OK - I think I crapped my pants

[devnull]

stuff the camera... pass the shotgun

[Tank]

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 .

More likely - Driver realises he's been snapped and decides to run you over and remove the camera from whats left of your bike - thus avoiding any demerit points.

[Deviant]

I initially thought of that, but in 99% of cases tailgaters are doing it in public areas such as on motorways in rush hour, or busy streets. I don't think many people would risk going to jail for murder just to avoid a driving ticket.

[marioc]

So drop the l-plate for a mob patch then?

[inlinefour]

So now that I have many, many, many miles of exprience riding a bike (about 70) I decided to tackle the "harder" route to work for the first time today.

So I'm trying to do everything possible to do everything right. Im even keeping with the flow of traffic even tho' its 80 because I think thats safer than staying at 70 and getting run over.

The roads two lanes wide and I'm in the left.

Then along comes a guy (I'll change his name to protct the innocent - lets call him "Shit4brains"). So, 'ol Shit4brains decides to tailgate me - there is plenty of room on the other lane - but nooooo Shit4brains wants to sit right behind me.

Now this is bad enough - but Mr Shit4brains drives a Dodge Ram - yes one of those absoultley fucken HUGE trucks thats like owning your own heavy haulage company. He stays about 2 meters behind me.

I wanted to pull over or off the road, but was scared to slow - there is no way I had any room to do so.

In the end I had to stay like that until a roundabout that I had to take a turn off (not mine btw) too fast (for me anyhow) just to get out of his road.

Any advise on how to deal with this (other than carring a bag of large'ish ball bearings to throw thru this windscreen).

C

P.S. just checked trousers now I have stopped shaking - you will be glad to know all is well.

Sounds like you have done exactly the sort of thing that quite possibly the majority of good riders have done at some stage or another. I was lucky that I started riding offroad at a quite young age and those skills allways served me very well. Besides at least your not stuck in a wheelchair like me bro, I occasionally crap my pants and there is sweet fark all I can do about it. I was taught to go back to the road that I have problems with and keep riding through it until I am confident with it again. I was told by a wise man that if I did not do it after the first time I crapped off the bike on the road that if I did not there was a good chance that I would quit riding or more to the point never be a confident rider. That advice served me well and the only time I have not done that is on my last ride that cost me the use of my body. So in short, go hard or go home. Get back on the steed and concure that bit of road that caused the problem. You will be a far better rider for doing it.

Oh and if you have trouble with anothervehicle, just "accidently" ding or scratch the side of the vehicle with part of your bike or whatever else works. Allways made me feel better

[Nasty]

Wow .. I still crap myself if someone that big tails on my arse ... so I do as an ole' cop mate taught me and move into his line of sight (he obviously is looking straight pass ya) .. and then slow down! ...

The limit is the limit but is not a target speed ... you need to slow down to allow for yourself to stop and him room to stop as well (according to Defensive driving) .. you did great!!! he is just another arsehole!

[ambler]

In that situation where the other lane is clear, just graaadually slow right down, those eejits will take the other lane soon enough.
I had a similar thing a while ago with a fancy BMW up behind me flashing his lights etc on a 3-lane highway where we were almost alone. I slowed down a little and soon he ripped past me (with the obligatory dangerous close cut-in right in front of me) and sped off. As luck would have it a few kms down the road there had been a huge crash and all three lanes were blocked up... but not for me So showed him my middle finger as I rode casually past - and the funny thing was he flashed his lights at me again then. This was great because if he had not done that, I would never be sure if he even noticed my fingering hehehe. But with the light flash it was confirmed, as well as demonstrating just how pissed he must have been to even bother flashing at all.

[crashe]

Try these three things in this order until they back off.

1. Tap the brakes - To make the lights light up. (but you don't actually brake hard)
2. Drop hand and signal/wave - To tell them to back off.
3. Shake your bike - That way they think 'Shit' they (the rider) are gonna fall off and I don't want to run the person over. They don't care about the bike but its the thought of running a body over that gets them)
PS: This is not counter steering but by making the bike shake, the driver behind gets real nervous and backs right away.

4. If none of the above things works, then indicate and pull over and let the pratt pass you.


Own the road - Cos you have every right to be on the road the same as any other vehicle.

[babyblade250rr]

yep i reckon L plate or no L plate big bike or 250cc when an idiot wants to tailgate he/she mostly HE! will but we do have one advantage over these silly cage drivers.....Acceleration!! has got me out of trouble numerous times and no car that i've come across can compete with that

Glad to hear you came off ok though

[oldrider]

Death avoidance is part of biking and it's always gone well if you are writing or talking about it.

There is no set procedure, every situation is different and you take action according to the way you see it at the time! (situation ethics)

I have been doing it for 52 years, I am not a very good rider, my only claim to fame is, I am still here, still doing it! Keep it upright, cheers John.

[Vagabond]

If you were in your car would his actions have worried you?

If not just forget about him and ride your ride!

Obviously keep an eye on him.

[Paul in NZ]

If you want to live a long and happy life just find a place to get out of his way and let karma take care of it. There is a better than even chance that the driver of a truck like that has some kind of personality 'issue' so warning them off, threatening them or getting into some kinda game is just plain NOT going to work. Pull over into a driveway, a service station or change lanes but just let them get infront of you where you can keep an eye on em.

I don't care what you ride - you are not winning an argument with a vehicle like that. Let it flow on past..... Lifes too damn short to get wound up over mouth breathing weasel molesters...

[Freakshow]

Here is the dumb question for the day but is it illegal to have an L plate on your bike when you are not a learner???? What would happen if I rode on a full licence with the L plate on? Techically I learn something everytime I hope on. Would be really useful in group rides??

[carver]

So now that I have many, many, many miles of exprience riding a bike (about 70) I decided to tackle the "harder" route to work for the first time today.

So I'm trying to do everything possible to do everything right. Im even keeping with the flow of traffic even tho' its 80 because I think thats safer than staying at 70 and getting run over.

The roads two lanes wide and I'm in the left.

Then along comes a guy (I'll change his name to protct the innocent - lets call him "Shit4brains"). So, 'ol Shit4brains decides to tailgate me - there is plenty of room on the other lane - but nooooo Shit4brains wants to sit right behind me.

Now this is bad enough - but Mr Shit4brains drives a Dodge Ram - yes one of those absoultley fucken HUGE trucks thats like owning your own heavy haulage company. He stays about 2 meters behind me.

I wanted to pull over or off the road, but was scared to slow - there is no way I had any room to do so.

In the end I had to stay like that until a roundabout that I had to take a turn off (not mine btw) too fast (for me anyhow) just to get out of his road.

Any advise on how to deal with this (other than carring a bag of large'ish ball bearings to throw thru this windscreen).

C

P.S. just checked trousers now I have stopped shaking - you will be glad to know all is well.

my advice to you is PM "SIDEWINDER"
he started learning early this year...and he aint slow.

[little green FXR]

yeah, i'm another learner here. Seems that even without the L plate displayed this stuff happens. Heading through 80 km zone, sticking to 85, I will still frequently have people tailgating me, but more often than not it's boy racer type cars. Pretty scary when you are on a smaller bike that can't keep up with a two litre turbo car. Only thing that I've really found works so far is pulling over and stopping. These people either don't realise what it's like having a car up your arse when you are sitting exposed on a little bike, or just don't care. Guess wherever you go, there will always be wankers