If you fail this test you are riding your motorcycle blind

Learning how to use your vision on a motorcycle is one of the core principals for a good road strategy. In this video, I will give you some tips to improve your motorcycle vision on the street and at the end of the video help you determine how effective your road strategy is today.
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[@MCrider]

Become a Member of MCrider! More Details: www.MCrider.com/Member

[@55559H]

Since I started practicing turning my head where I wanted to go my riding has improved exponentially

[@thomaslenzmeier183]

I remember watching one of your videos when I first started (2 years ago) and you talked about pointing your head where you want to go. You also talked about seeing further down the road. I think this supplements those lessons well. I have trained myself to look through the corner or look down the road; always looking using my peripheral vision. Thanks for the refresher!!

[@MCrider]

Thanks for sharing!! That is a great habit to develop.

[@markrumfola9833]

This is a must watch man. Have a good day Kevin.

[@jeffdemarcus8143]

You're videos are very helpful...I've learned a lot from em. Thank you

[@nairobi203]

On a motorcycle it really does not matter who is wrong or who is right. In case of an accident the range goes from becoming paralised to being dead + psychological consequences for all parties involved. Therefore drive defensively, and in doubt.. slow down, give way, create distance. You have a lot more to loose. To me that is the best strategy. It probably saved me and... It helps me also to keep my inner calm. Life is what matters.

[@reb1050]

Evidently, I have done something right. I got on my first motorcycle when I was 14 back in 1963. Other than a couple of minor incidents on dirt bikes, I have had only one accident that caused damage to my motorcycle (no injury to me). And that was just when a deer ran into my bike one night when riding a back road in a rural area. 57 yrs. and hundreds of thousands of miles with almost accident free riding.

[@Patrick_B687-3]

@@josephkerkau2520 He’s also been very, very observant and careful while working extra hard to be safe. It’s amazing how “lucky” hard working people always get.

[@Herbchamp]

I too have been riding since the mid sixties on the road. The skills and road strategy habits mentioned have reduced my accidents to ones which have mostly just damaged the package of protective gear. The concept of straight line target fixation on tree lined country roads has given me problems with seeing small deer and critters. Sweeping ahead and looking for animal motion has enabled me to miss all but two small deer. Thanks for all the valuable info you share that reinforces our life saving habits and makes our rides our life.

[@Steve-zr3lo]

Thanks!

[@woudt61]

Bedankt

[@ashishmubarak1364]

It’s a blessing to learn from you on KZbin. Thank you Brother for your time and help. I am sharing your channel with all my friends.

[@denisewildfortune4058]

You covered all the "vision" bases in great detail while making it relatable! Wonderful video!

[@markgoostree6334]

Man, I really look forward to your videos. always the kind of info that makes me think and your delivery is like my favorite uncle giving me good life advice. You do a good service to riders, young or old. Thank you!

[@lorghi]

Grazie.

[@razzrasmussen5773]

Well done and well said. Some people could use this just to walk safely, instead of on their phone. Hooah

[@barrettwbenton]

Tell me about it!

[@SweetartistacademyAuPerth]

I had a close call with target fixing once. scared me so much that I have learnt from it now. and learnt to trust my bike more too. Great video thank you

[@walterjohnson2031]

I am always amazed at how you find a simple direct phraseology that even a new born rider should be able to understand. Your visual situation assessment is a required skill to stay alive on a motorcycle. Inattentive riding is as dangerous as drunk driving.

[@johnnylightning1491]

Yep, you've got to be able to see something before you can avoid it, AND you've got to see it in time to avoid it. If either of these test are failed you're going to hit something you don't want to hit. Keep the good stuff coming Kevin.

[@joenoyes322]

Thank you for your videos , I’m an older rider 60 but ,I’ve been riding less than a year . I listen and practice these lessons week after week. Thank you for your hard work.

[@MCrider]

Rock on!

