Confidence on a big bike

[Raffles_Gentleman Thug]

It occured to me recently that I have a hell of a lot of confidence being on a big fast bike with a very loud pipe and having quite a bit of experience now (6 years riding).

I've found that i almost bully cars, in the sense that if someone tries to tailgate or impose on my road space i'll psyche myself up, stand my ground and if neccessery make a lot of noise to say 'my space, sod off'

and i've not noticed anyone pulling into my lane, tailgating, making me change direction or almost knock me off.


anyone else ever found this or am i just lucky/delusional?
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"Is sir addressing me or is he masticating on a house brick? Because either way sir loses his teeth."

[jaffa]

[mr.z]

Propper road positioning and owning your bit of road (not rideing in the gutter) Should keep people off your back, and not taking the pish..

Big bikes do make all the difference, (physicaly big) loosing L-plates makes a disturbing difference, i make a point of giveing them plenty of room and if any cars are hassleing them give em some cover where possible...

Giveing a evil glare™ works well, make eye contact, ive seen people almost pull out where they shouldn't (when they have seen me comeing and decide to go anyway where i'd have to brake hard) and after a glare they soon change their mind and sheepishly look the other way..

Been pulled out on at a roundabout before (small one) they decided they'd go dispite being totaly wrong and me being on it allready, while going arround stared at this plonker and he looked very uncomfortable, so he might thing twice next time.

Its not nice to have to do but it works very well, a handfull of throttle renforces the message where needed, swearing and shakey fists not needed.


Thing with tailgaters, if the usual tricks wont work let them past, if you must even pull in and stop, becuase when they are gone there somebody elses problem.


*Problem is some people on the road or so fecking stupid then any of the above will not work, becuase they are too stupid to realise they are doing anything wrong.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[jaffa]

[colin1]

with tailgaters, i just slow down and ride in the gutter till they pass.

cant do this in a car obviously

although recently I dont get tailgaters cos Im going faster than everyone else

ive gotta cut that out when the roads get slippery though
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[mr.z]

(should have made it more clear) Certain situations it works perfectly well (has for me at least) slower speeds, small junctions, mini roundabouts e.t.c. (+tend to ride with visor up in town) Anything over 20 its pretty useless...

If you get eyecontact then they have seen you, if they have then theres not much chance they will drive out at you (although they can), if you do not then they probably haven't seen you and are about to aim their 2ton lardmobil into you while lighting that fag.

The glare is my alternative to flailing arms and swearing at prawn brained monkeys that have managed to escape the zoo and steal some car keys... referring to those that have seen you but are arse ends and went for it anyway through arrogance or stupidity.

Road positioning i agree is more important, sometimes its worth moving right out when passing a left junction for example, your positioning might get you into their field of vision but a moving object is more likely to be noticed too... your also in a better position to get out of the way should you need to (some bint in a silver merc talking on a phone for example )
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Walloper]

Most important rule for the road is to be a carefull and courteous driver.
Aggressive driving behaviour only serves to re-enforce the myth that all bikers are b4stards.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[quik_d]

to be honest In my experience losing the L plates hasn't made a lot of difference. I still get people pulling out on me etc its like if its aint 5 foot wide drivers dont see it!
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LOOK AT DAT M8 WELL LUSH A PARROT INT IT

[Walloper]

[jaffa]

[Walloper]

1.5% actually counting me
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[kath600]

i don't suffer fools gladly on the road but nor do i try and put my self in danger.

i do get pissed off and stand my ground.

if i see a numpty on the road, rather than let them pass me , i will try to get rid of them by going ahead of them and put as much distance between me and them.

a bloke on the weekend was knocked of his zx10 by a woman in an iceland van because she didn't like him passing her

and he must have thought feck it , like we all do and went to pass her and she rammed him off i think luckily he was ok!

i do use the bikes size and noise(race can ) to make my presence known and have no probs confronting an idiot in a car etc and have done a few times

what really gets me is if i'm in a 30 zone for example and i've got some idiot right on my arse cos i'm obeying the limit.

had this a few times with b.racers and then they are fcuked if i'm still there when we get to a 60!
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Seven days without laughter......... makes one weak.

[Gazdaman]

The respect you get on a bigger bike is worrying. The moment I stepped off of my 125 and onto a commuter 600, no-one even attempted to push me.

L plates on a 125 will always invite people to be wankers.

And I completely disagree with:

[Walloper]

Quote: "Don't worry about what's behind you, it's their job to overtake, you should worry about what's in front of you."

Troo, but if you keep a look out for what's behind you can help yourself to stay out of trouble.
If you can't ride a motorbike/scoot/ped without others upsetting you then give it up.
You are not enjoying it buy a horse..
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[debdimps]

The last time i took the bike out I felt alot more at-one with the bike, so I found myself overtaking alot more than I usually do, most cars move over and give me plenty room to overtake, I give em a once i've passed them.... But then again there are some car drivers who move over and expect me to overtake them even when its not safe to do so and i'm not tailgating them at the time, some even slow down

I guess its because they just don't have a clue?

[Walloper]

I never get tailgaters bothering me.
It has something to do with the flourescent red stripe and blue light on my Pan.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[daytona600]

IMO it makes a huge difference - riding a big, noisy, yellow sportsbike and being quietly aggressive with your road positioning lets other road users know what you're about and gives them every chance of seeing you, in my experience.

I was shocked when my bike was serviced I was given a Bonneville loan bike. Really old school and very quiet. Other road users attitudes to me completely changed. Old man bike they thought. People didn't let me in - would aggressively try and close gaps (and of course a quick blip didn't help at all) - it was all pretty unnerving.

It culminated when I was sitting at a set of lights and a guy in a Merc drove so close to me, he hit my leg with his bumper, crushing it against the side of the bike. Naturally, I screamed, turned around and twatted the bonnet as hard as I could. Unfortunately in my soft summer gloves in made no impression. He look at me as if to say "what's wrong?" and on a second thump and more apoplectic yelling backed off a touch, freeing my leg. At no point did he try and apologise.

It was a real eye opener of a day, and not one I am keen to experience again.

Never would I consider riding in town without a loud can - I genuinely believe it is a lifesaver.

Moral of the story: Doesn't matter how badly the cager drives, if you're late for a date, you let it go
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If in doubt, flat out

[colin1]

i had to look up apoplectic
apparently it means Extremely angry; furious:

Its not often i dont know what a word means.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[mr.z]

[Gazdaman]

Our local DSA motorcycle examiner rides a big white BMW with a white lid.

I occasionally see him about and instantly think copper. Until he hoons past.

Gaz

[jaffa]

[Gazdaman]

I meant it invites 3rd parties to act like wankers towards those displaying L plates.

L platers only tend to ride like twats because if they slow down they'll never speed up again. That coupled with inexerience and youthfull exuberance and newfound freedom helps them to ride like they do.

Swings n' roundabouts n' all that.

Gaz

[mr.z]

My mums a driveing instructor, the top is removeable (big magnetic thing) and when you fit it the difference is disturbing, really shocking, never mind the fact the driver is ROSPA and IAM certified and has been instructing for years...

IMO the most dangerous thing about learning to drive/ride is peoples attitude to the big red L on the back (appart from the very few who do whats intended and give more space/allow for mistakes)

Funny if 70% of people on the road had to do their test they'd fail miserably.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Walloper]

I think that most motorists do allow for folks displaying L on the vehicle. So long as the learner's behavior doesn't beg the question, 'Are you realy sure that you want to drive Dear?'
Some learners are shite.
The fact that some other drivers ignore the L plate is just evidence that some other drivers are knobs.
Keep it real.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Hex]