OK - I think I crapped my pants

[WarlockNZ]

Anyone tried a "Baby on board" plate

Brilliant!!! .. LOL ..

I wonder if I wore a BlackPower jacket (no affiliation) would the same middle aged accountant still tailgate me?

I don't think he would ... funny how cage drivers can always see the gang members riding a bike, but never the guy on a bright yellow sports bike.

[skelstar]

Dump the L-plate. I find just waving them back works...and thumbs up if they do. Sometimes its hard to judge the distance to a bike.

[sunhuntin]

leave the plate on... the fine would be huge, and your insurace company may do a runner should the unthinkable happen. ive kept mine on, and its so black, that it can barely be seen, lol.

do as suggested above... indicate, and pull over slowly. i also tap the brakes, and have nearly been hit due to wankers ignoring the little flashes off red... that means i jab the brake and come to an almost complete stop before zipping out of the way.

i have learned: carrying a large number of cardboard boxes on the back gets rid of tail gaters... specially if the load "looks" insecure. also, just dropping my left hand from the bar to down the side of the bike has made them back off. [as if i can have a handful of ballbearings, and still have room for the bar! LOL]

[gijoe1313]

That sounds very unprofessional for a truck driver to be an arsehole like that At least you kept it together and didn't panic completely!

As WarlockNZ said, a bit more experience, some reflection and practicing of skills will see you right... and at least you have a tale to tell when your L plate falls off and you fondly(!) remember back on this terrifying time of your biking career.

[WarlockNZ]

I noticed your on the shore mate..

Consider coming over west for the AWNMR

It would be well worth your time.

[Tank]

leave the plate on... the fine would be huge,

Good point - anyone know how much the fine is?

[WarlockNZ]

Good point - anyone know how much the fine is?

$400 springs to mind ... i could be wrong tho

[Tank]

$400 springs to mind ... i could be wrong tho

WOW!!!! OK - The L plate stays on. At least it gives my kids something to laugh at.

[Tank]

I noticed your on the shore mate..

Consider coming over west for the AWNMR

It would be well worth your time.

I normally try to keep away from the West - you know the mullets, black singlets, Euawn McGreggor and all that.

But since that seems to be a gathering of nice (normal) folk - count me in. Ill be there next Wednesday. Thanks for the info.

If anyone is heading over from the Shore and sees this PM me - he can head over together.

[Crisis management]

Sorry you had a bad time, but it does happen to everyone so you will have to get used to it. Unfortunately, being a learner, your a bit more nervous than an experienced rider and it is going to take you a few more hours in traffic to get over that feeling.
This is not a HTFU post, more of a reality check; take a few deep breaths, keep thinking and if you feel endangered pull off the road and let them go.

Now get back out there!

[davereid]

It will still happen even when you are on a large bike, happens to me all the time on my scooter - even though I am doing the speed limit or a bit over, it seems people NEED to pass a scooter !.

But I agree the L plate seems to bring out the worst in some drivers. Possibly you could attach the L plate somewhere on the bike where it attached to the rear of the motorcycle, and clearly visable, just not to idiots directly behind you.

For example the left hand side of the number plate, facing forward. The back of the L plate is the only bit the guy behind can see, and you can paint that black.

[gijoe1313]

I remember the first time I had a serious (serial?) tailgater ... I remembered the line from "Hunt for the Red October" and started doing the "Crazy Ivan" - just swerving from side to side, usually gets the response of "what the ...."

And they back off ... usually ... Persistent buggers I just pull over to the side and then follow them...

[MSTRS:Me]

gijoe has the idea. Call it 'practising counter-steering'....

[johan]

if you find yourself tailgated, keep heaps of space to the next vehicle in front of you. This way you don't have to break hard if the vehicle in front of you do so. Of course, this might annoy your tailgater even more.

I usually give them a sarcastic thumb up. Most of them get the point...

[Deviant]

Someone needs to come up with some kind of camera that attaches to the rear of you bike and is operable from the front controls. Hit the button, FLASH! The camera will pick up the number plate, car, driver's face, and distance (a built in laser to detect distance would be good too). Driver realises he's been snapped tailgating a motocyclist which is fucking dangerous and a cunt of a thing to do, and slows way the fuck down before he gets snapped again (therefore proving that he knew what he was doing and didn't attempt to stop it when you indicated that he was too close).

EDIT: The purpose of this would be that you can take it in to the cop shop and they'll send the driver a fine, as well as demerit points or loss of licence for being a cock on the road, playing games with people's lives.