11 replies to this topic

[OLHILLBILLY]

Got this from another forum... MSF
A very good example of why you should keep your eyes moving all the time when your riding.

[downonmonday]

I took the MSF course, so I could get onto Fort Carson, Colorado. It's a great course and target fixation can easily be avoided with practice. After a long ride my brain hurts from scanning so much! lol

[fttam TT Addict]

Something that any rider should constantly reflect on.

If you really want to see someone who target fixates, do a track day and watch the novice group. One guy will run off and crash, and then invariably someone will watch it and follow him right off the track.

nice post!

[Bryan Bosch]

That was pretty trippy. Thx for sharing!

[Tucraysz2 TT Bronze Member]

That's freaky..

[Slackkinhard Lost in Space]

I believe this problem is greatly exaggerated in the dunes, or other similar looking terrain. In school they taught us this using 2 dots on a piece of paper, and how the brain 'fills in' stuff. The blind spots that occur/exist can mask a witches eye, or other obstacle and is the root cause to many crashes where the 'obstacle' just appears.

[rhubarbray TT Newbie]

Unfortunately, I`ve run off the road while trying to keep up to some friends in a "heated" ride. There was that split second when I realized I was not going to make the corner and I instinctively looked where I was going. Yup, drove straight where I was looking. Fortunately, I came out ok, and better yet, now I know what target fixation feels like. I`ve since been in a couple of coeners when mild panic sets in and I`ve recognized it, looked where the road went and came through fine. Scared the crap out of myself for a bit but came to the realization that the bike can handle a lot more lean angle and grip than I`m comfortable with!! Now all bets are off if you`re cranked over, come around the corner, and it`s covered with gravel!

Easy to talk about fixation, difficult to overcome panic and instinct to refocus your gaze. I`d highly recommend a track for this rather than the street,.....lots more runoff!

Ray

[1BLUEsky TT Bronze Member]

I've done this(target fixation) while riding dirtbikes , but also learned to overcome it offroad as well.It's tough for a moment but a disciplined act to refocus on where you want to go/be is required.Just getting into streetbikes so hopefully it'll stick with me!

[the rog TT Newbie]

If you dont target fixate, you wont be hurt or killed at a inconvenient time and place in a stupid accident thats preventable with a little practice and training.
Just sayin.I know better, and got caught daydreaming by the target fixating god's, and went right off the road, after I braked to 10mph, and then dumped my beloved klr in the pea gravel recently.
no damage, no injury, so very lucky. Eddie Lawson once said," the more i practice, the luckier i get".
So the real enemy in this scenario, becides me being stupid, was the cramp buster from cycle gear I put on the throttle grip because I dont have a cruise control. It was angled wrong(sticking up to far), so when I shut the throttle off and grabbed front brake, throttle didnt close all the way, so instead of pulling in the clutch, I target fixated on the pea gravel on the shoulder, and guess what. Yes, what I was looking at is exactly ware I went. So if I had been looking at the road, thats where i would have ended up, instead of on my ass on the shoulder of the road, knowing better, yet still down and shaking my head.
What you look at is what you will hit. Doesnt matter, deer, car, pea gravel, guard rail, drunk guy, rock in the road,etc. Look where u want to go, and thats where you will go, as long as you keep the obstacle  being avoided in your peripheral vision(out of site, out of mind) and give the bike good steering inputs, and/or braking effort.
Control your destiny, or it will, like Mr. T, pitty the fool. You can quote me

[the rog TT Newbie]

rhubarbray, on 01 February 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

Unfortunately, I`ve run off the road while trying to keep up to some friends in a "heated" ride. There was that split second when I realized I was not going to make the corner and I instinctively looked where I was going. Yup, drove straight where I was looking. Fortunately, I came out ok, and better yet, now I know what target fixation feels like. I`ve since been in a couple of coeners when mild panic sets in and I`ve recognized it, looked where the road went and came through fine. Scared the crap out of myself for a bit but came to the realization that the bike can handle a lot more lean angle and grip than I`m comfortable with!! Now all bets are off if you`re cranked over, come around the corner, and it`s covered with gravel!

Easy to talk about fixation, difficult to overcome panic and instinct to refocus your gaze. I`d highly recommend a track for this rather than the street,.....lots more runoff!

Ray

excellent reply. I did just that. saw my self running wide, looked at the shoulder, and fullfilled my destiny. Brilliant. And i know better. Shut the front door.

[Pushc123 TT Member]

+1 all.. but I'm assuming most riders here are familiar with the concept of counter steering? So when you find yourself in a corner don't panic.. panic is the cause of crashes.. just pick a place on the road ahead and dig deeper into the corner with steady throttle control.. you'll be fine.

[D C TT Newbie]

That's amazing. Funny how they don't disappear if you blink a lot or move your head around. Thanks for sharing that.