I stay offensive in the sense of scanning and analyzing the situation(s) around me. I try to be a step ahead of what I think is going to happen. I do find that the best way to stay out of trouble on the road is to keep the cagers behind you!

 

I tend to be more offensive, trying to anticipate peoples moves and what they're doing. I can tell you for sure if I see some teenage girl on her phone, in 2 lanes on the high way I am getting the hell away.

 

it honestly depends on the situation whether I am offensive or defensive. I am always scanning around and checking my mirrors to stay alert and aware of my surroundings. I always try to have a backup/emergency plan if someone is next to me or in front of me in case they do something dumb (i.e. leave room that I can change lane, go to breakdown lane, brake quickly, etc.) and I always try to get people's attention but never being in their blind spot or by staying in front of them so I am in their field of view. If someone is oblivious to my existence, which unfortunately is most of the times, then I try to get away and leave plenty of room.

 

Great post. Anticipation and escape plans are where it's at. Offense is only good if it doesn't advance you straight into more dangerous situation. Same with Defense.

Actively create space around you and visibility for both you and the other drivers. That may require getting on it, or backing off. But to say offense is always better, that is a dangerous belief.

 

Situational

 

I just wear my wife beater while riding, that takes care of everything.

But situation.

 

I just wear my wife beater while riding, that takes care of everything.

But situation.

you wear a shirt when you ride? pussy :grin:

 

Mostly offence, always moving faster than traffic, even if it's a couple MPH faster. I'm always watching there tire and the lane line they're in. It's real easy to spot drunks and people on their phone, the symptoms are the same and so are the results, if you're in their cross hairs. It's either far left lane or far right lane for me when on the highway, mostly for bailout reasons, plus in heavy traffic, I can get a good look way in advance if something's coming up I need to know about. Doesn't really matter around here tho, because traffic FA-KING sucks!!

 

Mostly offence, always moving faster than traffic, even if it's a couple MPH faster.

Around here, that's like 13 instead of 10 any time between the hours of 6:30-9:30am and 2:30-7:00pm. Completely agree with your traffic comment. It's bringing me down.

Back on topic, what a lot of you describe as offensive I was taught as defensive. Anticipating the moves of others, being aware of your surroundings, etc.

When anticipating the moves of others I always assume they are trying to kill me. It seems that a surprising amount of the time it's true. You know, that guy coming your direction, waiting to take a left? He's only waiting until he can turn immediately in front of or into your bike.

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Primarily offensive, although I'd be lying if I didn't say my style is akin to aggressive. I just feel more in control when I use the performance and size advantages of the bike to determine my own fate. When traffic bunches up I try to find openings to pass and then use the speed to get to the pockets between packs of cars.

 

Aggressive and highly illegal. It's a motorcycle, not a hearse!

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It sounds like experienced riders know what it takes to survive our sport. EVERYTHING is situational and the landscape is constantly changing. As long as you operate with the mentality that no one can be trusted, and allow your actions to therefore be dictated by the actions or potential actions of those around you, then you will most likely be okay. While we unfortunately can't always predict what the teenie who is tweeting about her fabulous new nail polish will do, we can try to mitigate most anything that will get tossed our way.

This, to me, means I ride offensively. I make changes where necessary and I stay proactive in my approach. I dictate my own fate and the second I have to react in a panic situation, I'm riding defensively, and I'm behind the ball. That means I have to ride within my means and predict the unpredictable if I want to make it home safely.

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^^+1-- I couldn't of said it better myself.

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Depends how I am that day/time of use. When im just trying to go somewhere I'm usually defensive. Idiots make me turn into offensive.

Better put, I'd categorize myself as passive offensive when on the road

 

Depends how I am that day/time of use. When im just trying to go somewhere I'm usually defensive. Idiots make me turn into offensive.

Better put, I'd categorize myself as passive offensive when on the road

Haha. No lie, before I leave work everyday I tell myself today is the day I'm going to hang back in the right lane and let everyone pass me. And everyday I have some jack-wagon doing 10 under, failing to signal that they are going to turn, doesn't know where they are going, thought they wanted to make the yellow then slammed on the brakes, gun it to pull out in front of me and then take their sweet time getting to the speed limit, slow to zero before turning. Everyday I am forced to ride/drive offensively for the sake of both safety and sanity. I hate other drivers and I get away from them as quickly as possible.

 

Situationally Offensive--When I ride & when I try to get my swerve on with the b!tche$. Aww yeah!!!

 

I believe a sensible rider toggles between both. You have to be offensive and defensive, what ever the situation calls for.

 

Agree that it depends on the situation and that you can't get complacent. I once toured alone on my Sprint from Tampa to Ontario. By the time I got to North Carolina I decided it was time to re-plan my route. Not only was interstate pounding boring as hell, it can be downright dangerous. I found myself daydreaming and almost got taken out by a cage coming into my lane. I stopped and got my maps out and re-routed using secondary roads. That added a day to the trip, but it was much more enjoyable and I met more people when I stopped. I ended up taking interstates on the way back as a cold front had moved into the eastern seaboard. It was miserable riding back. I also will not drink and ride. If I stop and plan to be there for over an hour I may have one beer, but usually will not. What I don't get are the local bars that advertise bike night with cheap buckets of beer. First, that's a sure way to hurt or kill yourself. Second the local police love sitting next door looking for drunk riders.

