People intimidating motorcyclists

**breakaway** · 1st March 2010, 08:00

My Mrs recently got a SV650S, its her first 'big' bike. It's plenty loud, and big.

She earlier had a FZX250 (Zeal) and used to tell me stories about how people used to ignore her - like for example when she's pootling around the city, the pass her on the left, WHILE she's diong 60km/h. etc.

I wrote this off immediately as people being plonkers due to her being on her L Plate. But after getting the SV650S, she says that she still experiences this sort of asshole behaviour (Tailgating, dodgy and dangerous passing on left).

In the past two years I've owned everything from a RG150 to a GSXR1000, and I've never experienced this sort of dickhead behaviour from other road users (Asides from a couple of isolated incidents)

I'm just wondering - why is she being 'targetted' like this? Am I never targetted because I'm a big boned

dude wearing black leathers + helmet? I've told her to position her vehicle directly in front of others so they can't do dodgy shit.

**Spearfish** · 1st March 2010, 08:10

go for a ride together but hold well back and watch what happens then have a chat afterwards.
I did that with a mate of mine but the problem was that he had more confidence and rode with more assertion in traffic with a buddy so his problem of lane sharing etc didn't happen.

**howdamnhard** · 1st March 2010, 08:16

Check where she is riding in the lane. Sounds like she needs to ride a little more in the centre to "own" the lane this will prevent cars trying to pass on either side. I normally ride a little to the right of centre in traffic (RH wheeltrack) but there is no hard and fast rule and you should be prepared to adapt to the conditions.
Also I tend to ride a little quicker than the surrounding cars to prevent them riding up my ass.If somebody is up my tail I let them pass when possible/safe. I ride my bike a little more "aggresively/decisively" than I would my car.

**TerminalAddict** · 1st March 2010, 09:16

I'm just guessing but ... I bet you are way more aggressive on the road than the Mrs.

It's a bit like dog psychology .. act afraid on the road, and people will show aggression; act aggressive, and people with stay out of your way.

(maybe aggressive is the wrong word .. determined, confident, assertive )

**PirateJafa** · 1st March 2010, 09:23

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

I'm just guessing but ... I bet you are way more aggressive on the road than the Mrs.

It's a bit like dog psychology .. act afraid on the road, and people will show aggression; act aggressive, and people with stay out of your way.

(maybe aggressive is the wrong word .. determined, confident, assertive )

I agree wholeheartedly. This is the exact advice that I give to newer riders on this subject - if you appear to be confident, then car drivers will respect you.

Yes, I know that they should respect all other road users regardless, but what "should" happen, doesn't necessarily happen. We know this.

**Ronin** · 1st March 2010, 09:29

+1 to the above. You really do need to own the lane your in and not be tentative. That doesn't mean you don't ride with regard to the drivers around you though.

**Ratti** · 1st March 2010, 09:34

Get her to practice 'owning' her part of the road. terminology is everything, so maybe use the words 'claiming her space'.

I like to ride slightly to the right of the centre of the lane. You know where the right side tyres of cars make a bit of a track on the road? Well just to the inside of the right track line. The idea being that I'm in the drivers line and that makes me a real threat to their car.

Same thing works for pedalbikes too. Stay slightly on the line of the left tyre track and suddenly you are a threat to the 4 wheelers.

**avgas** · 1st March 2010, 09:45

Yep I agree with all that is said so far.
One thing that new riders have not seemed to figure out, that if your in the left hand in the lane - you are submissive on the road. Keep the bike in the right wheel track and things will go 10 times better for you.
Another thing a friend did to give himself some more space while on the bike was as simple as license plate surround. People keep their distance when you have "Back the fuck up" around the plate.
But definitely - ride like your are driving a manoeuvrable car. Own your part of road. Mark the turf so to speak.
Even 'blips' of throttle help.
Most of all NEVER use the horn - it just makes you look like a pathetic dick.

**duckonin** · 1st March 2010, 09:59

Pathetic dick I mite look, but when I use the horn people turn their heads, so at least in the case of an accident there should be plenty of witnesses..

Hmmm!!! Was sure that is what a horn was for to attract attention....

**FJRider** · 1st March 2010, 10:03

I got abused by a woman (a regular occurance ....

) trying to find a car park for her SUV, I had parked my bike dead center of a car park. She wanted ME to find another "space" to park because I was "wasteing" the car park space because I was not using the ENTIRE parking space ... and HER SUV would ...

Some people think if you aren't "using" all your bit of road ... they WILL ... and are entitled to ... to make it easier for THEM.

**Toaster** · 1st March 2010, 10:07

Yep, its a sad selfish world.

**p.dath** · 1st March 2010, 10:07

Originally Posted by howdamnhard

Check where she is riding in the lane. Sounds like she needs to ride a little more in the centre to "own" the lane this will prevent cars trying to pass on either side. I normally ride a little to the right of centre in traffic (RH wheeltrack) but there is no hard and fast rule and you should be prepared to adapt to the conditions.
Also I tend to ride a little quicker than the surrounding cars to prevent them riding up my ass.If somebody is up my tail I let them pass when possible/safe. I ride my bike a little more "aggresively/decisively" than I would my car.

+1. I bet she isn't owning her lane.

**allycatz** · 1st March 2010, 10:33

Originally Posted by duckonin

Pathetic dick I mite look, but when I use the horn people turn their heads, so at least in the case of an accident there should be plenty of witnesses..

Hmmm!!! Was sure that is what a horn was for to attract attention....

Well its bad enough having to ride a scooter AND a honda one but if I use the horn its sounds like a salutation from a 'Road Runner' cartoon.....cars take it seriously? Yeah Rite!

**breakaway** · 1st March 2010, 10:40

Thanks for the help guys; will have a talk with her about this later. Also considering having dual air horns and a 12v compressor fitted to her bike. I had this setup on my 99 SV650S and it sounded like a road train was coming for you!

**Swoop** · 1st March 2010, 10:54

Originally Posted by breakaway

Also considering having dual air horns and a 12v compressor fitted to her bike. I had this setup on my 99 SV650S and it sounded like a road train was coming for you!

Have you done a search for "Stebel" on here?
Quite a few bikes are fitted with them and the resulting comments are quite entertaining!