Not the best way to merge

[fishdip]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Motofool]

Poor guy !!!

Not ready to ride........... yet.

[Sirref]

could have been easily avoided, hopefully he keeps a more level head and avoids target fixating in the future (or just slows down to a speed that he is more comfortable with)

[snot]

ouch!

[ForceofWill]

Bet that felt GREAT in a t-shirt, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by Sirref

could have been easily avoided, hopefully he keeps a more level head and avoids target fixating in the future (or just slows down to a speed that he is more comfortable with)

I was just thinking that as a fellow new rider. Made that mistake many times, got lucky so far or corrected before impact. Never have I been in just a t-shirt, that's just ****ing stupid

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by 95PGTTech

I was just thinking that as a fellow new rider. Made that mistake many times, got lucky so far or corrected before impact. Never have I been in just a t-shirt, that's just ****ing stupid

I view skipping gear as a personal choice, one that I disagree with but it's their right so long as they're at least wearing a damn helmet (terrible idea to skip that)

It's been a while since I was a new rider so I can't truly give advice and remember the beginner's perspective well enough to guarantee that it will apply but as a general rule of thumb if you're target fixating then you are riding faster than you are comfortable with to begin with and should slow down to a more comfortable pace. Obviously in the moment that doesn't apply but the hope is that you manage to break the visual lock and continue on a clear path to then slow down and ride more cautiously. Crashing hurts gear or no gear, it just hurts more without gear.

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by Sirref

I view skipping gear as a personal choice, one that I disagree with but it's their right so long as they're at least wearing a damn helmet (terrible idea to skip that)

It's been a while since I was a new rider so I can't truly give advice and remember the beginner's perspective well enough to guarantee that it will apply but as a general rule of thumb if you're target fixating then you are riding faster than you are comfortable with to begin with and should slow down to a more comfortable pace. Obviously in the moment that doesn't apply but the hope is that you manage to break the visual lock and continue on a clear path to then slow down and ride more cautiously. Crashing hurts gear or no gear, it just hurts more without gear.

Generally, I would agree. However I have found myself target fixating at 20mph tight turns and having trouble whereas on-track in 60mph full lean I am completely focused. I think it's more noob > speed but I would agree in that speed complicates things more often than not.

You can enter a large radius corner well such as NJMP's 8/9/10 (arguably 11a/b) carousel and lose concentration halfway through and end up target fixating and exit poorly. Hence the nickname "Bermuda Triangle."

[Sirref]

Ah, I see and I think I know what that may be

On track I am much faster than street even when I try to be quick on the street, why is this? less stress on me visually at the track. On the streets you need to widen your perception to account for a massive amount of variables such as animals, other vehicles, potentially hazardous surfaces, etc and you don't always have clear lines of sight. At the track you are able to focus your vision much more easily due to there being far fewer distractions.

So in summary what the issue would seem to be from that statement is that you are not as accustomed to the added distractions from street riding when compared to track riding

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by Sirref

Ah, I see and I think I know what that may be

On track I am much faster than street even when I try to be quick on the street, why is this? less stress on me visually at the track. On the streets you need to widen your perception to account for a massive amount of variables such as animals, other vehicles, potentially hazardous surfaces, etc and you don't always have clear lines of sight. At the track you are able to focus your vision much more easily due to there being far fewer distractions.

So in summary what the issue would seem to be from that statement is that you are not as accustomed to the added distractions from street riding when compared to track riding

Absolutely agree. I don't know about other riders, but my target fixation occurs during momentary lapses in concentration. Whether that may be worry that the surface ahead may be less than perfect, visual distractions, other cars moving or not, flaggers, other riders, etc.

[cadd]

Damn, that dude just ran out of........talent.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by cadd

Damn, that dude just ran out of........luck.

ftfy

[Somchai]

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way

Link to original page on YouTube.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Reminds me a video's i've seen of riders around here using on and off ramps to "scrub off chicken strips"... I always fear this is what will happen. The guy in the truck probably didn't know what hit him.

[DEFY]

@Alex merges are better lol

[subxero]

Disagree with target fixation comments or at least it wasn't the root of the problem.

He simply didn't have the confidence, know how and or skill to take the turn on that line at that speed. He picked a poor line that required either a slower speed or a more aggressive flick, he was ****ed on speed and didn't have the experience to give the bike the input he needed to make it out clean. He did what he could got scared and just locked up and decided to ride it out and hope for the best.

