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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I've made comments to this, and it continually rattles in my mind this question. How much safer do you feel on the Vision? This comes out from the fact I have not had the white knuckle experiences that I had on the GL1200 as I have had on the Vision. I have been in the same situations, but handled them with ease and did not come away with my chest exploding thinking that "that could have been it." I've been cut off, I've crowded out, tailgated, near missed in intersections, made panick stops, taken by surprise on an unfamiliar backroad with a tight turn, and in all come away thinking, "That was easy." In spite of all the hazards out there and the potential to quickly get into trouble, I actually have a feeling of safety on the Vision, I guess because of the ability and agility to handle out of a situation with an expectation it will respond to what I need it to do. On the GL1200, I had to stop sometimes for a short while in idiot hour to calm myself down and relax my hands for a while, and maybe take care of a few other things. But on the Vision, even in the heaviest of traffic with idiots all around, I feel calm, yet attentive to the possibilites. Are there others that really do feel safer on the Vision than other bikes, or am I just gone nuts and better watch out?  |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | Chris, you always have to watch out for the other nuts on the road. But, I have to agree with you about the Vision making it easier to handle most of the situations that I have been through so far. ET |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | I've noticed the same thing Chris, this bike just handles so much better than other bikes I've owned. And it feels like a BIG machine. Not cumbersome - just big.
At first I was a little hesitant with no ABS, but the linked brakes will stop me on a dime. Practicing panic-stops in the parking lot proved how good the brakes really are.
One other thing, and it may be coincidental, but I've noticed a marked decrease in the number of cars pulling out in front or turning left in front of the bike. I don't know whether it is the lighting (although I have had headlight modulators), the size, or just the different styling that catches their eye - but I've not having the number of problems I'd grown accustomed to with the traffic around here. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 296
Central Florida | I feel safer but NOT safe! I will not let myself become complacent.
The PIAA 85 w lights are amazing as well. I can't tell you how many times a car had started to pull out and stopped because of the lights. This is both Day and night.
I get flashed about 10 times/night and at least 1/day that they think I am am on hi-beams. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | No way am I advocating complacentecy, but I find that my rides are much more enjoyable because of a higher level of confidence. It was something I felt before taking the MSF Experience Riders Course which enhanced the way I ride, once again. The number of nuts, idiots, cagers, whatever we want to call them have not decreased, but they don't give me the anxiety they once did. Makes the ride more enjoyable and fresh. There are few rides I went on with the GL1200 that I didn't come back home with a story to tell. Now, on the Vision, the story is "that was a great ride." Thanks for the ones who have responded, has anyone else noticed the same thing? I think this adds to yet another level of rider experience that is not found with other machines. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | I agree devilboy. Complacency kills. I still operate with a 'ride like a fighter pilot - everyone is out to klll me" attitude, but I am more relaxed. |
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Yeah, but how safe is it?
