L plate tailgater..?

[terbang]

Have been following a few threads about the worth of L plates for newbies and really havn't had much of an opinion on them really.
However today, my mate "Blairos", turned up on his brand spanking new VTR250 having ridden from Manurewa to Tetoro. After all the oooh and Aaah about his new bike and riding gear we decided to take advantage of a nice day and go for a ride up the Awhitu peninsula. I kicked the tyres on me Busa, described the road to him and tagged along. Blair rode the bike sensibly well within its limits and resplendant in his new gear he looked (and was) the part with his nice big L plate hanging off the back being the only indication that he was a new rider. After a brief stop in Awhitu we decided to head back with Blair leaving before me. On catching up with him I find him sitting around the 80 kay mark and being tailgated by some moron in a VW. He was obviously not phased by this unnessesary and intimidating distraction and rode his ride though I reckoned that on his second time out on th road he just didn't really need it..
A small gap in the traffic allowed me to zip past Hitlers revenge and shoe horn myself in between them and slowing a bit I opened up the gap giving old Blairos some space to breathe.
Expecting an impatient tailgater on my ass as a result I was surprised as to the sensible distance the VW driver continued to follow me.
A number of reasons for this change of heart could be.

(1) The guy woke up by my (moderatly agressive) manouvre and put his brain into gear and followed at a safe distance.

(2) The human tendancy to intimidate anything that you see as inferior resulted in a tactic change from Tailgating a Newbie to following someone on a large sprot bike that was being ridden more agressively (and Im uglier than Blairos) or in other words Its easier to pick on the small guy who is on his own.

(3) A pure coincidence..

Either way it was an interesting snippet into the life of a Learner rider and certainly got me thinking about the L plate issue and full marks to Blair for keeping his cool.

[Nicksta]

funny you should say that.... not the first one to comment on L plates getting tailgated... i have resorted to not wearing mine.... and it is fine, no probs... but one of my mates has this kind of issue every second day (displaying his plate).... i'm with your option #2

[Harry33]

To be honest I think having a L-Plate is like waving a red flag to a bull. I was happy as a pig in shit when I could take mine off. But some people will tailgate reguardless.

[MattRSK]

Had an L plate for about 5 minutes and felt like i was been targeted. Took it off and riding has been more enjoyable since. Only problem is that if a Police officer wanted to i could get ticketed for it. But for me to feel safe I choose not to use the L plate. Up to the rider i guess.

[Wasp]

Ive never really had a problem that i could say was because of the L-plate, sure 100 year old box style corrolas pulling out in front of me while all the other traffic stops (mabye the brakes failed?) but no "direct" l-plate issues.

I say just do a bit of slalom? weaving in your lane, with the lack of bike knowledge most people think your going to fall off, and i find its kinda fun feeling the g-forces as you go from side to side. (dont do this on oil or gravel ofcourse.....)

Either way, my L-plate actuallly (yes really!) fell off a few weeks ago and i can't say that i have noticed a difference.

[Toast]

Experienced it a million time when I had mine on. Small-minded mutts. Was fun flying past cars on the Coro Peninsula on my 2-fiddy with it hanging off the back...haha...used to live there, kinda helped.

[miSTa]

That's no coincidence, my observations are that the bigger the bike the more room people will give (i.e. the biggere bikes have a intimidation factor) - though there are still some tossers around.

[Ixion]

I virtually never get tailgated on the BMW. In fact, cars generally seem to stay several hundred yards back, and are very reluctant to overtake.. I wonder why ?

[kawaman]

Yep, when i was new to riding and couldnt keep up with traffic the L-plate was OK. Soon after when i was goin as fast as the cars it just became a pain in the butt. Even at the speed limit it was all about being tailgated and being passed by everything....only to end up following them as they were not going any faster. So off with the L-plate and then it was sweet.

[ZeroIndex]

I'm gonna be riding with an L-plate this Saturday from Tauranga to Hamilton sometime around 12 (fetching my FIRST bike )... I'm 6'4 and I'm hoping that will be enough to intimidate cars from tailgating me... or i can try put a hole through a passing vehicle with the gloves I'm picking up later today (I know that would be a terribly bad idea, but just imagine it... L-plate waves a car by, car passes close to bike, bikers fist enters through car window...)

Anyway, I shall post on how the ride goes, etc...

[avrflr]

L-plates are the devil. Morons like the VW driver will assume they should be going faster than you no matter what the speed. In my experience cops don't usually give a crap about the presence or absence of an L-plate anyway.
It's definitely true that the type of vehicle you are in has a subconscious effect on drivers around you. On my bike people don't pass me, even if I'm doing less than the speed limit. When I'm driving a truck people constantly overtake me then slow down and hold me up.
It illustrates that many people drive without thinking, instead relying on caveman instincts. Because they are fuckwits.

[ZeroIndex]

....ok, this has nothing to do with real life, but i just have a very active imagination...

Cage tailgating a GSXR1000 (lets say Pauly from Las Vegas Extremes, since he's so damn good at stunts), pulls a quick stoppie, gets the back wheel off the ground, and smashes down onto the cages bonnet, then rides off... or something... as i say, i'm not sure if it's completely possible (since car bonnets are quite high), but it would make for a good minute on a bike stunt video

[Ixion]

... On my bike people don't pass me, even if I'm doing less than the speed limit. When I'm driving a truck people constantly overtake me then slow down and hold me up.
It illustrates that many people drive without thinking, instead relying on caveman instincts. Because they are fuckwits.

No, this is because people don't like following trucks. Because you can't see round/over/through them as you can a car.

[Fishy]

L plates seem to attract trouble, best place for them is in your boot (if your bike has one) or in your jacket pocket. If you get pulled over just say it fell off and you will re fit it when you get home.

Tail gaiters SUCK!!! The last guy to tail gate me was so damn close I couldn't see his lights in my mirrors. Stopped the bike at the St Johns Rd roundabout with him right behind me, dissmounted and casually walked over to his window (which the young boyracer was winding up very quickly and locking his door), politely told him to FUCK OFF!! and kicked his mirror off. Got back on my bike and rode off.

The end.

[avrflr]

No, this is because people don't like following trucks. Because you can't see round/over/through them as you can a car.

You're right, much safer to have a 40 ton truck tailgating you for an hour. If I catch up with someone doing 80, I think they would be better off letting me past on a passing lane so I can fuck off into the distance and not bother them. Instead they speed up to make sure I don't get past and then slow down again. Brain off, not thinking about safety or consideration of others, just like the VW driver.