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[Boxerboy]

Quote: "or even better get a headlight modulator. "

I wonder...in the U.S. when an oncoming driver 'flashes' his headlight it means: "I am yielding the right of way to you."

Does the headlight modulator get the same response from drivers? Remember these are cage drivers.

Here in Oz, flashing your headlight means the LEO's are just up the road! It's a warning to slow down and behave.

[NoRRmad]

Quote: "or even better get a headlight modulator. "

I wonder...in the U.S. when an oncoming driver 'flashes' his headlight it means: "I am yielding the right of way to you."

Is this so??? If I see a cage that might pull out in front of me, I give them three quick flashes to catch their attention. (Forgive me if I missed a joke...)

[camfarm]

Well, different experiences, but no joke....I have 'learned' that the flash is a yielding to you signal. I'd like to hear others' experiences or knowledge.

[geechie]

Well, different experiences, but no joke....I have 'learned' that the flash is a yielding to you signal. I'd like to hear others' experiences or knowledge.

Well, it depends on the situation. On a couple of local roads where, at times, traffic backs up and it's difficult to make a left, a couple of flashes to an oncoming car waiting with left turn indicator flashing, means: Go ahead. I'll give you a chance to turn in front of me.

Or if I'm preparing to turn left myself(off of the major road), and there is someone waiting at the stop for a chance to turn left onto the road where I am, (I have right of way to turn in front of them) and there is no oncoming traffic, but there is traffic behind me, I will flash to let the waiter know that I will wait (yield) for him to turn out in front of me. (Whew!)

On the open highway, a couple of flashes to oncoming cars means there is a trooper in wait up ahead.

At least that's pretty much the way we do it down here.

George

[huffergasen]

MRB -

A good safety upgrade as far as I am concerned is to swap the K-RS mirrors for the R's stock mirrors. The field of vision expands condiderably.

[NoRRmad]

Wow. So when I'm coming up to an intersection, and there's a cage stopped in the oncoming lane, waiting to turn left in front of me... and I flash my lights to say"here I am, don't forget the motorcycle!" What I'm really saying is "I see you, go ahead and turn?!"

I never heard that before. And I'm glad I know it now!

[camfarm]

If it's me, in a black Ford F150, then that's what I think you are saying....but I seldom go until a second confirmatory action like front dive from brakes (oops, not on a telelever bike).

Mr B, maybe hold off on the headlight modulator.

[MRB]

Hi DJ

The air bag jackets do have CE armor. Several police forces (including Tiawan) are using them for their motorcylce officers aparently. See http://cpimportsllc.com/police.html

The force necesary to inflate is around 30kg and you should notice the "tug" before you walk too far.

I am not convinced yet myself but it looks like it could be worthwhile.

[DJ Downunder]

I hate to be just looking at the negative side but is it true that you have to separate from the bike for it to work..what if just crash and slide along with the bike...maybe it should be voice activated..you yell the words "Oh Sh*t" and it inflates.. ..it sounds like you're very keen so maybe you should go for it and let us know what you think..maybe they are a good thing...I might even get one..

The Draggin's are great (I wear them most of the time) but good leather pants with knee and hip armor might be worth looking at also.

About that light flashing thing..if I see a car ahead that looks like he might be going to turn in front of me..I sometimes give my lights a flash just in case he hasn't seen me..I don't think it's giving him the ok to turn..IMHO.

DJ

[socalrob]

MRB,

I wear draggin jeans nearly every day as I commute in them, and on Sat & Sun I'm always ready for a quick ride. Not quite as comfortable as normal jeans, but hey, I've gotten used to them. I'm a bit nervous with them on 80-90mph runs on our heavily grooved concrete freeways in Los Angeles. For special motorcycle rides, like on Sundays up a mountain road, I feel better in cycle specific pants, I usually wear the BMW Airflow pants. They really don't let in much air & I have worn them down into the 40's & they work very well. They are very heavy textile with hip & knee CE armour. They also zip to my jacket, which I like as I always have images of my great gear sliding up or down & me going along the road on skin. I believe that if you go down at speed the draggin jeans will keep you from getting road debris in your road rash (meaning they wont fail), but you will still get burns as I don't think the kevlar will insulate you from the heat (still is a whole lot better than road rash)generated by the slide. KHaynes, a fellow Australian, had a git off a while back at I think 70mph & he was happy with the draggin jeans (& BMW Airflow jacket, which I wear in the summer). The cycle specific pants with armour are going to do a much better job protecting knees & hips from blunt force, and will most likely help to avoid even burns. You can also get some overpants that zip over your street clothes, which many commuters use.

The same applies to boots. I wear a middle high Dianese boot that is comfortable to walk in, as I wear them every day. For those special rides I am intending to get a boot that has more armour & flex protection (like moto GP type boot) but is less comfortable off the bike. Bones on this site has made some comments about how he thinks more care needs to be taken in consideration of boots, he sees trauma cases. Ala Bones, I'm also thinking about upgrading my gloves to more armoured & finding ones that stitch the little finger to the next finger.

Ride safe. I think something like 80 percent of serious bike crashes happen to riders in the first 6 months of riding. I re-entered just more than 2 years ago, & I can't believe how much better in control I am today. You don't realize how important just getting 10 to 15 thousand miles under your belt is. Just be very carefull & you'll do fine.

And no alcohol & riding for at least that first couple of years. 2 drinks & you are 40 times more likely to crash.

Sorry for the soap box.