Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mattdsoares]

[mattdsoares]

[mattdsoares]

[digitalmk]

Thanks for the reply mattdsoares. That makes me want to look into getting some gear before leaving the States. Another question that came to mind was this: I know some gear can be found over there, but is there accessories readily available? (Saddlebags, tank bag, etc.)

[Bibbitybop]

[Xaiko]

I have a question. If I choose to ship my scooter to America by boat, is having registration papers a must? I purchased mine without them

[machoman]

[Xaiko]

Sorry I have no idea. I was thinking of sending my 47" tv and heard there is a min. Of space to send things. But I wonder, since I'm far from the boat port in both here and Texas, maybe it's too much

[mattdsoares]

[Stalin84]

[BURNBURNRUBBER]

pretty sure they're both talking about shipping home FROM here...

[NSMatt]

[IlIlNine]

[TECO]

Hey, relax and chill you guys - we're all enthusiasts.

Motorcycle Enthusiasts - lets' just enjoy it while we can here.

One of my favorite vids this year is this:

Video - Bubs 2010 ANSWER Shoot

[v88]

Urban riding skills: Adapted from MCN (my writing in parenthesis)

If you ride: According to the HURT report

You are 30% more likely to die in an accident than people in cars.
75% of all accidents are with cars.
In 2/3�s of all accidents with cars it was the car driver that violated the bikes right of way.
25% of accidents are the riders fault alone and do not involve another vehicle.
Weather played a factor in only 2% of accidents.

The key lesson here is that urban riding is dangerous and skills like counter steering, leaning and proper braking in corners will not help you because other road users in the city are the most serious threat to your safety as a motorcyclist.

The sudden movements of other vehicles can present a much greater hazard to you than to the drivers themselves.
In this situation, developing a defensive riding style is vital. Here are eight tips to keep you safe on the roads in association with Spada.

1. Be alert � It�s natural for your concentration to waver during a journey, but in this state you�re extremely vulnerable to sudden hazards. Rest regularly or simply stop riding if your mind keeps wandering. �In Korea it takes only a split second of mental wandering and you could have a taxi cutting you off. That split second can mean the difference between stopping unharmed or being sent flying over the taxi (I speak from experience).�

2. Be judgemental � If a car�s banged up and held together by sticky tape it�s fair to say the driver is no stranger to accidents. Beware. �I think for Korea you should assume big expensive cars and SUVs will drive like A-holes, truck and bus drivers will do whatever they want and taxi drivers are likely to do sudden u-turns or pull over quickly to try and pick up or drop off a fare. You can also put small drivers in the �dumb� driver category as many small cars are driven by inexperienced drivers.�

3. Look up � The further you look, the more you�ll see. Knowing everything that�s going on around you is key to avoiding dangerous situations. Don't be afraid to move to get a better view. �Keep your sight lines clear, ride ahead of traffic (so having a bit of speed to get up front can be a good thing), stay clear of buses and trucks, scan all intersections before crossing.�

4. Anticipate problems � The more time you have to react to a hazard the more likely you are to deal with it safely. Police riders recommend commenting aloud on an upcoming hazard, detailing what you intend to do. �Learn to �read� what drivers might be doing. A car riding the line may be about the change lanes, a bus in the middle lane just might be pulling into that bus stop ahead, the truck edging up on the stop line may be keen to run the red light��

5. deleted

6. Check your blind spots � Doing your rearward safety checks isn�t just something you do to pass your test, it�s a potentially life-saving habit. Make sure you keep it up. �Always check behind you, but if you ride a small capacity bike like a 125 or are riding slow�be sure to do this more often. Korean drivers will pass you ridiculously close; they may even split a lane between you and another vehicle or half on the shoulder�even on the highway. Taxi drivers are real bad at sneaking up on you especially late at night when they are more concerned with the next fare. Small truck drivers and tow trucks are often in a real hurry to get somewhere (cause they don�t make much money) and are likely to try and pass you in places they shouldn�t (like a yield lane or off ramp to a highway).�

7. Check your speed � At 70mph the shortest distance for a complete stop is 96m.

8. Keep your distance � staying a safe distance behind the vehicle in front will increase your range of vision as well as giving you space to stop in an emergency. �Problem with this in Korea is that any space you leave means someone will try to wedge themselves into it�so use your best judgment. I prefer to stay in front of traffic where possible, but when in traffic I try to leave as much room as possible without leaving too much room for cars to sneak in. I avoid being behind buses and trucks so that I can look ahead of the car I�m behind.�

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/RidingEvents/ridingeventsresults/Riding-skills/2010/October/oct1810-MCN-s-guide-to-urban-riding-Defensive-riding/?WT.dcsvid=SilverpopMailing&WT.mc_id=MCN%20Newsletter%20October2010%20%281%29