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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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 Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:03 am Post subject: |
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| EZE wrote: |
| The bigger concern is how motorbikes are a little bit less safe than other forms of transportation. I believe at least one Dave's poster has died in Korea while riding one. The fact that a foreigner is working in South Korea means he or she is at an elevated risk of not having health insurance (even if it's in their contract) which could cause medical costs from an accident to be financially catastrophic. |
That is the rub. Riding a motorcycle is a bit dangerous. Even more so in Korea. Every single person I have I talked to who rode a bike or motor scooter here in Korea has had an accident. True maybe more then half where minor. But I would say at least 25 percent were serious to major.
Not being properly registered, can result in having insurance (if enrolled) not being covered. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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I've been riding since last June and haven't had an accident or even come close. I don't get my knee anywhere near the ground, I regularly have my bike serviced and have insurance.
Riding a motorcycle is a bit dangerous, that's why there's so much info on the 'net about how to ride safely and not like a tool. |
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nora
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| JustinC wrote: |
I've been riding since last June and haven't had an accident or even come close. I don't get my knee anywhere near the ground, I regularly have my bike serviced and have insurance.
Riding a motorcycle is a bit dangerous, that's why there's so much info on the 'net about how to ride safely and not like a tool. |
It's not "if," but "when." |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| nora wrote: |
| JustinC wrote: |
I've been riding since last June and haven't had an accident or even come close. I don't get my knee anywhere near the ground, I regularly have my bike serviced and have insurance.
Riding a motorcycle is a bit dangerous, that's why there's so much info on the 'net about how to ride safely and not like a tool. |
It's not "if," but "when." |
Oh, right, thanks. I rode back home and never came off. When I took my test the instructor said I was a natural, as we were in dead slow traffic and I didn't need to put my foot down (a consequence of 200+ miles a week on a bicycle). I never push the limits because when I'm about to lose traction is when some *beep* in a cage will pull in front of me. Save that for the track.
I do enjoy passing cages but only when they can clearly see me doing it! |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| nora wrote: |
| JustinC wrote: |
I've been riding since last June and haven't had an accident or even come close. I don't get my knee anywhere near the ground, I regularly have my bike serviced and have insurance.
Riding a motorcycle is a bit dangerous, that's why there's so much info on the 'net about how to ride safely and not like a tool. |
It's not "if," but "when." |
its not just the bikes. at least on a bike you have some power so you can step on it and avoid trouble. you also seem to get a bit more respect as a road user on a bike, especially if the exhaust is loud. but on a scooter/ citi chicken chaser, youre on your own. nobody pays any heed to you. i think you're expected to ride like a *beep* and are treated accordingly. if anything, id say the chances of getting into an accident are much higher on a scooter.
its a similar thing with cars. how people can ride around in those things with no insurance is beyond me. theyre huge! how can you possibly expect to avoid slamming into something thats 1 m away from you travelling at between 50 and 100 kph when he suddenly decides to make a u turn with. o notice? |
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joesp
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Hello, people!
| JustinC wrote: |
| I've been riding since last June and haven't had an accident or even come close. |
I don't know how you can say that in Korea. I was almost rear-ended by a taxi and cut off violently by a bus making a right-hand turn and almost slid to the ground on snow that the street cleaners had thrown into the street and which had frozen into a sheet of ice .... why, that was just this morning!
You can save your safety for the track when you don't have anyone else out there. It ain't just you on the road, pal. You are at the mercy of crazy pedestrians, drunks, a-hole taxi drivers, steel plates in the road, bike trouble, and people just making mistakes. Motorcycles are not safe, don't fool yourself.
| EZE wrote: |
| ... The fact that a foreigner is working in South Korea means he or she is at an elevated risk of not having health insurance (even if it's in their contract) which could cause medical costs from an accident to be financially catastrophic. |
Just to clarify, the national insurance does not cover any medical expense stemming from an accident. So, whether you have national medical insurance or not is irrelevant! |
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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Just for the record, I'm simply posting just to...post.
As a present/previous owner of a 1800cc car, 125cc scooter, 150cc motorcycle, 600cc motorcycle,
750cc motorcycle I thought I'd throw in a few wons worth of experience.
What it ultimately comes down to is your mindset on how long a rider plans on living here as a 1 or 2 year 'tourist',
well, it's up to you on how legal/insured you wish to be. Longer than that~ better play by the rules.
Personally, never an accident or even close to one. I ride and drive as responsible a man as I would back home.
At the same time, I'm familiar with the road charateristics and etiquettes here so that allows me the benefit of
anticipation of the local 'road warriors' increasing my safety, though I don't take that for granted or as 100%
confident on other people's actions/reactions on the road.
I'm a firm believe that being responsble increases ones respect for the laws and allows one the freedom to react
to certain situations in a quick, life-saving, responsible manner.
There is full-coverage insurance for motorcycles (expect damage to bikes) for motorcyclists now that ALL motorcycles
have to be legally registered and insured, but it's nearly double that compared to car insurance.
Little added advice, legal or not, the 'louder/brighter' you are also increases your safety as you'll get the attention of others on the road. Invest
in one of those 'cannon' mufflers or even punch holes in your existing muffler. I took my 150cc Mirage to a shop and
asked for my motorcycle be made to sound louder...he punched a half dozen holes with a simple screw driver and hammer free of charge and it sounded pretty awesome.
That was some time ago. My 600cc with straight pipes was natually loud
enough to set of car alarms as I rode by (which I thoroughly enjoyed!). Even now, with a 750cc, it's a 'head-turner'
as it's loud enough. But I strictly keep it in first, second gear tops, when I'm in my own neighborhood. On the open road however, I open up! Love it! |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:55 am Post subject: |
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love your advice and pretty much agree with you though.
quick question though, doesnt having more holes in your exhaust somehow effect the bikes tuning? im not a tech head, so ive really no idea.
i once opened up my exhaust on a 125cc (for your reason), it went about 10kph faster after that |
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joesp
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:06 am Post subject: |
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I am also very safe.
i have never done
sidewalk cruises
stopping in front of crosswalks
driving diagonal through intersections
running reds
illegal hueys
curb hopping
breaking the speed limit
driving outside the far right
rode without a helmet
driving with no license
and all the other things Koreas bests do. We are living in a foreign country, people, please! |
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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:02 am Post subject: |
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| le-paul wrote: |
love your advice and pretty much agree with you though.
quick question though, doesnt having more holes in your exhaust somehow effect the bikes tuning? im not a tech head, so ive really no idea.
i once opened up my exhaust on a 125cc (for your reason), it went about 10kph faster after that |
Thanks paul, but no problems that I can recollect. But thank the Hangook heavens above maintance/repair is CHEAP in this country! But the hangup is finding a reliable (knowledgeable) repair shop~ I'm not much
of a tech head either, but when it comes to bikes in Korea, I'm more concerned with torque than speed/power. There are times I want to 'bolt' from a slow or standing position to dodge an errant driver and avoid an accident.
A bike is an extention of yourself (what you feel comfortable with and enjoy) and the envirornment (Korea's mass of cars with it's share of hot-heads, extreme climates and hills). Find that balance and all should be well I like to think.
Dave's did lose a dear poster several years ago so...gotta be comfortable and confident to ride here or anywhere. Any fear or doubt will lead to hesitation, hesitation will lead to an accident and even THEN there is no
absolute surity of safety. Even today I took my bike out and had the all too common occurance of a vehicle quickly moving from a far left lane attempting to cross to
my lane the THIRD one over and into a collision with me. But i have a LOUD ASS horn so, that woke that driver up, put him in check and he remained in the second lane and all was well. |
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