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Post by scootdudeman on May 19, 2011 12:29:37 GMT -5
In all truth your biggest danger zone is the place where most assume that they are the safest. The 25 mph zone is where most scooterists get into trouble not on a highway. They forget their MSF training and ride in the dead zone and that is when and where they mostly get clipped. They become inattentive and forget the rules for looking ahead and seeing dangerous situations before they happen. If you are cautious without being paranoid when you go out on a highway this is a good thing as you will be paying more than the usual attention and not less. You will then be safer then when riding someplace that you are very comfortable/complacent with. I'd rather get clipped at 25 mph than nailed at 70.
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Post by D-cat on May 19, 2011 14:31:50 GMT -5
Has anybody ever seen the video series of those guys that took a motorcycle trip around the globe? They get through the eastern block, Mongolia, Siberia etc with some difficulty but relatively safe, then one gets rear ended on an American highway! Luckily at this point he has so much riding skill from high speed poor/off-roading around the world that he kept it up (and those giant steel saddle bags kept the rear wheel from jamming under the bumper), but man that has to say something about the drivers across the globe and here.
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Post by nomech on May 19, 2011 21:57:06 GMT -5
I've ridden everything from minibikes to Harleys(1200cc) to Yamaha/Honda (700+cc) to my scoot (250cc). I've never enjoyed riding behind a big rig. I either pass or drop back. When it comes to riding my scoot on the highway, I don't even hesitate. It's a fun little bike! I worry more about making sure I have tools with me (just in case ) than worry about the riding experience. I think the best advice that I could give would be: If you're nervous, work your way up to it by riding 30mph city streets, then 45mph city streets, then 55mph highway. If you're scared, you don't belong on that particular road. By the way, highway riding on back roads is much easier than riding in the city...less to watch out for!!
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Post by kens97sto171 on May 19, 2011 22:37:07 GMT -5
Has anybody ever seen the video series of those guys that took a motorcycle trip around the globe? They get through the eastern block, Mongolia, Siberia etc with some difficulty but relatively safe, then one gets rear ended on an American highway! Luckily at this point he has so much riding skill from high speed poor/off-roading around the world that he kept it up (and those giant steel saddle bags kept the rear wheel from jamming under the bumper), but man that has to say something about the drivers across the globe and here. Great show.. it was called Long Way Round. They also did Long Way Down, and one about the Dakar Rally. I believe LWR and LWD are availiable on NetFlix for rent. Very cool show Ewan McGreggor and Charlie.. were the riders.
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Post by cycoon on May 20, 2011 19:54:26 GMT -5
I've ridden everything from minibikes to Harleys(1200cc) to Yamaha/Honda (700+cc) to my scoot (250cc). I've never enjoyed riding behind a big rig. I either pass or drop back. When it comes to riding my scoot on the highway, I don't even hesitate. It's a fun little bike! I worry more about making sure I have tools with me (just in case ) than worry about the riding experience. I think the best advice that I could give would be: If you're nervous, work your way up to it by riding 30mph city streets, then 45mph city streets, then 55mph highway. If you're scared, you don't belong on that particular road. By the way, highway riding on back roads is much easier than riding in the city...less to watch out for!! Good to know!
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Post by rockynv on May 20, 2011 21:32:45 GMT -5
In all truth your biggest danger zone is the place where most assume that they are the safest. The 25 mph zone is where most scooterists get into trouble not on a highway.... You will then be safer then when riding someplace that you are very comfortable/complacent with. I'd rather get clipped at 25 mph than nailed at 70. Dead is dead regardless if it happenes at 25mph or 75mph however in most cases the dead is happening here in the 25mph zones not on the high speed divided roads where everyone is going the same direction and there are no intersections with crossing traffic or stop lights. On the highway if someone crowds you most times you can split lanes on a bike or just fade off the throttle if you are paying attention however in the 25 zone when someone drives over you from the left lane to make an abrupt right turn or t-bones you coming out of a blind driveway you will end up taking the hit becoming crippled or more likely dead.
