ADV Riding Mistakes and Misunderstandings (Part 1)

[@brianp7938]

great video, Joe is a baja legend!

[@ogasi1798]

most often people who say i need more power simply don't, they need more technique

[@adventuremulemoto]

Good stuff. I find that the answer to "either/or" or "yes/no" questions is "maybe" or "it depends." People seem to want the easiest answer for everything nowadays. I call it the death of nuance.

[@PeterR0035]

❤❤

[@sonnyday6830]

i can hear a loud harley coming from miles away and always looking out for them when they are getting nearer, so guess they are handy

[@Jeremybaland]

LOUD TIRES SAVE LIVES!

[@Wintersdark]

Loud pipes? Easy answer. Totally ignoring the social aspects of if any safety gained is worth the societal and potentially environmental issues, only focussing on safety: They're as good, and as bad as high vis gear. That is, they objectively increase other road users (not just drivers) likelihood to notice you *in some but not all circumstances*. Sure, you probably wont hear a loud bike rapidly approaching from the rear on the highway. Id argue thats one of the least useful times for a driver to be aware of you, the rider, theyre in front of you so you can watch them, you don't need them to hear you. Likewise, my high vid gear doesnt make me more noticable to other drivers if visibility is obstructed or the driver just isnt looking, but nobody says that means high vis gear cant save lives. Let me suggest some situations where a louder bike is objectively safer: * You're riding down a country road with limited visibility due to curves. Cyclists, pedestrians, and animals will hear you coming from further away, potentially staying offor to the side of the road. Cars looking to turn onto the road too may well hear you coming and pause before entering the road to look for you. * In a parking lot with lots of parked cars obstructing vision. You're MUCH more likely to be heard again by pedestrians and drivers navigating the parking lot, parking, and leaving the parking lot. * Low speed travel in traffix in cities. Its easy to miss bikes when checking around your car while driving at low speed if theyre crossing your blind spots at the right time. If theres a louder bike, you tend to look a bit more to pinpoint it. I can do more if people want. This however is not a justification of people disturbing their neighbors, or just BSing about why they got that aftermarket exhaust (it wasn't safety, no matter what you told your wife.) It's also not to say any improvement in safety is worth any amount of disruption to society around you, and for sure theres a strong arguement that you could well harm wildlife if loud enough too. But the argument that its not safer because you might not hear someone behind you on a highway are just dumb, unless maybe you ONLY ride on highways. I mean, i nearly got wacked once by an electric bike (no hate, i think they're very cool) while I was standing on a trail. Just didnt hear him coning, and didnt think there was a problem because *of course* I'd hear other bikes coming. And yeah. You wouldn't say high vis gear doesn't save lives just because in a lot of situations it can't help.

[@LuckyNikitaBoba]

A strobe light is better in all of your situations. I've been riding for over 30 years on the street and off-road. I dont care for loud pipes. But I will never ride on the street without a front-facing white strobe light.

[@RIDEAdventures]

Some solid points for people to chew on. Thanks Wintersdark for the note.

[@2fastnlight]

ABS off in the dirt is becoming an outdated recommendation. Current systems are quiet capable of improving results on all surfaces.

[@RIDEAdventures]

Yeah true it is becoming outdated but those features are not yet a standard on adv bikes. So to some degree the old adage still applies. Especially when including the Dual Sport varieties.

[@KB-ce7gf]

In my time riding, I’ve seen as many if not more, (we’ll call them loud bikes) in an accident as I do with the not loud bikes. So my conclusion, I can’t stand loud bikes. I ride because I enjoy riding, not to make a statement and have that stereotype. Have you rode behind one before? I refuse to anymore. It’s not even in the lease bit enjoyable. But hey, you might like it. Just my two cents.

[@RIDEAdventures]

Probably one of those things, where there’s a time and a place for the most ridiculously loudest exhaust to be heard. Gotta love the good ones, but only when we want to hear them :)

[@LuckyNikitaBoba]

Strobe lights save lives not loud pipes.

[@RIDEAdventures]

Haha good point

[@tsconver]

Loud pipes are for idiots. Most accidenta happen in front of you and you don't hear pipes until they past you the sound is to the rear not the front. Just makes all riders look bad.

[@RIDEAdventures]

If it has a traction control switch I imagine they would also include a similar switch for the ABS. One of our team is currently testing the NX500 and we will have a full report on our upcoming blog post. Here is a link to sign up to receive helpful moto reviews, gear reviews and adventure stories straight to your email. The sign up will be on your right side after you scroll down. www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog