I always remember an old motorcycle riding instructor telling his class that when he rides he waves and nods to all the cars around him. He said they all think whos this idiot but they all THINK about him. And I'm still doing it to yhis day.
I swerve back and forth in my own lane so that people look at me and think "What's this idiot up to?" If all riders make weird movements, car drivers are more likely to notice bikes at all times. Swerving back and forth is also a good tailgater deterent
Fun fact: I'm an air traffic controller and before we assume control of a runway, we conduct a visual scan to verify the runway is clear of traffic. Our training recommends scanning from right to left to force your scan to slow down. We read and write going left to right, so by going in 'reverse' it is less natural and is believed to assist in detecting objects during the entire scan. Great video and great content!
Interestingly enough he covered in this in one of the later videos - "5 life-saving habits etc". With science! And he points out that it depends on your writing system.
TL;DW: Set your horn to a dubstep beat, dress like a Spanish bull fighter in the dry, a crossing guard in the rain and do the macarena as you approach intersections.
Makes me think The Mask at the mention of macarena... Only with the addition maracas :D But seriously, a dress as a matador xD in Missouri, that's a bloody deathwish, cars here would aim for you xD
The absolute best piece of wisdom I was given about riding a motorcycle was this: "When riding, pretend it is the goal of every other vehicle on the road to swerve or pull out at the last moment and hit you." It works! If you visualize every vehicle you come across as trying to hit you, you will be ready for it when they actually DO.
It's good advice in some ways, but if other drivers' goal is to hit you, that makes invisibility an asset rather than a liability. Being seen works if you acknowledge most drivers are trying to avoid you but just really bad at seeing motorcycles.
@@leftyelomis1824 also don't accelerate faster that you can brake I have seen many times bikers falling down after red lights for trying to overtake sports cars while turning
I am not a motorcyclist. I have a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, specifically [Human] Motor Behavior. The author’s explanation of saccades, selective attention, and peripheral blindness is pure gold.
I am an optometrist and a cyclist. I feel like I spend half my life explaining this stuff. This was wonderfully presented and explained, keep up the good work 👍
As a visual neuroscientist and also a rider, I approve of this message. Very impressive depth of scientific insight into how our vision works, all presented in an easy to understand way. I find that gently weaving left and right as I approach an intersection helps to make me more visible to the peripheral vision of drivers. Love your channel; keep up the great work!
I usually have an ipod in when I ride (I can still hear people beeping and sirens, and I've perceived enough mechanical issues through vibrations that I feel secure in this decision) so generally at junctions I'm boogieing anyway. Seems to work judging by the number of grins I get.
haha thought i was the only one who did this. I never dance in a club but 5 minutes on a bike and im away...cruise control has opened up a world of 2 armed dance movements now :p
I do that and people still miss me. I haven't ridin for a week yet and I had one person pull out in front of me and I had that motorcycle construction worker vest on (A Reflective Vest with Back Padding) and High Beams. They did eventually see me after they crossed half the road. I still wear it just for those people who like to listen to their music louder than the sound my bike can make. Or hoping the distracted drivers will at least see it too... Still best to be prepared. Expect everyone either can't see you or are out to kill you. So pick the best lane position to be able to respond to emergencies the quickest, or be able to see if somebody else made a mistake. IE riding in the right part of a lane in a multi-lane road coming up to an intersection. That way you can at least see if someone is trying to make a left hand turn. After the intersection return back to the middle.
After decades of riding bicycles and now a motorcycle after 40 years, I can say that things have changed on the roads. Hi-Viz safety wear does work, and very well. But, there is nothing that can be done about distracted drivers who are inside very comfortable, noise resistant vehicles, sipping a latte and texting. Nothing. In the end, it's a crap shoot, but Hi-Viz is the way to go to minimize the chances. The exercise of free choice in mode of transportation comes with the obvious consequential risks. Live with it - or not.
My bike is a big st1300 ex ambulance bright yellow. It looks like a police bike and i wear a custom helmet that has big tinted eyes on the front that looks like jack skellington also my headlights are led novsight which are seriously bright. it doesn't do shit people still don't see me but i expect that so its not an issue for me. hiviz doesnt stop anything just ride better
Don't listen to yammie, he's not as good of a rider as he thinks he is.
5 лет назад+45
@@Celestial-Idiot Yet he still has some good insights and despite him being an utter prat on the streets, he at least openly admits it and warrants his viewers not to do the same. Hypocrisy? Absolutely. But I can respect a person that can look in a mirror and call out their imperfections then make an example of themselves of what to/not to do :)
Here in the UK, Police riders are taught to move across the width of their lane when approaching a junction with a car emerging. It shows a change of the movement in the driver's peripheral vision, makes you visible earlier due to the reduced angle of the corner, and gets you out of the A-pillar blind spot if you were in it. We don't advocate waving, as hand signals can be misunderstood. You don't want somebody to think you're turning or inviting them to pull out. Great video, much better to understand issues like this so you can predict and mitigate, rather than just blame car drivers
Mandatory part when taking license for motorcycle in Sweden They taught us that, sure you can increase your visibility by wearing an orange or neon vest, but what r-e-a-l-l-y increases your visibility, is wearing a white helmet. Better is, if your motorcycle is also white! And if that white bike happens to be a BMW R100 with pannier bags, it is even better, then people will see you! And if that white BMW also happens have blue-lights and "POLICE" written all over it, you can be sure that everybody sees you and knows where you are at every moment...
@@adridell Yea, but think of all the horror you will spread? Everybody looking at their speedometers, as soon as they see you, as if their life depend on it?
Right on the money. If anyone watches the MC clips on Moto Madness, you'll see loads of riders smashing car mirrors, flipping them off and screaming on how they "almost died" because a vehicle didn't see them, usually when the rider is in the cars blind spot. These riders truly don't see these drivers as people who made a mistake, but as people who actually tried to kill them with their incompetence. In my 38 yrs on a bike, I always tell people who ride, they should be paranoid but not scared. If you ride like you're invisible, even when they're looking straight at you, you can then AVOID even being in a position to get hit. Murphy's Law on the road.. Great video.. Cheers
I agree with you on point about motorcyclists creating a conflict situation then moaning about it. Lots of good reasons to read a potential conflict situation and then wisely avoid it or more realistically manage a situation to your advantage. Good advice my father gave was to put a car or two between you and an erratic or aggressive car driver. A blip of the throttle and you can be in a clear section of road. If I make a mess of something and unintentionally cut someone up I'll happily allow the disadvantaged to pass. Serves two purposes; allows me to keep a problem or upset car driver where I can see them while also putting them in a situation where they're wondering what I'm doing. Being on a motobike I can easily push past if I want to be in front again so letting them pass is an allusion of power not a transfer of power.
B Haddock It sounds like you're making it harder than it needs to be. (hard to tell with just a short paragraph, ya know?) I follow a few simple rules. I don't trust ANY driver to do the right thing, so I just create distance. IF someone is driving poorly, erratic...whatever, then it's MUCH better to get them in front of you where you can keep an eye on them and can't box you in from behind. Also, NEVER spend any amount of time in that "blind spot", either fall back or accelerate up to the front tire. That 7 or 8 o'clock position is a death trap. The last thing, si when I'm in traffic I try and always position myself so I have 3 "outs"...a place to dive into quickly if someone is going to try and occupy the same space as me. Besides all that, we have to always be aware of road conditions, holes...tar if it's hot..uneven or grated construction......as well as debris in the road. Last thing, if the sun is low and in your face....I prefer to have a cig for 20 minutes till, the sun sets. This is the time of day when people can't even see a car in front of them, let alone a smaller bike...(and my bike is one of the biggest, 1/2 a ton FLHTCU) All that, and ALWAYS practice your emergency braking in an open parking lot....I still do on occasion even after all these years. So many riders having the front tire slide out...QUICKEST way to get SLAMMED to the pavement. Man, another long one...lol..sorry. Cheers!
Other than the time a Prius (it's always a fucking Prius, I swear) tried to change lanes while I was directly beside them and slightly ahead (you know, the single most obvious place I could possibly be) in the middle of the day, I can agree with this. As much as it might be hard for some people to admit it, it's many times the motorcyclist's fault for putting themselves in a situation that had many points of danger. This is why I never, ever, not even for fun, pass to the right without giving myself a very wide berthing, an entire lane, at least. I see guys nailing it at triple digits speeds to the right of semis and think to myself, you're going to be a horror story your family tells people to scare them away from motorcycles.
also... for the views. Apparently people on motorcycles freaking out instead of being calm and assessing a situation with logic and intelligence is more entertaining.
One of the greatest uploads ever for motorists. My brother just visited me and said: I almost killed another biker, I swear I was looking but I never saw him coming. I said: OK, let us watch this video together.
Great video. I do a weave from side to side when approaching a busy intersection. The brain processes lateral movements much better than something coming straight on.
