A word about motorway riding.

[MarJay]

Hello,

I just thought I would make a short post on Motorway riding after something I observed today.

What I saw was a guy on a Harley Sportster riding on the M4. Nothing strange about that you may think. Well he was riding about as far to the left of his lane as possible without straddling the white line. I believe this to be dangerous behaviour.

I wasn't sure which lane he wanted to be in, nor whether or not he was attempting to filter. When he did filter, he sneaked up on each pair of cars and then tried to squeeze in between in a very timid way. He then sat in my blind spot for miles between myself and another car.

My advice to all riding on the motorways is:

Dominate your lane!
Do not filter if you are unsure about what the cars are going to do!

It was like he was riding a scooter in a 30 zone!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ian (GPX)]

It was like he was riding a scooter in a 30 zone!

LOL

[JonB]

I would actually like some general tips for motorway riding and it's something they don't teach that much in training do they?

I'm actually quite nervous about riding on the motorway for the first time.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[tatters]

ear plugs are must on a long trip.



l,ve had some twat in a people carrier over take me when l was in the far right hand land on the M3 last year riding my VFR400, nearly knock me off my bike as l was in the centre of the lane
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Ric]

[DukeRed]

When in gridlock and filtering watch very carefully when there are spaces in the traffic for cars jumping in to them and be prepared to brake sharp. Look at there wheels as more often than not they don't indicate when in a jam.

I sometimes beep my horn again every few seconds and keep the revs high so they know I'm coming. Might seem like an idiot when doing it but they know your coming.
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[Wave2k]

you pay road tax, you shouldnt have to go at the side of the road/lane
make full use of it.
only change lanes to overtake
there is no fast lane
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[WildGoose]

hardest thing about motorways is staying calm and collected, lose your patience and it all goes to shit, so thats the best time to peel off and find an A road to blast down..

its easy to get pissed off with it crawling at 40mph, when you believe your bike is capable of so much more

this is when accidents happen, otherwise they are generally very safe roads ... when people are doing it by the book*


*M25 is never by the book, its one big frustration all the way round, and unfortunately its so necessary for 75% of all my bike journeys

to quote a recent magazine.

"M25 - It's The Pit Of Hell
A pointless six lane car park, populated by cars with one occupant, none of whom know where their fucking side view mirrors are. On the M25 bike rage manifests itself when you start to ride cautiously, then, as the frustration builds, you end up riding like an utter twat"

i soooo wish i could take credit for that comment, cos its hit the bloody nail on the head and thusly it is stuck prominently on my dart board, lest i forget.

so take heed, and you should be ok
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Annabella]

I completely agree... Motorways seem to have rules of their own when it comes to some drivers. Hardly anywhere else would someone try to undertake, or drive so close to the vehicle in front at such a high speed.

It is always worth stopping when you find yourself forgetting stopping distances for whatever reason, and un-adjusting to the speed. Unfortunately, most people don't do this, and this is when you find yourself being tailgating in a queue of traffic moving at a comfortable 85-90.
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I did Cadwell!
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[Jrod]

[jimster]

Apparently it's legal to ride a 50cc moped on a motorway; so says this guy:

https://www.survivalskills.clara.net/doctor_s_surgery.htm
"What is the legal engine seize for a motorbike to go on a motorway?
You can ride any motorcycle with more than 50cc so long as you have a full licence on a motorway. "

Is that right??? If so, that's hilarious!!

I rode a 50cc moped on a dual carriageway once (at night...) and spent the entire time wetting myself each time a car shot past in case the driver was too busy eating mints to notice me. I spent the entire time riding as close to the left hand markings as possible; although it meant people didn't bother changing lanes to overtake, it also reduced the amount of tyre-screeching braking as people tried to avoid rear-ending me. This leads me to suspect that I wouldn't feel entirely safe on a motorway on a 50cc moped unless it was 30 feet wide and made of kryptonite.

[MattShill]

Yeah, thats true, I've been reading a theory test book and it came as a bit of a surprise! If a 4t 125 struggles to make 70mph, I don't see how a 50 can be anything but a hazard on the motorway.
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Living life in the second overtaking lane!

'98 Kwak ER-5

[killa]

[Bendy]

Be aware - it's easy to zone out a bit on motorways if you're on them for a long time, but try and keep your wits about you.

As said above, watch your stopping distance. It's harder these days to tell when a car's braking hard due to most having ABS, so if you've not left much room you might suddenly find yourself up close and personal with the rear end of a BMW. So watch what's happening a few cars ahead.

Be nice to trucks. You're quick and manouvreable so you can easily shift your arse out the way or make up the time 'lost' by letting a truck out, and you will be rewarded karmically in the next life.

People are dickheads getting on and off motorways so be aware around junctions. If I'm not already in the outside lane I'll often head there for the junction bit, reduces my exposure to people making last minute dives across the carrigeway. Also, make sure you spot your junction in good time, a half mile at 60mph in the inside lane isn't going to kill you, a 120mph dive across 3 lanes might.

[map]

[cunni]

When everyone is doing only 50mph on the motorway - 120mph right down the white line between the lanes and fly up the outside lane when everyone has moved out of it due to a lorry in the distance. A sure fire way to be very excited, possibly lose you license or even your life!

