Expat Bikers

Why do we need to communicate when riding?

 

On the bike...

 

Firstly we need to communicate with other road users and pedestrians of where we are going, any dangers ahead or to alert someone. This we do by using hand signals, motorbike horn and lights.

 

To all other road users and even pedestrians we are invisable on the road no matter how much noise your exhaust makes. So it is up to you to make sure that everyone around you knows where you are going and what you want to do. However there are some considerations_

 

Hand signals - are great in the day time but useless at night and cannot be seen from a distance or in poor weather conditions. Also a lot of other drivers may not fully undertsand your hand signals so take care. Another point is that providing hand signals also takes your hands off the handlebars which can make your bike unstable.

 

Indicators - To be used at all times as this keeps both hands on the hadlebar and in full control of the bike, just to do not forget to switch them off after completeing a turn.

 

Horn - To warn others of a dangerous situation but only useful at short close distances as the sound can get confused in built up areas or lost in open rural areas.

 

Lights - In Europe we have to have our headlights on at all times so this does not provide any useful means of communicating and can be confused as a signal as you ride over a pot hole or speed bump. The only exception could be to flash other divers at night if they have left their lights on full high beam and are blinding you.

 

Hazard lights - To be used only when you may be causing an obstruction or need to make other road users aware of a dangerouse situation.

 

 

 

 

Radio Communications....

 

 

 

We now live in a ¨Constant communication¨world where people are used to having full telephone communications 24/7. This can be due to family, friends, work etc.  Now this is your choice, a lot of bikers like the freedom of being isolated when riding left with just their thoughts to enjoy the scenes and smells.

 

If you fall in the ¨I must be connected at all times group¨then how do I do this?

 

Rule number 1... If you receive a phone call tell the person to hold... while you stop your bike otherwise your concentration will not be on your riding and you may have an accident.....

 

Options.....

Install a handsfree kit into your helmet, there are several systems available on the WEB which will work with most mobile phone opperating systems.

I use the Interphone F5 headset, I used to have the F4 version but updated to give me voice menu prompts rather than beeps and some additional features. This is a self contained unit that fits on to the side of your helmet with two small internal speakers and either a fixed microphone for full face helmets or a boom microphone for open faced helmets. The headset battery lasts all day and has a transmission distance of up to 800m. The headset can also be paired directly with your mobile phone via bluetooth so that you have the option of communicating with other bikers/ pillion as you ride or use your mobile phone. It can also be paired with your GPS via bluetooth to provide turn by turn voice instructions. One small device that do a great deal. A great advantage of a helmet headset is that you can communicate with other riders which is helpful on long trips through cities helping to direct each other at junctions or passing information. You can also warn you friends of problems ahead and check on how they are feeling or crack a joke.

 

Iphone... plug the Iphone headset ear piece with combined microphone into your Iphone and place the headset inside your helmet. I advice to use only one ear bud so that you can still hear other external sounds around you. Then program your Iphone to automaticaly answer calls and speech dial.

 

Last option...Place your mobile phone in your top outer pocket with maximium volum turned up, when your phone rings then just stop your bike when it is safe to do so and call back the caller or wait to later when you make a normal stop at a garage etc.

 

Listening to music...

There is a big debate about listening to music while you ride a motorbike, due to the fact that it can suppress all other external sounds including emergancy vehicles, police cars sirens, car drivers horns road signs and rail crossings warnings. In addition listening to music can also take your attention away from riding and your safety could be at risk. This is for you to decide but be aware of the dangers and keep the sound volume down low if you have to have music on. It`s at your own risk......