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This has been very helpful thank you all

 

I ride like every game played...both with offense and defense

Each day you're on two wheels, you have to be defensive and protect your space depending on your lane position.

You have to put yourself in a position to see as far forward up the road as possible. If you're in traffic behind SUVs, get thru it to be in front or at least behind a car that you can see thru to see conditions up ahead.

Like they taught in Drivers Ed. , keep your eyes moving. Like how to keep from suffering Highway Hypnosis. The gentle wind, the drone of the engine, etc. Look ahead, look at your gauges, look ahead, look to your right, look ahead, look to your left, look ahead...rinse repeat.

ALWAYS, always, always, have an escape route. Make a game of it, know what space your bike can fit thru and be prepared to get to that space.

Keep your short term memory sharp...how many seconds ago did you just pass that car? one or two? Where there two cars in a row, or just one? Remember that info when your getting in and out of traffic.

When you get to an overpass, first things first...if you have a lane to the left, is it clear? Anyone coming up on you? Anyone in front of you that's going too slow or too fast? How are they (and you) going to negotiate the traffic coming down the on-ramp? If you have someone in front of you and you take the left lane (yeah I'm in the US) does the car in the right lane know you're even there when they start to drift over to allow the on-ramp traffic in?

Offense and Defense isn't just about riding, it's about being seen as well. If someone wants to be cool and wear all black to go with their all black back.... incident waiting to happen. It may not be as cool, but wear something high viz. From your pants to your jacket to your bucket. I will never buy a helmet without a high viz pattern ever again. I'm at eye level with a driver so when the look out straight, they see a giant tennis ball heading towards them or away from them.

One last bit of advice. I doubt anyone on this forum would begrudge you being a hooligan. But do it in the right place. Not in the middle of traffic. Do it on an empty road, not in rush hour. (I don't mean to condescend, but around here I've seen my fair share of bikes squidding around during rush hour like it's a game).

Good luck and Safe Travels.

 

Each day you're on two wheels, you have to be defensive and protect your space depending on your lane position.

You have to put yourself in a position to see as far forward up the road as possible. If you're in traffic behind SUVs, get thru it to be in front or at least behind a car that you can see thru to see conditions up ahead.

Like they taught in Drivers Ed. , keep your eyes moving. Like how to keep from suffering Highway Hypnosis. The gentle wind, the drone of the engine, etc. Look ahead, look at your gauges, look ahead, look to your right, look ahead, look to your left, look ahead...rinse repeat.

ALWAYS, always, always, have an escape route. Make a game of it, know what space your bike can fit thru and be prepared to get to that space.

Keep your short term memory sharp...how many seconds ago did you just pass that car? one or two? Where there two cars in a row, or just one? Remember that info when your getting in and out of traffic.

When you get to an overpass, first things first...if you have a lane to the left, is it clear? Anyone coming up on you? Anyone in front of you that's going too slow or too fast? How are they (and you) going to negotiate the traffic coming down the on-ramp? If you have someone in front of you and you take the left lane (yeah I'm in the US) does the car in the right lane know you're even there when they start to drift over to allow the on-ramp traffic in?

Offense and Defense isn't just about riding, it's about being seen as well. If someone wants to be cool and wear all black to go with their all black back.... incident waiting to happen. It may not be as cool, but wear something high viz. From your pants to your jacket to your bucket. I will never buy a helmet without a high viz pattern ever again. I'm at eye level with a driver so when the look out straight, they see a giant tennis ball heading towards them or away from them.

One last bit of advice. I doubt anyone on this forum would begrudge you being a hooligan. But do it in the right place. Not in the middle of traffic. Do it on an empty road, not in rush hour. (I don't mean to condescend, but around here I've seen my fair share of bikes squidding around during rush hour like it's a game).

Good luck and Safe Travels.

Great write up!

 

I've never been a fan of the terms "offensive" or "defensive". I prefer aware, or unaware. If one is aware, then they are both offensive and defensive, simply by way of knowing what is going on around them at all times, and utilizing the information to make judgements as needed. Riding unaware is just stupid.

 

Nicely said.

 

on the Offensive!! i like to "control" the situation that i ride in, some may call it riding like a dick but so far it has kept me safe. I believe if you give cars the option to think about what they want to do thats when you end up in trouble

 

Preemptive.

 

Plan A: have no cars around me.

Plan B: be visible to cars around me.

It's that simple. I ride however I need to in order to achieve those goals.

 

I don't like to think of it in terms of offense and defense. There are concepts that can apply in either "mode" if you want to think of it that way. My basic theory for riding safety revolves around one main skill.

Situational awareness.

Everything else comes after.

slow is smooth, smooth is fast

 

Defensive riding always.let it go your not going to win in a collision. Save offensive for the track

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+1 for situational awareness. Generally, i ride as necessary to put myself in a favorable (relative) position/space/speed so as to be visible to others while allowing myself an " escape route" should I need one

 

I don't ride offensively or defensively. I ride tactically.

I don't really know what that means, but Icon told me to do it that way so I just obeyed.

O.B

 

TBH everybody has a unique riding style, whether relaxed or fast paced, one should always try to be aware of any potential hazards on the road (like cagers and jay walkers for instance), easier said than done but personally I think I ride more aggressively than defensively.