A question about rider etiquette at the lights.

[mctshirt]

next time reach over and flick there kill switch just before the light's change

Pulling a plug lead out causes way more havoc

Out in the paddocks at work we would race between gates. The rule was the winner got to open and shut the gate (effectively handicapping them for the next leg). With practise it was possible to flick the parked bike's fuel switch to Off as we rode past while their back was turned. A few hundred metres down the track they would experience a sudden loss of power which could be the difference between catching up and woefully slow. Again with practise one would recognise the symptoms of lack of fuel and flick it back on before the engine was starved of fuel completely. But oh what fun we had with the new guys telling them to kick it over again cause it sounds like it will go...

[Ms Piggy]

Oh. How could you tell ?

Steve

That would be cos he was leaning forward on his bike and revving the guts out of it. Plus, it's like how as a rider you know a car is going turn even though it's not indicating, you just know.

Anyhoo it was more about finding out what others thoughts were, thanks to those of you who contributed in a helpful, interesting and varied way that only KBers can!

It wasn't a HUGE deal for me just a question I had as a result of commuting into work this year.

[CookMySock]

That would be cos he was leaning forward on his bike and revving the guts out of it. Plus, it's like how as a rider you know a car is going turn even though it's not indicating, you just know.

Oh. I see. Well the leaning forward and revving it is just a boy thing I think. You might try it though, its a blast. Other people will look at you though, and they will think "ooh that speedy biker wants to go first!!" so you will frequently be misinterpreted. So watch out for that..

It wasn't a HUGE deal for me just a question I had as a result of commuting into work this year.

Goody.

Ok green light coming up.. are you ready?

Steve
p.s. yes I'm teasing you just a bit.

[vifferman]

Anyhoo it was more about finding out what others thoughts were, thanks to those of you who contributed in a helpful, interesting and varied way that only KBers can!

Oops!
Sorry for side-tracking your thread.

[Swoop]

Oops!
Sorry for side-tracking your thread.

A thread getting sidetracked on KB? Never!

Has anyone mentioned beer yet?

[MarkH]

That would be cos he was leaning forward on his bike and revving the guts out of it.

Since he had split through to get to the front of the queue beside you then it is possible he wanted to take off quickly to get well away from all the cars that he just pushed in front of. Whenever I split to the front at the lights I always take of and get up to 55kph as quickly as I can so I don't hold up anyone that I pushed past.

Regardless, I don't see his actions as any big deal.

[Ixion]

A thread getting sidetracked on KB? Never!

Has anyone mentioned beer yet?

I don't think anyone has asked the REALLY important question yet (and if they have, it's important enough to bear repetition). Did he wave to the porcine gentlewoman? And did she wave to him? And what SORT of wave?

[Chrislost]

I've been hit in the leg twice by retarded selfish little monkeys. I chased a ZXR400 rider down one morning who clipped me trying to get past. I was stationary, he was moving. The red light obviously didn't mean much. Anyway, when he freaked out and crashed because he looked in his mirror and realised I was right with him, he had no Engrish. Or license. Something else must have been going on because the cops took him away.

Another time a CBR250RR rider pulled up alongside me, hit my knee hard enough to make me consider crying as an option, caroomed off into the SUV next door and then weaved through the traffic crossing in front of him to get away from us. Red light again.

I think it's rude. Dangerous. Ignorant even. Especially when you wonder where they went when the lights go green, and they then pull some astounding, physics defying moves to get back in front of you.

Seems to be a small bike thing though. Don't get guys on R1s or Beemer 1200s pulling that crap.

No. The R1s and other bigger bikes don't thrash away from the lights, but they probably pull away faster then a 250 thats screaming its nuts off anyway! Have you ever ridden one? Gutless wonders!

I have found that some riders park right at the front of the gap between the cars and dont leave room for other bikes to get past, thus leaving the 2nd bike BETWEEN TWO CARS when the lights go green... NOT A PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO BE!
Hitting a bike and a car to get past is a bit low tho, but perhaps next time the bike that got hit will split to the front and then PULL IN FRONT OF THE CARS SO AS TO NOT BLOCK THE OTHER BIKES THAT WERE TRYING TO SPLIT TOO.

I have thought about running over a guys foot after 3 intersections where he was in the way. But only because he was lanesplitting very timidly and obviously didnt know the width of his bike because he would stop and "walk" past almost every van/truck.

[CookMySock]

he was lanesplitting very timidly and obviously didnt know the width of his bike because he would stop and "walk" past almost every van/truck.

offtopic here, but this is an important lesson for newbs I think. Bikes ARE a lot narrower than cars, but many newbs will hit the brakes unduly (and unsafely) hard in an emergency, rather than use a motorcycle-sized gap.

Steve

[Mikkel]

Has anyone mentioned beer yet?

WHERE?

[Ms Piggy]

...he was lanesplitting very timidly and obviously didnt know the width of his bike because he would stop and "walk" past almost every van/truck.

Actually this is another observation I've made since commuting as well.

Sometimes riders splitting in front of me ride slower and hold me up (not that I'm the speedy lanesplitting machine!). Other riders pull over into the traffic lane but still stick out a little so that I'm unable to safely split past them.

This hasn't happened often but when I'm riding along the MW I am always checking my mirrors for other bikes so that I can pull into the lane and give way to bigger bikes. It's not helpful or safe being blocked by another rider.

Just another commuting observation. I only started commuting this year when we shifted to Lower Hutt, so this is all kinda new experiences to me.

[Ms Piggy]

I don't think anyone has asked the REALLY important question yet (and if they have, it's important enough to bear repetition). Did he wave to the porcine gentlewoman? And did she wave to him? And what SORT of wave?

Alas! No wave was given or received!

[PuppetMaster]

Alas! No wave was given or received!

What the ?
Start a new thread about the "No Wave".

[PuppetMaster]

Oh, my 2 cents worth MS Piglet....
If Im at the front and another bike comes up behind me (at the lights) I will take off a little quicker than normal and move into the vacant left lane so the bike behind me can pass if he/she wants. Maybe this chap just wanted to get out of your way.

[hkyglie]

Maybe he thought you wanted to race.....In the state I live in now, Washington, lane splitting is illegal I lived & rode in California for many years, where lane splitting is legal & I would not worry about who takes off first, it is no big deal.....The biggest problem with lane splitting over here, is jealous cagers, I have been spit on, had drinks thrown at me, broom sticks, glof clubs & other long items stuck out the window in attempt to block me. Just be safe, & ride smart.....