Wow, I have suddenly become invisble

[trikeschick]

Took my new bike out for a spin tonight and shocked at the sheer arrogance on the roads. A van driver tried to twice undercut me on a roundabout and was blaring his horn at me. I held my line though and refused to speed just for him! I was doing 30 in a 30! Then i had a few cars pull out on me

Didnt stop me having fun, but reminder of having my wits about me
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[Angel Girl]

Yeah I'm dreading getting out ther for this reason

[Clanger]

It's called 'welcome to the world of motorbike riding'...you will find that you become highly aware of everything, you basically need to have eyes in the back of your head, and intuition, and mind-reading skills...learn the hard stare, and hunch up your shoulders like you are something to be scared of...and ride in a generally aggressive/defensive manner.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Dilyan]

Do you keep you headlight on all the time? I do, whether its day or night.

Not that it will help you much
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[Teflon-Mike]

[Rogerborg]

"Tailpipe-gating" is par for the course, sadly. White Van Man is usually pretty bad for it, but couriers and Royal Mail nutters are the worst I've seen. I genuinely think some of them value their schedules more than people's lives, and not just in the heat of the moment.

See my thread about getting bad drivers off the road before they kill someone.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Skudd]

I'm almost like a tank on my bike but some still don't see me.

It is good fun on the motorway though as I have a large bike, loads of very good lights and I'm big too. They just seem to run out of the way when they see me coming up behind them. Same goes for filtering. It is a confidence thing though and it grows the more you are on the bike.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[trikeschick]

Cheers guys. I been on bikes since I was big enough to reach the pegs but more recently I have been riding a trike, which tends to solicit a different response from car drivers. I perhaps am being slightly more sensitive as I am cautious of my newbie status. but that van driver I fear was trying it on, had I been in the car he wouldn't have been able to do that to me. i wonder if he would be so happy if it was his wife or daughter that was being harassed!
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[pinkyfloyd]

[trikeschick]

For sure - I have done my defensive driving in the car, so am arranging to go for ROSPA training on the bike next before the winter sets in. I guess it was just a reality check at how this is just the start of the learning process.
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"Light travels faster than the speed of sound, which is why some people appear bright until they speak"

[CaNsA]

Have a gander at this

https://www.visordown.com/features/7-tips-for-city-motorcycle-riding/18806.html

HTH

[ajbsmirnoff]

They're all out to get you. Except me when I'm driving. Honest.

Just imagine you are invisible, and ride accordingly.

When in doubt about whether you are 'cloaked', give them a bit of horn (or cancel your indicators at them).

[trikeschick]

[Dazbo666]

[SweenyT]

Hi Trikeschick, glad to see you got your bike and are enjoying being out on it. It's always an eye opener once the L-plates come off.

As everyone else has said defensive/dominant driving is a must especially if you drive in town. You are invisible. You're just a slight shadow in a rear/side view mirror - a 'did I just see something....nah...I don't need to check again' ghost. If your bike is in any way as quiet as mine then they wont even hear you especially when you filter. Always assume that they never saw you and ride accordingly, oh and don't forget to nod a thanks to the drivers that do see you and either move over or give way. They may either be bikers themselves or just nice and aware folks who'll probably do the same again cause you said thanks.

With time will come confidence (and filtering) and then maybe you will ride more aggressively when needs be.

Safe riding
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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[Big One]

The other thing to remember is some people really do not care, they think they are more important than anybody else and if you are in the way they will move you. We all need to be carefull.

[Sload]

[quote="SweenyT"oh and don't forget to nod a thanks to the drivers that do see you and either move over or give way. They may either be bikers themselves or just nice and aware folks who'll probably do the same again cause you said thanks.[/quote]

Always shift for bikers in the car if I have room, I tend to find over half are ignorant oiks who don't acknowledge it though.

[FirebladeRuss]

Just to add some contrast to the discussion.

Strangely, I don't seem to have too much trouble if I'm being honest.

I've not been cut up or pulled out in front of (yet) - but I like to think I'd not end up in a situation where I hadn't seen it coming anyway.

Lots of people (not all....and it's usually the fat-cats in their fat Mercs, or Mum's in their fun-buses that don't) seem to move over in traffic jams to let me past, and generally I notice that drivers seem to be more aware of bikers than they used to be.

Agree about the odd tailgating by a van - although it also happens when you're in a car as well. The extra height and driving position offered by a typical van does lend itself to making the driver pilot the van like a total prick - because you can see that much further ahead (I know this, as I had a work van for a number of months, and I too found myself doing it at times ).

I always thank people who move over for me on my bike - although must admit, it seems only 50% of bikers I move over for when I'm in my car thank me. Which is a bit annoying, as I get my nice rims to within inches of the kerb to let them past!
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Twitter is for people who can't STFU even when they're by themselves

[SweenyT]

I always make it a habit to nod my thanks and if I think the driver has been especially thoughtful (warning me of something approaching..) I try to give an extra hand wave too

Some riders are just plain arrogant and couldn't care less so don't bother to thank drivers. I move over for riders if I can when I'm driving and I've even done it when I'm riding as sometimes I'm quite content to sit in a small amount of traffic and chill.
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Current ride - 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4 - 2x 2014 Honda NC750s long term courtesy bikes - 2003 Fazer FZ6 written off as idiot reversed into me - 2009 YBR125 - still have from new

[Aquila]

[waffles]

I urge you to do my advanced motorcycling course entitled "How to read minds in five easy steps". I will teach you how to know that the cager indicating to go left actually wants to go right, or correctly pick out which BMW driver decided not to go for the expensive indicators when choosing their optional extras. Learn the magical ways that the Micra drivers see the world (everything is clear, time for me to pull out!) and tackle the mind boggling roadcraft of the white van driver.....

If you don't want to fork out £150 plus VAT for my totally-not-made-up seminar, best advice is to claim your part of the road and never sit in their blind spot. If you can see their face in their mirrors then they can see you if they bother to use them. Expect the unexpected! And above all, don't panic when someone does something stupid, pick your escape route quickly and make sure you are safe. Although that would be a little more complicated on a trike than on a bike but the principle is the same
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Alex_B]

I'm a new rider, just got permission from the Gov to ride a 125cc on the road and this morning went out on the Baby Vara for a spot of country roads (Which was freakin awesome btw)

I was in pos 2 in a single lane, doing 30 (the limit) keeping 2-3 sec gap, check mirrors, see bimbo in car about 10 feet behind. I know this road, there are speed cameras all along it.

5 seconds later I check mirrors and she aint there, she pulled round me on a right turn arrow (the road widens for people turning) and then pulls in front of me.

Damn shit the life outta me.

Thing is, it got her nowhere as there was a big ass lorry in front of me.

Stupid fukin bitch

Guess I gotta be careful out there

[SweenyT]

[Rogerborg]

The L plates are a bit of a red rag. Bear in mind that all speedos read over, so an indicated 33 is likely to be close to an actual 30.

Oh, as far as I'm concerned, the default[1] road position in traffic is a gnat's whisker to the left of the centre of the carriageway, with a bit of weaving to keep them guessing. Anyone who wants to go around should be clear that they'll have to use the whole other side of the carriageway; there'll be no lane sharing nonsense going on.

[1] adjust as necessary
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[FirebladeRuss]

Think your course content might need updating Waffles.

Replacing 'BMW' with AUDI or VW, particularly TDi variants.
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Twitter is for people who can't STFU even when they're by themselves