Scooter safety concern?

[honda4stroke]

I got this new little 50cc scooter last week, and my parents think that I'm going to end up crashing and killing myself one day. Now that I think about it I'm convinced that they're right. So I'm asking you, how do you guys ride safely? Is there anything that you can do to make a scooter almost as safe as a car? Any tips on the subject would be appreciated

[2TDave]

It's never going to be almost as safe as a car but you can minimize risk. Wear a full face helmet and an armored jacket. Long pants and shoes. Most important is looking a head and anticipating what the cages are going to do. Think as if they are going to hit you. Don't assume they see you ever. They will turn in front of you. They will come into your lane. Stay out of their blind spots. Once you get use to that mentality you will learn to relax and enjoy the ride even while being on alert. Practice turning in a big parking lot and get to know your and the scooters limits.

[scooterpimp]

The scooter is only as safe as the operator!!! Common sense goes a long way....

[90GTVert]

Practice the basics. Improve your riding skills and awareness. That is the biggest thing to me. No matter what you're on, scooter, bicycle, car... you have to be aware of what's going on around you and be able to control the vehicle in reasonable conditions to be safe.

One big thing I've learned is to have basically no faith in other motorists doing what's sensible. If someone has a turn signal on, don't pull out in front of them because they may be turning elsewhere or not turning at all. If you see a car rolling up to a stop sign or out of a private drive quickly, don't assume they are going to stop before the roadway and instead adjust your lane position so they can see you better and so you're farther away if possible. Think about being seen. Don't hide behind cars, tailgate, etc... Try to choose a lane position that lets you see and be seen the best. For a 50cc it gets complicated because some laws tell us we must always ride to the far right or on the shoulder and sometimes there's really no shoulder or not enough to be safe. I will take up the center of the lane when I can't safely be on a shoulder or to the right, because I don't want to encourage cars to squeeze by. I say let them slow down or pass when it's safe. I'd rather have a strict cop pull me over for being in the wrong spot and take my chances of explaining myself out of a ticket than take my chances of someone eating a sandwich while texting running me into a ditch because they had to get by while cars were coming and thought there was enough room.

Do regular inspections of your scooter to make sure lights work and tires are aired up.

Use your high beam in the daytime.

Always use turn signals.

Tap the brakes to flash your brake light just before you're ready to stop or slow and I also do this when cars approach if I'm sitting at a red light.

Bright and reflective clothing is a good idea and don't take the reflectors off of your scooter. Some pick up bright safety vests cheap that can go on over other riding gear.

Here are some practice exercises you can do in a deserted parking lot.
49ccscoot.proboards.com/thread/348/basic-rider-skills-practice-exercises

MSF has lots of resources to help you with safer riding practices.
www.msf-usa.org/library.aspx

[Upgrayedd]

May 25, 2014 6:55:06 GMT -5 honda4stroke said:

I got this new little 50cc scooter last week, and my parents think that I'm going to end up crashing and killing myself one day. Now that I think about it I'm convinced that they're right. So I'm asking you, how do you guys ride safely? Is there anything that you can do to make a scooter almost as safe as a car? Any tips on the subject would be appreciated

There are two kinds of riders: (1) those who have gone down, and (2) those who are going to go down.

There is no way to make it as safe as a car. there are motorcycle safety courses you can pay for and take. they're likely not required for a scooter but the information is invaluable. statistically, 2 wheeled drivers are in less wrecks than cars, but the wrecks cause way more casualties. a few thoughts - i started out on dirtbikes at 8 years old, i'm pushing 40 now i never stopped riding. by some streak of luck and grace i have never met with a car in an accident, just a few ditches, gravel roads, etc:

    *Always watch ahead. every car pulling up toward the road youre on. Every car in a parking lot about to pull up. Every car approaching that has a stop sign. Learn to automatically make a plan for every single one of them just in case. With time, it'll come automatic. Practice it when you ride. You see the car coming up to a stop waiting to pull out from a parking lot, you go "OK WTF would i do if they kept coming" and so on.
    *Dont ride next to cars, or just ahead of, or just behind them in the lane next to them. Just dont. Either gas it and get on up ahead of em, or let em go on ahead. Don't tailgate cars. Some old man will flip it around on you and next thing you know you'll have the front bumper of a volvo 240 about 4 inches from your a__.
    *Learn how to stop on a dime. Front brake is 90 percent of braking. If you lock up a rear tire, you're likely to go down. You can squeeze the heck out of a front brake you just can't grab it all at once, sort of like rolling on the brake.
    *Learn how to pull your front end up over an obstacle in a road, like a 2x4, etc. Pretty much a stand up, gas it, and pull back on the bars right when you're gonna go over it. Going just off to one side of said object and deflecting it with a foot flat out can be good too. Picture a pallet in the road. This is another reason to not ride next to cars on the road, always choose the option of having options aka a way around/a way out. Can practice stopping, and obstacles, in a big parking lot. Probably dont wanna run over parking blocks with a scooter, liable to tear up a tire/rim.
    *If you make a habit of planning ahead, add this in: if you ever have the choice of eating a ditch full of grass, cactus, and beer bottles, or faceplanting into / under a car or truck, and your gut says that's what's gonna happen if you dont throw it in a ditch, trust your gut and THROW THAT SUCKER in a ditch. grass and dirt is forgiving. pavement is a bit of a skin irritant. cars and trucks are deadly. at best, they often cause titanium replacement parts.
    *Best to expect people don't see you. Many will, but theres no way to know who won't. Safer to assume nobody sees you, and just let the planning become an automatic habit.

