🙌👍🏼
One behaviour that has saved me from crashing on several occasions: Do not compete. Let the other guy through.
It will be nice to have a video where you and Karthik talk about your bikes, your riding journey, gears you had and how you upgraded with time. I'm sure people will learn a lot from that.
Thanks for the suggestion! Let's see what we can do!
@@motorinc kindly pin it as top priority
Waiting for it…
Yes I will definitely find this useful.
@@motorinc looking forward. That will be awesome. Thanks.
Someone once told me. Everyone who rides a motorcycle has 2 pots. A pot of luck, and a pot of experience. You start with a pot full of luck and an empty pot of experience. Your objective is to fill your pot of experience before your pot of luck runs out. Ride safe.
Some of my crashproof strategies are
1. Never show your emotions through riding. Eagerness, Anger, Happiness, etc. That bike riding itself is an emotion. Don't Mix it with anything else.
2. Always expect bad riders everywhere.
3. Don't make haste if you missed a turn.
4. Follow traffic rules and expect others not to.
PS:- Yet I have crashed many times, once so badly hurt , couldn't walk for 6 months with no fault on my side (I was waiting for the traffic to move)(expect bad riders everywhere).
Point 1! Spot on!
👏👏👍
Whenever I ride very cautiously, I end up not riding my best or even losing my focus a bit. But whenever I ride normally at the speed which I am used to , I always end up with my best ride.
I got into a crash a month ago due to exhaution on a rainy day, because of bad breaking on my part.
In the words of Modern Family’s Phil Dunphy, ‘Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.’. That’s been my usual strategy for avoiding crashes in cities. Paid off so far!
🤜🏽🤛🏽
Shumi is like an elder bro or uncle trying to prevent people like me from doing silly things by teaching the insights he got from his experience & it's absolutely awesome.
I'm a young rider with a licence to drive a gearless vehicle but still this insight is like yeah that's reasonable the reward & consequences come with the licence & I'm the one responsible 💯
We're so so thrilled we're helping! Thanks Falak!
Some great points mentioned here. Adding a couple more that helped me many a times.
1. If it's a regular commute like office to home, remember the road (where potholes are, where's sand etc.) for a smooth ride, but always keep in mind that a memorized road is prone to surprises when something changes. So, don't take your eyes off the road just because you know it well.
2. When riding behind a 4 wheeler, always follow at one of it's sides and not at the middle/center. 4 wheelers avoid potholes and debris by driving over them between it's wheels.
Good Points, and to add to the second one, when there's any sort of oil leak it will definitely come out from the middle of those 4 wheelers, or they would use the same mindset of avoiding any pre-existing oil on the road so if you follow in the middle you also have a high chance of slipping and skidding, you never know, so always pick a side.
And if overtake is not allowed as per the street lines, you best be on the safer side.
A wise man once told me-
" you will find fast riders, you will find old riders, but you will never find fast old riders"
Been riding bikes for almost a decade now, have just had one crash and I intend to keep it that way.
And more power and luck to you Manas!
There are old sellswords, there are bold sellswords, but there are no old bold sellswords.
-brown, in “a song of ice and fire”
@@dushyantk95 thats more like it. Lot of old and fast all around the world. May be he should have written rash instead of fast. Rash is not the same as fast. One can be fast and safe but not rash and safe.
@@hari4406 Driving faster than the speed limit is breaking the law, and breaking the law constitutes rash driving. Therefore, exceeding the speed limit is not only illegal but also endangers everyone on the road. Let’s drive responsibly and respect traffic rules to ensure safety for all.
@@adityadubey177 rash riding or driving is entirely different. You can go very slow and within speed limits and still be a rash driver/rider. Similarly you can go fast and sometimes even break speed limits but without endangering anyone, without giving heartattacks. Its a big difference between either rash, fast or doing rash and fast at the same time. Rash drivers/riders are typically called chapri.
As someone who rode a bicycle to work and home for decades in cities that were borderline oblivious to riders, the "I need to focus on getting there in one piece" logic really payed dividends. I am dirt bike rider who is going to, late in life, start riding motorcycles on congested roads. My training and preparation is partially going to rely on the bicycle rides that sharpened my senses, augmented with new skills and heavy focus on "environmental awareness". One thing for sure, when I finish the day and get on bike (pedal or power), I re-focus on the environment, and by the time I am home, the workdays' malaise is gone. Washed out by the concentration. End result almost feels like an out of body 360 degree aware meditation. Cleansing.
PS Great channel, some of the most eloquent videos and conversations. Aces!
Yes! That is so so true, Stephane! The 100% concentration is like meditation!
With every crash I have only improved and I was fortunate enough to face only minor crashes.
Glad you're okay and riding Zeeshan!
Every crash is a costly lesson it can only make you stronger if you take it in a right way
Guess who’s watching this after a serious crash
After two accidents...🙇🥀
I don't know how to ride a bike and I don't have bike 😅
Just had a crash.
Me
Take Precautions...speed and preventative maintenance...🙋🏾♂️
Are my safety lessons after only 2 accidents in my life...
