Observations of first week riding (ever) by a Noob in Dubai

[thchaime]

1. Car drivers are either half blind or don’t consider bikes to be road vehicles (and I’ve suddenly become a more attentive car driver)
2. Stay out of the right-hand lane around exits, because cars will swerve multiple lanes for a last-second exit
3. Stay out of the left-hand lane too, because big SUVs will tailgate you even at the speed limit!
4. Cars will change lanes for no reason whatsoever and without signaling
5. When cars are merging into you, they will always ignore your horn and flashing lights
6. Stay out of cars’ blindspots by accelerating to remain next to them and visible
7. Maintain a high speed when taking ramps off the highway if you don’t want to become an ornament on the cab behind you!
8. Everything in Dubai suddenly requires a 20min highway trip, not ideal without a windscreen (speed limit 120kph/75mph), neck hurts!!!
9. Guys on food delivery motorcycles (mostly from Asia) are equally passionate about bikes and will strike up a conversation at stoplights (and damn can they filter!)
10. The FZ07 triggers interest from the opposite sex at stoplights (if my wife is reading this: babe this is purely a scientific observation that is all!)10.(ii) An exhaust would probably make it more so?10. (iii) And getting rid of the fender and ugly turn signals too?
 

[mjh937]

I am always amazed how one suddenly becomes invisible when riding a motorcycle. Never assume you have been seen, even if a driver looks right at you. The fender and turn signals really have to go, especially the giant pumpkins those of us in North America get.

[Mr.Puss]

We're apparently not 'programmed' to see MCs very well, and something as small as we are its very difficult for other vehicles to accurately judge our speed, but that goes without saying doesn't it.
 
There's a more than a few decent publications out there; I picked up "Proficient Motorcycling" and "Mastering the Ride" and as a new rider myself I found much of it invaluable. Worth checking out.
 
This obviously isnt for everyone, but to become as conspicuous as possible I've also decked out my bike with a couple amber light strips illuminating the engine, 6x BikeVis bullets flanking the windscreen, 4x Denali DM Micro Led spotlights mounted low on the forks, made some custom resin cabochon side/airscoop markers/signals in place of the Yamaha logos and replaced that useless OEM headlight with a fantastic Cyclops led-(vendor here).
 
And all that damn crazy sounding Dubai highway driving youre doing?....I would highly recommend an airvest. After much research of multiple vests I bought the Helite (vendor here); an all-around awesome piece of kit that gives me much better piece of mind out there. Even reading one testimonial should be enough for anyone to warrant the purchase. If there was one piece of kit I wouldn't want to do without, its this. Bought a second for my wife.
 
Also working on a simple project that has 3 strips of Electro-luminesence tape/panels to velcro onto and run the length of the spine of the airvest that runs various operations from a 9V clip-on batterypack. Going to run a single white 2" wide x 18" strip, flanked on each side by single slimmer 18" amber strips. Hopefully this on top of the brakelight strobe will help wake up those f'n texting morons.
This EL stuff has been sold as overpriced EL-wire kits for helmets etc but its so easy and less expensive to DIY. 
 
I dunno, I really enjoy mucking around with this stuff. It all kinda looks like a amber UFO/rolling woodstove but if even one of these extra lights gets noticed and prevents me from becoming another stat then they've served their purpose.
 
 
https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1620081199
https://www.bikevis.com/product/bikevis-bullets-v2-motorcycle-running-lights/
http://www.motorcycleinnovations.ca/product_p/tt-dm.htm
http://www.ellumiglow.com/electroluminescence
 
Careful out there!
 

[thchaime]

We're apparently not 'programmed' to see MCs very well, and something as small as we are its very difficult for other vehicles to accurately judge our speed, but that goes without saying doesn't it.  
There's a more than a few decent publications out there; I picked up "Proficient Motorcycling" and "Mastering the Ride" and as a new rider myself I found much of it invaluable. Worth checking out.
 
This obviously isnt for everyone, but to become as conspicuous as possible I've also decked out my bike with a couple amber light strips illuminating the engine, 6x BikeVis bullets flanking the windscreen, 4x Denali DM Micro Led spotlights mounted low on the forks, made some custom resin cabochon side/airscoop markers/signals in place of the Yamaha logos and replaced that useless OEM headlight with a fantastic Cyclops led-(vendor here).
 
And all that damn crazy sounding Dubai highway driving youre doing?....I would highly recommend an airvest. After much research of multiple vests I bought the Helite (vendor here); an all-around awesome piece of kit that gives me much better piece of mind out there. Even reading one testimonial should be enough for anyone to warrant the purchase. If there was one piece of kit I wouldn't want to do without, its this. Bought a second for my wife.
 
Also working on a simple project that has 3 strips of Electro-luminesence tape/panels to velcro onto and run the length of the spine of the airvest that runs various operations from a 9V clip-on batterypack. Going to run a single white 2" wide x 18" strip, flanked on each side by single slimmer 18" amber strips. Hopefully this on top of the brakelight strobe will help wake up those f'n texting morons.
This EL stuff has been sold as overpriced EL-wire kits for helmets etc but its so easy and less expensive to DIY. 
 
I dunno, I really enjoy mucking around with this stuff. It all kinda looks like a amber UFO/rolling woodstove but if even one of these extra lights gets noticed and prevents me from becoming another stat then they've served their purpose.
 
 
https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1620081199
https://www.bikevis.com/product/bikevis-bullets-v2-motorcycle-running-lights/
http://www.motorcycleinnovations.ca/product_p/tt-dm.htm
http://www.ellumiglow.com/electroluminescence
 
Careful out there!

 
Wow! That's extremely helpful thanks! Had no idea airbag jackets existed, I thought it was only for race suits. Will definitely consider getting one along with the high viz stuff.
 
I will try to avoid highways though. Didn't have the choice as I had to go 3 times via highway to get the bike registered: first time the bike testing system was down, second time my insurance didn't show up in their system (insurance company messed up chassis nb), third time was the charm and now the bike is finally legal.
 
Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated. A lot to learn for me here.