[@patrickwade3150]

A very long time ago when I took drivers training, the instructor hammered home the idea of noticing everything far ahead. He noticed while observing my first time at the wheel that I was already doing that. Told him I learned it from riding a motorcycle from age 12. It has saved me several times. Good video.

[@terry_1952]

Kevin, I've been watching your videos and I'm really impressed with the information you go over. When I was younger I raced dirt bikes and hadn't rode in over 20 years when I went into the military. When I decided to ride again I took a MSF riding course that was a good refresher for me. Since I've found your videos I have learned a lot of good safe information from you. Thank you for your outstanding and informative videos to help not just me but also others. Looking forward to seeing and learning more from you.

[@Brian-tb1zs]

You see a couch ?! What kind of workshop is it ? …. I get it, probably an attitude correcting shop, everything needed to get a better attitude 👍😆😎

[@bryanmahon7866]

Hi Kevin. Sir, I've gotten away from watching your videos for about a year, not on purpose... I went to Advance Auto parts the other day, and came across a brand new rider who just purchased his first MC, and had been riding for a week, 21 years old, and after talking for a few minutes my conversation went to your you tube channel. He was a humble young man, and three days later, I ran into him again, and he had been watching your videos... For the last two or three days, I've been watching again, and after this video I realized that watching your videos, for me, is the same as reading, and memorizing scripture, and that it comes to your mind when needed... Thank you.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

If you half the following distance, the car in front of you gets 4x bigger in your field of view. Double the following distance, and the car is a quarter the size. In addition: Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance. Keep your distance, and moderate your speed. It gives you an exponential lower risk of an accident.

[@OnMyWayBack888]

Moving your head is so true it is amazing. Went on a dirt road with real loose gravel on angle. At one point got fixated on the ditch and almost went there.... forced my head left and magically was out of that situation (with a bit of slow down). As you say Kevin, you can’t stress that enough.... Thanks for great content...

[@paulasturi4199]

Timely video, as I'm shopping for a good pair of motorcycle prescription sunglasses. Two issues I'm struggling with: 1) The foam inserts around the lenses designed to protect your eyes against dust and road debris tend to reduce your peripheral vision. 2) The curved design of the lenses causes more visual distortion when they're prescription, especially progressive.

[@BubbaSmurft]

Finally... a great explanation why Apple users always use portrait instead of landscape for their pictures and video. Thank-you.

[@twitchc2588]

the best explanation of target fixation ever, thanks Kevin

[@BloozBone]

Turning your head is even more critical when you wear progressive lenses.

[@kalmanfilter7056]

Hi Kevin, may sound a bit unrelated, But I learned a lot of these road strategies that you mention not at MSF school but at Driving School. When I was in my early 20s, I wanted to impress girls and took the written test and 10 minute joke of a motorcycle skills test and received a "motorcycle only" class M license without even learning how to drive a car. I came out of a lot of close ones and came across your channel two years ago. Then I took an MSF course. I was able to fully control all of the "close calls" with strategy and skills most of times, but I still found myself in bad situations even though it happened very rarely. After only riding a motorcycle for about 5 years, I finally signed up for driving school to get a driver's license for a car. I took a 10 week course with one hour of driving every week with an instructor and borrowed my friend's car to practice. I was paired with a professional driving instructors -some of them with racing careers- and learned and had a chance to practice a lot of the strategies that you talk about your videos, such as head and steering coordination, braking distance, when to roll off and coast, blind spots of other cars etc. I also realized that not a lot of people who drive are fully aware of how to abide by the rules of the road and learned how to mitigate the unexpected maneuvers by other drivers. So even if you have a driver's license for a car already, I highly recommend to every motorcyclists out there, signing up for a couple of weeks of driving school if you haven't taken one. You may find out that you're not that great of a driver as you thought and may learn some things that you can apply to motorcycling.!

