Driving skills improved since started riding?

[ally99]

Which specific driving skills have you noticed improved in your everyday driving after you started riding motorcycles?
I have certainly noticed that after I started riding, I became a better cage driver too. In particular, riding on 2-wheels has made me learn how to look through the vehicle right in front of me to look as far ahead as I can while still consciously monitoring every move of the vehicles around me. This is a technique Lee Parks talks about at the end of "Total Control". Riding in the mountains really forces me to practice this as riders have to look as far through the corner as possible while still monitoring their closer surroundings, watching the sides of the road for animals, the camber of the road, the elevation changes (this particularly with the 250, not so much the 650...elevation changes don't affect it as much), the pavement surface, etc, etc. I find myself using this same technique reflexively when driving my car. I'm much more aware of my surroundings and everything going on around me than the zoned out driver I used to be. Are there specific driving skills you've noticed that you have improved since you started riding that have transferred to your everyday driving?

[Flow]

My driving is as good as it ever was, I bet. I've only ever driven a couple times out of necessity. I don't even have a drivers license.

[Rosie]

I'm with Ally 100%. I've noticed I am a much more attentive driver when I'm in my cage now. I'm constantly scanning the road for hazards, which I wasn't doing as much before.

[Flashmonkey]

To be honest I've always been a fairly aggressive driver. I used to pride myself on being aggressive with making as little impact on the traffic around me as possible (ie: making lane changes under tight conditions, but making sure that the guy behind me doesn't have to slam on his brakes, and etc). It was more a game for me really, to see how tight I could make my driving...so I was constantly working on my ability to predict traffic, on my timing, maintaining space, controlling the driver behind me using my brake lights, timing my gear shifts (I drive stick), etc.). A lot of the skills I use on my bike actually came from my experience as a driver.

I have to say, though, that I find that I'm speeding less these days, and accelerating less aggressively. I guess being able to go 0-100 km/h in 3 or 4 seconds on my bike has made the effort completely pointless in my car haha.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

I guess being able to go 0-100 km/h in 3 or 4 seconds on my bike has made the effort completely pointless in my car haha.

Ha! Hubby says the same thing. I, however, have always been a fast driver and wish I could cure myself of that. The 650 helps, but I really don't ride it all that often. The Lil' Ninj is more my size.

[backinthesaddleagain]

yeah coworker was just talking about the bmw 3 series performance - and no doubt its a benchmark car. but i had to mention how one of the mags tested the bmw s1000rr against the m3 and it smoked the m3. good article. no longer feel any accelration rush driving a car. sure some would be cool, but cost prohibitive.

[Soujyu]

Actually, I think my driving skills got a lot worse.

[Blackwidow]

i've improved my ability to look out for bikers now more then ever. I use to forget about the two wheel lovers until i owned one.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I seem to be slicing it a bit more than I was. Maybe I am holding the clubs too tight after riding my bike?

[pooter]

Not sure if my actual skills have improved, but my awareness definitely has, and I'm definitely more cautious all around now especially at intersections.

[tjkamper]

I've gotten a lot better at my: KNEE STEERING WITH CELL PHONE TO EAR, DRINK BETWEEN LEGS, BURGER IN LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND ON THE RADIO DIAL, EYES PEERING AT THE HOT CHICK JOGGING WITH AN AWESOME PINK HEADBAND INSTEAD OF THE ROAD maneuver.

[road_rascal]

My cage driving skills got much better when I got my CDL (Commercials drivers license) about 19 years ago. After I got my MC endorsement in 1997 my situational awareness drastically improved too. When I'm driving the cage I can just about predict what the other drivers will do (run a light/ stop sign, change lanes w/o signaling, etc.) Drives my wife nuts. I still speed quite a bit on the interstate. I really need to cut that out.

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by pooter

Not sure if my actual skills have improved, but my awareness definitely has, and I'm definitely more cautious all around now especially at intersections.

+1

[Blackwidow]

why do you guys keep calling cars cages?

[Snake]

Because you are trapped inside a steel cage.

[Blackwidow]

trapped? all it takes is to pull the knob and you're out. Everytime i hear someone say cage i think of a go-go dancer.

[Snake]

Hhhhmmm we need some pics of that...

[Blackwidow]

ask and you shall receive.

[Snake]

Thanks...I knew I could count on you. You are the best!

[00NissanNinja]

I have always looked far ahead and monitored traffic kinda like what flashmonkey was doing (though not doing the squeeze tactic) so I was already ready to do that on the bike. When I have cars I want to pass I always looked far ahead gauged everyones speed, then I measured the gaps between them, at that point if everything is good to go then I overtake quickly and slow back to proper speed (cause you know how people are like omg he is gonna pass me I guess I'll speed up now) If anything the bike makes me test my car's limits more often than I used to, kinda trying to calm that down a bit.

[Terrorizer]

There's definitely a difference! no question , not sure if I drive any "better" (define that) but I find myself emulating my bike riding when behind the wheel now Corners, Intersections etc, Sometimes I find myself leaning into a turn in my car! LOL!

