Earlier I posted a link in another tread concerning the Biker commandments. Since I suppose it should be in this thread as well I put the translation I tried here and link it in the other thread.
I don't agree with all of these per se, but they're more or less correct.
Here's the translation into more colloquial American English. (Why? Because I'm an American; if you want British English, go find yourself a Brit.) These are not the more commonly circulating (and more humorous) versions that originated over here, but I have seen these before.
1st Commandment:
Don't trust the other drivers to yield because you have the legal right of way - assume the road is in a state of anarchy and that everyone really is out to get you. You'll live longer.
2nd Commandment:
Ride like you are invisible; your chances of survival will increase dramatically if you do.
3rd Commandment:
Control your motorcycle; you determine where it goes. If the motorcycle is piloting itself, you're doing it wrong. (Disagree with this one to a certain extent - Spectre)
4th Commandment:
Be ready to brake at any time - because if you fail to brake your motorcycle, your bones will break instead.
5th Commandment:
Make yourself as visible as possible, don't ride in the blind spot or cruise in the right side of the lane (in LHD countries). Don't pass on the inside. (Don't totally agree with this one, either - Spectre)
6th Commandment:
If you find yourself in a vehicle's blind spot, accelerate out of it as quickly as possible. Only idiots call that speeding.
7th Commandment:
Actively seek eye contact with other drivers. If you don't understand why eye contact is important, follow the First and Second Commandments until you do.
8th Commandment:
Don't be misled by a corner entry and dive in at full speed. You may discover a nasty surprise mid-corner; quite often the guy who blindly dives into corners at 10/10ths is the fastest one out of the corner.... in the air.... minus his bike... because he's highsided and crashed. That's a big helping of "not good."
9th Commandment
Don't drive with your head up your ass. Pay attention, think about where you're going to be and not just where you are now. Otherwise, you'll be looking back at your accident in hindsight, and we all know about that.
10th Commandment:
Always have an escape route or plan in case things suddenly go to hell. Successful animals do it, are you dumber than an animal?
11th Commandment:
If you're going to crash, get off the bike or at least release the controls. A short flight through the air with a hard landing is better than having extremities ripped off.
12th Commandment:
Smart bikers know the proper order of operations is "ride first, drink alcohol after." Drunk drivers deserve whatever they catch.
13th Commandment:
*Everything* in the road can cause you to crash while cornering - ride around them. Only cagers can corner across slick manhole covers and drifts of sand or newspapers with impunity.
14th Commandment:
Be calm while riding, even when it all goes to hell and you're about to crash. Freak out *afterwards*. Remember the 11th Commandment if you need to.
15th Commandment:
A clean unscratched visor will help you see; this is important - if you can't see where you're going, how do you propose to avoid crashing?
16th Commandment:
Don't ride at 10/10ths on the street. Only newbies and squids do this, and they all believe that they're some sort of invincible Supermen. They are wrong.
17th Commandment:
Stuck in traffic? Don't waste time complaining. Develop your peripheral vision, situational awareness and observational skills, because you can get hurt *bad* in traffic. Look ahead, watch the drivers around you, observe the wheels of the cages around you (especially the front wheels - they can tell you if Grandma is about to blindly swing out and try to kill you.) Look behind you via your mirrors for emergency responders trying to work their way through traffic.
If you can't do this, pull off and wait for the traffic to leave.
18th Commandment
Deer are most common in the fall, and the damn things are everywhere on the roads. Even a GoldWing can't hit a deer and survive. Look out for wildlife; good bikers pay attention.
19th Commandment:
Winter gear and slightly reduced air pressure in your tires are beneficial in winter. "Frozen puddles" are called ice, by the way. They have a very low amount of grip. They are not your friends. Frozen body parts can become icicles; help can be had in the form of heated handgrips installed before a winter ride or a hot shower afterwards.
20th Commandment:
Not everyone is cut out to ride pillion: Teach your passenger what to do before you set off and make sure they do it while you are riding. If they still can't figure it out, make them walk home. Everyone wins and nobody gets hurt.[/QUOTE]
