wiredgeorge
New member
Not sure if this has been brought up but most motorcyclists who have been riding safely for any length of time have developed situational awareness and street skills which allow them to avoid distracted cage drivers. A motorcycle course or trike course won't install these habits. As I recall, most motorcycle fatalities other than those that are alcohol related happen in the first year of riding. Consider that many of the deaths were kids with lightening reflexes who had a good grasp of how to operate a bike BUT had not developed the sixth sense that allowed them to sniff out impending danger. I worry that so many folks with a bit of disposable income are buying Spyders (and 2 wheel bikes as well) for the first time and have spent many years behind the wheel of a cage learning how to text, shave, read the paper and generally let their mind go vacant rather than learn a little caution (fear) from riding a motorcycle on the street. I doubt many of the folks will have much trouble learning how to drive a Spyder with a single linked brake pedal and a paddle semi-auto shifter. No balancing skills are needed and the controls are fairly intuitive if you are a long time cage driver. Where the lack comes in is the sixth sense needed to keep from being tee-boned... maybe I shouldn't call it Spydie Sense but all you new riders; welcome to the road but please be aware that the cagers out there require you to think for them!