Just bought a bike, my first one I was scared so I searched a lot of reviews and materials to be sure what I was doing. I subscribed immediately Awesome channel dude Keep up the good work
@@ethanfoster5658 it's been great! For a hobby is awesome, fun, relaxing and an incredible learning experience. I wouldn't use it as a "main" way of transportation, as I live in a big busy city, that would remove the fun and relaxing part. I upgraded from my first bike already 🤘
That last one rings particularly true. I rode for 3 years with a matte black helmet and have been merged into quite a number of times. I've had to send it back under warranty and the shop lent me a bright yellow Arai for a couple weeks. Same commute, same season, same roads with probably the same people driving the same cars, yet I could clearly see the difference. People saw me, and acted accordingly.
I wrapped my bike in a Arctic Camo, and I can say it stands out in a "crowd" aka traffic... People not only see my bike, but they seem to pay a lot more attention to me. My riding gear, is a Matte black with High Gloss Pearl White reflective designs on it. The rest of my stuff is white and black... SO white it is NOT bright colors like high pink or safety orange... The contrasting colors on the wrap and my gear, really stands out to the "bland" monotone chunks of bla of the rest of the vehicles around me. SO while I agree high vis colors do make you stand out, so can standard colors, if done well. If you want to see what my bike looks like my IG: exmachina77 ( instagram.com/exmachina77 )
@@JJ_ExMachina I Plastidiped my bike in fluorescent orange (Blaze). I've swapped bikes with a friend who has the same bike in white. Seeing my bike in his mirrors, I can certainly say my bike stood out far more than his bike.
@@gasdive yep plan on doing some high vis reflective color splotches throughout my bikes camo pattern, and on my helmet. Figured the black and white of the Artic Camo would look pretty good with some bright color splotches.
Ryan, you are brilliant. Thanks for the high quality episodes with always accurate and well-researched information. Your presentation is entertaining and easily absorbed. I learn something every time you post.
I always enjoy your videos... but I think this may be the BEST ONE Ever! as a former EMT -- and the 'victim' of TWO crashes where cars hit ME {the first one was nearly Fatal!} and both drivers said they never saw me -- I am always aware of my visibility in traffic ! Even with flashing lights and reflective colors on our vehicles, and 'safety vests' on, we still are at a High Risk of getting HIT by other drivers! They can get fixated on the red lights on the ambulance of fire trucks, and not SEE US! I see people in heavy traffic on little tiny under-powered scooters, and think about how that is like a pedestrian walking in the middle of traffic! Another case of 'invisibility' is when you are following a large vehicle, such as a semi or cargo/delivery truck, and you 'become part of that vehicle' ... Your silhouette 'fits inside' of the vehicle, and those behind you may not realize YOU are 50 to 100 feet BEHIND the truck, rather than part of it, and they base their stopping distance on the truck! I know that 'some' riders WANT to be almost invisible, so they can 'get away' or 'disappear' when they are spotted by Police ... or they want to look 'sinister' ... but they could soon look DEAD when a driver pulls out in front of them or changes lanes and doesn't see them approaching. In BOTH of the crashes I mentioned above, I WAS wearing bright colors, and riding modestly...and STILL was not seen...
I like to dress a Little Red Riding Hood. Except the wind blows my skirt up over my hips. Awkward sometimes, since I am a 55 year old balding hetero man.
I watched Top Gear religiously when it was a thing, 1st season of Grand Tour was complete garbage, it got better on the 2nd season and on... but I've stopped watching it
I think this should be mandatory viewing by all riders both experienced and beginners! It's just like finding that fascinating documentary serendipitously, but informative and potentiality lifesaving. Now I have subscribed without hesitation. Please do not stop making these!!!!
As a Bicyclist for decades, I've already mastered this skill of temporary invisibility (they see you when they get angry, lol) ages ago. It will suit me well when I get my motorbike :3
although ive been watching your videos for months now, i just got my licence last week and need to rewatch absolutely everything. thanks man, you really could be saving peoples lives with these vidoes.
I find it easier to just assume that people won't see me, will cut me off, will merge into me, will run the red light, will brake late, etc. Helped me survive in a city with a population of over 2mil people ( and there's the 15mil+ people from the surrounding cities ) for the past 3 years. I still get hit every now and then, but in a country where about 100 people dies from traffic incidents every day, that's nothing.
I live in Brazil I ride everyday and that's exactly how you have to ride to survive a motorcycle out here. Out here when you're learning to ride a bike most people will tell you that you have to drive for everyone else
i hope you make a lot of money from this channel. the research, the writing, the production that goes into your videos is fricken amazing. another fantastic video f9, thank you!
Just wanted to leave a thank you on this video. Yesterday I was out for a ride and as I was slowing down to turn left off of a highway I was nearly rear ended by a distracted driver. I was watching him approach in my mirror and luckily the oncoming lane was empty. I was able to dodge the attack🥋 and ride home to tell my family all about it. Thank you, Ryan.
Great presentation. I rode, well still ride, a bicycle for years to get around - poor student for too long but I spent my time watching and learning. You really do have a cloak of invisibility around you. I learned many valuable lessons during that time. It has fully translated to motorcycle riding, and, not surprisingly, works as a car driver too! Added to the whole mix is a very large dose of patience. My "mantra" is that if I'm on my bike [either one actually], I'm not in a hurry. Makes riding ever so much easier, relaxed. I've even timed runs from place to place using car and bike and the differences are negligible. So, take it easy and remember that the cars are there to kill you. Think happy thoughts. =D
Damn this was *good* information! An instructor tried to explain this 'invisibility factor' to our class years ago, but your detailed description here went far beyond that. : )
Every Fortnine video is done amazingly well. No boring lulls, no boring ways of explaining, awesome editing, great monologues, subtle, and obvious jokes. Probably the very best RUclipsr I follow.
When I bought my first little 'bike (A GS125) I was told "Ride as if everyone is trying to kill you" by an experienced rider friend. Possibly the best advice I've ever been given!
Just the best bike channel on RUclips. Also worth taking advanced training once you have been riding a while. In the UK we have a thing called BikeSafe. You get to ride with the bike cops for a day. They really put you through your paces. Plus some of the training about road positioning would probably have you fail your actual bike test. And no, they don't hang around. My police instructor was supernaturally quick and it looked effortless too. Whether you like the cops or not, can't deny their skills. Now...about that court appearence for speeding...
Definitely worth it, it's approximately £40 for the course, which means it is heavily subsidised. Some gems from the course - bright pink is the best hi-viz you can wear (if you can bring yourself to wear it). Get foglights (they call them riding lights) for your bike. A headlight and two riding lights will make you stand out and look bigger. This definitely works - have them on my bike. Don't filter at speed. Should only be going about 10 mph faster than slow moving or stationary traffic. Watch out for gaps etc. Also, if you have "filtering hero" on your tail I always pull in and let them go.
It's well worth doing and you will learn loads but I don't know if it may interfere with your MOD1 & 2 training. As I understand it, advanced positioning is not what they want to see on the MOD 1 & 2 tests.
A lot of motorcyclists need this information just for them to stop raging at everyone and start understanding, that it's the way human brain works. Less rage and more understanding, I say.
no they don't all the points in this video are just excuse if you pay attention when your drive like you should and like most motorcyclist do then there wouldn't be a problem but instead people are on their phones or half asleep or drunk or just plain not looking before they merge or make a turn.
I’m terribly sorry for what happened to you and I sincerely hope you continue to recover. I also can’t even begin to fathom your frustration with your situation. But the original commenter on this thread does have a point. And so do you. Way too many people ARE ignorant and make stupid decisions. The girl you mentioned made the decision to be on her phone and not watch where she was going. People do choose to drive impaired. People do drive recklessly. And that’s their fault and it needs to change. But, as the video explained, the way our brain is wired also works against us, even when not being careless. UNDERSTANDING why and how that works is good for drivers and riders alike because the more we understand how perception and visibility work, the better the choices we both can make. Drivers can be better equipped to know what to look for with motorcycles, and motorcyclists know where they are more vulnerable and can adjust to ride defensively. I think the commenter wasn’t making excuses for willfully ignorant drivers, but rather, appreciating a better understanding of those who do take care but make mistakes so that we can all learn from it.
yea you get those situations where motorcycles appear until everybody world at 20 mph over the speed limit and expect everybody to understand what's going on instantly.
Good editing, GOOD audio, good pacing, perfect enunciation and tones, well developed ideas, and excellent example/explantion. There are MAAAANY on youtube that you are blowing out of the water. I just found this channel and wish it had been around when i was 16 and started riding. some of your vids is stuff they teach but alot of your vids was stuff i had to learn/figure out for myself. I thankfully never had a crash and never had a laydown at faster than 1mph but I havent ridden in 10 years due to personal health and i still aint at 40 yet. I miss it soooooo much.
I always like your videos, but this one was off the chart excellent. I barely avoided turning in front of another car the other day because the car was behind my right windshield support column. I was amazed that I didn't see it - now I know why.
The jump in the quality of your videos is astounding. When I discovered this channel a few years ago I just didn't quite like the videos all that much. But this one, this one rocks. Screw Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, just jump on a motorcycle.