[@martinnc2003]

Great video! You just changed the way I will navigate curves. I have always been terrible about pointing my nose the direction I want to go. I start that way, but I’m the guy you describe that looks through curve, looks back in front of me, then back the other way. I always slow down in curves because of this. I just hopped on the bike and tried this, and I’m so thankful that you broke this down. This is simply the best explanation of this method that I’ve ever heard. It’s a game changer for me!

[@darylcopp9013]

Its amazing how important your nose is. Playing baseball years ago the coach would always said to keep your eye on the ball. Good advice, but you still can pull your head while batting or miss a ball in the field because of peripheral vision. Coaching now says to keep your nose on the ball. Amazing the improvement that small adjustment can make.

[@MCrider]

Great point

[@johntoccafondi2059]

Hammer home the basics. This all translates well to driving my car.

[@BIG-K]

Thank you for this crystal-clear explanation, Kevin. Invaluable advice! 👍

[@MCrider]

My pleasure!

[@barrettwbenton]

A little late coming in on this, but this is likely the best piece I've watched on tis matter. The analogy of a good billiards player struck home with me (I'm fair-to-middling at pool, but nonetheless): it's about seeing the next few moves ahead that saves you.

[@dougbagby3493]

Very valuable information for motorcycles but also very useful when you are operating an automobile.

[@jeanlazure9339]

This is awesome. I'm a fairly new rider and found that my training focused almost solely on skills, not strategy. And since, as a new rider, my skills are limited and can only develop so fast, I've focused a fair bit on having better road strategy. It's made for safer, more aware, and more enjoyable rides. Thanks Kevin!!!

[@normanclark3429]

Thank you Kevin for more great content to keep us safe!

[@MCrider]

You bet

[@spudgunson]

Good analogy talking about the racehorse blinders.

[@MotorcyclingwithCarl]

I am glad I saw the deer and her baby before they jumped in front of my bike yesterday!! I wish I had the gopro on!

[@MCrider]

Oh no! Glad you avoided a crash.

[@MotorcyclingwithCarl]

MCrider - Motorcycle Training Im glad I saw it first. I love riding the back roads of CT but my biggest concern is the deer we have lots of them. I am always looking for them. At least you know to expect cars at certain places. Animals anytime anyplace. Love your channel just back to riding the last year and a half I took a 23 year break while I raised my son. Love your channel and all the help it has given me. And I am having so much fun riding again and doing KZbin!

[@elainecalzadilla9739]

Amazing tips to know how to have visual effects and controls.

[@andycampbell2821]

Thanks Kevin for all your good work. Great video as always.

[@kodiak536kodiak536]

I say to myself that EVERY vehicle on the road is out to kill me...THAT is my way to be MORE conscientious about my strategy on the road. ALWAYS assume there are possibility of someone doing something in front of me to kill me on the road, be it fact or fiction in my mind. My eyes are ALWAYS scanning the road ahead as far as I can see, looking for anything that could "ruin my day".

[@johnc8910]

And if something pops up close? Not the entire solution. I divide the space around me into three zones: 0 - 2 seconds, 2 - 5 seconds, and 5 seconds out. Anything inside the first zone has the potential to hurt you right NOW. Second zone is serious, but not critical. Successfully managing the third zone can prevent problems from occurring in the first two zones.

[@JBMotorrad]

Most of the riders I know who whine about incidents are not very attentive riders. They seem to ride for others to bask in their glory and that others should get out of their way. It's uncanny. I've become so much more a calm automobile driver since I've done 41,000 miles on 2 wheels in the last 3 years. Happy to report only 2 "close calls". All happened while I was wearing hi-viz jacket and LED Aux lights on. These drivers don't even notice cars coming at them. Your videos are on my essential watch list. When my buddy and I go riding and we encounter obstacles in the road and respond well to them, I'll say, "MC Rider would be proud." ;)

[@pabloxao]

All makes a lot of sense and the tip to go 5m/h slower or 5m/h faster helps a lot too. Thank you to share all your knowledge with us. Thank you. Kind Regards Pablo Paixão

[@MCrider]

My pleasure!