1) at age of 25 in Bajaj Chetak 🛵
2) at age of 50 in Suzuki Access 🛵
With parking hazels and petrol prices..
Best option to ride a scooter to Metro Park and Ride.
My top most factor is ‘ability to see 30 feet ahead’ and sense all elements in it - Vehicles, gaps, people, driving behaviors, upcoming signals, opposite side traffic and traffic in rear view mirrors - all this as a one scene in a pulsating manner. The moment, I loose it, I am exposed.
Can we make a suggestion? Instead of 30 feet ahead, think of it as three or four seconds head. That'll give you the range you need no matter what speed you're going.
but what will happen when suddenly calf enters into the road on a blind corner!
which was happened with me(had full riding gears) and i managed to escape without hitting it. one moment my and fellow rider's heart came to mouth.
after that I ride slow at blind corners.
Seeing behind equally important.
We would love shumi's stories his crashes, his first 200kmph, his best rides
Hmmm.. Let's see what we can do!
One important temptation that I have overcome is "OVERTAKING". Never overtake if ROad is not visible and never overtake on curvy roads. Limiting speeds and avoiding night rides.
First of all a brilliant video there. 😊
1. I would say never ever ride out if you are not at mental peace.. And if you lose patience because any reason during your ride, just stop have a snack or a coffee or whatever and cool off before you get back on.
2. Skill up. Improve your skills on braking, handling, sailing through chaotic stop and go traffic, wet conditions
3. Know your bike understand it's pulling & braking power, responses at various conditions
4. Be as patient as possible (I am still working on it though 😊)
5. Don't get tempted/distracted by the street racers and reckless riders around.. Just let them go slow down give them a substantial lead
6. Never get into one ways, wrong sides, prohibited turns left/right or U
Thank you so much! Great points! The level up from Point 1 is to be able to enforce a state of calm once you click into first gear no matter what your emotional state is 😊
I follow a simple strategy “that every other vehicle or person on the road is going to come and crash into me“ so now it is completely up to me to save myself from all of them.
General rule of thumb which has always worked for me be it driving or riding is to look not only the vehicle just ahead of you but atleast 3-4 vehicles beyond, this has saved me a couple of times when someone braked suddenly and I had that info well ahead in time, so I could brake in time without crashing into the vehicle in front to me. The other thing is to also make use of the rear view mirror and keep an eye on rear vehicles/traffic the same way, we have so many reckless drivers these days, keeping an eye on them and getting out of their line is a wonderful way to save yourself. Basically defense driving is what we require in India and unfortunately this is required these days, unfortunately because now a days most of the new drivers are not at all know how to drive on the road. Road for them seems to be a race track.
Absolutely! Seeing a few vehicles ahead is a great strategy! Good going Sahil!
I've seen people remove their rear view mirrors ... when I asked the whyyy in the world you removed them... the reply I got was "It was not looking nice", "It was ruining the looks of the bike", etc ... I was like ... WTH did you just said 😧...
#DumbPeople 🤦🏻♂️
Love that “1 emergency braking manoeuvre everyday “. I like to keep my brakes preloaded ever so slightly in anticipation of emergency braking. This would give an advantage in such a scenario. Also in every intersection, I anticipate that someone’s gonna cross from left or right. And every time I remind myself not to rush the commute and get in one piece to destination.
Don't overestimate your skills on roads. You can't control how other people ride/drive. Just move on with life. Nobody benefits from road rage.
Having had two recent not so serious crashes after me riding a motorcycle after a hiatus of 10+ years, I loved everything on this video. Thank you very much.
I believe that 'Anticipation' is the most important trait for a driver, even more than the driving skills. In this congested urban world, full of idiots and flouted rules and norms, you can not survive by just doing the right things, but to know what are the wrong things that may come your way. For eg - Looking stratight and simply whizzing past a Green light is never a good idea as there is always an idiot who decides to jump the light and come crashing into us. Worst case, a dog or any other animal can jump right infront of you. So 'Anticipate' 'Anticipate' 'Anticipate'....
Absolutely! Anticipation is a key, key element in remaining safe!
100% agree with you, another basic strategy that I've recently started following is ride a slow bike fast it gives you the thrill it's easy on the pocket and it's fun and safe. (Safer when compared to the big bikes and 40bhp machines)
Self formulated: Slow bike fast rules 18bhp is all you need in life having 25 is a bonus, anything above is unnecessary for the city.
I know exactly what you mean ! however consider this that some of the bigger bikes come with excellent brakes, suspension, tyres which make them safer at say 100kmph then the lighter smaller counterparts. Also overtaking and getting out of high risk positions/areas is much faster on high powered bikes so you spend minimal time in high risk areas on the road. eg, a z900 at 100 will be easier to control then a pulsar at 100 IMO ...what are your thoughts ?
Good to have your perspective!