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Post by mainepeace on May 21, 2011 0:11:13 GMT -5
Sure dead is dead, but when you are going 25 mph you generally have more options than if you are going 75. Are you going to consider jumping off the bike to avoid a head on when you are going 75? It's a real possibility to do that when you are going 25, especially when there are grass filled drainage ditches along side farm roads, ones that don't exist on highways that have paved breakdown lanes. Going 75 you really can't turn that quickly to avoid an obstacle or you will lose control. Also, going 75 that obstacle is approaching at 3x the speed than if you are going 25.
Definitely you are not "safe" because you are just going 25, as there are just as many dangers. However, if I happen to be in the situation where the brakes have locked up and I'm heading right for a semi and I'm going 25, I'm going to tuck and roll. If you know how to hit the pavement going 25 you can do it and not get a scratch. Absolutely cannot do that at 75.
Greg
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Post by rockynv on May 21, 2011 10:48:09 GMT -5
Greg,
You do a swerve and hit the empty spot between lanes instead of dumping the bike. You really should not be following close enough that you have to lock them up if a semi stops in front of you at 25 mph unless you violated your training and are riding in the dead zone.
Our MSF instructors were very adamant the they never met someone who really had to dump their bikes and take a dive, only people that did not follow their training and got themselves into situations. Review and follow your MSF training and you will avoid most situations altogether and those that you do get into you will be able to get out of with just a raised pulse. If you have not taken the MSF course then I would highly reccomend htat you do so even if you are a veteran rider.
Be mindfull that even if you were in a cage a head-on into someone going the wrong way at a closing rate of 150 mph will kill you. On a bike however there will be a better chance of finding a hole to get out of it. Of course on a 75 mph highway it is even less likely to happen then on a city street as it is a one way divided road where everyone drives in the same direction.
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Post by damageplan67 on May 26, 2011 2:21:16 GMT -5
It depends on your state laws and I know that 50cc are not alowed on freways.The scooters that can go at freeway speeds and are made for long halls ect. are the 250cc and up.I would not recomend or take a scooter on a freeway with less and 250cc.
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Post by 260orbust on May 26, 2011 5:11:37 GMT -5
Thank you all for your advice and insight! But I think I'll stick to the local town roads on a 150cc. Once I get a more mighty scoot... perhaps. 250cc+ for sure. Also the experience issue. Maybe once I've got a few years under my belt, I can try the highways and freeways. Safety first! Thank you all again! With a China scooter you'll still be in the slow lane but it's do-able! It's just like riding on the street except you have to pay more attention to what the other clowns around you are doing. Scary at first but you quickly get used to it.
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Post by monkeywrench on May 27, 2011 13:36:07 GMT -5
I wouldn't take a 150 on the freeway, no. But my 250 is stable, even if it's just barely fast enough. One thing I'd recommend is learn to counter steer and do it until it's intuitive. I can handle a crosswind or sudden gust much more competently with a quick counter steer than by trying to shift my weight.
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Post by cycoon on May 27, 2011 17:58:57 GMT -5
Oh I know that taking a 150cc on a freeway is a bad idea. I am mainly going to be riding on my town's main street, and maybe 15 miles out of town on a 70 mph highway. But neither have much traffic at all. The limit in town is 35, 55 heading out towards where I live, and to my church.
So a decent 250cc would be able to meet all my needs, I think. More than that even. I just really like the size of the 250cc. It's comfortable, and seems much safer. Especially for someone of my hight. ( 6 ft.)
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Post by bigphillip79 on May 28, 2011 23:25:09 GMT -5
I think for where you live a 250 would serve you better. If you stayed in town a smaller scoot would be ok. You don't want those oil field trucks runnin up on you too quick when you go out a ways. A 250 you can hop on and ride anywhere. Even to Laredo or to the Mcallen area and keep up with traffic, or at least not be in their way too much. Shoot with a 250 you'd be able to ride it longer also before feeling like you need to upgrade.
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