Summer's here.

[OriginalBigAl]

If I may on behalf of bikers everywhere to remind fellow forum members to keep an extra pair of eyes open , and have the expectation of having a bike sat on your rear right hand corner. In line with many modern cars the rear visibility in our vehicles is not the best, being like a van driver and using the wing mirrors more would help as well ,if you are not using them, removing the rear headrests. ( will also improve the light conditions in the rear.)
It might be possible to hear a Ducati or a Harley but less so a Honda Deauville, and given the amount of posts regarding software and "safety" devices added to our cars please do not rely on those to alert you .
There will be many new bikers without the experiences of years of riding so try to realise not everyone is Valentino Rossi and they will make mistakes so giving a little extra room could avert a possible incident. Apologies for sounding like a nanny state advert but every once in awhile I like to get on my high horse. (watch out for them as well.)
On the subject of summer whats your opinions on caravans?
If someone in administration could copy this to other forum categories please.

 

[siteguru]

I think what they'll do is move this to General Chat, as that's where such a topic will make most sense. ?‍

As a biker (though without a bike for 15 years - but once a biker, always a biker) I agree with the sentiment though.

 

[m4rmite]

Electric bikes are something that might pose a risk as they won't produce the noise associated with ice bikes.
How many times have people heard a motorbike before it's gets near them from behind?
As most (not all) come past on either side of a car in traffic (moving or not), then MORE care will need to be taken from both sides.

 

[Rolfe]

I haven't had a bike for 30 years, but as Siteguru says, once a biker always a biker.

Another thing that's much appreciated in traffic is moving to one side or the other of your lane to let a bike past, especially a small one. Where it's safe, obviously. It's no skin off a motorist's nose to let a bike clear a jam, even if cars are being held up.

 

[Rip Van]

I haven't had a bike for forty five years so I'm not a biker.?
Six push bikes though but I can only ride one at a time.?

 

[GaryMG4]

Almost 50 years since I rode a bike, a BSA C15, but I still will do a positive move left if its safe to do so to let a motorbike past.

 

[Rolfe]

Good man. I also edge right if I'm in a queue at the lights and a small bike wants to come up on the inside. (I've been that person.)

 

[awbugritt]

Well I'm still biking having got electric and ICE machines, and I thank you for a very useful post. By the same token bikers should make allowances for not being seen, and also not go howling past cars as if the road is a racetrack. A modicum of give and take on both sides will be safer and more pleasant for all concerned. I ALWAYS acknowledge a driver if he moves over to let me pass, it's the least I can do.

 

[Rolfe]

And not go howling past bicycles either.

I was cycling with friends on the A85 between Tyndrum and Dalmally when several motorbikes passed us doing about Mach 4. It was terrifying. They were almost at escape velocity and the noise was deafening. They were cutting all the corners going into the oncoming lane, and how there wasn't a serious head-on I will never know.

(We were cycling well spaced in single file and doing about 15 mph on a downhill stretch, so we weren't causing any trouble.)

If you could see my heart, it still has teeth-marks on it.

 

[awbugritt]

That's totally irresponsible and unacceptable,and one of the reasons why motorcyclists get a bad name. There are old bikers and fast bikers but very few old fast bikers! The noise is bad enough in a car, on a cycle, well I take your point! These idiots won't get to their destination much quicker for all their thrashing about, particularly if they die on the way. I've recently downsized to a 350 Royal Enfield Classic, and I've never enjoyed biking more tbh.

 

[Rolfe]

I only ever had 125cc bikes, first a disaster of a 2-stroke Yamaha and then an excellent Honda 4-stroke. However, one of my students once dared me to ride his 1000cc BMW on the A1000 north of Potters Bar. I did. That was interesting. If I'd dropped it, I'd never have been able to pick it up!

 

[awbugritt]

TBH, I doubt if I could pick up the RE! It's weird, but every time I've dropped a bike somebody has always appeared within minutes to help me out (at least 4times!)

 

[siteguru]

Picking up a bike is easy - as long as you do it the right way.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

And not go howling past bicycles either.

I was cycling with friends on the A85 between Tyndrum and Dalmally when several motorbikes passed us doing about Mach 4. It was terrifying. They were almost at escape velocity and the noise was deafening. They were cutting all the corners going into the oncoming lane, and how there wasn't a serious head-on I will never know.

(We were cycling well spaced in single file and doing about 15 mph on a downhill stretch, so we weren't causing any trouble.)

If you could see my heart, it still has teeth-marks on it.

There's a reason they go that fast that close at this time of year (watch video)

 

[awbugritt]

I saw that, and I have to admit it did make me smile.

 

[PristDean]

The car driver can get annoyed by being held up by a bike, but as long as they control themselves that's fine, because they have seen them, it's when the bike is not seen by an ignorant motorist that problems arise.

I recall exiting a roundabout on a Yamaha DT 50 bike and some motorist exiting too but in the outside lane just decided to switch lanes into my space. Luckily I saw it and a swift kick let them know I was there.

Observation and respect are the two key points, from all road users.

 

[awbugritt]

Picking up a bike is easy - as long as you do it the right way.

Yep, seen all the videos and still don't know what I'm doing wrong! Put it down to Old Age and stupidity ?

The car driver can get annoyed by being held up by a bike, but as long as they control themselves that's fine, because they have seen them, it's when the bike is not seen by an ignorant motorist that problems arise.

I recall exiting a roundabout on a Yamaha DT 50 bike and some motorist exiting too but in the outside lane just decided to switch lanes into my space. Luckily I saw it and a swift kick let them know I was there.

Observation and respect are the two key points, from all road users.

How true, and the occasional signal wouldn't go amiss. There's been a noticeable increase in arrogance, ignorance and intolerance over the last 25 years sadly.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Absolutely agree with the above comments, there has to be respect and understanding from all road users. As to the Mg4 and other modern cars my point was that rear visibility is now more compromised by the stylish designs, and now we are more cossetted by the quietness and comfort and apparent safety of our own vehicles we can feel as though we are in a bubble slightly detached from the outside world, (especially if we have Radio Drivel on ) with all the consequences that could bring.
Still no thoughts on the caravan issue, after all this is a summer related post.

 

[siteguru]

How true, and the occasional signal wouldn't go amiss. There's been a noticeable increase in arrogance, ignorance and intolerance over the last 25 years sadly.

Which coincidentally matches the increase in "driver aids" over the same time span.

 

[awbugritt]

It depends on how you view other road users. Ideally, as caravanners pay to use the roads they are just as entitled as any other vehicle owner. The fact that they can cause tailbacks is no different than those as a result of an HGV ahead of a queue, and to be fair some towers I've followed have been doing 60 mph! On the other hand getting stuck behind one on some of the winding Welsh roads does try one's patience. It all boils down to tolerance and one's impatience threshold I guess.

Which coincidentally matches the increase in "driver aids" over the same time span.

Indeed, and tbh I question whether these 'aids' add any real safety in the road. For pure concentration riding a motorcycle takes some beating. One person summed it up nicely: they are aids, not a substitute for taking driving responsibility.