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Making a rt turn this morning; a guy with out of state plates next to me was in the turn only lane; mine had the option. He went straight as I flicked right... and I nearly landed on his hood.

That is three times in three months that I've almost come together with a car. The first time was on a rural highway... an older lady looked right at me and then crossed the highway from a side street anyway; straight into my path. Since then, I've taken up the habit of pairing up with a car, so that even if traffic can't see me, the will certainly see the car I've been shadowing.

That worked OK until a few weeks ago when an oncoming car pulled out to pass slower traffic. He pulled out just as the car that I was shadowing had passed him... right into my path. Lucky my bike didn't have mirror extensions or I'd have lost one.

So now I understand that drivers are idiots, and that they just don't see riders; but what other survival skills would you all convey to a new rider who wishes to merely enjoy riding and stay out of the hospital?

I think you've got it covered, ride like everyone's out to get you. Just last night I had 3 or 4 SUV's cut me off, rather than jam on the brakes I usually fly past them laying on the horn. Scares the shit out of those soccer moms... if the road conditions/traffic don't allow me to do that I just sit behind them with the high beam on. If you're riding at night it's a good idea to flick on your high beam if a car is approaching at an intersection ahead of you. For whatever reason one headlight doesn't compute in people's head, so if you shine your high beam right through their window the idea is that they will stay right where they are. Don't flick it on and off though, just leave it on till you pass. And don't count on people to wait even if they are blinded.

A very loud horn is a good investment as well, the guy I bought my bike from installed an aftermarket horn and it really works to get people's attention.

If you've never taken the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's riding course I recommend it. They have one for experienced riders too. Basically always assume the other driver doesn't see you. Stay out of their blind spots, look at what they are doing. Most clueless here are on cell phones, thus distracted and not paying attention. Always look for what the MSF calls an avenue of escape, where you can go if they pull out, pull over, etc. When going over a rise cover the brake, slow down for blind turns, etc. Common sense stuff. Here in PA flicking the headlight means "go ahead" so its not a good to use that to get people's attention, but as mydamnwell mentioned putting it on highbeam and leaving it on may work. I really like those that tailgate you. I will flag them with my hand to fall back some, and most do. If you run across a real jerk just let them go past you. When in doubt give the right away, which I base on the law of gross tonnage...going head to head with a car you will lose.

Pay 100% attention to what's going on around you 100% of the time!!!!

Don't let your eyes wander from side to side too much "scaning" the surroundings. Train yourself to widen your vision and see it all as one big picture.
Your brain can actually process the information faster and make reaction times quicker when you need to use them.
This also helps avoid target fixation - where you look is where you go. Using the "big picture" technique your brain has already looked for an escape route.

ALWAYS anticipate that the worst is going to happen and prepare for it before it actually does.

Cars waiting to turn out of side streets - watch their front wheels and not the driver. You'll see the wheel turn and know they are about to pull out. Pay serious attention to this, it a very common for drivers to pull out infront of motorcyclists!!!!!!!!!

Never exceed your limits on a public road - shorts thrills can reward you with a lifetime of pain.

You know the saying "but I didn't see you". Well, as a rider my question is "why didn't I see them first".... and prepare for it!!!

Find your position on the road / in your lane, and STAND YOUR GROUND. Give em an inch and they'll take a mile.

If you are riding in the blindspot of a driver, you are asking for trouble.

Practice emergency braking as often as you can. Learn the threshold of how much braking force you can actually use.

ATGATT - ALL the gear, ALL the time - Live by that rule!!!

Probably the most important tip is - Don't ride like me!!!!

I've always been told "drive defensively, always drive like the other persons out to get you"... But since i've started riding, i've found that (in moderation of course) "Ride Aggresivelly, don't give the other prick a chance!". I tend to ride so that I stay the fuck away from other people. If that means having to speed a little to get around someone, split lanes at lights, maybe blare past someone who doesen't look like they're handling themselves very well in traffic, or sit 10 or 15 k's faster than everyone else along the highway, so be it... Stay away from them, and they can't hurt you.

As biker boy says though, the speed limit is one thing, but your own personal limit is another. If you feel like you're struggling to keep at 60k's an hour in a 60 zone, slow down... Ride within your own limits. Especially in the twisties. Ride hard, but ride hard within your own limits and you'll leave the mountains feeling satisfied with your efforts

P.S
Blonde chicks in tight revealing clothing are a big hazard... Try not to get too transfixed... That ones almost brought me unstic a few times now 0_o

but when you spot some amish gals eyeing you at a stop sign, and you bust a full on wheelie from 5mph to the limiter in first for them and they point clap, well, there's just no replacement for that. I'd like to think my hooligan antics has converted one or two, hahaha!

Pics or it never happened...

I've got a cool T shirt with a picture of an amish guy on a racked out bicycle
Sort of like this.

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sackwear.com/tshirts/tshirt/funny-humor-stupid-shirts-amish-green-thumb.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.sackwear.com/allprods.php&h=180&w=180&sz=10&tbnid=2h18LztE6_R3gM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/search%3Fq%3Damish%2Bcounty%2Bchoppers%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=amish+county+choppers&docid=noGq-TpU9dH6_M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YkhwTvH1BaeYiAfp3v2pCQ&ved=0CDoQ9QEwBg&dur=939

Those Amish girls eyeing you off may look all sweet, innocent and cute... And they may make you feel good knowing you have left them both moist and wantng from wheely's (good work btw i approve) But my guess would be, living the way they do, they wouldnt have been filled in on the invention and advantages of a razor blade... I'm just thinking... Hairy... Like... Everywhere... Not for me... I have to go now...

If Amish girls are anything like Catholic girls, I'll be there shortly...
And I'll bring a blade...