JMO

[Motofool]

I have never believed in target fixation, maybe because it never happened to me when I was learning to ride.
This is one reaction that I have witnessed several times: once the brain jumps onto panic mode, the rider tries steering away from the danger, which means counter-steering on the wrong direction and directing the bike towards the danger.

The rider of the video had a lot of luck, a powerful bike and pressure from the other rider to accelerate a lot, but unfortunately he had no street strategy, no riding skills and no second skin.

That seems to be the result of minimum training and knowledge required to obtain a license and lack of restriction in engine displacement for beginner riders.

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by subxero

Disagree with target fixation comments or at least it wasn't the root of the problem.

He simply didn't have the confidence, know how and or skill to take the turn on that line at that speed. He picked a poor line that required either a slower speed or a more aggressive flick, he was ****ed on speed and didn't have the experience to give the bike the input he needed to make it out clean. He did what he could got scared and just locked up and decided to ride it out and hope for the best.

JMO

Look at his head and the way his eyes are pointing. He's not carrying much speed at all; as soon as he got in trouble he started looking to the outside of the corner (truck). He should have forced himself to look back inside and cranked the throttle - or just not have compromised himself in the first place.

[subxero]

^ I've already stated I disagree and pointed out where I believe he went wrong.

The truck that he hit is at best beside him and more likely behind him after he is already in trouble and on his fixed line. He is not looking at the truck at that point, he is already on a collision course with it and most likely doesn't even know it's there yet.

besides speed for a corner is relative, he was clearly carrying to much speed for his ability, no debating that.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Somchai

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way

Link to original page on YouTube.

[CC Cowboy]

All I can say is, HEAD IN ASS!

He might think he is OK but wait until tomorrow when he starts to feel the burn.


That was very polite of the other drivers not to run him over!

[Insan3guy]

maybe he misinterpreted the meaning of merging into traffic?

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by Insan3guy

maybe he misinterpreted the meaning of merging into traffic?

He thought he was supposed become one with the truck.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by Sirref

could have been easily avoided, hopefully he keeps a more level head and avoids target fixating in the future (or just slows down to a speed that he is more comfortable with)

like staying in the parking lot till he can negotiate a corner.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I have never believed in target fixation, maybe because it never happened to me when I was learning to ride.
This is one reaction that I have witnessed several times: once the brain jumps onto panic mode, the rider tries steering away from the danger, which means counter-steering on the wrong direction and directing the bike towards the danger.

The rider of the video had a lot of luck, a powerful bike and pressure from the other rider to accelerate a lot, but unfortunately he had no street strategy, no riding skills and no second skin.

That seems to be the result of minimum training and knowledge required to obtain a license and lack of restriction in engine displacement for beginner riders.

This is a very good point.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I have never believed in target fixation, maybe because it never happened to me when I was learning to ride.

That's because you're meticulous and think everything through logically.

Forget that for a minute and you'll find that target fixation happens. It definitely happens, even for a experienced rider. Panic, surprise, distraction, inattention, all cause target fixation.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

That's because you're meticulous and think everything through logically.

Forget that for a minute and you'll find that target fixation happens. It definitely happens, even for a experienced rider. Panic, surprise, distraction, inattention, all cause target fixation.

wait, he may not have ever visually, but mentally he could be target fixating all the time.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by cbinker

wait, he may not have ever visually, but mentally he could be target fixating all the time.

I bet he target fixates on a hot girl

[cadd]

Yeah, this doesn't look like the typical target fixation to me either. Just a bad choice of line going into that turn at a rate of speed that was greater than his skill level. I saw him doing inside - inside - drift outside. If he would've entered that turn a tad slower on the outside and flick the bike over to the inside while maintaining (and slowly rolling on throttle), he would've been fine. But poor judgment in entry speed and poor judgment in lane position for that corner.

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by cbinker

like staying in the parking lot till he can negotiate a corner.

I think this rider needs to stay in the garage with the bike on a rear stand and make motorcycle noises until he's old and smart enough to buy gear. then he needs to take some courses and learn that when he starts drifting to the outside of a corner like that point your head, lean the bike, and give it throttle to turn it.

even the first right hander he takes a crappy line

[capt_bugaloo]

At first I thought this was simply target fixation, but when I watch the video, I think it's more going a little hotter into a curve than he thought, panicking, and not counter steering into the right turn.

