Riding Etiquette

[suzi_bandit]

Just out of interest I'm wondering what sort of manners you lot display to other motorcyclists. Not so much people that you've planned to ride with but more the bikers that you meet en route.

The reason I ask is because twice yesterday I was a wee bit niggled by other bikers. They didn't do anything wrong as such, it may just be that I'm a crotchety old cow.

When I'm out on the bike and another bike comes up behind me I consider them to be a faster/better rider than myself so I feel it's good manners to wave them past me. I'm not on about in heavy traffic when there's an obstacle every minute but when the road is nice and open and you can really motor. My bike isn't very fast and it just doesn't have the acceleration that most of the other bikes on the road have so my attitude is to get out of their way pronto and not spoil their ride. Sometimes they leave me for dust, other times they pass but don't accelerate off which tends to be because they're happy to ride in company. It's apparent to me that not many bikers display the same etiquette. For me that really can be a bummer because I just don't have the power to overtake on the straights and I get frustrated with having to be behind someone wobbling around the bendy bits.

Another rule I seem to have set for myself is that when I overtake another motorcyclist then I'll overtake the vehicle in front of them also, but not until I've given them fair chance to perform the overtake first. Just seems to me that it's good manners.

Does anyone else have standards that they set themselves or expect from other riders?
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Annabella]

I would normally adhere to the standards you have set, however just lately I've been seeing the red mist and behaving a little more aggressively.

On my daily commute I filter approximately 80% of the way.

On my way home on Friday a bloke on a crosser filtered up alongside me (as I had reached a gap between a bus and a lorry that was impassible). He then creaped in front of me blocking my way past the bus. Ok, as long as he gets a shift on I won't get trapped.

Did he?

Did he heck. Filtered like a bloody fanny. RAH!!
So the first bit of open(ish) road I nailed it past him - it was tight because he was sitting right on the white line and then proceded to continue in my own jolly way (30 down the white line).
Ok, I was a bit close when I passed him, but why push past someone when you *know you are too scared to filter and are going to hold them up? Eh?

Usually if I do pass another bike when I'm filtering I give them a friendly wave I'm not always full of rage.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Usually I pull to the side and give them an opportunity to go past.

If they do not take this opportunity, and I will only do so when it is clear and safe for them to do so, then I will just hold my line thereafter. The onus is on them to perform a safe overtaking manouvere.

Filtering is different, especially when you have a courier behind you, I always let a courier past.

Edit:- as for passing people I use the rule that it is down to me to overtake safely. Most bikes round here filter fairly quick, those that are slower are normally very aware so it's not a problem.
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[suzi_bandit]

It's rare that I need to filter and therefore I'm not very good at it, not like you city folk. I'll do it but I get out of the way the moment I see another bike.

My initial post was more to do with the manners you display on the open road, when you're out for a pleasure ride rather than when you're going to and from work.
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Annabella]

On the open road (and on the track - d'oh) I tend to let people through on straights.
I still find it difficult to let a rider go... if they overtake me I chase
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Finglonga]

[suzi_bandit]

I know what you mean. On the whole I'm a pretty aggressive rider and when it suits me I can be quite competitive. I think as and when I get a decent bike I'm gonna be heading for trouble!
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[suzi_bandit]

[stinkwheel]

[akaDAVE]

I now tend to presume my inferiority and move over sooner rather than later.
I don't like riding along with anyone because I inevitably try to compete, or at least bench-mark my speed agains thiers.
If I've learnt one thing in my less than one years biking it's never judge a book by it's cover.
As in the above case I've had big sportsbikes overtake and then hold me up on roads that I know. I've also gone flying past 500cc commuters with huge parcel boxes on the back and skinny tyres who have then cruised past me at the next corner, sitting up and looking relaxed whilst I'm hanging off thinking I'm flying .
____________________
GSXR600

[map]

[ram_doom]

Must admit I use other fast riders to judge my ability and try to stick with whoever (if its obvious their wanting to go mad), and I've often been pleasently surprised. A couple of weeks ago I was heading back along the motorway at 80ish after a hoon around west wales, and a guy on a triumph sprint caught me up, and sort of just followed me back keeping the same speed. Once I indicated for my exit, he accelerated past so he could give a friendly wave, which I found cool
____________________
TL1000s, KDX200

[MattEMulsion]

I ride an R6 and I don't tend to hang about on it either. I'm not your typical mad bas***d, I do ride sensibly but make progress at the same time.

I tend to ride nearer the centreline of the road (in my lane) along the open road and generally speaking if another bike comes up behind me I will move across towards the kerb. This does two things, firstly it acknowledges their presence and secondly it gives them opportunity to overtake. I then give them two or three clear opportunities to overtake me, and by clear opportunities I mean a safe obvious overtaking opportunity. If they choose not to overtake me for no particular reason and they have had their chances then I will carefully move back to my original riding line and leave them to do whatever they want and I will concentrate on my own riding.

I think that this is a pretty fair attitude and in the most parts it tends to work. That said it isn't all that often another bike overtakes me unless they are really on a mission.
____________________
Yamaha YZF-R6

[dainesefreak]

I agree with Matt, I do a similar thing. Although the only times when I'm usually over taken by other bikes is when I'm on my way to work (I'm in no rush to get there) or I'm not willing to overtake due to double whites, it's not safe, etc.

The thing that really does my head in are the riders who think "it's a Blade, I'll show him a thing or two" and do really silly overtakes, passing between moving vehicles, etc. It's generally when they have been trying really hard to catch up/overtake me and failed so far. Carry on, you're quite welcome to kill yourselves, I'll pass you again soon anyway. You haven't beaten me, I'm sitting still for a reason

[LustyLew]

I will almost always let other riders past. As 90% of my riding in in Zone 1 or 2 of London I'm really cack at country riding.

I'm terrible with corners at speed and I tend to 'wobble' round them for fear of falling off.

I guess I needa bit of practice!
____________________
Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls

[suzi_bandit]

[G]

[stinkwheel]

[Barney]

If I see a bike approaching I will stay slightly over to the left, they usually pass straight away with a wave and I do the same when approaching a biker giving him/her plenty of space.

If the biker is on a mission and going at a quick pace I will always try and keep up, even if it is a zx-12r