Triumphrat

Mp350 · 11-27-2005, 10:22 AM

Pulled up to a street light on a two lane road, 2 bikes pull up behind me 1 pulls up along side me. Light turns green bike next to me takes off fast, I fall in behind hit the speed limit and the other 2 bike pass me and get into the stagger formation, then proceed to drive below the speed limit. For the next 20 miles can't pass too much traffic to safely pass 3 bikes. This is my first street bike and I only have 1500 miles under my belt but this has to be bad etiquette or is just me. Now I could have weaved through them to get by put I don't know if that would be the proper thing to do, so I just followed behind them with about 8 cars riding my butt because this group decided to drive 5 miles under the posted speed limit (speed limit 60). Just wanted to rant a little, feel better now.

vol245 · 11-27-2005, 10:25 AM

They were a bunch of a-holes. What brand bikes were they riding?

banjobart · 11-27-2005, 10:28 AM

This is an opportunity for you to enjoy the scenery. I try to relax and mellow out when I am stuck behind slow pokes.

If the situation gets to you too much just pull out and pass them all. This is the advantage gained in riding a bike, cutting around traffic. It is a bit rude but if you want to travel at 5-10 MPH above the speed limit as is normal in most areas, you have no choice.

ChuckofTahoe · 11-27-2005, 10:33 AM

My recommendation: Next time just pull over and grab a coke somewhere or just take in the scenery. Let the traffic and the a**holes go by.

Also, having cagers on your butt is never good either and they probably thought you were part of the group of losers so were inclined to tailgate even more to put the pressure on you. Pulling over for five minutes gets the cagers off your butt and loses the aholes.

Don't let other drivers or riders ever get under your skin.

50yrDream · 11-27-2005, 11:00 AM

Good advice Chuck! I probably woudn't have passed them even tho I wanted to ride a bit faster than them because then at least one of them would have wanted to race & i'm not about that! Many many years ago when my 69 Z28 Camaro was new a couple of jerks boxed me in with their cars, I just poked along with them a few miles til I knew the twisties were coming up just over the hill when I topped the hill I was already in 2nd gear & shazam I was in the twisties & gone! Funny part was when I got to town & cruised around a bit the cops stopped them for speeding in town!

ChuckofTahoe · 11-27-2005, 11:22 AM

Yeah usually speeding up to get away from a tail gater results in a faster cage on your butt. Finding a safe place to pull off is not always convenient. If you can't, I guess just go at the speed you are comfortable with on that road till you can get out of the way.

Twenty five years ago when I used to ride as a kid, I could get away easily from most of the cages using the go faster approach and the nimble handling of a bike vs. late seventies era auto technology.

But now with 300 hp cars becoming routine, BMW M3s, Subaru WRX, Lancers, insanely power pickups and SUVS and in general very high performance stock autos combined with aggressive young (or old) drivers, speeding up usually results in a cager "rising to the challenge". Basically the last thing you want.

Quote:

On 2005-11-27 09:00, 50yrDream wrote:
Good advice Chuck! I probably woudn't have passed them even tho I wanted to ride a bit faster than them because then at least one of them would have wanted to race & i'm not about that! Many many years ago when my 69 Z28 Camaro was new a couple of jerks boxed me in with their cars, I just poked along with them a few miles til I knew the twisties were coming up just over the hill when I topped the hill I was already in 2nd gear & shazam I was in the twisties & gone! Funny part was when I got to town & cruised around a bit the cops stopped them for speeding in town!

DesertRunner · 11-27-2005, 11:28 AM

Very good advice gents!
Sometimes the need for retaliation supercedes common sense. Riding motorcycles IMHO requires 100% of your attention at all times. Don't ever let idiots get under your skin. I like the pull over and have a coke idea and have done so myself.

windrider · 11-27-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

On 2005-11-27 08:22, Mp350 wrote:
Pulled up to a street light on a two lane road, 2 bikes pull up behind me 1 pulls up along side me. Light turns green bike next to me takes off fast, I fall in behind hit the speed limit and the other 2 bike pass me and get into the stagger formation, then proceed to drive below the speed limit. For the next 20 miles can't pass too much traffic to safely pass 3 bikes. This is my first street bike and I only have 1500 miles under my belt but this has to be bad etiquette or is just me. Now I could have weaved through them to get by put I don't know if that would be the proper thing to do, so I just followed behind them with about 8 cars riding my butt because this group decided to drive 5 miles under the posted speed limit (speed limit 60). Just wanted to rant a little, feel better now.

You would most probably found that if you pulled up behind them at a bit of a speed and made it clear that you were coming passed they would have let you through, that is of course if they were seasoned riders. Most of the time I find other bikes give way to the faster one coming up from the rear. :razz:

The_Deuce · 11-27-2005, 01:46 PM

You can always deal with tailgaters the way I do. :hammer:

I back down to about 25 under the limit, kick down into second a let it rip. They get walked so bad that usually they get the picture. If not, repeat as needed until an opening in traffic.

I figure if I'm going to get rear ended by a cage, it's best for this to happen at as slow a speed as possible.

Binnsy · 11-27-2005, 03:34 PM

Yes, bad etiquette or just dumb fugs. I now take the mellow out option which may include a PEPSI...stop.

A few years back I would have taken the more agressive response and got past them (there is always a way) caution to the wind. But now I am smarter and think about the consequences.

Enjoy the ride, sometimes you just have to zone out, put your brain in neutral and enjoy whatever is available.