Topic: Motorcycle riders

[tpl]

This thought brought on by the comments about bikes with angry faces in the "Honda does it right" thread.


Why do motorcyclists riding behind me always ride just off to my passenger side so that I can't see them properly in the inside mirror and just a distorted view in the passenger side mirror? **    I can understand why they don't ride directly behind but why not ride behind on the drivers side so I can see them properly and maybe even make eye contact so they Know that I have seen them.

Or even better... why not just overtake. It must be safer to be in front of a car than behind it because most cars cannot out accelerate a bike.

** I wear glasses and have to turn my head to see properly in the passenger side mirror.

[initial_D]

No biker rider here. I am guessing some of them ride as far away as the center yellow line to get more space from opposing traffic. Or just lack of experience?

[PJungnitsch]

Not being seen is the nightmare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htJQ1kl2Kt8

Generally in town I stay in the center, on two lane highways closer to the center line, to 'dominate' the lane so car drivers don't make lazy lane changes.

And of course if coming up to a hard corner then you drift to the right when turning left, and to the left when turning right.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Sounds like they don't know any better.

I ride in the centre left of the lane or the left when about to pass. Riding in blind spots will get you killed.

[neil]

Sounds like they don't know any better.

I ride in the centre left of the lane or the left when about to pass. Riding in blind spots will get you killed.

Yep.  I always ride about 2 car lengths back, or a car ahead of the car in the other lane.  I'll speed up or slow down as required.  I always assume the worst of the cager behind the wheel.

[safristi]

Basil is spot on............any decent riding school..or even reading a few BIKER sites (BIG BOOBS onna Harley ,being my FAVE ) okay U dentist and lawyers RELAX eh!!!.....butt! seriously......taking up a commandin position  .....near the centre line is obvious.....
   must say from wot i've heard the once round the Block M'CYCLE transpo licence thingie is an abomination.........my neighbour a guy in his 50's got his licence thru Fanshawe(borrowed my gear,and i gave him an earfull regards safe smart biking) he had 20 some hours of training...he'll be a good rider (i trust)......

 signed SAF...25 years inna saddle and only a lil horsing around............


 MOST of the fellow bikers i have ridden with ....are as  Garson Keillor sez "ABOVE AVERAGE" in all motoring skills.................or else they would be DEAD!!!!!

[HeliDriver]

As others have said, left of centre is generally where a rider should be. There are times when it is smart to move over to the right, but I can't think of a good reason to hang out there for an extended period.

While there are lots of safe, conscientious riders out there, there are still some who don't have a clue.

[articsteve]

Why do motorcyclists riding behind me always ride just off to my passenger side so that I can't see them properly in the inside mirror and just a distorted view in the passenger side mirror? **   

I can't say I've seen that when I'm riding.  Generally in rural areas one stays closer to the centre line so that you have less likelihood of getting on to the gravel shoulder.  Gravel being not a good thing.

Or even better... why not just overtake. It must be safer to be in front of a car than behind it because most cars cannot out accelerate a bike.

Why      Facking cops, street racing law  , insurance rates;  all combine to make riding more dangerous.

[tpl]

I should have been clearer.This is on multilane roads  401/dvp etc. and mainly in the left hand or middle lanes .  Around here most of the motorcyclists on two lane roads appear in the mirror and then overtake even if they are only doing a few km/h faster.

Maybe this is an urban thing.

[HeliDriver]

I should have been clearer.This is on multilane roads  401/dvp etc. and mainly in the left hand or middle lanes .  ...

Now that you mention it, that is a situation where being in the right side of the lane is appropriate. The idea is to stake claim to your entire lane: being to the right in that situation stops motorists on the right from thinking it might be okay to squeeze over into your lane.

However, if you can't see the rider in your rear view mirror, then it sounds like he's probably following too close, too far right, or both.

[neil]

I should have been clearer.This is on multilane roads  401/dvp etc. and mainly in the left hand or middle lanes .  ...

Now that you mention it, that is a situation where being in the right side of the lane is appropriate. The idea is to stake claim to your entire lane: being to the right in that situation stops motorists on the right from thinking it might be okay to squeeze over into your lane.

However, if you can't see the rider in your rear view mirror, then it sounds like he's probably following too close, too far right, or both.

Right, in the left lane, I am in the right side of the lane, opposite from the right lane.  Sometimes I switch from right to left in a middle lane, to make sure I am in the most visible spot depending on where others are.

We had a big upswing in MC accidents here in SK this year.  With fuel prices up, more guys were riding, and the licensing requirements are ridiculous.  To ride here, you need a drivers license, and then rewrite your 30 question multiple choice driver test, then a 20 question motorcycle test.  You then qualify with a "learners" to ride any size bike, the only restriction being solo, during daylight hours, and within 100km of home. No testing of actual ability to stay vertical.   A guy died this summer here, old enough to know better (my age 37), had his license for 1 week.  Had a crotch rocket, went 80 down a 50 zone, took a right turn at an intersection onto a "freeway", lost control, launched over the median and became literally a hood ornament for a Buick Rendezvous.  I don't call these guys bikers, I call 'em organ donors, and they me off because they give good riders like me a bad name.

There are enough stupid cagers out there, stupid bikers annoy me to no end.  /rant off

[tpl]

However, if you can't see the rider in your rear view mirror, then it sounds like he's probably following too close, too far right, or both.

I usually can see the rider in my RH mirror which is the one I have most trouble looking in. I have my mirrors in the Kenzie approved position.   I have not ridden a bike since I was 17  but if I had to now I'd ride on the other side  so I'd be in a better position to overtake the car. 

[airbalancer]

Do some bikes have a flashing Day time running Light, sometimes I see one and it is blinking

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Do some bikes have a flashing Day time running Light, sometimes I see one and it is blinking

There are light modulating units that vary the intensity of your running lights. It's supposed to increase your visibility.

[airbalancer]

Do some bikes have a flashing Day time running Light, sometimes I see one and it is blinking

There are light modulating units that vary the intensity of your running lights. It's supposed to increase your visibility.

It works, because I noticed the bike as I was talking on my phone, programing my GPS and selecting songs on my Ipod

[safristi]

...so Flashing in PUBLIC is acceptable now............Phew!!!!!................ ..no biggie ,but perfect in every detail.........................    just put mine to rest for the Winter.......the bike ya fools............................

[Blue01]

However, if you can't see the rider in your rear view mirror, then it sounds like he's probably following too close, too far right, or both.

I usually can see the rider in my RH mirror which is the one I have most trouble looking in. I have my mirrors in the Kenzie approved position.   I have not ridden a bike since I was 17  but if I had to now I'd ride on the other side  so I'd be in a better position to overtake the car. 

As other have stated, and as most riders have been taught, when you have traffic moving with you and situated on your right side, a rider should stay on the right side of his lane in order to protect it.
And if the traffic is on your left, stay on the left side of your lane.

If I'm riding behind a cage and positioned on his right, I position myself directly in line with his right-side mirror, assuming I can see the drivers face in the mirror.
If the traffic is heavy and I'm forced to stay between a couple of particular vehicles, I will occasionally switch sides in my lane in order to make sure the drivers do not become oblivious to my existence.  Sometimes they forget you're there!

So far it's kept me alive.

[dash]

Blue1,

Totally agree, high visiblity is the key, and I always tried observe the driver by using thier mirror, that way you can see where they are looking (and planning go) along with watching hand movement. Riding taught me to be a better defensive driver by anticipating drivers moves, always assuming the worse, because eventually you will get one bonehead move.