[@janicemurphy7878]

Peripheral vision is needed for many jobs and hobbies thanks for your video. Awm

[@robfris5332]

I add my thank you Kevin to the others I have just read. Yet another valuable video. At low speed when aiming through a narrow gap, the harder I stare at it, the straighter is my path, and everything else disappears from my vision. For that moment nothing exists other than the gap, just as Kevin had said about reading a book (or watchng one of hisvideos). Concentrating when pulling out of a side road sometimes worries me because at that moment I'm not able to see if a vehicle is approaching.

[@SMKreitzer1968]

Thanks for doing what you do Kevin, another great video on a great topic. Certainly true, folks always complaining about the other driver that cut them off maybe need to look at themselves and their strategy. Thanks for sharing, stay safe.

[@MCrider]

Thanks 👍

[@tg7469]

Always on point! Thanks Kevin.

[@MCrider]

Appreciated!

[@glenhead2364]

A great video--vision is critical--at the same time good eyesight is necessary--some riders,not just us old guys do not realize when vision is poor. I complained to my optometrist that even with my new glasses I was not happy with my vision...He suggested that even tho my cataracts were minimal, would I consider the surgery--I have had both eyes done and the saying it was like the difference between night and day is appropriate..the road signs are sharp and the country colours are brilliant--HAPPY RIDING!

[@rayrayhouston]

I had 8 years in the marching band and it helped me alot

[@williammcguire5685]

Thank you for sharing will use your advice.

[@jptwaite7899]

Great content and love your voice by the way...could listen to it all day!

[@mkoehler222]

I have trouble looking through the corner because I'm worried about my lane position. I guess that is something I need to practice more in the parking lot and use my peripheral vision more. Thanks Mark

[@johnc8910]

You should KNOW where you are before you start the turn and have a plan for the corner. You may need to CHANGE that plan, but that is better than starting from scratch.

[@desmondjdurandt9542]

Observation, Planning and Strategy

[@bradleyweiss9509]

Great advice

[@kepeter97]

i think I was taught this for my car driver license. My dad and my instructor always told me that I gotta do headchecks when changing lanes and things like that. "Just in case something's there". This carried over to riding as well.

[@RomanHistoryFan476AD]

In the UK they smash head checks and shoulder checks into your head each lesson and in every test, theory test and all the books.

[@Brianmoto49]

once again another great explanation of skill and strategy as it pertains to vision...the better your vision skills the better you can anticipate potential problems and make adjustments... well done Kevin

[@AmerSheikh]

Beautiful explanation...Loved this video.

[@glenns6923]

As always Sir, thank you for sharing!

[@dennishofmeister5167]

Another great video Kevin. Here is the problem I am having. I have been practicing pointing my nose where I want to go. The problem I am having is with a certain hair pin turn on my commute home. It turns about 120 degrees, and I can see all the way through the turn before I even start turning. So when I look through the turn I tend to start turning too soon, crossing the double yellow line.

[@RichGrueber]

Perfect timing for me thanks.

[@brentlywhitson6791]

Great vid,Mr K. Superb explanation of scan/look and looking thru where u want to go/will go.

[@doopavision3665]

Excellent video Kevin. Maybe you could insert lines on the video where your eyes are (scanning ahead) while going through the corner to further help.

[@sangesherpa6034]

Thank you for the lesson. I was really waiting for new video from MCrider

[@MCrider]

You are welcome! Every Friday morning at 8AM Central... :)

[@mitchrozelle269]

I will go down to Lewiston Id. and down the grade to the town. Kevin you don't have steep grade where you live.But any way there is two ways go.The new grade and the old grade . the new is four lane highway. Old way is two lane .The old grade is slow with sharp turns and switch backs.good practice for looking thew the turns and braking . The new grade, good practice for fast turns and coming up to slow traffic in those turns. Great stuff. Ride on you all! Stay well! And Safe!