Of course, once he got into trouble, he still could have saved himself by simply steering into the right, but I think he then fixates on the truck, just says "Oh ****", and rides straight into it.

Either way, too much bike, not enough rider.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

...... Forget that for a minute and you'll find that target fixation happens. It definitely happens, even for a experienced rider. Panic, surprise, distraction, inattention, all cause target fixation.

I agree that something happens that paralyzes riders at the very moment when decided action is the only thing that can save the situation.

My problem is that the names commonly given to that something is dangerously misleading for new riders, IMHO.

For example: You go where you look.
In actuality, you go where you steer your bike to go.

It is your brain what commands your arms and hands to steer (the output).
Are your eyes what look and bring information to your brain to process (the input).

You steer the bike to hit that point simply because your brain is unable of processing the input and providing a suitable and safe output.

If my statement is correct, the solution of the problem is not in the eyes but in the brain's process.

The brain is unable of delivering a good output for two reasons only:
1) It does not know better (lack of education and training).
2) It is paralyzed by fear (survival situation / panic state / reactive subconscious activity has taken over conscious intelligent process).

Mind and vision should always be pulling the bike, several steps ahead.
As soon as the rider perceives that the bike is pushing mind and vision, that the understanding of what is happening has fallen several steps behind, the survival mode begins, cancelling all useful outputs; hence, the typical freezing up at the controls.

Advices like "do not target fix on the guard rail" or "look for a escape gap" cannot help because they are supposed to be remembered and used at the moment of panic, when it is too late, when reason #2 is in full swing.
Only your conscious mind and your learned skills can save you, but both are unavailable at the worst moment.

A better advice could be "ride within your comfortable envelope and foresee bad/dangerous situations that can trigger your mind into survival reaction/panic mode."

An irrational fear to fall due to more lean and steer stopped the poor rider of the video from smoothly pushing the right hand grip forward and normally merge.

I believe that a similar fear is the reason for which many more riders than drivers run wide in curves and experience target fixation.

[ninja250r81]

Anyone got some spare "skill points" for this person to allow him to progress to the next "how to turn a motorcycle at speed technique".

people on youtube are getting more and more stupiderrrrrr

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I believe that a similar fear is the reason for which many more riders than drivers run wide in curves and experience target fixation.

As a new rider, I totally agree, for me anyway. I had my first track day a couple weekends ago and I was using the braking points I used on the same track in my car. The first run was a sighting session where we weren't supposed to be over 20mph yet we did 50+ the whole time. That is really the first chance I've ever had the bike leaned, mind you - too scared to try that on the street. The second session we were told 3rd gear all the way around, pace would increase 30%. In my opinion it was a lot more than 30% but maybe that's just the inexperience.

Guys were now really leaned and it was obvious they were carrying a lot more speed through the turn and on exit. My braking points became closer and closer in but my mind was still saying from experience you need to slow down before these corners. I noticed I'd get on the brakes and this huge gap between me and the one in front would happen, he'd be a rocket through the corner and I'd have to be WOT after the corner to catch back up - felt super slow so I threw on one of the red jackets for noobs to get extra help the next time out. After talking to the instructors, I should never have been on the brakes that session anywhere except 1A (right turn off the long front straight). That baffled me. As the day went on, I got braver with the lean so I was able to carry more speed in but still scared as hell to put the bike down. Had a couple close calls twice when I target fixated and started floating to the outside of the corner, literally had to will myself to look back where I wanted to go, more lean more throttle - good thing I was going so slow. I know the bike has a lot more in it, I just dont want to find that limit by lowsiding the bike.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by 95PGTTech

......... I know the bike has a lot more in it, I just dont want to find that limit by lowsiding the bike.

You can get used to higher lean angles at low speeds by practicing Gymkhana exercises in a safe parking lot and using your street tires:

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=103886

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkhana_%28motorcycle%29

http://amgrass.com/forum/profile/?area=showposts;u=52

http://amgrass.com/forum/practice-practice-practice/

Link to original page on YouTube.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Old Lemon]

wow stupid cager, why was that truck there in the middle of the middle lane on the highway going the speed of traffic