Outstanding presentation!!! This should be played at every vehicle training session on earth. So much broader than just motorcycles. Ironically, I see you posted this 2 years ago and I never saw it before, perhaps I have a touch of excellent content blindness!
It's an impressive review of the reasons drivers often don't percieve motorcycles... The resulting conclusion is that one should ride as if we are invisible always. This requires both a defensive and active approach to self-safety, and it completely removes the type of angry assertiveness about "who is correct". The best choice is to never let a car touch you, no matter who is in the right, because the consequences for collision fall disproportionately on motorcyclists. This lesson was taught to me before I got on a bike, and I firmly live it every day I ride.
Ryan, this was a brilliant resource. I learned so much. Understanding that biker invisibilty is an explicable optical and behavioural paradigm, not just " shit drivers" really came clear to me. Really love your channel. Keep it up !
I was certified as an MSF Instructor back in 1990. I maintained my certification up until a few years ago, and attended every annual update. I've also taken numerous safety courses on my own (both on and off the track) and I have to admit... I learned a LOT from watching this video. Nice job! Already shared with multiple motorcycling communities and I hope it goes viral!
Excellent!!...I have been preaching this for years. As predators we percieve movement " above all else I have been a proponent of ",make them see u" And " change the timing" so you do bot arrive in intersection when their subconcious is saying " turn now" Great video..!! As always
I continue to be impressed by Fortnine. Very informative, well produced video. As motorcyclists, “invisibility” is something we should always keep in mind. Let’s face it, many drivers are not paying as much attention as they should, but even the most diligent drivers sometimes have difficulty seeing a motorcycle, especially if the rider is not not doing his/her best to be visible. Some tactics that have served me well in 40+ years riding: NEVER assume a driver sees you. Assume they don’t. Make it easier for drivers to see you by trying to stay in their line of sight when possible. This usually means riding close to the centre line or lane dividing line. DON’T “shy away” from vehicles by hiding in the centre of the lane or worse yet, close to the curb side. This is a serious mistake that comprises rider safety by guaranteeing invisibility at least some of the time. Another tactic is what I call dynamic lane positioning. When in traffic, try not to be static in relation to the traffic around you, allowing drivers to forget you’re there. Be dynamic; make yourself a moving target that’s hard to ignore, rev your engine a little, change lanes if you see someone getting sleepy, or creepy. Never underestimate the power of courtesy. Some drivers have been frightened by loud exhaust or aggressive riders. This doesn’t serve us well. We want drivers to be our allies, not our adversaries. It’s often essential for our safety to be assertive, but if we’re courteous and friendly, drivers are more likely to look out for us. Thanks again, Fortnine.
STORY TIME!!! I was taught to know what and how many cars were behind me beside me and in front of me, my instructor would pull away the mirror and ask how many cars if we didn't know we got a failed grade. Some failed, most learned how to keep a constant awareness about them. This skill alone has saved me from car accidents countless times. I was once passing someone and out of nowhere they jump to my lane if I had not reacted and moved into the turning lane and slammed on the gas (because i knew it was clear thanks to this training) I would of been in an accident likely that driver would of rolled there SUV or I would of been crushed. I was at the mid point of there SUV. (in a tiny car)
For sure. I've had many "near misses" where I thought someone would pull in front of me. Always try to make sure they can see you or hang back. The minute you'll save speeding through isn't worth the risk of a life lost
I play find the motorcycle on car rides with my son instead of the punch buggy (find the VW beetle) game so he grows up always noticing bikes. Although since he is growing up a rider himself it will be programed into him anyways.
So I'm not the only person that does that... I've been doing it forever (in a car I mean...I'm a fairly new rider), and would pop-quiz the kids as I was teaching them to drive..."Without looking, what kind of vehicle and what colour..behind, and in the lanes to the side." It's a great way to always be just a little bit more aware of what's around you...and when you're about to switch lanes and your brain says, "Wait a minute...there was somebody there 2 seconds ago...where did they go?" It's funny too, that both kids have that knack for being able to say, "Watch this guy...he's about to do something stupid..."..and then THEY DO. I think the reason is because you've been watching them without thinking about it and have already noticed that they have no idea how to merge, are moving like they're texting, etc... I do it all the time, and my wife always says, "How did you know???" It's not really a skill...it's like EpicBigWhale said; I've learned to keep a constant awareness about me, and it's something that just happens without having to consciously do it.
No? we were taught to remember what was behind us yes, but not to assume. If we didn't know we were told not to guess, because assuming is just as bad as not knowing. If it seemed like we guessed he would call us out on it. He had been teaching for a long time, 20+ years. one little story will not explain how he tough us things.
@@SimonWoodburyForget Nobody in this little conversation is assuming anything. We know what's there or not there because we've been looking and making a point to notice things and be aware of them. We're not scanning less, as you say, we're scanning more, AND we're making a specific point of seeing what we've scanned, and remembering what it was, where it was, if it was texting, weaving, changing lanes without looking or signalling. We don't assume we know what's around us and just drive on those assumptions. We look, check mirrors, check over our shoulders like everyone else...but when a situation occurs, one where (as you say,) "When you're driving there is no time to think", we have to do a lot less thinking and can react quicker and in a safe manner. Ladder falls off the truck ahead, "Can I stop?"...No. Okay, swerve and avoid. How about right? Nope, already know where's a blue mini-van in that lane..been watching it for a long time. How about right? There's a red Civic over there, but without looking I know he's about 60' back, so yes, the left lane is clear and without having to check mirrors and look over my shoulders, I can swerve into that open lane and avoid the obstacle. " "If you're predicting what people do, it also means you're becoming trained to drive like them." ...what? Noticing strange behavior while doing the what's-around-me thing allows me (us, whoever) to mentally plunk a 'watch this guy' sign on them. Seeing people do dumb things while driving has not taught me to speed, merge onto a highway at 40km/h, stop dead in the merge lane, text and drive, drive drunk, swerve while I'm juggling my morning coffee, cigarette, and newspaper.... I commented on what I do, and that it happened to be the same as the other 4 people in this side-conversation, and that it's worked out well for us. You are making a lot of presumptions about us and our habits ASIDE from us playing the what's-around-me game. I taught my wife to drive, and then both kids. Aside from someone going through a stop sign and hitting the side of my truck while I was stopped in traffic at a stoplight, myself, my wife, and both kids have logged a total of zero accidents in our combined 77 years of driving. We'll be talking and the kids will often comment on how people they drive with have no idea what's around them and they also say the what's-around-me game has allowed them to safely avoid several potential accidents. Yes, we did all watch the video. Your brain gives you false memories, yes. But, further to that, it fills in blanks with information from the past if it has no current data, or if there was data there but you didn't see it because you were paying attention to something else. That's why what's-around-me is so helpful...you're not relying on false memories...you're collecting the data constantly, so you KNOW. Neither you (nor your brain) has to assume and fill in the blank. Your brain will fill in the blanks if something becomes constant and mundane. Making a specific point to watch that traffic behind you and to the left and right with the 'game' keeps it those zones active, and filled with real-time data, as opposed to being a mystery that your brain might just throw stuff into to take up space. Maybe you're saying that what we're doing is not enough...? Well, I hope you understand that we try to do all the other things that good drivers do as well, but since the what's-around-me game was mentioned, we all said, "Hey me too, and I find it works well." "This assumption you're taking that you actually know what's around you is what causes accidents. Just because you remember what cars are behind you doesn't mean you saw all the cars behind" You're splitting hairs here.... Quizzing the kids on what's back there isn't saying that they'll be able to list off 30 vehicles....it's to get them used to looking. To build that habit; knowing what's behind you and beside you, in addition to (obviously) what's going on in front of you. So..that's what I do, and it works for me. The other people have said it works for them too. As said, you made a lot of presumptions about us and our driving habits..pretty much all of them wrong. I will continue to keep a mental image of what's around me and update that image with frequent scans.
I was driving on the Autobahn in Germany yesterday. I wanted to go to the left lane to overtake. Was already doing 100mph so you don't expect something coming from behind with all that much speed difference. Just as I switch on my blinker I could just see a little yellow spot coming closer at an enormous rate. Do I quickly abort the overtake and whoosh comes a bike past me at double my speed 😅 He was wearing fully high visibility clothes. Had he just been in black I would have never seen him coming. In my head I was really cheering for this guy. Good man 😎 Or woman of course 😎
Good points. Loud pipes also helps, I don´t fancy honking my horn in every intersection (some may be too loud for the law, but so is honking my horn without any imminent danger, where I live). What´s most important, though, I think is minding your position relative to other traffic. Always make sure you see the (side) mirrors of the vehicle in front of you. Some small LED´s placed low on your forks will make a triangle of lights that make you more visible and easier to distinguish as a motorcycle. And remember to tap the brakes a few times when decelerating, even though engine brake is enough, just to flash the vehicle behind you making them aware of your actions.
Brilliant work, Ryan! I've always held that drivers subconsciously respond to threat levels too... Heavy vehicles are seldom "missed" by car drivers since they are a danger, unlike motorcycles...