We agree. Having better equipment can help. Having the ability to travel faster (which implies more skill) also helps you do better at slower speeds
@@ShivanshuSJC I agree, I've ridden a few liter class bikes for me personally I can not resist opening up the throttle. Hahaha. But I guess we should all do what works best for us. Cheers
@@ShivanshuSJCwhat you've said is also true, but adding to the original comment i think that if a bike is less powerful then it would also prevent you to ride recklessly. a pulsar can be fun enough at 60-70 kmph, but a z900 since it has more power will feel very boring in those speeds, maybe you'll be in second gear at low rpm constantly, hence it will push you to speeds you're not comfortable doing
I have been riding motorcycles for 25 years now. Praise Our Lord God Valentino, I've never crashed and I intend to keep it that way. Sometimes I feel like I know everything that I need to know about riding safely but then I watch you gentlemen and am humbled. Thank you guys. Yours is the only desi motorcycle channel that I follow and watch. Good day.
I remember being 18 and rash driving in every road I went to. The only feeling I derived later was of embarrassment and guilt of having near-misses.
Strategy I follow now is a warm heart and a clear cool mind in the everyday commute, where my Duke 200 is my buddy, with more than enough power and a manageable reasonable pace in every road condition I meet.
For me its not about others looking at how good or how fast mine is, rather how good or how care-giving I could be to my machine and everyone on the road.
Another great conversation Shumi, always a fan
The more I’ve ridden and got closer to a crash
I’ve learnt to control my bike and myself better
That’s been my way of avoiding a crash
Yes! The more you ride, the better you get!
I never miss the videos
It’s not just about bikes but whenever I hear shumi speaking I get motivation for life
I feel like shumi uses bike as metaphors sometimes when he wants to talk about life
Amazing job
You guys are doing great
I have my exams coming up
It’s really helps me to stay motivated thanks
Thank you Saurav! Best of luck!
Earlier i was always the guy starting a little late and trying to catch up by riding fast in city traffic. Starting on time or a bit early by considering commuting like any other work related task actually helped me! Lesser the stress, better the ride.
Superb Video filled with wisdom and very good points and replies overall in the discussion as well.
To add a few:
1. Get a good night’s sleep if you are heading out on a long ride early morning next day.
2. Avoid highway hypnosis and also cramping by making sure to take a decent number of reasonably paced breaks while riding long (to stretch limbs, hydration, etc.)
What I have learned from my little experience (regarding the strategy for not crashing) is - Do not trust other drivers/riders on road that They will wait or make a reasonable decision of their maneuver, just do not trust or pre-assume. Better slow down when you feel like the other one is coming in your way than guessing.
I've been crashed 2 times in past 10 years, 1st one at Fresh Rain. & 2nd one at unfortunate accident ahead me & emergency braking didn't helped me(because of no practice). But as a pillion I've seen death waving at me 2 times..that changed my perspective & I've been riding with ATGATT since than & Not being a pillion with anyone.
For City rides with moderate traffic letting others go first & having some extra patience worked for me.
Mostly riding slow bikes at 60-70 kmph gives you much more Happiness.
For highway (not over)speeding at empty patches & looking for junctions & maintaining 2-3 second gap worked for me with extra patience of letting pass 4-wheelers in Hurry gives you extra advantage.
Great points! Thank you!
Learnt new things and will implement it immediately. After few crash and falls what I have learnt the most is calm riding. Eventually I'll be there more or less the same time with less stress (me and on the machine) compared to the same earlier me when I used to ride hard like a lunatic and getting stressed and close calls. Same applies for highway but with higher speed. Calm and steady wins the ride 😊. Happy riding
1. In my 5 years of ridding experience what I think is going slow is dangerous it makes people tempt to over take you which could end up crashing.
2. Avoid riding along side by side other vehicles as much as possible.
3. I always look at rear view mirror atleast 2 times a minute, sometimes I do think its a bad idea.
4. If im going fast then im looking for people or other vehicles to cross me.
5. Try to avoid aggressive moves.
love the minimal modern feel that you have in your videos. This channel just came out of nowhere. just one year but looks like it is a matured channel. Good job Shumi and team!!.
Thank you Draco! Glad you're enjoying the MotorInc experience!
As a guy involved in 5 crashes, my strategy that worked after the last crash so far was to
1. understand the centre of gravity of the bike and ride accordingly
2. Trust your instincts on how fast to go. As soon as I have the feeling of going overly fast I just dial it down.
3. Master braking. As a great knowledgeable man once said “speed doesn’t kill. Stopping does”. Master the art of stopping and maintaining a stable centre of gravity.
4. Make oneself comfortable to the fact that no one likes to follow the rules. So think ahead and plan well.
These worked for me so far apart from wearing protective gear.
I've been riding in Indian traffic for 15 years and as a quick rider, these are my 10 rules to be safe and efficient:
1. Always read the road to the FARTHEST your eyes can see and anticipate speed/brakes as per that.
2. When you see the road with gravel/water, even though you have ABS, you should REDUCE SPEED.
3. Only accelerate when you see 50% your lane free from both to your left and to your right. Also in corners or in the places where you don't have 100% vision, DO NOT SPEED. Blind spots of bigger vehicles are to be analyzed.
4. When overtaking always leave ENOUGH GAP. No close calls. Also tap horn at least once when overtaking. I disagree when people say it's noise pollution. Because most of our Indian vehicles don't see rear view mirrors.
