Bikers Youtube thread

You're much more vunerable as a cyclist - they're slower, less visible, quieter, and (stereotyping here) put themselves into stupid situations quite often like running red lights or undertaking HGVs.

The videos are a snippet of life on 2 wheels - I've recorded all my commutes to work this week, all 200 miles of it - and I'll end up deleting all of it as there was nothing noteworthy that happened, apart from the usual minor stuff like cars starting to pull out before you're past them at roundabouts.

I can't remember the last time someone pulled out on me, either on a roundabout or side road - must be a good 6 months ago - and I've only ever had 3-4 'moments' of cars pulling out (all of which I've read and foreseen and avoided) or similar. My 2 off's were my (the bikes! ;)) fault. Been riding for 18 months now and held a full licence for a year as of yesterday - I've done around 18000 miles in that time.

So please don't think that every journey is a battle to stay alive, because it just isn't.

Oh and you soon realise how incompetent most drivers are, whether it's pootling along at 35mph in a 60mph zone, or weaving all over the road because they're on their phone, or not doing a shoulder check before moving lanes. As a biker, you develop a sixth sense towards drivers, you get to read drivers and a lot of the time you can tell what they're going to do, before they do it :p
 
Yeah I'm sure it'll be fine really. I know it was only 2 hours but whilst I was out on my CBT I never really felt threatened by any cars. Though I did have some chump brake late in front of me which made me have to do a semi emergency stop. Pretty chuffed I dealt with it correctly :)

It feels like I'm not going to have a bike for years yet :( my theory isn't until the 12th and the earliest I'll be able to book mod 1 and training is for 3 weeks. I'm a bit nervous about Mod 1. I found the slow speed stuff fine on a CG125 but don't know how I'll cope with a heavier 600. When I cycle to work I'm trying to imagine my bike is a motorbike so I keep through 'mirrors signal manoeuvre' and imagining I have indicators which I need to switch off lol. The high speed manoeuvre thing I'm a bit worried about. As I am about hill starts!


Sorry, went on a bit of an OT tangent there.
 
Took my S1000XR out earlier this week for a first ride at night, to test how good the headlights were. GoPro 3+ coped ok with the nighttime conditions but the exposure is a bit off - it wasn't that black - just not sufficient dynamic range to capture it.


They're surprisingly good - far better than the Aprilia Caponord that the BMW replaced. I had been considering changing them for HIDs or LEDs for a better daytime look but have decided to keep them based on this ride.
 
The_Abyss said:
Took my S1000XR out earlier this week for a first ride at night, to test how good the headlights were.
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Yep I agree. I had a spare HID kit laying about to see the difference, not much, slightly whiter light but that's it. Headlamps are v good.

XRHL1_zpsclsc4hoq.jpg


Mine is due for 1yr/6k service already, done nearly 7,000 miles :o
 
It is stereo but I had a 3rd party mic adaptor in for recording this, which probably blocks one of the channels. I normally use a mic in a belt bag on my back but have just bought some new gear to mount a different mic under the seat.
 
unKle said:
Yep I agree. I had a spare HID kit laying about to see the difference, not much, slightly whiter light but that's it. Headlamps are v good.

XRHL1_zpsclsc4hoq.jpg


Mine is due for 1yr/6k service already, done nearly 7,000 miles :o
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Where did you put the ballast, if you don't mind me asking?
 
I didn't leave it on, was just a garage test to see if it was worth fitting. There isn't much room to stick the ballast by the looks of things, may have to strip down the inner fairing panels and find a place in there.
 
Ok, thanks. I've seen some owners mount them under the lights themselves - they can fit behind and above the steering damper. Doesn't look too pleasing though. Why BMW didn't spec LEDs for a premium bike God only knows...
 
The_Abyss said:
They're surprisingly good - far better than the Aprilia Caponord that the BMW replaced. I had been considering changing them for HIDs or LEDs for a better daytime look but have decided to keep them based on this ride.
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Surprised seeing as the S1000R dipped is total tosh out the factory. I had to put a HID kit in mine. If I can fit a ballast under the fairings on the S1000R you will have no issue on an XR!
 
unKle said:
This'll stir the ocuk 'holier-than-thou' brigade up.. :p;)

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It's not really about being holier than thou. It's just that as bikers we should be more risk aware, we're constantly asking ourselves "what if" when we're riding. We should always ride with an 'escape plan' should the worse happen (Police riders handbook).

I don't think you'd be too pleased if your kid ran out from behind a parked car and some guy doing a rubik's cube on his motorcycle hit them...
 
One said:
No you're right, he'd get a slap round the ear fur being an idiot.
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Of course you would, whilst he's bleeding on the ground with multiple fractures.

This kind of stuff isn't remotely clever or impressive, it's the action of someone too immature to realise the potential consequences. The blogger sounds like a kid and behaves like one.

This is exactly the kind of negative publicity that motorcyclists can do without.
 
I've come across a few like that,soon as they realise your behind them they start doing all no handed for some reason

I think what a plumb
 
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