I was taught to alter position when moving into a junction, apparently it gives the driver more of a chance to see you before he/she pulls out. Plus I move out to give a bigger clearance.
Good job! I move my arms and wobble a bit, prn, I do that with my Miata, too. Nothing makes a driver sit up straight more than a vehicle doing the unexpected. Still, not everyone will notice, you have to pay attention to anyone who can possibly hit you, without going down the target fixation path to pain. When I coached dinghy racing I taught my students to "take a picture", that is, deliberately turning their head to consciously note the position, speed, and direction of nearby boats, then quickly bringing their heads back to neutral. I find a version of this useful on the road. Making it into a game keeps you alert.
i totally agree if you sit in someones blind spot as you are in a fast lane or what not, you are endangering yourself and them get some speed pull up or in front of them to say hey there is a motorcycle on the road!
Ipley Cross intersection deserves a mention, in terms of blind spots that do not move relative to each other! singletrackworld.com/2018/01/collision-course-why-this-type-of-road-junction-will-keep-killing-cyclists/
That's a different issue to what the video was covering, these are all reasons why a bike that should be visible is missed. Being in a blind spot is a bike in a place where it's not visible but it's equally as important because as riders we have much more control over where we are in relation to other vehicles.
When I was lane splitting on the work commute 5 days a week, the headlamp modulator was The. Best. Bike. Mod. Ever. Before, I had to 'negotiate' my way through. After, people actually made room as I approached.
I share this with all my friends every year as the riding season nears to get their brains thinking and out of hibernation. Awesome breakdown for those on two or four wheels.
For low $$$, I bought a pair of LED lamps that have three functions; high, low and 3 flash burst. I run on flash always and when a buddy told me I was too bright, I aimed them down somewhat. Only one LEO in NV has pulled me over and we had a friendly chat. Upon my suggestion, he searched in vain for 5 minutes, trying to find a ticketable issue with my white lamps. I emphasize white, because in NV, there are no regs. Red, blue and yellow are right out. Works for me.
i have been hit by 6 cars on bikes. 1 was a bmx the rest had motors. this video is the TRUTH and i share it with everyone i know who rides. thank you for this video.
Coming from a student of cognitive psychology; this video is great. ;) Love your style. I don't even ride and still watch your videos daily. Drive safe and expect human error boys and girls.
When I'm riding, I just think nobody sees me so I take precautions, I move out of the way, I give way to car drivers, cause I don't want to be killed 🤣
I just stumbled on this but the advise I've always given to new riders is to ride like you are invisible simply because you can't count on drivers to see you. The other advise I give is to get away from cars, put distance between you if at all possible without running off of the road. If there is an open lane away from a car move over to it, if you are going the same speed as a car next to you speed up or slow down to get away from them, you can also just move over in your lane if there isn't another to get to. That will keep you safe if they do something stupid. Something else I do it to flash my high beam headlight at cars at intersections or cross roads to get their attention. In the video he said to honk but most bike horns are so low powered that you can't hear them plus it's hard for drivers to tell which direction the sound is coming from, a flashing light is much better. Have you ever been in traffic and hear a siren but can't tell where it's coming from then see the lights of a cop or fire truck? It beats installing train horns on your bike.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
I always remember an old motorcycle riding instructor telling his class that when he rides he waves and nods to all the cars around him. He said they all think whos this idiot but they all THINK about him.
And I'm still doing it to yhis day.
I swerve back and forth in my own lane so that people look at me and think "What's this idiot up to?" If all riders make weird movements, car drivers are more likely to notice bikes at all times.
Swerving back and forth is also a good tailgater deterent
So there's tens of thousands of people asking themselves which idiot are you
Thank you for the tip - friendly & promotes safety!
@@0s0sXD The 40349th
@@MrIzzy5466 that's ok as long as you don't overdo it and fall off.
Fun fact: I'm an air traffic controller and before we assume control of a runway, we conduct a visual scan to verify the runway is clear of traffic. Our training recommends scanning from right to left to force your scan to slow down. We read and write going left to right, so by going in 'reverse' it is less natural and is believed to assist in detecting objects during the entire scan. Great video and great content!
would this be the other way around in middle eastern nations?
@@petitblanc7343 it entirely depends on the writing system of the person though I wonder the east Asians will do considering how theirs works.
Interestingly enough he covered in this in one of the later videos - "5 life-saving habits etc". With science! And he points out that it depends on your writing system.
@@aldrinmilespartosa1578 I believe we east asians fall into the same category as europeans. Most of our daily correspondence is written left to right
bilingual people 💀
TL;DW:
Set your horn to a dubstep beat, dress like a Spanish bull fighter in the dry, a crossing guard in the rain and do the macarena as you approach intersections.
I would cry tears of laughter as I am now,
is it possible to have a bass drop as your horn?, if so I'am so down.
Omg. So funny that it true.
Makes me think The Mask at the mention of macarena... Only with the addition maracas :D
But seriously, a dress as a matador xD in Missouri, that's a bloody deathwish, cars here would aim for you xD
@@R3ZZHD sign me.up, please xD
The absolute best piece of wisdom I was given about riding a motorcycle was this:
"When riding, pretend it is the goal of every other vehicle on the road to swerve or pull out at the last moment and hit you."
It works! If you visualize every vehicle you come across as trying to hit you, you will be ready for it when they actually DO.
ride at the speed you are comfortable crashing
Just play GTA V LOL
It's good advice in some ways, but if other drivers' goal is to hit you, that makes invisibility an asset rather than a liability.
Being seen works if you acknowledge most drivers are trying to avoid you but just really bad at seeing motorcycles.
I do this too
@@leftyelomis1824
also don't accelerate faster that you can brake I have seen many times bikers falling down after red lights for trying to overtake sports cars while turning
I am not a motorcyclist. I have a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, specifically [Human] Motor Behavior. The author’s explanation of
saccades, selective attention, and peripheral blindness is pure gold.
Motorcycle 101: Everyone is drunk and you are invisible.
and everyone is half asleep and deaf
and they are texting while sleeping on the steering wheel
I prefer to think everyone is on drugs
Cagers gonna cage
Motorcycling 101 : The only people who can see you are the cops
I literally met Ryan (fortnine) about an hour ago in a store it made my day he is so nice.
I hope he wasn't wearing a dicky bow.
I get a sneaky feelin' if them innerwebnets didn't exist he would likely still enjoy a status of local celebrity just on his natural merits.
:( I wanna meet him
So should I move to BC?
All Canadians are nice. I love Canadians.
I jumped outta my skin when that bike hit the car.
VentureTube S.A.M.E
Me too.
Same lmao
Im still quite concerned
Scared me to death
"So we can focus on things that might kill us, or mate with us..." In my experience, those are usually the same thing
😂😂😂😂😂 Best comment by far
Same no matter what sex
I'm not gonna assume we've known the same women. What you said is uni-voice-al.
Maybe you should stop leading people to want to kill you. 🤔
Are you by any chance a praying mantis? Or a spider?
I am an optometrist and a cyclist. I feel like I spend half my life explaining this stuff. This was wonderfully presented and explained, keep up the good work 👍
It's a fantastic video
Unbelievablly good for a company who reviews and sells motorcycle gear
Could/should be used as part of driver/rider training
As a visual neuroscientist and also a rider, I approve of this message. Very impressive depth of scientific insight into how our vision works, all presented in an easy to understand way. I find that gently weaving left and right as I approach an intersection helps to make me more visible to the peripheral vision of drivers. Love your channel; keep up the great work!
In Europe I think they actually teach the little weave. I use it too.
I do the same. Lateral movements are easier to detect.
I never heard of the weaving "trick," that's good to know!
I just flash them
I wish I had a nickel for every time I see a visual neuroscientist commenting on RUclips videos...
Best motorcycle channel on RUclips period
Enduro Kex?!
Motorcyclist magazine was a good channel when they had Ari and Zack.
perhaps the BEST channel on RUclips ;)
standing sword totally agree
Truly. I just found this and I subbed without question.
I will definitely *jazz hands* my way at every intersection. And I will rock it. Thank you.
I usually have an ipod in when I ride (I can still hear people beeping and sirens, and I've perceived enough mechanical issues through vibrations that I feel secure in this decision) so generally at junctions I'm boogieing anyway. Seems to work judging by the number of grins I get.
haha thought i was the only one who did this. I never dance in a club but 5 minutes on a bike and im away...cruise control has opened up a world of 2 armed dance movements now :p
I have also noticed I get more looks when boogieing on my commute
Best. Comment. Ever.
"Jazz Hands"
Devin Townsend will be proud
Does anybody else re-watch his videos because he just does them so well?
No. Sad, isn't it?
Yes all the time! these Videos are excellent!
THIS NEEDS MORE VIEWS, HIS
TECHNIQUES SAVED MY LIFE TODAY THANK YOU RYAN.
I'd like to hear a little more about that?
@@fbomb.garage316 you deserve no elaboration
@@zanderjam9111 Idk why but I'm cracking up at the unnecessary rudeness of this comment lmao
I'd rather look like a road worker than spagetti bolognese on the asfalt - so I wear at least a hi-vis vest.
