keeping your distance

[Codge]

just saying....musing that is,

today i was out in the wife's car, you know trip to the dump and wickes like we old gits do, then starting back a mad 'i'm late for an important meeting type' raced past in a car. he hounded those in front of him by driving close, too close but i had to chuckle as he got caught at every obstacle, lights, a lorry that was manoeuvring and yet more slow moving drivers until eventually he managed to scream off at a roundabout some miles later.

in this instance his aggression was unnecessary and one really couldn't afford to ride a bike like that with such tight distances.
i think keeping your distance is probably one of the best ways to avoid an accident as it gives you that extra time to react and anticipate not to mention brake and slow down, also, by and large, you get a better view of the road ahead.
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Prevarication and procrastination are my worse enemies

[Eddie Hitler]

https://i.imgur.com/XdWouzS.jpg

[Codge]

haha fair enough, i didn't used to keep distances that well in the past, and in fact, unless i consciously think about it, i don't generally but a good distance is beneficial even though others can sometimes hop in.
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Prevarication and procrastination are my worse enemies

[Hefty]

How long have you been on the road?
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'13 Honda CBF125 // '99 Suzuki SV650s // '98 Honda CB600F Hornet

[pinkyfloyd]

I keep my distance but I am forever seeing people in front flash their brake lights constantly because they are driving too close to the car in front. Its silly. Even sillier when you filter past them at the lights.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Wednesday Biker]

I think on a bike you tend to stay a greater distance than when you are driving your car.
Yeah you are supposed to keep distance at all times any way but in a car you don't feel as vunerable.
But yep some idiots do tend to drive 3 ft behind like it will get them places faster.
Lorry drivers on the motorway like to drive so close that you cant see anything bar a big grill in your mirror."its a 50mph camera stretch pal, no need to rush"

[Teflon-Mike]

Its a tough call; too much can be as bad as too little; if there's a gap people will try and jump into it. Try holding the prescribed 2 second gap on a motorway or duel carriageway, and see how long it takes before you are slamming on the brakes 'cos its just been hi-jacked; country road? Hanging back for a sight line and acceleration space to pass something in front, usually a van? same deal, you go to 'use' that space and some twit behind you is trying to go past you and jump into the gap behind the van!

Road positioning & hazard awareness is probably the more important than the your traveling gap; knowing where you can make space, and where you cant; where to 'command' your road room; where to hold back or edge, where to press on; and being 'assertive' in your defensive riding.

There's no single trick or technique to safe riding; its a hole bag full of'em, that only work if applied in the right place at the right time.

But I do find it stunning how many drivers HAVE to get past me so they can test thier ABS at the red-light I've rolled off for
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[daverave999]

I like to keep at least two seconds gap as I find it makes things less stressful. Last year I had some twat doing the drive close thing, so desperate to get past, that he neglected to see the huge yellow speed camera that he managed to overtake me by and setting it off. How I chuckled...
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[Codge]

yes that must have been satisfying, had the same thing myself - good to see an impatient range rover owner get caught
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Prevarication and procrastination are my worse enemies

[Calite]

but if you ride the bumper of the car infront you can use there brakes in an emergancy stop.

[Albigularis]

[Codge]

oh dear
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Prevarication and procrastination are my worse enemies

[hellkat]

Too sensible!

It's not so much that I find myself driving like the old biddy I really am.
But when I notice I am excessively bimbling, I revert to driving like a cunt instead.

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Codge]

possibly an easier way of putting this post would have been something like, expect drivers to brake suddenly, slow to make a late turn with or without signaling or pull out of side roads without warning. distance just gives you more chance to react and i think, generally, being further back you get a better idea of what's happening ahead because you can ahead see more. i think there is a tendancy to ride up to traffic ahead because bikes are often quicker than the four wheel traffic.
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Prevarication and procrastination are my worse enemies