Rippin the Liumchen FSR

Shuswap

Member
And then you meet me, for instance, coming the other way at the same, or greater, velocity. 8:37
Not calling you out, just reminding everyone to expect to meet others of like mind when you actually least expect them to appear.
 

Shuswap

Member
It is a calculated risk, nice to reduce the risk of silly collisions by not riding blind corners on the oncoming side, not that I think or imply you were doing that. Three close calls in the last 2 years have sharpened my focus on this issue. Stay (reasonably) safe and have fun!
PS: Beauty of a bike you have there!
 
Last edited:
Riding blind corners on the oncoming side is not always the death move everyone jumps at pointing out when watching someone else's riding video.
When a side by side or a f 350 drifts a corner they usually take up their on coming side more than their side. Absolutely your own speed will be a factor in the outcome but also being stationary can be a game over move also. If you ride gravel long enough there will be a day when you will have a split second to decide which ditch is the best move for survival.
 

Shuswap

Member
So...by that logic.....we should ride the center of the FSR on corners, equalizing your distance to either ditch?
I don't ever see riding the inside of a corner on the oncoming traffic's side as reasonable practice. Think I'll continue with the right side on a blind corner at least until I can see ahead. And, I've had plenty of close encounters over many years of riding dirt.
The ditch is always an option, head-on is the least desirable event.
 

cactusreid

Active member
I'm in total agreement with Shuswap on this one! and just to add, one more scenario if your riding two riders side by side, have the guy that's spending at least part of his time in the on coming lane, ride about a bike length or two behind and just off to the left of the rider in the right hand lane. this keeps his dust consumption to a minimum, and also gives him the safety of being able to quickly tuck in behind the bike to his right, as it's just far enough ahead to make this possible. the rider in the front right must keep his speed consistent in an emergency in order to not close the spot that the following left lane rider will need as his escape route.
 
I may have worded my post a little confused yes being on the right side of the corner is always the best bet for the visual alert. In the case of a fast approaching vehicle it is not always the best side to stay on is what i was getting at. If the oncoming vehicle stays wide your a goner in that case you would of been better off taking the corner in the oncoming side as it would be closer to the safer ditch. This practice i speak of came from running fallers out to and from work on Van Is in my younger years back then the logging trucks did not care as it was all production they came wide all the time and more than once the oncomming ditch was my savior.
 
Riding blind corners on the oncoming side is not always the death move everyone jumps at pointing out when watching someone else's riding video.
When a side by side or a f 350 drifts a corner they usually take up their on coming side more than their side. Absolutely your own speed will be a factor in the outcome but also being stationary can be a game over move also. If you ride gravel long enough there will be a day when you will have a split second to decide which ditch is the best move for survival.
essentially this. i also am scoping my "out" every second of my ride.
 

ron

Senior Member
I’ve discussed this with Chris Birch. On gravel FSR always stay wide even if your on the wrong (left) side. Best visibility for you and oncoming vehicle. Oncoming traffic may not like you on wrong side of road but it’s safe. Try it. It works.
 

Shuswap

Member
I’ve discussed this with Chris Birch. On gravel FSR always stay wide even if your on the wrong (left) side. Best visibility for you and oncoming vehicle. Oncoming traffic may not like you on wrong side of road but it’s safe. Try it. It works.
Staying to the outside of a corner before entry, which increases the distance you can see around the corner....I'd somewhat agree with.

But we were discussing riding the inside of a left-hand corner without seeing all the way around the corner, which I don't think is a safe practice.
 

majorbedhed

Member
Staying to the outside of a corner before entry, which increases the distance you can see around the corner....I'd somewhat agree with.

But we were discussing riding the inside of a left-hand corner without seeing all the way around the corner, which I don't think is a safe practice.

I was trained as well during my Forestry days to drive in the middle of the road in order to access "the safer ditch" should it be needed. However, this weekend, I was closer to the right of a blind corner on Kookipi and 3 side by sides ripped past at tremendous speed heading back to East Harrison. They all reacted quick enough when they saw me, but not sure it would have ended so well had I been closer to the centre of the road. I thought about this for some miles after the close call and decided maybe what I had been taught works in a truck, especially on an active haul road, but I'm just not convinced on a bike. In the end, the guys in the side by side were frankly driving way too quick for the corner given their lack of visibility - had I been in a jeep or truck, not sure they could have stopped or diverted in time....but that's is the crazy that is out there. Stay safe everyone!
 
I was trained as well during my Forestry days to drive in the middle of the road in order to access "the safer ditch" should it be needed. However, this weekend, I was closer to the right of a blind corner on Kookipi and 3 side by sides ripped past at tremendous speed heading back to East Harrison. They all reacted quick enough when they saw me, but not sure it would have ended so well had I been closer to the centre of the road. I thought about this for some miles after the close call and decided maybe what I had been taught works in a truck, especially on an active haul road, but I'm just not convinced on a bike. In the end, the guys in the side by side were frankly driving way too quick for the corner given their lack of visibility - had I been in a jeep or truck, not sure they could have stopped or diverted in time....but that's is the crazy that is out there. Stay safe everyone!
Good point on the difference between cages and motorcycles when it comes to blind corner excitement. I was trained same as you were and know that every situation is different. Grade, speed and whether the truck is loaded are major factors on which direction I will head for. Its a decision that needs to be made in a split second at times and the other vehicle is the wild card that can make or break your ride. Personally if I know that stopping in time is not happening I prefer the highside especially if I'm on a motorcycle.
 
Last edited:

Shuswap

Member
S x S are growing into a major hazard for other off-road/FSR users. Pretty close to 50% of those I encounter are driving beyond visual or beyond the ability to avoid or stop short of a collision. I love to ride quickly off-road but not without considering the safety of myself and other users. Many of the SxS/ATVs I see cannot say the same. I guess it'll take a few serious incidents/fatals for something to change, usually the sledgehammer approach that also envelopes the careful users out there.
 

WRXARD

New member
I've had a couple near misses like that and slow km after the encounter thinking, that was f close ... . SxS are roll cage protected and most wear gear inside the roll cage - so i guess some immortality complexes go with that. I (we) are more likely to end up with a bone sticking out and a bent bike so I (we) tend to think on the mortal side. I am much more cautious now. On blind corners expect a wanker going way too fast and no idea what to do if something is in the way.
 
Top