5. When you have a big vehicle within your radius of 10m or so, slow down no matter what and make sure you STEER AWAY as soon as possible in a slow manner. I feel like the more you are around big vehicles the more the chance of getting caught into a serious trouble.
6. Always have TWO FINGERS on your front brake even while accelerating. May be not while accelerating hard on 100% empty roads.
7. Always practice ABS THRESHOLD BRAKING. Meaning -> when you apply max squeezing pressure, you feel ABS kicking in, then release pressure slowly to some extent and then re-apply pressure. This is called threshold braking and this will make sure you apply 100% of your braking efficiently. Trust me, this is hard to learn and it is really an important life saving skill a rider should learn.
8. Always be in the RIGHT GEAR because sometimes the unnecessary shifts can reduce your reaction time to do some important maneuvers.
9. Always keep an eye on your REAR VIEW MIRRORS. Some maniacs drive past you very closely. You can catch it early and steer away from them. Always refrain showing road rage.
10. DO NOT DRIVE UNDER ALCOHOL INFLUENCE. This is deceptively bad.
PS: Make sure you invest in protective gear, especially for your helmet (as per current rates, no less than 4k). Also make sure you check/clean brakes quite often.
One of my learnings from Bangalore traffic :
Always ride predictably. Follow lanes, be consistent in ypur acts.
Few minutes you save riding aggressively is not worth the extra minutes you get on couch when you spend it tired.
As Karthik said in riding fast for safety video : Identify your mental safe zone. Faster or slower is risky.
Forget about biking, listening to this channel makes you calm, improves English, and let you express which is hidden inside
I can truly say that, Shumi is that elder brother that never leaves. The amount of precision while being concise with his experience is just amazing. Every word he speaks, gets visualized immediately. And how can we forget, that how therapeutic it feels to hear someone of such caliber and knowledge... Great Vid as Always 🔥🔥🔥
What!!! Shumi is 50?? Dude, absolutely no words for how much you work on yourself, Shumi.
This blew my mind bro! Really happy that you guys started this channel. I am learning a lot from you guys.
I am a young rider (only 8 years on the saddle). My crash proof strategy so far has been a combination of:
> Focus (trying to reach John Wick's level) +
> Planned periodic maintenance of the motorcycle (when the bike's good, less chance of crash due to some failure) +
> Riding gear (even when commuting no matter who makes fun of us at work) +
> Riding the motorcycle as much and as frequently as possible +
> Never taking any other vehicle or pedestrian on the road for granted even if it is a TVS moped (as calamities come in all shapes and sizes lol) +
> Best road tyres I can afford for my motorcycle (no compromise on grip/traction) +
> Avoiding food that will make one feel heavy or drowsy +
> AHO (always headlight ON in low beam of course) +
> And finally, praying to the ancestors (not for crash free rides, but to give me and my motorcycle the durability to survive whatever comes our way and keep riding).
Like all crafts, motorcycling gets better, the more we do it wholeheartedly without distractions. And it's okay to be 10 minutes late than never reaching the destination.
For most of us who do 90% of their riding in cities/towns, the probability of crashing is surprisingly low as long as we ride with patience and sensibility. While having safety gear is good... If we ride like lunatics, no matter how technologically loaded and expensive our gear is, it won't save us. If I don't want to crash, I will ride with not just the responsibility of me being safe but also with respect for others on the road. And yes with a whole lot of patience to deal with the 'not so sensible' drivers/riders.
Pointers that I like to keep in check;
In city riding-
Don't use your horn as a statement!
Slow down/ Stop for a while if you witness rash/reckless riders/driver.
Don't try to School anyone.
Have the basic lane manners while turning.
Rearview mirrors and turn indicators aren't just for decoration. USE THEM!
On Highways/Long rides
If you have to cover long distances, start as early morning as possible rather than starting late and then compensate with excessive speeding.
Always keep a check at a minimum of 2-3 vehicles in front of you for giving yourself the reaction time needed to brake without panicking.
Learn the different lane markings and their meanings.
Never speed when crossing a town (even if the road is empty)
Never overtake from the wrong side no matter how empty the road is.
Don't ride with a dirty/scratched visor, even the smallest light flare can cause miscalculations.
Lastly, regardless of where and what you are riding, always make sure that the vehicle is in proper condition mechanically as well as its documents and the tyres are good and well inflated.
That's a great list! Thanks JB!
This is a great video! I have been riding for almost a decade and have had few crashes but luckily I have always come out with minor injuries or damage. These are the things I do to minimize damage
1. ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time)
2. Practice emergency braking every time you take the bike out. Ripping the throttle is easy but braking hard takes skills especially on non ABS bikes
3. Make sure to inspect the bike before every ride
4. Parking lot drills. Practice emergency braking, sharp U turns, body positioning
5. Avoid target fixation
6. Body position. Don't lean the bike as much and instead use body position to take corners without insane lean angle
7. Accept that you will fall. Once you do that, your brain will think about how to fall in a safe manner.
8. Most important thing - Ride within limits
Always consider what would be the hardest thing to react to that could realistically happen and ride accordingly. I worry about blind spots caused by large vehicles, people opening car doors on the main road and cars or trucks turning into my lane, people merging into the main road without checking, so I take those into account and give myself room and time to react to those things.