[@bigfella459]

Another great video Kevin, Although as you say scan everything but I have learnt to watch the stationery vehicles and people, animals etc. They have a bad habit of suddenly moving as you get near them

[@MCrider]

Here are some other videos that deal with riding vision. www.mcrider.com/?s=vision Become a Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. www.MCrider.com/support

[@elainecalzadilla9739]

I’m a member already

[@johnmacdonald1878]

I tried as you suggested, looking at a lamp, Ok, Important point, I could still see my daughter moving in the corner of my eye. She was moving, I just saw her moving again while typing this. Your peripheral vision will often spot things before your focused vision. Keep your eyes moving.

[@Basimshah]

Very we’ll explained,,, to conclude this we can say when ur on the road u should be in real time situation.

[@iyyappan_nathan]

Many thanks for your lessons.

[@davehamilton8034]

Good stuff, as usual! Youda best, Kevin!

[@MCrider]

Thanks

[@vanchb14tube]

Your comments are right on. My personal struggle is when I am riding in a group. I find myself keeping my eyes fixed on the bike I am following and NOT on the upcoming curve. I have to keep reminding myself to keep my eyes on the road and use my peripheral vision to track the bike I am following. Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

[@kenwittlief255]

Dont ride in a group Search for group ride videos on youtube, there are hundreds of examples of multi-bike crashes. The probability of being in an accident drops from your riding skills to the skills and habits of the worst rider. The tendency to ride past your comfort level is too high. If you are riding with others, stay 5 seconds apart on the road, and if one rider is going faster than the rest, let him go, and meet up at your next stop.

[@neilshepherd1904]

Great info as usual. For me, the saying "Everyone on the road is trying to kill you" is an easy-to-remember safety message or catch-phrase, about the potential dangers on the road. Think about safety. Don't be complacent. Always be alert and aware because other road users can be inattentive and unpredictable. Peace. :)

[@tallwolf6618]

I know I'm regularly guilty of Target fixation. That's one thing I have to stay conscious of. This is particularly on long desolate roads.

[@paulfisher5798]

Another very good video. I haven't been riding very long. But I certainly appreciate the wisdom and knowledge you share . Thanks very much,

[@RobertoPerez-db2yz]

Hi Kevin, thanks for always reminding us for those kind of strategies. Its just like a recurrent training for me so that when I need it, Im sure that I can execute it precisely. Have a safe ride always, God bless you.

[@pomajzsolt4363]

The best explanation about vision what i've ever seen!

[@redleadervfr-v4906]

Thank you Kevin I always enjoy all your videos

[@MCrider]

You are very welcome

[@fury210]

Great video, excellent advice.

[@jimbannon4127]

Kevin Another good lesson on a topic not normally covered. I do have a question. How far up the road should the rider be looking. When making a U turn is it 20-25 feet or more vs when riding on a curvy road. On a normal turn or U turn I keep my line of sight fairly close maybe 20 feet ahead on the curves I'm looking for the next curvy while in the current which can be way down the road. My U turns are a little jerky sometimes because I'm changing my line of sight and speed. Thanks for your weekly videos I always enjoy them.

[@MCrider]

On the road about 10 seconds up the road. On curves and u-turns you are looking for the exit of the curve.

[@jimbannon4127]

@@MCrider Thanks again

[@got_to_roll]

Another excellent exercise to show invaluable information. Thanks again for helping us to continue improving our skills and strategy.

[@CircuitStudiosMO]

Thank You !!

[@stevemoore6812]

Great advice as usual.

[@My_bike_and_me]

Top, top channel 👍

[@stickbow95]

Thanks for another great video. Sadly, around where I live, the vast majority of riders make very poor road strategy decisions.

[@alstone5257]

It is commonly called field vison, good video.

[@jeannoelsandrazie1874]

Words of wisdom, as always. Keep it up.

[@petebrandstrom1038]

Is there such a thing as overthinking strategy to the point that your mind is so busy the enjoyment of the ride is minimal? Thank you for the information Kevin. God bless.

