Reaction Time - Think About It

If it hasn't happened yet, there will be a time in the near future when a car will turn left (or right) in front of you, back out of a driveway into your path, or will simply jam on its brakes while you are following. Or, a moose, a dog or a child chasing a ball will appear from nowhere and suddenly be in your path. Or even a banzai duck shooting up out of the ditch right in front of you. OK that was a weird one! Anyone who has been on the road for any length of time knows that it takes around half a second to recognize an unanticipated threat, and it takes another half to a full second to do something about it. Studies suggest that as many as 1/3 of motorcycle accidents show no evidence whatsoever that the motorcycle applied its brakes. In other words, the rider panicked, froze and simply rode into the disaster in front of him. In a full speed collision a motorcyclist has minimal chance of emerging in one piece. I don’t want to see that happen to any of you.
The difference between telling the story about the guy that cut you off, and having the story told about you lies in what happens in the split second after you have recognized a danger.
At that moment it is absolutely wrong for you to think about whether or not you are about to die, who that SOB is, why he is there, or whether or not you should have had a second cup of coffee. This is not the time to wonder what to do - it is time to react. But what should you do? Brake or swerve? Front brake only or both? Down shift? one gear, two, or three? The possibilities are endless, and the time is limited.
The strategy most likely to keep you alive is simple. Scrub off as much speed as you can, as fast as you can - period. When the unthinkable jumps in front of you, don't "think" - instinctively squeeze both levers (fast and HARD), lean forward, and apply enough rear brake to slow, but not lock the back wheel. Squeezing both levers disconnects the engine from the rear wheel and transfers the bike's weight to the front tire. That transfer increases your front wheel traction and allows a greater rate of deceleration through the much more effective front brakes. By leaning forward you lower the bike’s center of wheel and transfers the bike's weight to the front tire. That transfer increases your front wheel traction and allows a greater rate of deceleration through the much more effective front brakes. By leaning forward you lower the bike’s center of gravity thereby increasing its stability and further increasing the weight on the front tire.
You may hit something - but by instinctively braking hard instead of thinking about what to do, it will be at the slowest possible speed when you do.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we all blank out our minds and stop thinking, but I am suggesting building a survival instinct - if you have no idea what to do next it is too late to figure out a better solution. Getting stopped when confronted by a possible collision is never a bad choice.
The roads that we ride on this time of year are full of hazards just waiting to get you. Be it the tourists gawking at the mountains or moose, the Anchorage drivers that have been down here dip netting all day and just want to get home, or the everyday commuter text messaging on the way home. By being prepared mentally, and having confidence in your riding abilities you should be able to conquer them all!