Great video Shumi & team!
11th February 2023, me and my friend thought of going on a road trip. I was the rider, and he was the pillion. The bike was RC 200. It was an outer ring road, and I was riding a bit aggressive and touched 140kmph - am a heavy ass guy (107 kg) including my friend (60-70 kg) and two back packs. The bike felt awesome and planted. I always have a good confidence when am riding bike and my friends felt the same too.
What the turning point was, when there was a corner, and I was at a speed of around 90-100kmph. There was a group of people on the left most lane moving slowly in lower cc motorcycles. I was on the second lane cornering. An older guy in his Honda Dio overtook the one who was in front of him, without watching the side mirrors, coming into my lane. I crashed onto him.
I was cornering and tried to break as hard as possible and still crashed at 60-70 kmph. I was thrown off the bike and landed on my front. My friend was thrown in front (Yeeted). The bike slid Infront. That old guy (60s) fell to his left side with minor injuries (Scratches on his shoulders and thighs). Both mine and my friend's dress were torn. I thank gods that nothing worse happened to my friend. I landed on my front (I was wearing the back on my front) and my friend landed on his back (He was wearing his bag on his back). He sustained some minor scratches and impacts, and I sustained a minor shoulder rotator cuff tear (Thankfully 90% recovered now) and deep depreciations at forearm and my lower abdomen (That extra fat round my belly to the rescue!).
So, the single most important thing that single handedly saved both of us was - HELMET. I cannot stress enough on the fact that helmets are important, and it can save your life. We both were not wearing any riding gears - we both didn't had any means to own one and took it for granted and paid for it. So please people "*WEAR HELMET*" always. Without helmet never get on a motorcycle. If you are unable to buy riding gears, please avoid planning long trips on a motorcycle and better work towards buying proper riding gears (Which am currently doing) and then plan for long trips.
Thankfully there were no heavy vehicles coming behind us at that time and the locals were generous and helped us to sit down and called an ambulance. "Please if you were to witness any road accidents, please, if possible, help them out. Call an ambulance if needed. Try to make them sit down and clear way for others." After treatment, the old man was good to go with a bandage. Both me and my friend had to take home rest for months. Sometimes, instances like these make us believe that there is something more powerful than us.
As much as there was mistake on the old man, there was mistake on my part too. Remember you are responsible for everything that you do on the road. The mistakes that I made was:
1. Riding long without gear
2. Short sitedness (I remember having just a short field of view in front and not full - till the end of the road).
3. Over Speeding at the corners (wrong move at wrong place)
4. Going my 100% when am with a pillion.
Lessons learnt:
1. Always wear a helmet.
2. Invest in good riding gears.
3. Always have a large field of view until the end of the road when on an highway.
4. Practice hard breaking as Shumi mentioned in this video (Must).
5. Never go your 100% when you are with a pillion.
6. Learn from your mistakes.
P.s. Pardon my English, I'll learn.
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Im done with bikes and Im switching to cars altogether..
I used to track my Triumph Daytona 675R, but it got evident to me that moving to the advanced levels, crashing was inevitable..
After seeing a few riders being taken away in stretchers, I decided that this is where my hobby ends..
Now, I'm tracking my 328i on autocross tracks in Detroit ..
Not as much fun, but i do feel alot braver in pushing it 😐
Knowing when to quit is a great crash proofing strategy for sure! Well played Madmax! Glad you're having fun with a car now!
@@motorinc Recently went on a track day in Tesla Model S Plaid .. and now I know what I want next 😅
Oooh! That must have been Ludicrous!
Loved the video. I have had my fair share of crashes which have taught me the following:
1. Always wear your gear
2. Gears are not guaranteed to save you from serious injuries either, so don’t be a moron.
3. Be calm
I crashed my Fazer250 a few years back on a ride in the hills, it was a pretty bad crash and i fractured both my hands with now metal inserts in them. But somehow i did get back to riding and from that day till today i tried my bit everytime to improve every bit of me in riding. I ride the same motorcycle but somehow now i brake better (without abs)even on emergencies, i drive quicker and faster yet safer, became more proactive in anticipating traffic. Shumi's blind spot judging lesson helped a lot. So all in all, i would say its really upto us how we learn to be a better and safer rider. Try things and you will learn and unlock a lot about yourself. Thanks Shumi for this video.
I love this format, Keep doing this!
A suggestion - let's have a segment where you talk about the habits and skills of a good rider. A discussion about things one must have or learn as a rider.
I am all ears when you talk 😊
My strategy - look ahead. Anticipate all the idiotic behaviour on the road and try to stay clear. Don't go fast where you can't manoeuvre the bike, don't go slow where everyone is going fast.
I have two strategies. One is to have gear all the time no matter the distance i ride or is it a scooter or my motorcycle I ride. The other is to be conscious about the speed that I can ride on a given road. Sometimes my speed is a mere 20kmph on roads where I know that going a bit faster will increase the chance of a crash by 20%. I have been ridiculed for this a lot many times but i believe that it's good to be safe than to be sorry.