I do that and people still miss me. I haven't ridin for a week yet and I had one person pull out in front of me and I had that motorcycle construction worker vest on (A Reflective Vest with Back Padding) and High Beams. They did eventually see me after they crossed half the road. I still wear it just for those people who like to listen to their music louder than the sound my bike can make. Or hoping the distracted drivers will at least see it too...
Still best to be prepared. Expect everyone either can't see you or are out to kill you. So pick the best lane position to be able to respond to emergencies the quickest, or be able to see if somebody else made a mistake. IE riding in the right part of a lane in a multi-lane road coming up to an intersection. That way you can at least see if someone is trying to make a left hand turn. After the intersection return back to the middle.
After decades of riding bicycles and now a motorcycle after 40 years, I can say that things have changed on the roads. Hi-Viz safety wear does work, and very well. But, there is nothing that can be done about distracted drivers who are inside very comfortable, noise resistant vehicles, sipping a latte and texting. Nothing. In the end, it's a crap shoot, but Hi-Viz is the way to go to minimize the chances. The exercise of free choice in mode of transportation comes with the obvious consequential risks. Live with it - or not.
I wear my hi viz vest unzipped so it constantly flaps. Flood lights on full time as well.
Asphalt
My bike is a big st1300 ex ambulance bright yellow. It looks like a police bike and i wear a custom helmet that has big tinted eyes on the front that looks like jack skellington also my headlights are led novsight which are seriously bright. it doesn't do shit people still don't see me but i expect that so its not an issue for me. hiviz doesnt stop anything just ride better
NOW ALL I CAN SEE IS MY NOSE!
Just be glad you aren't me with my big dumb caveman brow and have to look at eyebrows all the time
You are now thinking about breathing.
Don't think about your tongue either
bignose here :( , shit sucks
You are also breathing manually.
Between you and Yammie, I've learned a LOT that I didn't know before.
Old rider here, contemplating getting back on 2 wheels after a 13yr hiatus.
Don't listen to yammie, he's not as good of a rider as he thinks he is.
@@Celestial-Idiot Yet he still has some good insights and despite him being an utter prat on the streets, he at least openly admits it and warrants his viewers not to do the same.
Hypocrisy? Absolutely. But I can respect a person that can look in a mirror and call out their imperfections then make an example of themselves of what to/not to do :)
@@Celestial-Idiot He always says exactly that himself. So no.
@Mr TriL Yikes!
You just need to find a good riding road out in the countryside and away from city idiots
Me too, 55 years though! But it soon comes back....
like swimming or riding a pushbike. You don't forget.
Here in the UK, Police riders are taught to move across the width of their lane when approaching a junction with a car emerging. It shows a change of the movement in the driver's peripheral vision, makes you visible earlier due to the reduced angle of the corner, and gets you out of the A-pillar blind spot if you were in it. We don't advocate waving, as hand signals can be misunderstood. You don't want somebody to think you're turning or inviting them to pull out.
Great video, much better to understand issues like this so you can predict and mitigate, rather than just blame car drivers
This should be a part of every lesson when obtaining any lic.
Mandatory part when taking license for motorcycle in Sweden
They taught us that, sure you can increase your visibility by wearing an orange or neon vest, but what r-e-a-l-l-y increases your visibility, is wearing a white helmet.
Better is, if your motorcycle is also white!
And if that white bike happens to be a BMW R100 with pannier bags, it is even better,
then people will see you!
And if that white BMW also happens have blue-lights and "POLICE" written all over it, you can be sure that everybody sees you and knows where you are at every moment...
@@per6605 So the best way to be seen is to ride disguised as a clown, no thanks, I would rather die than lose my dignity like that...
@@adridell Yea, but think of all the horror you will spread? Everybody looking at their speedometers, as soon as they see you, as if their life depend on it?
@@per6605 now i know why police cars are usually painted with white.
@@adridell We are okay with you killing your self. The issue is when you take some elses life with you, because you were to cool for high-vis clothing
Right on the money. If anyone watches the MC clips on Moto Madness, you'll see loads of riders smashing car mirrors, flipping them off and screaming on how they "almost died" because a vehicle didn't see them, usually when the rider is in the cars blind spot. These riders truly don't see these drivers as people who made a mistake, but as people who actually tried to kill them with their incompetence.
In my 38 yrs on a bike, I always tell people who ride, they should be paranoid but not scared. If you ride like you're invisible, even when they're looking straight at you, you can then AVOID even being in a position to get hit. Murphy's Law on the road..
Great video..
Cheers
Ditto
I agree with you on point about motorcyclists creating a conflict situation then moaning about it. Lots of good reasons to read a potential conflict situation and then wisely avoid it or more realistically manage a situation to your advantage. Good advice my father gave was to put a car or two between you and an erratic or aggressive car driver. A blip of the throttle and you can be in a clear section of road. If I make a mess of something and unintentionally cut someone up I'll happily allow the disadvantaged to pass. Serves two purposes; allows me to keep a problem or upset car driver where I can see them while also putting them in a situation where they're wondering what I'm doing. Being on a motobike I can easily push past if I want to be in front again so letting them pass is an allusion of power not a transfer of power.
B Haddock It sounds like you're making it harder than it needs to be. (hard to tell with just a short paragraph, ya know?) I follow a few simple rules. I don't trust ANY driver to do the right thing, so I just create distance. IF someone is driving poorly, erratic...whatever, then it's MUCH better to get them in front of you where you can keep an eye on them and can't box you in from behind. Also, NEVER spend any amount of time in that "blind spot", either fall back or accelerate up to the front tire. That 7 or 8 o'clock position is a death trap. The last thing, si when I'm in traffic I try and always position myself so I have 3 "outs"...a place to dive into quickly if someone is going to try and occupy the same space as me.
Besides all that, we have to always be aware of road conditions, holes...tar if it's hot..uneven or grated construction......as well as debris in the road. Last thing, if the sun is low and in your face....I prefer to have a cig for 20 minutes till, the sun sets. This is the time of day when people can't even see a car in front of them, let alone a smaller bike...(and my bike is one of the biggest, 1/2 a ton FLHTCU)
All that, and ALWAYS practice your emergency braking in an open parking lot....I still do on occasion even after all these years. So many riders having the front tire slide out...QUICKEST way to get SLAMMED to the pavement.
Man, another long one...lol..sorry.
Cheers!
Other than the time a Prius (it's always a fucking Prius, I swear) tried to change lanes while I was directly beside them and slightly ahead (you know, the single most obvious place I could possibly be) in the middle of the day, I can agree with this. As much as it might be hard for some people to admit it, it's many times the motorcyclist's fault for putting themselves in a situation that had many points of danger. This is why I never, ever, not even for fun, pass to the right without giving myself a very wide berthing, an entire lane, at least. I see guys nailing it at triple digits speeds to the right of semis and think to myself, you're going to be a horror story your family tells people to scare them away from motorcycles.
also... for the views.
Apparently people on motorcycles freaking out instead of being calm and assessing a situation with logic and intelligence is more entertaining.
5:56 Officer, I had to do a wheelie to make sure drivers could see me...
In India, we are taught to view motorcycles as hazards since childhood. It's hard for us to un-see one.
Sounds bad but if you think of it makes alot of sense
That's a good thing.
Such hy bhai as a Biker in Pak😅
I heard it smells really bad in Mumbai. Like the worst stench ever known. Is that true?
@@CleanTeamSolutions perhaps the person who told you this farted after eating spicy pav bhaji... Otherwise, Mumbai should smell as good as New York
One of the greatest uploads ever for motorists.
My brother just visited me and said: I almost killed another biker, I swear I was looking but I never saw him coming.
I said: OK, let us watch this video together.
I could use this in a safety talk at work.
I work in the rail industry.
Training guys to look for trains and actually look.
" Go tell a car driver that "
You are one of a kind. Keep getting this stuff online!
@@tygonelemans7898
Hehe.. it's all Ryan's awesomeness xD
Cheers!
inb4 "motorcyclists are all vagrants who only ride to break the law and upset good ol' hard workin' church goers and create noise pollution"
Great video. I do a weave from side to side when approaching a busy intersection. The brain processes lateral movements much better than something coming straight on.
Hey PatW I’m a church goer, and your fucked up you ignorant jackass!
Just bought a bike, my first one
I was scared so I searched a lot of reviews and materials to be sure what I was doing.
I subscribed immediately
Awesome channel dude
Keep up the good work
learn your bike! push it to its limits just make sure you know when to do so...
watch motojitsu
Dude, I do not even own a bike and I watch him just because he makes good content :D
I hope to have a bike soon ;)
How’s the bike been ?
@@ethanfoster5658 it's been great!
For a hobby is awesome, fun, relaxing and an incredible learning experience.
I wouldn't use it as a "main" way of transportation, as I live in a big busy city, that would remove the fun and relaxing part.