[JeffM]

My traffic scanning abilities and overall awareness have improved. I now look through corners while driving the cage too.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by Terrorizer

Sometimes I find myself leaning into a turn in my car! LOL!

LOL! I do that too! :-)
I, admittedly, used to be more of your typical zoned out cage driver. I (knock on wood) have never wrecked my car, but I know I was a bit of a distracted driver who wasn't always focused on all of my surroundings and just kind of expected everyone else to see me and stay outta my way. On the bike, I pretend I'm invisible (truly we are invisible to many cagers who never see you), so riders obviously have to be focused on everything all around us and as far ahead as possible. I've noticed that has transferred to my cage driving and I love it! I'm always monitoring way ahead while staying focused on the cars right around me at the same time.
On a separate note, riding the bike has certainly improved my ability to spot cops WAY ahead too, so another useful driving skill to have under my belt. ;-)

[welcome2thedawn]

everything that ally said...i pay way more attention to what's going on all around me...i look further ahead...giving myself more space, and an out...aside from riding, i feel that my driving has improved a lot, just by making a conscious effort to improve...not just being more aware, but practicing launching...shifting and braking faster and smoother, and just being more in control of the car, instead of just mindlessly pushing a pedal...but yeah, i'm convinced that everyone should experience the vulnerability of riding a motorcycle...at least once

[drowe531]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cager

Here you go Paulette

[Scott1620]

Originally Posted by drowe531

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cager

Here you go Paulette

Haha I like the quote that is included with that definition. "Some ignorant cager nearly hit me while I was biking. Idiot obviously wants a U-lock to the face."

As far as driving, yeah, I definitely am more aware at intersections and look out for fellow riders better as well...

[spooph]

I would like to add my vote to an increased awareness level and an ability to predict traffic a lot more accurately now. My frame of reference for grip has also significantly increased. Having always been into cars and going fast before I got a bike, I also tried to push the limits in the cage. These days, on the bike, the consequences aren't a mere slide, maybe off the road, a spin-out or some such nonsense. It's a guard rail impact or coming off a 1,000ft cliff with no airbags or crumple zones.

I don't feel that I need to push the limits anymore in a car, it's boring, it's easy, the risks aren't high enough. Everything is just stinted, censored and dulled from within a cage. I feel that I just know where the limits are, or can very accurately guess when the car is going to start sliding. I only play with the adhesion of a car's tires in winter, on the snow and ice, otherwise tires are too expensive. :P But drifting is fun!

But really, after having ridden a bike for the past 6 years, and the car only when the snow is really bad, say 20 days/year or so, when I get into a car now, I feel threatened. I no longer have escapes. I'm forced to endure an accident if one happens, and many options available to me as a rider to escape a bad situation just aren't available in a car. So I really don't like being stuck in a cage, ever. I'd rather sweat or freeze. I thoroughly despise cages. Unfortunately they are sometimes necessary.

So, the things I mentioned first might not be skills, but an increase in my frame of reference has definitely happened!

[headshrink]

I THOUGHT I had become a better driver..... that is until I started splitting lanes in my SUV. oops....

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by headshrink

I THOUGHT I had become a better driver..... that is until I started splitting lanes in my SUV. oops....

Doc, I love it! That would really attract attention. I had visions of myself splitting lanes in my 3//4Ton Diesel Suburban. That beast has mass. Anyway, I got my MC license in 1958 and my car license in 1964. I have, knock wood, never had an accident or ticket--not that I shouldn't have for speeding. I do think that bicycle riding and motorcycle driving makes one more aware of one's surroundings and therefore a better driver.

[CC Cowboy]

I'm on the bell curve. I think I peaked a while ago.

[Anteraan]

For me, it started with road cycling. That made me a better driver long before I ever got on a motorcycle. Not only did I have the vulnerability of a motorcycle (in terms of crash protection), but I also had a massive speed differential. For years, I have believed that intelligent road cyclists (there are some idiots out there, yes) were better drivers. I still do, and those skills translate directly onto the motorcycle.

I'm glad to hear that my fellow riders are picking up on these types of skills. We need them.

[cjack]

My alertness, awareness, anticipation and reaction time have greatly improved.

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by Anteraan

For me, it started with road cycling. That made me a better driver long before I ever got on a motorcycle. Not only did I have the vulnerability of a motorcycle (in terms of crash protection), but I also had a massive speed differential. For years, I have believed that intelligent road cyclists (there are some idiots out there, yes) were better drivers. I still do, and those skills translate directly onto the motorcycle.

I'm glad to hear that my fellow riders are picking up on these types of skills. We need them.

You are spot on. Riding a bicycle is by far the best training a person can get. I have been riding motorcycles for 50 years and cars for 45. I got serious about bicycles six years ago and got back into motorcycling two years ago. In the past two years, I have logged almost 12,000 miles on the Ninja. I have logged 13650 on my six bicycles in the same time period. Obviously, I much prefer the freedom of two wheels. I totally agree with you--bicycling is the best training there is.