Is big better?

[gatch]

To the OP..

If you go by the mitre 10 mega ad's.

Big is good.

[crazyhorse]

I took the 250 Katana for a run around yesterday, just to prevent moss build up, and I was wondering if other road users see smaller bikes less well than bigger ones (yes, I know it seems obvious, ...but...) Some numbnuts towing a trailer decided to coast out in front of me on Te Ngae road, well, stop just means slow a bit don't it. I bloody sure he wouldn't have done it in front of the Strom. Big bike, two lamps, but who knows. Makes me feel a tiny bit safer.

No - any bike is see-able. In fact, probably easier to see a smaller bike, as they don't do the speeds a big one does. Sometimes I wonder what the cages think... one minute, nothing behind them, next minute.......... whoosh, there we go!

They probably have their tunnel vision goggles on when you are around

[YellowDog]

This thread seems to vindicate my style of riding.

If you always ride 10-15kph faster than the traffic, you can read, plan for, and manage the hazzards as you approach them. Nice a smooth carefully choosing your lines.

Sit in a line of traffic and you are an accident waiting to happen.

[CookMySock]

This thread seems to vindicate my style of riding.

If you always ride 10-15kph faster than the traffic, you can read, plan for, and manage the hazzards as you approach them. Nice a smooth carefully choosing your lines.

Sit in a line of traffic and you are an accident waiting to happen.

Yes indeedy. Smooth controlled progress through the traffic keeps 99.99% of the hazards in front of you, and you in command of them.

There is one thing though.. it is very reassuring.. so much so, that it's easy to stop looking behind you.. which of course you do at your peril... eventually..

Steve

[davebullet]

I don't think many cagers distinguish a small bike from a big bike. Sure, some bikes look a bit more menacing (eg. Buells) and therefore might get some more respect.

For me, it's a mind thing that I am on a bike that can accelerate and brake a bit better than the 250 I rode. That makes me feel safer. I agree with Crazyhorse in that a larger bike probably puts you at more risk as your speed differential can be greater.

[CookMySock]

I agree with Crazyhorse in that a larger bike probably puts you at more risk as your speed differential can be greater.

Hopefully the rider is in control of that particular parameter.

It isn't the size of the bike, it is the perception of the size of the bike, and the perception of the intent of the rider. It's not hard to use the techniques mentioned to make yourself look much more of, a, um, "risk" to pull out in front of.

Steve

[YellowDog]

Yes indeedy. Smooth controlled progress through the traffic keeps 99.99% of the hazards in front of you, and you in command of them.

There is one thing though.. it is very reassuring.. so much so, that it's easy to stop looking behind you.. which of course you do at your peril... eventually..

Steve

Steve buddy I wouldn't put it as high as 99.9%, but it is pretty high.

I recently bought some mirror stalk extenders as I wasn't happy with the rear view (design fault with the bike). Also, the certain age thing when it gets harder to twist your neck all the way around is an issue. The 100mm ones were too long and made the bike look silly so I changed them for the 60mm ones. My blind spot has now reduced to 2-3m and I now have an excellent 180 degree view behind me. Checking that blind spot isn't such an issue now.

Happy and Safe New Year to you all.

[pritch]

I have a lot more trouble on the moped than on the bike. Drivers will look directly at me then pull into the piece of road that I'm using forcing me to brake. Others will pass by virtually forcing me off the road to avoid getting hit (these latter are invariably male drivers). This isn't rare, it happens several times every week. Possibly more frequently around the full moon?

One solution when riding a small bike would be to carry a big gun, but that's not allowed. Pity!

You just don't encounter the same outright aggression when on a bigger bike.

Having said that, the then Prez of the local 1%ers was T Boned on his Harley by a geriatric female who "didn't see him coming".

[fliplid]

There's a difference between looking and seeing. Loads of people "look", or more probably glance at the traffic, but if it doesn't actually register then it makes absolutely no difference and they will not "see" what's there.

[CookMySock]

Drivers will look directly at me then pull into the piece of road that I'm using forcing me to brake. Others will pass by virtually forcing me off the road to avoid getting hit (these latter are invariably male drivers). This isn't rare, it happens several times every week.

eyeball them and swerve right at the fuckers. Take charge! Get a deathwish! Watch them rethink it then.

You just don't encounter the same outright aggression when on a bigger bike.

You ARE right here. My young fella recently upgraded from a GT250R with a noisy exhaust, to a GT650R with a VERY noisy exhaust, and he noticed it instantly, "wow the traffic just GTFOTW - Insane! Are they scared of me? Love it!"

Having said that, the then Prez of the local 1%ers was T Boned on his Harley by a geriatric female who "didn't see him coming".

Old farts do that. Beware the old fart with no eye contact!

Steve

[Footless]

In the case of bikes, I have found bigger more threatening bikes seem to be "attacked" less. But I am always looking at the driver not the cage.
In saying this I also drive a full size truck and you want to see what the suicidal fuckers do in front of 39tonne!
Cant wait till I'm not concentrating fully and end driving over their bonnet

[GOONR]

In the case of bikes, I have found bigger more threatening bikes seem to be "attacked" less. But I am always looking at the driver not the cage.
In saying this I also drive a full size truck and you want to see what the suicidal fuckers do in front of 39tonne!
Cant wait till I'm not concentrating fully and end driving over their bonnet

My old man used to drive a 30 something tonne in the UK, some idiot trying to pull out of a side street put the front of his car under the trailer , dad drove off and the trailer went straight over the top of the guys bonnet. Bit of a mess by all account's.

[6ft5]

IMO - Huge bikes get noticed because they are huge.

The same goes for loud bikes.

But I believe that it is our own individual riding styles that have the largest influence.

The Fuckwitt with the trailer may well have given the same disrespect to a Police motorcycle. The law of averages says that you won't meet him everyday.

Agree with that, my Roadking has 3 headlights (always all on) and makes a lot of noise. And I demand to be seen, ie I use the whole road where i can.

But there are always people that have fallen off a horse and think driving a car is the same, the percentage of these is low in my mind and as long as you anticipate you should be right most of the time

Keep the shiny side up !!