I upgraded from my first bike already
🤘
That last one rings particularly true. I rode for 3 years with a matte black helmet and have been merged into quite a number of times. I've had to send it back under warranty and the shop lent me a bright yellow Arai for a couple weeks. Same commute, same season, same roads with probably the same people driving the same cars, yet I could clearly see the difference. People saw me, and acted accordingly.
I wrapped my bike in a Arctic Camo, and I can say it stands out in a "crowd" aka traffic... People not only see my bike, but they seem to pay a lot more attention to me. My riding gear, is a Matte black with High Gloss Pearl White reflective designs on it. The rest of my stuff is white and black... SO white it is NOT bright colors like high pink or safety orange... The contrasting colors on the wrap and my gear, really stands out to the "bland" monotone chunks of bla of the rest of the vehicles around me. SO while I agree high vis colors do make you stand out, so can standard colors, if done well.
If you want to see what my bike looks like my IG: exmachina77 ( instagram.com/exmachina77 )
@@JJ_ExMachina I Plastidiped my bike in fluorescent orange (Blaze). I've swapped bikes with a friend who has the same bike in white. Seeing my bike in his mirrors, I can certainly say my bike stood out far more than his bike.
Amazing! A useful RUclips comment based on real-life experience! Thank you! :)
@@gasdive yep plan on doing some high vis reflective color splotches throughout my bikes camo pattern, and on my helmet. Figured the black and white of the Artic Camo would look pretty good with some bright color splotches.
@@JJ_ExMachina Sound great!
Much of your content should be mandatory DMV/Motorcycle Training material! Really excellent delivery of key survival information for bikers!
as a new rider i can't say how much i appreciate your divulgative work, thank you so much!!! Italian fan here ✌
Ryan, you are brilliant. Thanks for the high quality episodes with always accurate and well-researched information. Your presentation is entertaining and easily absorbed. I learn something every time you post.
Great video, hard to believe but they keep getting better.
Really
I always enjoy your videos... but I think this may be the BEST ONE Ever!
as a former EMT -- and the 'victim' of TWO crashes where cars hit ME {the first one was nearly Fatal!} and both drivers said they never saw me -- I am always aware of my visibility in traffic ! Even with flashing lights and reflective colors on our vehicles, and 'safety vests' on, we still are at a High Risk of getting HIT by other drivers! They can get fixated on the red lights on the ambulance of fire trucks, and not SEE US!
I see people in heavy traffic on little tiny under-powered scooters, and think about how that is like a pedestrian walking in the middle of traffic!
Another case of 'invisibility' is when you are following a large vehicle, such as a semi or cargo/delivery truck, and you 'become part of that vehicle' ... Your silhouette 'fits inside' of the vehicle, and those behind you may not realize YOU are 50 to 100 feet BEHIND the truck, rather than part of it, and they base their stopping distance on the truck!
I know that 'some' riders WANT to be almost invisible, so they can 'get away' or 'disappear' when they are spotted by Police ... or they want to look 'sinister' ... but they could soon look DEAD when a driver pulls out in front of them or changes lanes and doesn't see them approaching. In BOTH of the crashes I mentioned above, I WAS wearing bright colors, and riding modestly...and STILL was not seen...
Glad you're still here mate, thanks for sharing.
I always ping all adjacent cars with a paint ball gun to help keep them alert. They really start looking around.
No wonder they try to run you over
I just think it’s funny that Ryan had to film himself doing the worm in a public park.
Him: Wear Red
Me: Sooooo I’ve now decided to dress like female Deadpool
Who wouldn't want to see female Deadpool on the road? ;D
I like to dress a Little Red Riding Hood. Except the wind blows my skirt up over my hips. Awkward sometimes, since I am a 55 year old balding hetero man.
@@michaeldelano3645 i love this comment
i mean if youre more likely to see violence or something sexy.. wouldnt it be smart for a women to ride in like a Bikini?
@@ybk6858 Great idea, then when women bail and cover their entire body in road rash you'll be even more visible!
I keep saying this but just Like Amazon did the Grand Tour , Netflix should get you guys on a contract ...
No fuck that, it's free here and he still gets paid, don't ruin it :)
F netflix
F9 netflix
I watched Top Gear religiously when it was a thing, 1st season of Grand Tour was complete garbage, it got better on the 2nd season and on... but I've stopped watching it
And why the fuck should everyone and everything be owned by big corporations!?
I think this should be mandatory viewing by all riders both experienced and beginners! It's just like finding that fascinating documentary serendipitously, but informative and potentiality lifesaving. Now I have subscribed without hesitation. Please do not stop making these!!!!
As a Bicyclist for decades, I've already mastered this skill of temporary invisibility (they see you when they get angry, lol) ages ago.
It will suit me well when I get my motorbike :3
Here is my hot take! Blinking lights
although ive been watching your videos for months now, i just got my licence last week and need to rewatch absolutely everything. thanks man, you really could be saving peoples lives with these vidoes.
I've no doubt that's happening
I find it easier to just assume that people won't see me, will cut me off, will merge into me, will run the red light, will brake late, etc. Helped me survive in a city with a population of over 2mil people ( and there's the 15mil+ people from the surrounding cities ) for the past 3 years. I still get hit every now and then, but in a country where about 100 people dies from traffic incidents every day, that's nothing.
Best comment yet! Assume.
I live in Brazil I ride everyday and that's exactly how you have to ride to survive a motorcycle out here. Out here when you're learning to ride a bike most people will tell you that you have to drive for everyone else
What city is it where u live ? A 100 people a day is a huge number
@@Delb9891 does sound high enough
Love your comment 'I still get hit every now and then'... Cool. Respect.
i hope you make a lot of money from this channel. the research, the writing, the production that goes into your videos is fricken amazing. another fantastic video f9, thank you!
You say wear red for safety.
Has Star Trek taught you nothing?
I guess it is working, they get seen very well and subsequently the get shot.
Seems a less than ideal outcome though.
Love this!
@@thebaumfaeller1477 that makes the most sense.
had to google this, glad I did
Just wanted to leave a thank you on this video. Yesterday I was out for a ride and as I was slowing down to turn left off of a highway I was nearly rear ended by a distracted driver. I was watching him approach in my mirror and luckily the oncoming lane was empty. I was able to dodge the attack🥋 and ride home to tell my family all about it. Thank you, Ryan.
Great presentation. I rode, well still ride, a bicycle for years to get around - poor student for too long but I spent my time watching and learning. You really do have a cloak of invisibility around you. I learned many valuable lessons during that time. It has fully translated to motorcycle riding, and, not surprisingly, works as a car driver too! Added to the whole mix is a very large dose of patience. My "mantra" is that if I'm on my bike [either one actually], I'm not in a hurry. Makes riding ever so much easier, relaxed. I've even timed runs from place to place using car and bike and the differences are negligible. So, take it easy and remember that the cars are there to kill you. Think happy thoughts. =D
Patience is key to so many things in life. I’m glad there is one thing that gets easier as I get older.
Excellent. All your videos are good, but this was one of the best. Great research, well conveyed!
This is brilliant. I train hazard identification in the workplace and this hits all the issues we try to bring awareness to. Well done.
Damn this was *good* information! An instructor tried to explain this 'invisibility factor' to our class years ago, but your detailed description here went far beyond that. : )
Every Fortnine video is done amazingly well. No boring lulls, no boring ways of explaining, awesome editing, great monologues, subtle, and obvious jokes. Probably the very best RUclipsr I follow.
When I bought my first little 'bike (A GS125) I was told "Ride as if everyone is trying to kill you" by an experienced rider friend. Possibly the best advice I've ever been given!
Most informative video on the most informative bike channel on RUclips. Great job, Ryan, you guys keep upping your game.
Just the best bike channel on RUclips. Also worth taking advanced training once you have been riding a while. In the UK we have a thing called BikeSafe. You get to ride with the bike cops for a day. They really put you through your paces. Plus some of the training about road positioning would probably have you fail your actual bike test. And no, they don't hang around. My police instructor was supernaturally quick and it looked effortless too. Whether you like the cops or not, can't deny their skills. Now...about that court appearence for speeding...
Mr Hmm Recently passed my CBT and hadn't heard of BikeSafe, gonna check it out cause it sounds super interesting!
Definitely worth it, it's approximately £40 for the course, which means it is heavily subsidised. Some gems from the course - bright pink is the best hi-viz you can wear (if you can bring yourself to wear it). Get foglights (they call them riding lights) for your bike. A headlight and two riding lights will make you stand out and look bigger. This definitely works - have them on my bike. Don't filter at speed. Should only be going about 10 mph faster than slow moving or stationary traffic. Watch out for gaps etc. Also, if you have "filtering hero" on your tail I always pull in and let them go.
Mr Hmm Where are you based? I'm in Bristol and would be up for a ride some time if you wanted!
It's well worth doing and you will learn loads but I don't know if it may interfere with your MOD1 & 2 training. As I understand it, advanced positioning is not what they want to see on the MOD 1 & 2 tests.
I'm based just North of London, so a bit of a trek.
