Advanced Riding Techniques for Elephants!
Pete Wood’s tips for overtaking Elephants - using the IPSGA model and information gleaned from recent and personal experiences (on a motorcycle)in Nepal and India.
One could be forgiven for believing that elephants only move slowly. In fact, because of their huge size their speed can be quite deceptive. .
When walking (first gear) elephants can reach 20 mph or so and have been known to reach 50 mph at the full charge or top gear. These speeds may sound slow but elephants are usually to be found on tracks where 30 mph on a motorcycle can be quite adventurous...
In terms of the Information phase of IPSGA there are one or two things to think about before going for the full Elephant Overtaking Manoeuvre (EOM).
Firstly, work out if is it a wild elephant or a domesticated elephant ?
Wild elephants, especially males can be quite unpredictable. Male elephants, in general have much longer tusks and much shorter tempers....
If the single elephant in question is painted and decorated, perhaps with geometric symbols then it's a domesticated elephant. If not - be careful and don't cut back in too early as the power and reach of the trunk is not to be under estimated.
When dealing with a group you may need to know that often elephants, naturally, like to hold on to each other, trunk to tail. So plan your overtaking manoeuvre of a group without assuming that you will be able to cut in between the elephants as one could be plucked bodily from the saddle by an upset elephant.
If the mahout (elephant driver) is on board of a domesticated elephant then so much the better. Occasionally, domesticated elephants will go for a walk on their own to see their friends.
Secondly, remembering that both ends of an elephant are not without their risks - natural bodily functions, wee, poo and fart are all of gigantic proportions. For the first two they tend to stop first but elephants can fart at any time and it may be enough to break even the most focused overtaking motorcyclist's concentration.
Given elephant poo comes in football size dollops they are best avoided by the front wheel and one can be caught out by the flood of urine an elephant can suddenly deposit right in the path of an on coming or overtaking motorcycle.
Elephants communicate with each other at a distance either by a powerful low frequency rumble that we can hardly hear, or by a very loud trumpeting noise. This trumpeting would easily drown out the sound of a big Harley with slash cut pipes and at full chat. Be prepared at any time to be deafened half way through the overtake. Grit teeth and bars to see the EOM through to conclusion... Hearing will return later.
So, positioning needs to be wide to get a good view all the way to the front. Let the elephants see you (eyes on the side of their head).
So, positioning needs to be wide to get a good view all the way to the front. Let the elephants see you (eyes on the side of their head).
Speed needs to reasonable compared with the speed of the elephants, perhaps 15 mph faster.
Changing gear can make more or different noise and just look at the size of elephant's ear trumpet. So maybe keep the same gear !
As for acceleration then that really depends upon the size of next pot hole, rut or crater.
In conclusion, like white van man on Friday afternoons in the UK most, but not all elephants are good natured and patient.
Peter C Wood JPSenior IAM Motorcycle ObserverIAM Severn Advanced Motorcyclists