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Never try to make a light...

JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
I seem to forget this every once in a while and usually end up being reminded of why this is almost always a bad idea.

I was riding home recently on my trusty motorcycle and was trying to make this left turn arrow by accelerating up to the light. Then it changed to yellow and I knew I wouldn't make the light before it turned red so now I'm going too fast and I have to stop. I start braking with both front and rear brakes and the rear locks up as the front starts to load. Now the rear is starting to step out to the left a bit and I'm really on the front brake now. I managed to stop right at the line but it was a little hairy.

Anyway, it all turned out fine but could have been a real disaster.

<--Ready for the flamefest from the holier than thou here who NEVER make any mistakes EVER. 😛
 
dumbass.jpg
 
Heh, I saw not one but TWO cars get pulled over for running a red turn arrow the other day. They just kept going and immediately I saw a motorcycle cop pull out. Not sure how he pulled two cars over (there was other traffic in the way) but yeah. Those turn arrows are fickle. It's rarely worth trying to make them if you're not already at the intersection when they turn green.
 
AstroManLuca said:
Heh, I saw not one but TWO cars get pulled over for running a red turn arrow the other day. They just kept going and immediately I saw a motorcycle cop pull out. Not sure how he pulled two cars over (there was other traffic in the way) but yeah. Those turn arrows are fickle. It's rarely worth trying to make them if you're not already at the intersection when they turn green.
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Yeah, the kicker is there is a red light camera at this intersection too so it would be a guaranteed ticket in the mail. 😀

I know I shouldn't have been trying to make the light...it was just a poor judgement call on my part.
 
fortunately my car usually lacks the acceleration required to even dream of making a light if I am a ways off, so i assume i'm stopping unless i get there and it's still green, or i am familiar with the intersection
 
Ran a red on my bike a few days back. Sun shining right into the light and polarized glasses was a very bad combo. It sure looked green to me. Thank God there was no cross traffic.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Yeah, the kicker is there is a red light camera at this intersection too so it would be a guaranteed ticket in the mail. 😀

I know I shouldn't have been trying to make the light...it was just a poor judgement call on my part.
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I didn't think the red light cameras could issue you a ticket on a motorcycle if you have a helmet on. How the fk are they going to say it's you if you've got a full face helmet on?
 
holden j caufield said:
I didn't think the red light cameras could issue you a ticket on a motorcycle if you have a helmet on. How the fk are they going to say it's you if you've got a full face helmet on?
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I'm honestly not sure but I don't really care to find out either. 😉

Needless to say, running a red light in any vehicle is a stupid idea, on a motorcycle it is downright suicidal.
 
Yeah, the kicker is there is a red light camera at this intersection too so it would be a guaranteed ticket in the mail.
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So glad they voted that crap down around here... But in Houston...?

The worst thing though about TX is you have to wear a seatbelt or its a ticket with a steep fine...


BUT...! You can ride a motorcycle without a helmet...? WTF...!?!?!?😵

BTW JulesM you made the right call and glad you did...
 
JulesMaximus said:
I seem to forget this every once in a while and usually end up being reminded of why this is almost always a bad idea.

I was riding home recently on my trusty motorcycle and was trying to make this left turn arrow by accelerating up to the light. Then it changed to yellow and I knew I wouldn't make the light before it turned red so now I'm going too fast and I have to stop. I start braking with both front and rear brakes and the rear locks up as the front starts to load. Now the rear is starting to step out to the left a bit and I'm really on the front brake now. I managed to stop right at the line but it was a little hairy.

Anyway, it all turned out fine but could have been a real disaster.

<--Ready for the flamefest from the holier than thou here who NEVER make any mistakes EVER. 😛
Click to expand...

So um, you need better brakes?
 
MJinZ said:
So um, you need better brakes?
Click to expand...

Um, no. They stopped me just fine...any more pressure on the front brake and I could have locked it up which is not something you ever want to experience on a motorcycle. As it was I was keeping to the left side of the lane to avoid the oil slick that the cagers leave on the surface of the road so as not to increase my stopping distance.

Under ideal conditions (warm tires, dry pavement, warm ambient temperature, smooth road surface, smooth rider input, etc) it will stop from 60mph in about 110'
 
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JulesMaximus said:
Um, no. They stopped me just fine...any more pressure on the front brake and I could have locked it up which is not something you ever want to experience on a motorcycle. As it was I was keeping to the left side of the lane to avoid the oil slick that the cagers leave on the surface of the road.
Click to expand...

So you never do those cool sliding stops?
 
I lock my rear all the time... no biggie. It's the only way to know its true braking limit to apply proper 70&#37; braking power to the front when it really counts (emergency braking).

As for making a green arrow light or not, it seems that you have more incentive to try/risk here in San Diego due to the prevalence of "smart" lights that don't detect you on a motorcycle. What's worse, cars often don't pull up enough behind bikes and others don't pull up in secondary turn lanes because they assume that you will trigger the light and they will get a rolling start. 🙁 Very often I end up waiting fruitlessly for a light to cycle only to have cars show up and pull that crap only to have to wave, beg, and PLEAD with them to pull up and trigger the light.
 
Zero rear brake works best for my bike. Engine braking in my highest gear is enough to skid the rear -- assuming it's on the ground at all.
 
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