Where are you looking ??
Thread Starter
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
Where are you looking ??
In the past few months I have come across the same issue with new riders and some, not so new riders:
Where are you looking when riding?
I know we have all heard "you go where you look" but what does that really mean?
Yes, when you turn your head, your motorcycle does tend to follow where you are looking but is that all there is to "Where are you looking?"
No, it is only a small portion of "Where are you looking."
This is a good rule of thumb but 12 seconds is not a "limit."
I was taught as a young street rider to scan as far ahead as I can see and keep my eyes moving at all times, including my mirrors in my scan so I can also be aware of what is also going on behind me.
I admit, this was difficult to learn and apply but it has saved my butt too many times to count.
This is a lot of information to take in and process but with practice it becomes easier and even more subconscious.
YOU have to force yourself to learn the skill and use it!
As an example, if I am out riding a fun twisty road through a series of turns and as I approach a 10th turn (turn 10) and I can only see 3 seconds ahead before the road disappears around turn 10, then my road visibility ahead (sightline) is limited to scanning only 3 seconds ahead.
Often, when your sight-line is reduced to only 3 seconds or less, it is also very common to be able to see beyond the current turn 10 when you are riding through several turns preceding turn 10 (i.e., turns 6 or 7).
In the turns preceding turn 10, the road ahead of turn 10 was partially visible to you, thus giving you a "preview" of that portion of the road.
This preview can tell you where the road is going (left, right, uphill, downhill), actions of vehicles going through turn 10, possible car stopping just beyond turn 10, etc.
All important information for preparing for turn 10 as you approach it with only 3 seconds of road visibility ahead of you.
So to summarize: you should be scanning as much of the road ahead as you can see, at all times.
Many riders resist this as they want to focus only on the road immediately ahead of them.
They rationalize this by thinking that they need to know what is immediately in front of them more than what is 30 seconds or more ahead of them.
This rationalization is dangerous for numerous reasons:
1) It deprives you of the opportunity (TIME) to calmly prepare for what is ahead.
2) It forces every decision (corrective/evasive/line selection, etc.) to be made at the last possible moment instead of calmly planned and executed.
3) It increases the likelihood of a "panic" moment and the corresponding adrenalin shot.
4) While under the influence of that adrenalin shot you are very likely to "target fixate" which we all KNOW is bad news!
5) Also while under the influence of that adrenalin shot you are much more likely to over react and make panicked motions: grabbing the brakes, jerking the bike, stiffening up your body and other over reactions.
6) All this last moment, panicked reaction is tiresome and then your actions and reactions suffer further due to fatigue.
7) While the adrenalin shots can be an "exciting" experience they are also dangerous because each adrenaline shot initiates the "fight or flight" instinctual response.
8) The "fight or flight" instinctual response causes tunnel vision limiting your ability to see other threats outside your tunnel vision.
9) The "fight or flight" instinctual response limits your ability to think and process what you do see.
10) Your ability to see and think is very important so that you are able to perceive something unexpected in the road ahead and then plan an appropriate response and execute that response without over reacting!
Where are you looking when riding?
I know we have all heard "you go where you look" but what does that really mean?
Yes, when you turn your head, your motorcycle does tend to follow where you are looking but is that all there is to "Where are you looking?"
No, it is only a small portion of "Where are you looking."
This is a good rule of thumb but 12 seconds is not a "limit."
I was taught as a young street rider to scan as far ahead as I can see and keep my eyes moving at all times, including my mirrors in my scan so I can also be aware of what is also going on behind me.
I admit, this was difficult to learn and apply but it has saved my butt too many times to count.
This is a lot of information to take in and process but with practice it becomes easier and even more subconscious.
YOU have to force yourself to learn the skill and use it!
As an example, if I am out riding a fun twisty road through a series of turns and as I approach a 10th turn (turn 10) and I can only see 3 seconds ahead before the road disappears around turn 10, then my road visibility ahead (sightline) is limited to scanning only 3 seconds ahead.
Often, when your sight-line is reduced to only 3 seconds or less, it is also very common to be able to see beyond the current turn 10 when you are riding through several turns preceding turn 10 (i.e., turns 6 or 7).
In the turns preceding turn 10, the road ahead of turn 10 was partially visible to you, thus giving you a "preview" of that portion of the road.
This preview can tell you where the road is going (left, right, uphill, downhill), actions of vehicles going through turn 10, possible car stopping just beyond turn 10, etc.
All important information for preparing for turn 10 as you approach it with only 3 seconds of road visibility ahead of you.
So to summarize: you should be scanning as much of the road ahead as you can see, at all times.
Many riders resist this as they want to focus only on the road immediately ahead of them.
They rationalize this by thinking that they need to know what is immediately in front of them more than what is 30 seconds or more ahead of them.
This rationalization is dangerous for numerous reasons:
1) It deprives you of the opportunity (TIME) to calmly prepare for what is ahead.
2) It forces every decision (corrective/evasive/line selection, etc.) to be made at the last possible moment instead of calmly planned and executed.
3) It increases the likelihood of a "panic" moment and the corresponding adrenalin shot.
4) While under the influence of that adrenalin shot you are very likely to "target fixate" which we all KNOW is bad news!
5) Also while under the influence of that adrenalin shot you are much more likely to over react and make panicked motions: grabbing the brakes, jerking the bike, stiffening up your body and other over reactions.
6) All this last moment, panicked reaction is tiresome and then your actions and reactions suffer further due to fatigue.
7) While the adrenalin shots can be an "exciting" experience they are also dangerous because each adrenaline shot initiates the "fight or flight" instinctual response.
8) The "fight or flight" instinctual response causes tunnel vision limiting your ability to see other threats outside your tunnel vision.
9) The "fight or flight" instinctual response limits your ability to think and process what you do see.
10) Your ability to see and think is very important so that you are able to perceive something unexpected in the road ahead and then plan an appropriate response and execute that response without over reacting!
SportTouring
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 274
From: Hawaii
Good write-up 8541. Peripheral vision comes into play along with the looking ahead,
scanning area previously scanned. Lots going on. This is why I do not use music on dedicated twisties. Haven't used music(iPod with earphones etc.) on any of my rides lately. Older, slower reflexes for me. Looking to where you want to go(far ahead) and
at the same time being aware of your peripherals takes a lot out of me.
Good one, Very Informative. As you stated, mirror checks are alway a good habit.
scanning area previously scanned. Lots going on. This is why I do not use music on dedicated twisties. Haven't used music(iPod with earphones etc.) on any of my rides lately. Older, slower reflexes for me. Looking to where you want to go(far ahead) and
at the same time being aware of your peripherals takes a lot out of me.
Good one, Very Informative. As you stated, mirror checks are alway a good habit.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 144
From: Sofia, Bulgaria
I always try to observe as much i can. Look a far i can and plan how i will go through all the obsticles.
You go where you look, when you are panic, if you are confident you go where you want to.
When in turn look my line, when exit the turn look for the next turns, planing my line, stoping and turning point. Always leave room for error or surprises, as you are not on the track and sh#t happens.
You go where you look, when you are panic, if you are confident you go where you want to.
When in turn look my line, when exit the turn look for the next turns, planing my line, stoping and turning point. Always leave room for error or surprises, as you are not on the track and sh#t happens.
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