A lot of motorcyclists need this information just for them to stop raging at everyone and start understanding, that it's the way human brain works. Less rage and more understanding, I say.
no they don't all the points in this video are just excuse if you pay attention when your drive like you should and like most motorcyclist do then there wouldn't be a problem but instead people are on their phones or half asleep or drunk or just plain not looking before they merge or make a turn.
I’m terribly sorry for what happened to you and I sincerely hope you continue to recover. I also can’t even begin to fathom your frustration with your situation. But the original commenter on this thread does have a point. And so do you.
Way too many people ARE ignorant and make stupid decisions. The girl you mentioned made the decision to be on her phone and not watch where she was going. People do choose to drive impaired. People do drive recklessly. And that’s their fault and it needs to change.
But, as the video explained, the way our brain is wired also works against us, even when not being careless. UNDERSTANDING why and how that works is good for drivers and riders alike because the more we understand how perception and visibility work, the better the choices we both can make. Drivers can be better equipped to know what to look for with motorcycles, and motorcyclists know where they are more vulnerable and can adjust to ride defensively.
I think the commenter wasn’t making excuses for willfully ignorant drivers, but rather, appreciating a better understanding of those who do take care but make mistakes so that we can all learn from it.
This information is not only for motorcyclists. Car drivers (undertakers of the four-wheeled coffin as I call them) also need it
yea you get those situations where motorcycles appear until everybody world at 20 mph over the speed limit and expect everybody to understand what's going on instantly.
@@pokeyexpressor4265 amen!
Good editing, GOOD audio, good pacing, perfect enunciation and tones, well developed ideas, and excellent example/explantion. There are MAAAANY on youtube that you are blowing out of the water. I just found this channel and wish it had been around when i was 16 and started riding. some of your vids is stuff they teach but alot of your vids was stuff i had to learn/figure out for myself. I thankfully never had a crash and never had a laydown at faster than 1mph but I havent ridden in 10 years due to personal health and i still aint at 40 yet. I miss it soooooo much.
I’m still binge watching you’re channel. This one is a gem. It explains that famous « sorry I didn’t see you » that we to often ear after an accident.
This should be part of driver's education courses now. Great work!
A motorcyclist makes a better car driver
I always like your videos, but this one was off the chart excellent. I barely avoided turning in front of another car the other day because the car was behind my right windshield support column. I was amazed that I didn't see it - now I know why.
I waggle my head from side to side when driving a car up to an intersection.
I didn't see a steam train in front of me once. True story. See vid above for reasons why.
The jump in the quality of your videos is astounding. When I discovered this channel a few years ago I just didn't quite like the videos all that much. But this one, this one rocks.
Screw Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, just jump on a motorcycle.
Here is my hot take! Blinking lights
Outstanding presentation!!!
This should be played at every vehicle training session on earth. So much broader than just motorcycles.
Ironically, I see you posted this 2 years ago and I never saw it before, perhaps I have a touch of excellent content blindness!
It's an impressive review of the reasons drivers often don't percieve motorcycles... The resulting conclusion is that one should ride as if we are invisible always. This requires both a defensive and active approach to self-safety, and it completely removes the type of angry assertiveness about "who is correct". The best choice is to never let a car touch you, no matter who is in the right, because the consequences for collision fall disproportionately on motorcyclists. This lesson was taught to me before I got on a bike, and I firmly live it every day I ride.
Ryan, this was a brilliant resource. I learned so much. Understanding that biker invisibilty is an explicable optical and behavioural paradigm, not just " shit drivers" really came clear to me. Really love your channel. Keep it up !
Not sure how I came across this channel but it's great! Love this shit. I was dying just reading the video title .
check out his exploring canada videos
Your profile pic is one in a million...instantly recognizable.👍
Plus, it's comedy. I can't stop looking at it.🙂
I was certified as an MSF Instructor back in 1990. I maintained my certification up until a few years ago, and attended every annual update. I've also taken numerous safety courses on my own (both on and off the track) and I have to admit... I learned a LOT from watching this video. Nice job! Already shared with multiple motorcycling communities and I hope it goes viral!
Excellent!!...I have been preaching this for years. As predators we percieve movement " above all else
I have been a proponent of ",make them see u"
And
" change the timing" so you do bot arrive in intersection when their subconcious is saying " turn now"
Great video..!! As always
How is this level of insight,intelligence and production quality even possible. The Fortnine team consists of superior human beings
All I got from this is be threatening & sexy to be safe. That’s going to be tough for me.
Just hit up your local bdsm store. Everyone knows you're supposed to ride in leather...
Just buy a red Ducati, people will ignore the rest. :D
Tsvetan Tsekov I wish I had that kind of money
Perhaps, but it feels like strapping a pair of prosthetic breasts onto my back might make it more likely that I get run over.
Chris L decent spine protection though.
The Bill Nye video editor is strong with you.
@Jicari Hickory Hill I take it you are referring to climate change; I hate to break it to you so bluntly, but we really are in deep shit.
When the motorcycle instructor rolls the television into the classroom
I love how fortnine is able to not just make fun content that informs, they can style-parody so many genres and do it well.
I continue to be impressed by Fortnine. Very informative, well produced video. As motorcyclists, “invisibility” is something we should always keep in mind. Let’s face it, many drivers are not paying as much attention as they should, but even the most diligent drivers sometimes have difficulty seeing a motorcycle, especially if the rider is not not doing his/her best to be visible. Some tactics that have served me well in 40+ years riding: NEVER assume a driver sees you. Assume they don’t. Make it easier for drivers to see you by trying to stay in their line of sight when possible. This usually means riding close to the centre line or lane dividing line. DON’T “shy away” from vehicles by hiding in the centre of the lane or worse yet, close to the curb side. This is a serious mistake that comprises rider safety by guaranteeing invisibility at least some of the time. Another tactic is what I call dynamic lane positioning. When in traffic, try not to be static in relation to the traffic around you, allowing drivers to forget you’re there. Be dynamic; make yourself a moving target that’s hard to ignore, rev your engine a little, change lanes if you see someone getting sleepy, or creepy. Never underestimate the power of courtesy. Some drivers have been frightened by loud exhaust or aggressive riders. This doesn’t serve us well. We want drivers to be our allies, not our adversaries. It’s often essential for our safety to be assertive, but if we’re courteous and friendly, drivers are more likely to look out for us. Thanks again, Fortnine.
I love your videos Ryan, lots of common sense with great humour. Ride safe.
Are we not going to mention how awesome this parody of Bill Nye is? Bringing back PBS memories.
Bill Nye is a phony nutbag.
STORY TIME!!! I was taught to know what and how many cars were behind me beside me and in front of me, my instructor would pull away the mirror and ask how many cars if we didn't know we got a failed grade. Some failed, most learned how to keep a constant awareness about them. This skill alone has saved me from car accidents countless times. I was once passing someone and out of nowhere they jump to my lane if I had not reacted and moved into the turning lane and slammed on the gas (because i knew it was clear thanks to this training) I would of been in an accident likely that driver would of rolled there SUV or I would of been crushed. I was at the mid point of there SUV. (in a tiny car)
For sure. I've had many "near misses" where I thought someone would pull in front of me. Always try to make sure they can see you or hang back. The minute you'll save speeding through isn't worth the risk of a life lost
I play find the motorcycle on car rides with my son instead of the punch buggy (find the VW beetle) game so he grows up always noticing bikes. Although since he is growing up a rider himself it will be programed into him anyways.
So I'm not the only person that does that... I've been doing it forever (in a car I mean...I'm a fairly new rider), and would pop-quiz the kids as I was teaching them to drive..."Without looking, what kind of vehicle and what colour..behind, and in the lanes to the side." It's a great way to always be just a little bit more aware of what's around you...and when you're about to switch lanes and your brain says, "Wait a minute...there was somebody there 2 seconds ago...where did they go?"
It's funny too, that both kids have that knack for being able to say, "Watch this guy...he's about to do something stupid..."..and then THEY DO. I think the reason is because you've been watching them without thinking about it and have already noticed that they have no idea how to merge, are moving like they're texting, etc... I do it all the time, and my wife always says, "How did you know???" It's not really a skill...it's like EpicBigWhale said; I've learned to keep a constant awareness about me, and it's something that just happens without having to consciously do it.
No? we were taught to remember what was behind us yes, but not to assume. If we didn't know we were told not to guess, because assuming is just as bad as not knowing. If it seemed like we guessed he would call us out on it. He had been teaching for a long time, 20+ years. one little story will not explain how he tough us things.
@@SimonWoodburyForget Nobody in this little conversation is assuming anything. We know what's there or not there because we've been looking and making a point to notice things and be aware of them.
