Learnt a lesson today!

[Tink]

Nice bit of straight road, just a wee hill and plenty of space, a quad bike pops out! No worries clear road ahead, so I give him some space and whip past him, oops I didn't indicate (bad me, on a country road)... he was going slow enough I thought I would be round him in 2 secs, I was ... BUT so was a smarmy blonde young chick who decided to take me and the quad at 140km, a nearly peed my pants when I saw her nose pass me, both of us in the same lane, on the wrong side of the road... SHE COULD SEE ME, and I didn't look.... she could have held back and not pass, but no she decides to keep going.

My lovely riding partner on the 1000, followed her all the way to the main road, she was going quick, and I think he gave her a bit of a fright, cause she couldn't flick him off... PROBLEM I was in the wrong yes, but she was in the wrong, and didn't even flick up an apology either.

ALWAYS INDICATE, LOOK... ALL THE TIME!!!!!

[neels]

Yep, certainly gives you a heart flutter when you whip out to pass and then someone passes outside you that you didn't know was there. Almost as much as when you're the one pulling out to overtake and the bike you're passing does at the same time. Indicate and check your mirror before you go is a good plan.

[slofox]

I find it very easy on the bike to miss vehicles coming up from behind. To the extent that I consciously make myself check the mirrors every wee while...

[Techno]

I had to get new mirrors so I could see who was racing up behind me, all I could see in the original mirrors were my elbows!

It's not hard though to have this happen. I had a pair of bikes come up behind me on the coast road, I had been watching them filter their way up as I plodded my way along in traffic doing 80 and all of a sudden I heard a different engine sound (it was a Harley so a lot louder than my bike). I looked in the right mirror, nothing, looked in the left thought "oh there it is, I'll move a little to the right to give him room" as I was in the middle of the lane. Next thing I know theres a front wheel there! The second Harley had decided to overtake me but I hadn't seen him as I was busy trying to find his buddy

[Tink]

I had to get new mirrors so I could see who was racing up behind me, all I could see in the original mirrors were my elbows!

It's not hard though to have this happen. I had a pair of bikes come up behind me on the coast road, I had been watching them filter their way up as I plodded my way along in traffic doing 80 and all of a sudden I heard a different engine sound (it was a Harley so a lot louder than my bike). I looked in the right mirror, nothing, looked in the left thought "oh there it is, I'll move a little to the right to give him room" as I was in the middle of the lane. Next thing I know theres a front wheel there! The second Harley had decided to overtake me but I hadn't seen him as I was busy trying to find his buddy

Did a Poker run with Auckland Harley Club, and I was only the pillion back then with Scouse, and I remember looking down to my right then left and seeing wheels. I like a good bike length at low speed, and 2 sec rule still applies at speed.

I am good with my mirrors, but that is going to improve from now on!

[steve_t]

Yep, certainly gives you a heart flutter when you whip out to pass and then someone passes outside you that you didn't know was there. Almost as much as when you're the one pulling out to overtake and the bike you're passing does at the same time. Indicate and check your mirror before you go is a good plan.

[Maha]

So its not only car drivers that have the SMDSY Syndrome?
Wheres that Shrub

[PrincessBandit]

... BUT so was a smarmy blonde young chick who decided to take me and the quad at 140km,..................

ALWAYS INDICATE, LOOK... ALL THE TIME!!!!!

Good thing you had someone with you in case it had all gone pear shaped.

Checking those mirrors religiously is so important. Even other riders can be thoughtless coming up very quickly behind a bike, assuming (very naughtily) that they can tell what the person in front is going to do i.e. stay in their lane, pull out etc. The all important bubble must be maintained - eyes in front, to the sides and protecting your ass!!!

Oh, and it goes without saying, I am very pleased to hear you were ok!

[FJRider]

If the "smarmy blonde" was travelling at 140 km'/hr ... if you indicated or not ... she would still have no choice but try to pass you ...

The following vehicle is legally at fault if it "collides" with the rear of another vehicle in front of it ...

But ... watch your mirrors ... for the sake of your own safety ...

[Tink]

Good thing you had someone with you in case it had all gone pear shaped.

Checking those mirrors religiously is so important. Even other riders can be thoughtless coming up very quickly behind a bike, assuming (very naughtily) that they can tell what the person in front is going to do i.e. stay in their lane, pull out etc. The all important bubble must be maintained - eyes in front, to the sides and protecting your ass!!!

Oh, and it goes without saying, I am very pleased to hear you were ok!

Thanks PB... I was told she had passed my friend in behind before I pull out to pass said quad, so she knew I had to pass quad as he was going to slow not to... if I ever see her again I will def say something. It all came down to inexperienced driver driving far to fast in my eyes, but I honestly think a black thou with a big fella and tinted visor scared her right up her sorry butt all the way to Pukekohe.

If the "smarmy blonde" was travelling at 140 km'/hr ... if you indicated or not ... she would still have no choice but try to pass you ...

The following vehicle is legally at fault if it "collides" with the rear of another vehicle in front of it ...

But ... watch your mirrors ... for the sake of your own safety ...

Yes your right about speed there, no way she could of stopped, but damn it... stupid senseless speed witch she was... I love my mirrors, first thing I look at when I buy a new bike, that I can see out without chicken arms.

[Edbear]

Thanks PB... I was told she had passed my friend in behind before I pull out to pass said quad, so she knew I had to pass quad as he was going to slow not to... if I ever see her again I will def say something. It all came down to inexperienced driver driving far to fast in my eyes, but I honestly think a black thou with a big fella and tinted visor scared her right up her sorry butt all the way to Pukekohe.

Yes your right about speed there, no way she could of stopped, but damn it... stupid senseless speed witch she was... I love my mirrors, first thing I look at when I buy a new bike, that I can see out without chicken arms.

"That which doesn't kill us..." Glad you're okay! Nobody can be perfect all the time, it's just the way it is, so from time to time, no matter how careful we usually are, we're going to make mistakes. Yours was in not checking your mirrors and indicating at least 3 sec. before pulling out. The car driver was driving carelessly and should not have been going so fast.

It's a dangerous place out there and we are more vulnerable with less stability and protection so need to be especially aware of exercising caution. The good thing is you survived to ride another day! Enjoy!

[Tink]

Yours was in not checking your mirrors and indicating at least 3 sec. before pulling out. The good thing is you survived to ride another day! Enjoy!

Irrespective, she would have been coming well before 3sec (if I had indicated)... and that other day is tomorrow for my full licence, would be real bummed if I had had an accident... whew

[Edbear]

Irrespective, she would have been coming well before 3sec (if I had indicated)... and that other day is tomorrow for my full licence, would be real bummed if I had had an accident... whew

All the best for tomorrow! Yeah, an accident would have really spoilt your day! Do let us know as soon as you've passed!

[Tink]

All the best for tomorrow! Yeah, an accident would have really spoilt your day! Do let us know as soon as you've passed!

OH yes I will, I am nervous, but in saying that, I ride really comfy around town, and stay within the speed limit reasonably well, I feel comfy on my bike, and I have had a lot of positive feedback, I just have one fear, the length of the bike for U turns... and I hate having someone behind me watching every move you make.

[Edbear]

OH yes I will, I am nervous, but in saying that, I ride really comfy around town, and stay within the speed limit reasonably well, I feel comfy on my bike, and I have had a lot of positive feedback, I just have one fear, the length of the bike for U turns... and I hate having someone behind me watching every move you make.

Yeah, I'm really glad I don't have to resit any licences! I always compliment and congratulate people for going through and getting their full rather than just sitting on their learner's for years!