Not recommended, but an experience non-the-less!
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[The Tot]

Another tip for motorway riding - TIE DOWN EVERY SINGLE ESSENTIAL - it's one big monotonous slog on my XR down the motorway and after going on it for the first time - i nearly binned it and had a fatal accident. Use double bungees and loop any straps and bags securely (if possible use belt clips) preferably running the straps under your seat/grabrail/rack and using a bungee and cargo net over it. My bag came loose on the M25 doing 70 - had i been on an RS125 or any bike with a right side drive- i'd have been a gonner.

Always check your strapped or loose luggage (despite the frantic attempts of Ric and Claud) when on the Mways as it can easily slip. Keep in the central of the lane, always check your mirrors every 10 seconds to see if a car is creeping up on you. Never stick in the middle lane if the left is clear as this is bound to piss people off. As a rule of tumb, never filter if traffic is more than 20mph and even then, keep your wits about you for cars changing lane erratically. Simply by being on the motorway, their perceptions of driving change somewhat! If bored, find the nearest A road and razz along there to keep you alert and join at the next junction - some coffee also works a charm.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[niff5855]

and another thing I do - When you pull into the fast lane to overtake, (do your lifesaver over the shoulder check of course first), I really give it the gas to overtake the car in front because I'm always paranoid I'll be in his blind spot and he's gonna pull out.
So I want to get past him ASAP.

I find the best way to ride on motorways is to be a bit paranoid. Expect the worst and assume all cagers are idiots.
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[ian_s]

Do a lot of motorway driving in my cage. I would definatly agree with keeping your distance, I suppose you could always try going down the middle in an emergency. The reason I was thinking of was of debris on the road - you won't get much chance to react by the time you see it emeging from under the car in front. I have seen ladders, bricks and all sorts on the road. Last weekend on the M25 everyone was swerving to avoid a car bumper.

[cagiva gezzer]

Sit behind lorries and get towed by the slip stream.

I hate motorways unless they're grid locked, then i love playing.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Few random points:

Try not to stay in other vehicle's blind spots

Keep lots of distance

Look ahead, not just at vehicles close by. This includes bends in the road, traffic behaviour, density and whatever's changing up ahead.

Be careful when pulling off the motorway, some roundabouts can come up very quickly. You lose a sense of speed on the motorway. Make sure you scrub off the speed with plenty of time. After some exits there will be a complete 180 turn in the road, which is quite sharp, and can suprise many people, particularly if you are on a bike. Again take away that speed in good time. Plan ahead, and use the road signs. They help a lot!

For new riders: practice using mirrors and lifesavers, as your perception of speed/distance will be very bad until you become used to this. I used to cut up cars in my first week or two of riding because of this. Dangerous.

Do actions slowly, calmly and in plenty of time.

If someone wants to go faster and/or overtake you, let them

I tend to stay away from the left lane, to avoid slow vehicles. I don't like the big lorries etc as I should imagine it's pretty hard for them to see you and watch out for them wind "sway" as you ride past.

Watch out for speed cameras.

Just ride safely and defensively. If you are a new rider, I'd advice doing a bit of practice on a dual carriageway to get used to the speed, distance, using brakes at high speed etc. Motorway riding is similar but a notch up.

[The Tot]

Is it just me or when anybody's taken their 125 down the motorways, it's about 5mph faster than going down a dual carraigway of similar conditions, i.e. dry, level and on the limit? Could this be down to the sheer volume of traffic on the motorways having an effect on the flow of air around such a small powered bike?
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[The Tot]

Is it just me or when anybody's taken their 125 down the motorways, it's about 5mph faster than going down a dual carraigway of similar conditions, i.e. dry, level and on the limit? Could this be down to the sheer volume of traffic on the motorways having an effect on the flow of air around such a small powered bike? The most i've had so far out of my bike was 69 - i saw 79 on my speedo the other day on the 25 (both on moderately steep downhill sections)
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[stinkwheel]

Motorways are very safe.

The one time when they become VERY dangerous is when people start slowing down or braking. If you see brake lights in the distance when on the motorway switch your awareness level to maximum, check your mirrors to see what is around you look everywhere. Gradually open up the gap in front of you and back off the speed slightly but not so violently as to cause the person behind you to brake and make things worse. The traffic is going to concertina to a halt and people will start switching lanes all over the place so you have to be totally on the ball.

You are aiming to come up to whatever the obstruction is at a speed where you can take whatever action is necessary, with a big gap to move into in front of you and knowing exactly what is on either side of you so your escape is clear.

If the traffic starts braking hard, give it a big 'slowing down' handsignal (most bikes don't have hazard lights) immediatley start looking for an escape route. The very last place you want to be on a motorway is at the back of a line of stationary or rapidly braking traffic. Get the hell out of there and put some depth of other peoples metal between you and the back of the cue. In all honesty, if there was no room to filter between lanes I would be nipping up the hard shoulder or the central divide four or five car lengths.

I have nearly been taken out by an inattentive driver who didn't notice the brake lights ahead of him. I was alerted by the sound of all four of his tyres squealing as they locked up. He came to rest sideways about 6" from the car I had until very recently been sitting behind.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[jimster]