One simple thing to keep in mind is keep your ego aside when riding.
You don't need to be quickest guy on the road.
Please start second season of podcast.❤
I had a crash while I was going fast from a narrow lane and a dog suddenly came in front of me…from that day till now I look at every intersection on the road in front of me to be aware of any animals and vehicles…it definitely has increased my attention while riding!
Shumi is like our elder brother who is always there to give you quality knowledge
Glad we're helping!
Awesomely explained sir, my strategy to keep crash at bay (as much as possible) is to fix to my mind "everyone else except myself doesnt know to ride / can do wrong, so i have to be 200% cautious...........😀😀"
This is so TRUE. I am a 30 year old who has never ridden a bike. I have been exclusively a car guy the last 12 years. The only way to keep a crash or even a scrape at bay is to anticipate how stupidly can the other person on the road behave.
PS - Planning to get my first bike very soon.
Good idea!
I am still a newbie when it comes to riding, with approx 12k kms of riding experience from , Vespa S 125 (first two wheeler), G310R (first bike), Himalayan 410 (Leh circuit) and newly bought VStrom 250 .
I have had a minor accident on Vespa (while going to office), a couple of drops near parking and a close call in G310R.
I love to ride with all gears but when I am commuting (to office and within the city) I only wear helmet, gloves and boots (on Fridays).
I like to anticipate what’s ahead of me and use engine braking (along with blipping the throttle while downshifting) so as to have a gradual/non-abrupt deceleration and less usage of brakes, unless it’s really required.
I think I also need to practice emergency braking now so as to make my subconscious mind aware of how to react when such a situation arises .
As always thanks for the video Shumi 😊
PS - I consider myself quite an adept driver (with more than 18 years and 1.5 lac kms of experience in different parts of India) but have miles to go before I can call myself a confident rider.
Anticipation anticipation anticipation... I find it most effective to avoid crash. If you can anticipate crash in advance, you have a better chance of avoiding it. Also an advice you gave in a previous video "if you are feeling that you are going fast, you are probably going faster than your skill." not the exact words, but similar to this. Whenever i feel i am going fast, i get extra cautious.
One strategy that helps me a lot while on road (not exclusive to motorcycles, applies even when you are driving a car or just walking by as a pedestrian):
Everyone else on the road, except myself, is nuts.
This always keeps me in check and my anticipation instincts high!
As you mentioned, you knew how to break when there's an emergency and I totally agree that it is the most crucial skill one should possess while riding or driving. Once you know your vehicle and how it breaks, then and only then, you can speed accordingly. If you don't trust the breaking, don't increase the speed. I had watched a video few years back where a guy asks the other one, what is that one part/terminology of a vehicle that allows you to speed. And the other guy said, engine, horsepower, torque, accelerator, etc. But the answer to this question was "Brake", because if you know you have brakes and you can stop when you want, then only you will dare to speed. And I totally agree to this. And braking is not just a technology, it is a skill that one has to develop with the vehicle.
Hey Motorinc
I have crashed my bicycle and omce a scooty, and manifested the fear internally that even tho I needed a scooty I didn't buy.
I started yulu again on very busy road-Dwarka highway, CP etc etc, coupled with Metro,this served my purpose.
Now I am in Mimbai, I booked Yamaha-ZR yesterday even tho I wanted to buy Aerox, I chosed to start slow and build my confidence. I hope to ride better, I love my travel. My fear had crippled my freedom!
This was motivating! I have watched so many of your videos and shorts! Thank you for being awesome! 😊
I haven’t owned a motorcycle for a while now. But when I used to have one I was lucky enough to be someone who had taken a fall or two and nothing more serious than that.
I think to avoid crashes it is important to be aware of the surroundings and acknowledge your limitations. Also, it helps if a rider respects the rules - no abrupt lane changes, no over speeding etc. I know it might sound boring but it has always helped me in keeping the rubber side down on the tarmac.
Good insight.
As a rookie;riding a typical commuter bike,
What i understoof myself was that one should put their egoes aside when you are on road.Never ever Road race with somone.
Next thing is to follow traffic rules.They are there for a reason and are designed to make us safe.
But most people think 'rules applicable only when police there'
I have been seeing far too many people who have accident scars, lately. And now this video comes.... Is this some sort of divine enlightenment?
🤣 Really? Too many people with scars? Can you please tell us more?
I focus on vision, gripping the tank , smooth progressive application of the front brake, downshifting early so that the engine braking helps, and every time I perform an overtake no matter how clear the mirror appears , I always turn my head for a last moment check and it has saved me many many times... Long story short whenever I am riding I am always thinking about practicing a particular skill ..... I have this OCD that am not practicing enough. Watching Motojitsu Videos since 2019 has changed my approach towards riding... I am faster without trying to be , calmer, confident.
As a rider, I always practice defensive driving. I am aware that every road and bike has the potential for speed, and it's essential to evaluate our own abilities, regardless of the road or bike conditions. I appreciate your suggestion of practicing emergency braking, and I am determined to implement it from now on.
One of the best videos from Shumi & Motorinc team ❤
This was needed to the community 💐
Thanks a ton AT!