[@MCrider]

After a while having good riding principals become 2nd nature and no longer requires focus to perform. But I see your point.

[@maxlutz3674]

To my experience: Yes there is. When you start doing this it takes concious effort and decreases the enjoyment of the ride. That will quickly shift towards less concious effort and more enjoyment. Overall it is totally worth it. It greatly helps to minimize unpleasant encounters and gives you more enjoyment. There is a big difference between getting cut off and a car changing lane in front of you because anticipated it. Situational awareness and a good road strategy make a real difference. In the end it is up to you to decide whether getting a better rider is worth a little less fun for a limited period of time.

[@49Roadmaster]

Play from 14:18 to 14:50 over 20 times, THEN go back onto the road with this playing in the background.

[@davidrobins4025]

Very useful information. Thank you.

[@justanotherviewer52]

Thanks Kevin.

[@koolopscsm3695]

Great content for all experience level 👏 👌

[@HarleyGurl114]

Excellent video, some great information. Love how you make it all so clear, like using it like a pool game, for road strategy. I shall remember pointing my nose where I want to go. Sometimes I am so aware of how bad my turn was because my eyes were not looking my head was not turned. I am going to do the nose thing now. Something different. Thanks I am going to share this one.

[@johnc8910]

That is one of the two components of a successful U-turn.

[@smiley50ish]

brilliant info thanks

[@kenwittlief255]

A big part of riding is that you stay focused on riding. You cannot sight-see or rubberneck on a motorcycle. If you come to a great vista stop and look around - when you are riding: RIDE. In a car you can put your elbow on the window sill and hold a steady pressure on the wheel and the car will hold its path while you look around. You cannot do that on a motorcycle - when you twist your head to look to the side at speed you are twisting your shoulders and pulling the bike off its path the motorcycle IS going to end up where you are looking Another important point, you have to note not only what you can see, but what you cant see: if you come up to a blind intersection at 60mph you MUST slow down to make sure no one is about to barrel thru on the cross road, where you cannot see them coming (and not stopping). 99.99% of the time there will be no one coming. This goes for anything else that is blocking your view, a truck on the shoulder or in a driveway that you cant see around - there could be a vehicle behind it about to pull out. And railroad crossings have red lights when a train is coming, but they DONT have green lights when no train is coming to show you that the light is working. This is why school busses and gas trucks are required to stop at RR crossings, because the lights could be dead, and if a train is coming you could be dead too.

[@amirfmaster2515]

Thank you Kevin ♥

[@riorica1]

Nice video Kevin! I oftentimes feel that riders who ride with the world coming at them struggle with vision in corners. I have tried to make me see riding from this perspective and it had an impact where my eyes and brain struggled to process the information caming at me. However, when I ride normally where I am moving towards the environment then I have no issues and my vision easily goes where it is needed. I'm not sure if that's what causes vision problems for most, but you should try it sometime as an experiment. It was an odd sensation where I was able to envision the world coming at me and trying to adjust the speed of the world so to speak coming at me. It was so much harder to judge and understand riding. Maybe I'm just crazy 😜 lol.

[@terrydebord7878]

very good information

[@MCrider]

Thanks

[@johnbyrne5322]

I wonder if you can do a video on riding to vision . Riding to what can't be seen. I have just completed a 1100 km solo ride into the Australian out back . In one section I had a sheep, a kangaroo and 4 emus come out of the scrub ( bush ) and across the road in front of the bike. On the trip I learnt if you cannot see, slow down. If there are open spaces were you can see and anticipate then increase speed. When riding in the morning I learnt to watch birds in the sky as this indicated road kill and there were 4 or 5 dead kangaroos on the road in the first 100 km. The lesson learnt was keep far away behind trucks, possibly a few hundred metres or if safe overtake. If a truck goes over road kill and you are riding close behind the truck you will not have time to take evasive actions. You will also be road kill.

[@grenade1882]

Exelent info as always Kevin, thank you! ps. Great to see you on an XT250, super fun little dual sports!