Overtaking multiple cars at once

[rubberhedgeho...]

Hi everyone.

With the good weather we've been having here everyone and their dog is out driving in the countryside.
I've been riding for a couple of months and I've got a Hornet 600 which provides more than enough thrills (hopefully no spills) for my riding style.

I am having a bit of an issue with overtaking multiple cars.
This occurs when following a bunch of cars who are doing 50 in an NSL single carriageway because of a van or something at the head of the queue or someone driving slowly trying to answer their phone or open a newspaper.......

Since they all drive 3 metres from each others' bumpers how can I pull out to overtake some of them and then come back in to my side of the road if a bend or oncoming vehicle should appear?
I don't want to push in (since some of do drive VERY close together and I'm concerned about them tailgating).

Thanks!

[la_lucha]

Push in, they won't tailgate you for long because you'll be off overtaking the van in a matter of seconds.
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Feck Orf

[UrbanRacer]

You shouldn't be making the overtake if you don't think you can make it back in without being in a collision with an oncoming car.

[Gazz]

What I do is check for any entrances on the right side of the road that none of the cars in front will be turning into and also look for the biggest gap between the cars (all the cars wont be travelling at exactly the same distance apart). And I aim for this point instead of trying to take all the cars in 1 attempt. If you need to pull in then do it here but if you can do them all in 1 go then go for it. Also keep an eye out for the second car from the front who might also be looking to overtake the first vehicle (but obviously watch all the cars. However usually cars only overtake 1 vehicle at a time so it is most likely the 2nd car who will pull out on you as you attempt to pass that).

[soforene]

You should always have your entry point in sight when overtaking.
This can move as your view opens up but not having a safe point to get back onto your side of the road may lead to a nasty situation.

Hang back and use the acceleration of your bike to get safely past vehicles when appropriate.
With the speed of bikes these days you'll probably only be "delayed" a few minutes at most so don't do anything rash and regret it halfway through the manoeuvre.

It's your ass on the line.

[J0Al1]

I find the lack of gap more an issue with traffic qeuwing at say 20mph into a town ... 50pmg there are usualy gaps.

Think you have to be a bit bolshy.

Oh and always check for right turns and never assume only the front car will overtake.. I have seen many a BMW over take a sling shot of cars from wey back...


Oh and watch for overtaking too fast and having to hammer the breaks on too hard into a gap - I have a 'oh shit' moment before. This usually comes after a slow decision to over take.. So be decisive and not erattic.

[Acemastr]

I did the same thing the other week(admittedly 25mph over the 50mph speed limit) and got pulled, told I could have been done or dangerous driving.. I call crap to be honest as I've always done this but he didn't like it
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[Cheeseybeaner]

[ceekay]

[Frost]

If they're going fast then they'll be leaving enough space between each other for a bike to slot into. If they're nose to tail it'll be because they're stuck behind something slow like a tractor. In that case you have to make a judgement call of whether you can overtake the lot or wait till a few have overtaken the tractor first.

If in doubt don't be afraid to push in. Get as far in front of a car as possible, slow down to match their speed to give them chance to see you and lean on them till they slow down / move over. The car coming the other way will also see you and move to the left which will very probably give you room not to get hit head on even if the car doesn't left you back into the left. It's not something you want to be doing day to day, but doing it has got me out of the shit a few times, like when the car coming the other way is going double the speed limit you suddenly find you've not enough space to over take

Something to be very careful of when overtaking multiple cars, and that's those cars you're passing attempting an overtake. I had it a little while back, a queue for 4 cars behind a tractor. I waited for the cars to pass it as we went down a straight, none did. The next straight i started to overtake only to have one of the cars swerve into my path as it attempted an overtake.

[Sako]

very difficult to answer due to the amount of variables to be honest, it al depends on a given scenario, on a given day, on a given road, these will be constantly changing, leaving you with only 'best judgement' to rely on. if in doubt just hang back and overtake when you feel comfortable of making a clean pass.

[Ichy]

I do multiple overtakes a lot and it is one of the things that requires experience and confidence. Yes, the safe answers are correct but it's easy to get carried away sometimes and find youself in these situations. The main consideration is that you should treat each car as a seperate overtake. Do everything you can to ensure that they are aware that you are there.

Personally, if I need to pull in, I use hand signals to show my intention. I deliberately look over my left shoulder to check that they have noted and I start to move in. When I pull in I give them a little thank you wave. Works for me.
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[alun111]

[Cheeseybeaner]

[Kwaks]

cars don't tailgate bikes that move to the middle of the road so that they spray crap up behind them.
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[daesimps]

I always treat overtakes and filtering like an aircraft pilot - I won't take off if I don't know where I'm going to land. It's been a good enough theory so far. You may miss the odd overtake, but better that than be stuck out to dry with nowhere to get back onto your side of the road with something coming towards you.

If I'm passing a few vehicles, and there is a gap that's big enough to fit into in the middle, I'll sometimes hover just momentarily next to it whilst I work out if I can get passed the second half of the line of cars safely. You don't have to enter the gap, just be at the side of it in case you decide that the second half of the overtake isn't on and want to enter into the gap.. It's a bit hard to describe, but I'm sure you know what I mean.


Dae.
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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

[Pete.]

I found out the hard way when I was a youth that if there's a queue of cars with the front one going slow there's a good chance he's going to turn right. I landed on his bonnet with the wing all stoved in. Make sure there are no right turns - or left ones that another vahicle can nip out of - in front of the rolling queue.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[rubberhedgeho...]

Thanks for all of those tips.
I am well aware of the dangers of cars turning right - rode past a scene where someone decided to overtake a petrol tanker on the right just as it turned into the petrol station. His head was approximately 10 feet away from his shoulders.......

I'm not going for the overtakes when there is oncoming traffic, just sometimes there is bunching with multiple cars that aren't going THAT slowly but still spoil the fun for some corners.

I supposed holding back probably won't get me killed, and it's always better safe than sorry. At least now the weather is warm so I can open the visor and cool down a little bit

[J.M.]

[fozzym]

Its pretty simple and logical really, if you want to stay alive then ride with responsibility.

So if you are the scenario that you describe the answer is to stay put and wait.
Usually at some point you will get and opportunity to overtake. Like others have said, treat each vehicle as a single overtake making sure that before you commit you know where you will end up.

When I'm out riding with mates, I've waited plenty of times when other lads have gone for it. Others will do things that I won't or sometimes if you are following that split second is the difference between overtaking safely and not. So never follow anyone through, make your own decision.

[Llama-Farmer]

Don't be afraid of using the horn if you think a car infront may pull out to overtake (without checking their mirrors or blind spot)

After all, it is there to be used preemptively to "warn other motorists of your presence", rather than a bleep-device to censor your swearing after they've pulled out on you

[Rob W]

[Pete.]

I use my horn quite a lot riding around town. Usually for pedestrians though, especially outside Waterloo station - they all seem to be indestructable.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[soforene]

Don't forget chums, a flash of Main Beam means the same as the horn.
i.e. Yoohoo!! I'm here !!

If I'm going for a multiple overtake then I might pull out and then give a blast of Main Beam as I accelerate.

It may make all the difference between a safe overtake and a SMIDSY ...........

[Llama-Farmer]