I always thought of getting a bike but was always afraid of falling.. i am still and i will not get a bike but the words spoken in the video were so insightful.. battle on everyday.. respect for riders..
@shumi, you're the enlightened one.
one suggestion from my end, it's the awareness and be conscious on the road and making sure all of our senses are working optimally.
Looking at my scars while you lecture us with your wisdom. For me, alertness and defensive riding with proper gear works wonders.
🤜🏽🤛🏽
Don't remember where or when I started following this
" its good to learn from our mistakes, but we also have to learn from other's mistakes too."
And so far its been my strategy.
Giving space to others while driving and letting the people in hurry to go before you be absorbing your own ego is the biggest strategy that's worked for me.
Keeping myself safe by not rushing unnecessarily has taken away 50% of problems on the road. Especially in Bangalore
Superb session on safety and basic hygiene needed for motorcycling. I try to over anticipate the surroundings during ride. My daily commute is 40 km on highway and city traffic from baner to TML plant. Every day is learning. Not relying on traffic to make right decisions helps. Keep excess distance from everyone. Avoid the urge to overtake in narrow passage between cars. The last minute home sickness? The confidence of breaking rules in 'My area'? Dont have ego. Care for others on the road by letting them have some space.
Forgot to thank Shumi for fantastic work. We need more people like him to create, guide and sustain the Motorcycle culture here.
My Strategy - Knowing what's my limit(not everyone can do similar speed & have 100% control), knowing what's doable on a certain road/area(at times speed limit marked on a road at particular time of the day is NOT doable...), never get intimidated by other vehicles(specially the bigger one) and lastly if you dont feel well enough physically just take the car.....
Had quite a few bad falls in my 20s but I am now more calmer & careful rider. Unfortunately i cant understand why everybody else in our country are always in a hurry when on a 2 wheeler...
I can relate wholeheartedly with the part starting at 3:15 . Foolishly decided to skip the helmet to got the market 10 mins away and boom, two finger mouth opening for a month. I am always thankful that it wasn't anything serious, but it could've been A LOT more serious.
For Daily Commute to office I have marked points on roads as Accident Prone Zones and alternate paths. In decades of riding , I have managed to remember almost entire city of Kolkata are surroundings that way. I believe my strategy worked for me. I have avoided serious crashes but still got many minor hits here and there.
But finally I have upgraded commute to a tiny car.
I am 5 years senior than you in terms of riding motorcycle and I definitely agree with you. Having 12 motorcycles, I must admit, Crash is inevitable.
Had a crash or two but not a major one. Had many near miss. My major strategy to avoid any type of crash is to always mind the blind spots. If I can't see behind an obstacle, I always assume there will be the most dangerous surprise. So my mind is already prepared to act quickly. After doing this for for some time willingly, it became the second nature. And always were a full face helmet. Both time I have been saved for that. Happy riding.
Good video
I myself crashed on all motorbikes I owned till now learned these lessons in hard way.
never ride fast in town & do not indulge in street race.
always ride in defensive way.
Absolutely.
I ride my bike very simple, according to me the road surface plays a key role in riding like wet,dry, slightly mud surfaces, cement road etc, i will ride my motorcycle according to road condition and one of the thumb rule i follow is visibility of front vehicles and the last one is my way combi breaking experience from day 1 of riding motorcycle and continue to learn new things from the experts like u people from TH-cam ❤.
I had a recent scooter crash in which i had to apply emergency breaks. It's been 5 months now since that crash, I have one major injury for which i will have to go through a procedure after which i can get back to normalcy. I am still working on the thing where i will have to get back to the two wheeler but there is this cautious feeling inside which has developed recently. And now i will prefer to ride it for general purpose than for the thrill feeling. All said, this crash has humbled me down. What Shumi said resonated with me as well and helped in a way to understand that the crash should never be the part of riding but all you can do is prepare yourself to prevent from it as it is highly likely that it may happen.
Just the proper technique man. I'll constantly find the optimal way to operate my motorcycle in a given condition.
Apart from safety gears,
I would like to highlight the most ignored factor which is Ergonomics. A bike from factory is like a plain fabric from the textiles. We have to tailor it to our needs.
1. Suspension Pre load
2. Gear lever position
3. Handle bar position
4. Brake/clutch levers
These may sound silly, but these will aid you get the most out of the motorcycle for your setup.If the setup is right, you are always quick,responsive and you know your setup better which is confidence inspiring.
Always the Setup should be ahead of your skill. If your skill goes high, your setup goes down. Then comes the upgrade part !
It’s all a learning curve fellow riders.
This is my view with 17 years of riding experience.
I just had a crash last night and some hours later I get this video. Love it.
Oh no! Are you okay?
I have always felt that Before Sunrise is a philosophical film masquerading as a romantic one. Similarly, MotorInc feels like a philosophical channel masquerading as a motor review one.
Thanks a ton! We'll pass on your huge compliment on to the team!
when the advice comes from the people who've been there and done that. It becomes eerily accurate...!
Having a fresh and meditative mind.
Not always wanting to consider all other vehicles as my opponents .