    Wear a helmet. Wear boots if you can stand it. I don't always anymore but I'm become careless with age and comfort too. First time you kick a piece of pallet out of your way going up a road youll be glad you had boots on and wont have a wrapped ankle for a month. Gloves are an easy protection against road rash... its instinct to put hands down when wrecking, 100 foot of road can hamburger the palm of a hand. If you ever get a big bike, do the math on interstates, and consider state highways instead. On a state hwy you can chunk it in a ditch or yard at 55 and probably walk away. Doing 80 on an interstate trapped between a semi full of gas and a concrete divider wall - ehhh. . f__k that i take the back highways any time i can.

Respect what can happen, learn to plan for it, and have fun.

Long winded post. Take it for what it's worth. Take care.

[Upgrayedd]

May 25, 2014 8:00:09 GMT -5 90GTVert said:

I will take up the center of the lane when I can't safely be on a shoulder or to the right, because I don't want to encourage cars to squeeze by. I say let them slow down or pass when it's safe. I'd rather have a strict cop pull me over for being in the wrong spot and take my chances of explaining myself out of a ticket than take my chances of someone eating a sandwich while texting running me into a ditch because they had to get by while cars were coming and thought there was enough room.

All excellent advice, and especially this section I quoted, absolutely pick safety first in cases like this. I do the same thing, If its a 45+ road and its clearly not a safe spot to pass, I'll stay to the left of the lane until the situation for passing is good. Local cops are pretty understanding too for the most part, as long as you havent been one of the ones running around town doing 90 in a 35 and whatnot.



Couple more bits of info for you OP:

the white and yellow paint on roads is as slick as ice when it's wet/rained on. NO JOKE. puddles of antifreeze are rare, but the worst. theyll coat your tire and its slicker than ice about 5 seconds later. maybe not so bad riding solo on a scooter, still.. best to stop and get that crap off your tire.

armor-all on tires makes for poor traction. it will work its way down to the tread off the sides :/ fwiw, regular old dawn dish soap and a scrub brush can go a long way to making a tire look good.

[moofus02]

Watch cars waiting to turn. The direction there wheels are pointed is where they are going. Same with where the driver is looking. The habits you developed riding scooters and motorcycles will make you a much safer driver the rest of your life weather 2 or 4 wheels. Watch your mirrors for people behind you that don't see you for whatever reason. Constantly plan escape routes for emergency evasion. Knowing your best option for evasion before hand will make the evasion faster and safer than if you have to and don't know where to go. A split second of extra time can save your life. Sitting at a red light with a friend I saw a pick up running the light I took off through the red as my friend tried to figure out why as he broke the windshield of the truck that hit him. I was watching he wasn't and I didn't have time to warn him just get gone. He got hurt I didn't the guy that hit him backed up spun around and took off. Don't let this scare you just be aware of what is going on around you and your options and get practice in an empty parking lot until you are proficient in the operation of you scooter

Sent from my SPH-L720 using proboards

[dan50]

There is no substitute for common sense. Know the rules and stay aware of your surroundings.

Experience is also important. I rode motocross when I was 12. Even so, each scooter I own has different handling characteristics. It was mentioned practice in an empty parking lot to get comfortable with the bike. Remember that where your eyes are focused, is where the bike wants to go.

Most of the bad stuff I've seen in person or on video is the result of 3 things;
1) the rider is not able to handle the bike. Practice.
2) the rider is doing things that should not be done (wheelies, zig-zagging in and out of traffic, going too fast and being where you should not be and people don't expect you to be).
3)the people in cars are not paying attention and/or they can't see the bike. Wear a bright orange vest for visibility.

Riding is fun, LOTS of fun. Just use your commonsense and pay attention to traffic and you should be alright.

[sirknightsam]

Here is what i do to stay safe.
1. Stay out of blind spots. Go out of your way to assure visibility by the texters out there
2. Keep following distance between me and the car ahead of me and always remember i am the underdog in this game.
3. I am gonna tell it like it is now. You need protection from yourself, just like i needed protection from myself. Lets face it. Someimes it is tempting to fly down the hill. Sometimes it feels right to squeeze through traffic to make it to your turn; and many more less safe things we do just because there is no cops around. Keep that to the very very minimum. I ALWAYS DRIVE AS IF THERE IS A COP BEHIND ME. Seriously, i always ask myself. Would i do that if there was a cop behind me?
4. Keep your eyes off the miniskirts for God sakes. Look ahead

[moofus02]

My uncle ran into a parked car looking at 2 girls in bikinis and broke his neck true story. Unfortunately his wife watched it happen so he got zero sympathy

Sent from my SPH-L720 using proboards

[docxen]

These guys make a lot of sense. I've learned it's best to stay to the side and let ppl pass (but make sure they don't get too close). If they won't pass and are tailgating just go off the road scooters 50/150 are slower than cars usually so leave early and take your time. I always have plenty of time to get off the road for 10 seconds to let a car pass. Watch your turn signals most scooter turn signals don't have an audio clue that you need to turn them off. It's about got me wrecked a few times. Watch out for parking lots you relax but that's where my closest call came was in a parking lot.

[Upgrayedd]

May 26, 2014 8:57:12 GMT -5 sirknightsam said:

I am gonna tell it like it is now. You need protection from yourself, just like i needed protection from myself. Lets face it. Someimes it is tempting to fly down the hill. Sometimes it feels right to squeeze through traffic to make it to your turn; and many more less safe things we do just because there is no cops around. Keep that to the very very minimum.

well said

[sirknightsam]

Thanks upgrayedd.

[dan50]

Docxen has a great point about parking lots.
People can't see or don't bother looking when backing out of a parking spot. Drivers are the most distracted in a parking lot and the slow speed gives a false sense of safety.

[honda4stroke]

Wow, this has really turned out to be a great thread. I'm already learning so much good advice and I haven't even went through the whole thread yet. Thanks guys.