We're not scanning less, as you say, we're scanning more, AND we're making a specific point of seeing what we've scanned, and remembering what it was, where it was, if it was texting, weaving, changing lanes without looking or signalling. We don't assume we know what's around us and just drive on those assumptions. We look, check mirrors, check over our shoulders like everyone else...but when a situation occurs, one where (as you say,) "When you're driving there is no time to think", we have to do a lot less thinking and can react quicker and in a safe manner. Ladder falls off the truck ahead, "Can I stop?"...No. Okay, swerve and avoid. How about right? Nope, already know where's a blue mini-van in that lane..been watching it for a long time. How about right? There's a red Civic over there, but without looking I know he's about 60' back, so yes, the left lane is clear and without having to check mirrors and look over my shoulders, I can swerve into that open lane and avoid the obstacle. "
"If you're predicting what people do, it also means you're becoming trained to drive like them." ...what? Noticing strange behavior while doing the what's-around-me thing allows me (us, whoever) to mentally plunk a 'watch this guy' sign on them. Seeing people do dumb things while driving has not taught me to speed, merge onto a highway at 40km/h, stop dead in the merge lane, text and drive, drive drunk, swerve while I'm juggling my morning coffee, cigarette, and newspaper....
I commented on what I do, and that it happened to be the same as the other 4 people in this side-conversation, and that it's worked out well for us. You are making a lot of presumptions about us and our habits ASIDE from us playing the what's-around-me game. I taught my wife to drive, and then both kids. Aside from someone going through a stop sign and hitting the side of my truck while I was stopped in traffic at a stoplight, myself, my wife, and both kids have logged a total of zero accidents in our combined 77 years of driving. We'll be talking and the kids will often comment on how people they drive with have no idea what's around them and they also say the what's-around-me game has allowed them to safely avoid several potential accidents.
Yes, we did all watch the video. Your brain gives you false memories, yes. But, further to that, it fills in blanks with information from the past if it has no current data, or if there was data there but you didn't see it because you were paying attention to something else. That's why what's-around-me is so helpful...you're not relying on false memories...you're collecting the data constantly, so you KNOW. Neither you (nor your brain) has to assume and fill in the blank.
Your brain will fill in the blanks if something becomes constant and mundane. Making a specific point to watch that traffic behind you and to the left and right with the 'game' keeps it those zones active, and filled with real-time data, as opposed to being a mystery that your brain might just throw stuff into to take up space.
Maybe you're saying that what we're doing is not enough...? Well, I hope you understand that we try to do all the other things that good drivers do as well, but since the what's-around-me game was mentioned, we all said, "Hey me too, and I find it works well."
"This assumption you're taking that you actually know what's around you is what causes accidents. Just because you remember what cars are behind you doesn't mean you saw all the cars behind" You're splitting hairs here.... Quizzing the kids on what's back there isn't saying that they'll be able to list off 30 vehicles....it's to get them used to looking. To build that habit; knowing what's behind you and beside you, in addition to (obviously) what's going on in front of you.
So..that's what I do, and it works for me. The other people have said it works for them too. As said, you made a lot of presumptions about us and our driving habits..pretty much all of them wrong. I will continue to keep a mental image of what's around me and update that image with frequent scans.
I was driving on the Autobahn in Germany yesterday. I wanted to go to the left lane to overtake. Was already doing 100mph so you don't expect something coming from behind with all that much speed difference. Just as I switch on my blinker I could just see a little yellow spot coming closer at an enormous rate. Do I quickly abort the overtake and whoosh comes a bike past me at double my speed 😅 He was wearing fully high visibility clothes. Had he just been in black I would have never seen him coming. In my head I was really cheering for this guy. Good man 😎 Or woman of course 😎
I’m just now getting into motorcycling and all of the videos this guy created are absolutely legendary!
Thanks dude
Why is this video just empty landscapes?!
because everything else is invisible.
Because you find Canada non threatening and boring. The red flag doesn't make it sexy enough.
@@nyetloki We apologize...
@@nyetloki Best reply ever. You win the internet.
@@mrN3w7 Best reply to a reply. And YOU win the internet, and you win the internet, and you....
Good points. Loud pipes also helps, I don´t fancy honking my horn in every intersection (some may be too loud for the law, but so is honking my horn without any imminent danger, where I live). What´s most important, though, I think is minding your position relative to other traffic. Always make sure you see the (side) mirrors of the vehicle in front of you. Some small LED´s placed low on your forks will make a triangle of lights that make you more visible and easier to distinguish as a motorcycle. And remember to tap the brakes a few times when decelerating, even though engine brake is enough, just to flash the vehicle behind you making them aware of your actions.
I'm loving the Bill Nye parody!!
Quality work, thanks!
Brilliant work, Ryan!
I've always held that drivers subconsciously respond to threat levels too... Heavy vehicles are seldom "missed" by car drivers since they are a danger, unlike motorcycles...
absolutely. I get so much more respect when I drive my Sprinter van. I LIKE it!
This video(s) should be mandatory in schools. This is top notch lecture, at least at University level.
I just weave back and forth. It’s fun and everyone sees it.
I was taught to alter position when moving into a junction, apparently it gives the driver more of a chance to see you before he/she pulls out. Plus I move out to give a bigger clearance.
I do that as well. It is fun to watch the drivers noticing you instead of continuing to nap on the way to work.
I hold down the horn at every intersection or when I see people lined up to turn on stroads.
Thanks, Ryan, now I consciously started seeing my nose.
F9 the science guy
no, its Ryan
Good job!
I move my arms and wobble a bit, prn, I do that with my Miata, too. Nothing makes a driver sit up straight more than a vehicle doing the unexpected. Still, not everyone will notice, you have to pay attention to anyone who can possibly hit you, without going down the target fixation path to pain. When I coached dinghy racing I taught my students to "take a picture", that is, deliberately turning their head to consciously note the position, speed, and direction of nearby boats, then quickly bringing their heads back to neutral. I find a version of this useful on the road.
Making it into a game keeps you alert.
I doubt you guys actually read these comments but I really love your channel, I’ve learned a lot about riding and being safer when I do so.
3:30 - Ouch! That public information film still makes me jump.
(And I'm a Brit, so seen it many times before).
He missed one of the ways (sitting in blind spots) that's another way to make yourself invisible.
i totally agree if you sit in someones blind spot as you are in a fast lane or what not, you are endangering yourself and them get some speed pull up or in front of them to say hey there is a motorcycle on the road!
Ipley Cross intersection deserves a mention, in terms of blind spots that do not move relative to each other! singletrackworld.com/2018/01/collision-course-why-this-type-of-road-junction-will-keep-killing-cyclists/
That's a different issue to what the video was covering, these are all reasons why a bike that should be visible is missed. Being in a blind spot is a bike in a place where it's not visible but it's equally as important because as riders we have much more control over where we are in relation to other vehicles.
He sort of hinted to it, but didn’t cover it. Maybe it’s just a giving...
I'm surprised that you didn't even mention running with the headlight on, or with a modulator. This is instant "motion" and attracts the eye.
When I was lane splitting on the work commute 5 days a week, the headlamp modulator was The. Best. Bike. Mod. Ever. Before, I had to 'negotiate' my way through. After, people actually made room as I approached.
I share this with all my friends every year as the riding season nears to get their brains thinking and out of hibernation. Awesome breakdown for those on two or four wheels.
The production quality of your videos is absolutely legendary. Thank you for raising the bar. No one does it like you. You are the best.
I always ride with a lit fire 🔥
A cigar?
Aux cord
"So wheelies in residentials... for safety!"
Got it, sir!
For low $$$, I bought a pair of LED lamps that have three functions; high, low and 3 flash burst. I run on flash always and when a buddy told me I was too bright, I aimed them down somewhat. Only one LEO in NV has pulled me over and we had a friendly chat. Upon my suggestion, he searched in vain for 5 minutes, trying to find a ticketable issue with my white lamps. I emphasize white, because in NV, there are no regs. Red, blue and yellow are right out. Works for me.
i have been hit by 6 cars on bikes. 1 was a bmx the rest had motors. this video is the TRUTH and i share it with everyone i know who rides. thank you for this video.
Coming from a student of cognitive psychology; this video is great. ;) Love your style. I don't even ride and still watch your videos daily. Drive safe and expect human error boys and girls.
Nice citations there at the end!
When I'm riding, I just think nobody sees me so I take precautions, I move out of the way, I give way to car drivers, cause I don't want to be killed 🤣
Beams? What is this, sci-fi??
They're a-pillars!
Ryan is a motorcyclist - he wouldn't know about ABC Pillars on four wheelers !!
I just stumbled on this but the advise I've always given to new riders is to ride like you are invisible simply because you can't count on drivers to see you. The other advise I give is to get away from cars, put distance between you if at all possible without running off of the road. If there is an open lane away from a car move over to it, if you are going the same speed as a car next to you speed up or slow down to get away from them, you can also just move over in your lane if there isn't another to get to. That will keep you safe if they do something stupid. Something else I do it to flash my high beam headlight at cars at intersections or cross roads to get their attention. In the video he said to honk but most bike horns are so low powered that you can't hear them plus it's hard for drivers to tell which direction the sound is coming from, a flashing light is much better. Have you ever been in traffic and hear a siren but can't tell where it's coming from then see the lights of a cop or fire truck? It beats installing train horns on your bike.
Ride like you're the Invisible Man. Been saying this to new riders for 40 years... and you put the reason for this into an excellent video. Well done!