Enjoying the ride rather than achieving speed
Just few mindset to avoid crash 😊
Ohh man, what a video. Time stamp 5:25 , when Shumi started stating that I am a rider who is trying to get home safe .sharing my experience and decision matters. True said, Well Said. This Fan signing off.
Many people see only till where they will be going after 5-10 seconds in a straight line
My best strategy is to look that search for vehicles that may be coming to your way rather than looking onto your path in a straight line
Constantly moving your eyes slight left & right has helped me a lot
True.... My Dad always said.... Unless you fail.... Or in this case Fall you won't be serious about learning. And it was some what correct. After many a fall and some were just outright embarrassing I understood one thing.... The fault is not always yours ...but the rider has to be blamed always. So ride safe, with proper gear and follow traffic rules. Thank you Shumi for your insights 🙏
4:45 I totally agree, the best possible way to check how the bike behave at high-speed after brakes r applied.
Thank you, Shumi for making me remember that nostalgic moment at 18, my first crash. Thankfully, I came out with minor scratches on my body.😊
Tell us more! 😊
My grandfather used to say
" while you are on the road assume everyone else is blind."
Good saying! Thanks Amit!
Few months back I also fell down on a two wheeler which was a kind of lesson for me. My bike doesn't have an ABS and the back wheels are getting locked sometimes. When I fell down I got the motivation and I started applying breaks perfectly i.e.., 70% front break and 30% back break. The wheels are not getting locked anymore.
My strategies are -
1. Maintain your speed as per the road conditions .
2. You should always know where there is potholes and speed breaker are situated.
3. Never ride with emotions . Its best to Stay away from road rages .
4. Try progressive breaking to avoid panic breaking situation.
5 . Use your horn and reduce your speed in populated area .
6 . Ride in the middle of your lane because during sudden changes of lanes of front vehicle you have two sides to move to avoid collision.
7 . Always honk and use your high beam during overtaking , if your front vehicle is accelerating his speed never try to overtake let him come to his cruising speed then you should overtake .
8. Always wear proper rinding gear .
I apply LOOK strategy 😊
L = Look (after your yourself and your machine
O= Over confidence (is bad)
O= Observe (your surrounding and other motorists while riding)
K= Knowledge (to understand your limit and your machine's limit)
I recently came into motorcycle riding. Was used to riding cars. I think some of the knowledge I gained can be helpful to many.
1. Always keep your vehicle well maintained (brake lights, indicators, headlights, ABS, etc.). These can be really helpful not just for you but also others to make good decisions based on your vehicle movement.
2. Low beam in city or when passing by can also be helpful. Even if you are calm, it will irritate others and they might sometimes not see you and come directly onto you.
3. Cars have good braking than bikes. Near speed breakers and etc. cars tend to brake fast while bikes take some time. So, always watch out for those and keep good distance and within limits of braking.
4. Watching not just front for long distance, but rear as well and estimate how to avoid dangers from behind.
5. Know what speed to go where. Even if it’s an empty road like village, people tend to suddenly appear from nowhere and come all the way from left far to the divider opening.
5. Dangers on bike are far greater than car as you are completely exposed and don’t have the shell to protect you. So, be extra careful.
6. Know where you will be visible to a car or a bigger vehicle driver and let them know in advance if you are overtaking them. There is a lot of blind spot for car (especially on the left) and in seconds they will feel like magic happened and the bike came from no where and sometimes might lead to accidents.
7. Properly use the indicators, headlights and hazard lamps and keep them in check as it might lead to others think you are going the other way.
8. Even when you are slow, and there is a traffic coming in, try to slightly brake so that brake light is lit and people behind will know to slowdown.
9. Never ever jump a traffic signal and try to stop before stop line. This reduces risk of others hitting us.
10. I had sometimes been aggressive due to others on road and had my car through tough times. It was car and I was fine, this shouldn’t and can’t be seen when riding motorcycle. Your anger/ego is your enemy.
There are a few more things that I can write about, but doesn’t come to writing right away. All I could say is a bit of common sense and knowledge of surroundings can majorly save us from accidents.
I agree 100 percent that I had to emergency break everyday on deserted road or "seemingly deserted road". I feel like I am anticipating all the mistakes the vehicles in my line of sight can make and be prepared for it. I am always on my guard.
🤜🏽🤛🏽
I put one/two fingers always on the brake lever except when I am on a highway. Also I will practice emergency braking from now on. Thanks!
Best of luck Giridhar! Do let us know how practice goes!
Great topic to discuss. I, also felt for 4-5 times in my 12 years of bike riding with different bikes & different situations. I personally feel it’s not the reason how you r riding, majority of the time it’s how others are riding surrounds you. Whether on bike, car, by-cycle, auto, riksha etc even walking. You have to focus on them, if you don’t want to fall.
I purchased a Honda Hness recentlyy, it was my first ever motorcycle. Within a month, I had slipped and crashed it by applying the front brakes while driving down a granite ramp. This devastated my confidence and I was thoroughly afraid to sit on the bike again. But slowly, after I started riding it again post repairs, I have the confidence back up. I now know not touse front brakes on slippery surfaces, and to avoid gravel/oil/watery surfaces if possible.