Bikers Tailgate?!

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by traveller

Wow! and here i've been thinking that if there is a car or two behind I'm "safe" at a stop light. *sigh*.

Safer... never totally safe. They can and do still creep up on your tail, and some expect you to gas it as soon as the light changes and don't expect us to do the typical "look both ways for the redlight runner".

You probably aren't going to get plowed into at 40... but you can still get tapped.

[CheriAnn]

Boy, life is rough out on the streets for a biker

[Scotty Luv]

Originally Posted by jukief

I've never felt comfortable being very close to the vehicle in front of me (whether I'm riding or driving), and I will always leave a good-sized gap in front of me. And then, almost every time, some idiot pulls into it--like five feet in front of me. Argh!!!!!

I feel your pain. The same thing happens to me all of the time.

When the person you are following is following too closely to the vehicle in front of them, the best thing you can do is allow even more distance between you and them. The same is true if you have someone tailgating you. Slow down and leave a bigger gap in front to reduce the need for a quick stop that could send the tailgater up your back side.

It's frustrating when people do boneheaded things on the road. You gotta protect yourself out there. Drive defensively.

Scott

[Scotty Luv]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

I started a thread about tailgaters awhile back looking for suggestions. It's been on my mind for some time. Some of the suggestions were funny while many of them would only cause a bad situation to become worse. I'm still looking for ideas on how to keep people from tailgating me.

Rear mounted machine guns might work.

[SilverEagle]

How about 40 caliber paintballs for us bikers to use against tailgating cagers. That will let them know that they are a tad too close???

[simon_hed]

I, like everyone else, detest being tailgated whether I am in my cage or on my bike. What I do when someone gets too close is turn all the way around and make eye contact with them. This rarely fails to make the point.

I was headed to the beach a few weeks back and these two chicks were driving daddy's volvo, and a 3 ft. rope would have had slack in it had I been towing them. I turned to make eye contact with them, and the driver waves at me! She was oblivious, as are many people these days. I pulled in at the next gas station to let her go by.

I am a pretty good sized guy, but a 140 lb jerk in a cage outweighs me by at least 3000 lbs when I am on my bike. I have always wanted to toss something over my shoulder or spit or something, but figured that might not be the thing to do.

When someone tailgates me and I am in a cage, I run the windshield washers for several seconds. They WILL get sprayed on their windshield.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by simon_hed

When someone tailgates me and I am in a cage, I run the windshield washers for several seconds. They WILL get sprayed on their windshield.

HEY! What a great idea!!!!!!
I'll have to try that

Cheri

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Scotty Luv

It's frustrating when people do boneheaded things on the road. You gotta protect yourself out there. Drive defensively.

Sometimes I like to drive offensively when in my cage.
On the way back from the river a few months ago, there was a guy so close to my bumper (at 80!) that I could not see his headlights... I had no clue he was back there until a car changed lanes behind him and I saw his shadow.
A quick stab of the brake AND illuminating 220 watts of rear-facing "scene lights" (followed by a firewalled throttle, leaving him in a cloud of black soot) woke him up... for a short time. He gave me about 1/8 mile.
A half hour or so later, I looked over and saw him in another lane no more than 5 feet from another car.

Another fun thing guaranteed to make them change their shorts is when traffic is stopped ahead of you (and DON'T do this if a biker is in the lineup), instead of stopping, just make a last minute lane change.... give him enough room to stop... don't force an accident.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

How about 40 caliber paintballs for us bikers to use against tailgating cagers. That will let them know that they are a tad too close???

Keep a left jacket pocket full of pennies or small pebbles.
Casually drop a few on the road... surprising how high they bounce at 60.

[Tweek]

One thing I've noticed as a driver is that cars tend to stay way clear of squids on the road. So if you want to keep cars off your but t then occasionally pop a wheelie or do a hand stand on your hand bars. Maybe a stoppie as you roll up to a red light. That should give you a few hundred yards of clear road as soccer mom and her brats run for cover.

[NY_Guy]

Originally Posted by Upi

To affirm what bross is stating, here are some stats from NY Times, the numbers were provided by Road and Track.
BEST
Aston Martin V-8 Vantage 107 ft.
Ferrari F430 Spider 107 ft.
Lotus Exige 107 ft.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 107 ft.
Porsche Boxster S 107 ft.
Porsche 911 Carrera S 108 ft.
Ferrari Enzo 109 ft.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 109 ft.
Maserati Quattroporte 109 ft.
Mazda RX-8 110 ft.
WORST
Ford Escape XLT 145 ft.
Volkswagon Passat 3.6 138 ft.
Volvo S60 T5 138 ft.
Cadillac CTS 138 ft.
Audi A3 2.0 T. 138 ft.
Mitsuibishi Eclipse GT 137 ft.
Toyota Camry Hybrid 136 ft.
Subaru Legacy GT Limited 135 ft.
Scion xB 134 ft.
Honda Civic EX 133 ft.
If you figure the average car is going to stop at 120+ feet, you are still a ham sandwich on all but the worse of motorcycles. Add to that the fact that the reaction times (not perception) on a bike tend to be a little lower than in a car, it is common for a motorcycle to stop 15-20 feet shorter than a car without problem.

Any stats on regular twins (not sport bikes), like HD, Nomad or Classic? And in rain, 4 wheels will always stop faster than two! Nevertheless, the point is well made that tailgating by anyone is dangerous for everyone. So I suggest we all carry flare guns! lol (Unless ping pong balls were filled will lead, they'd be blown to helle and back at 40+mph. Marbles or shotgun shells might work.)

[bross]

Originally Posted by Tweek

One thing I've noticed as a driver is that cars tend to stay way clear of squids on the road. So if you want to keep cars off your but t then occasionally pop a wheelie or do a hand stand on your hand bars. Maybe a stoppie as you roll up to a red light. That should give you a few hundred yards of clear road as soccer mom and her brats run for cover.

Maybe they'll start teaching this in the MSF courses, defensive stoppies for the beginner! If you can wheelie and stoppie those little 250s the last thing you'll need to worry about is tailgaters.

[tomdenise]

This came up when I took the MSF. Someone asked if dropping ball bearings was a good idea. The instructor said he had actually done that twice... and ran out of gas both times.

[silentshot]

I just touch the break to turn on the stop light, if that does not work, I just change lane if possible and let them go away, when that is not possible either, a use a hand signal like I am going to stop, they normally decrease speed and stay away from me. The good thing is, I normally ride to work in uniform, our coutry still supporting and taking care of Soldiers.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by silentshot

I just touch the break to turn on the stop light, if that does not work, I just change lane if possible and let them go away, when that is not possible either, a use a hand signal like I am going to stop, they normally decrease speed and stay away from me. The good thing is, I normally ride to work in uniform, our coutry still supporting and taking care of Soldiers.

ALRIGHT!!!! You ride a Vulcan 900 AND you serve our country in the military!!!!! I knew there was something special about you!

Ahhh.....any pictures of you in uniform on the 900?!!! I bet that is an awesome sight

Cheri

[silentshot]

Proud to serve. I will get some pics for you. Promise..

Hope Chaz dosn't get jelous...

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by Scotty Luv

Rear mounted machine guns might work.

I'm diggin that idea!

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by silentshot

Proud to serve. I will get some pics for you. Promise..

Hope Chaz dosn't get jelous...

THANK YOU!!!! I can't wait!
Don't even worry about Chaz. He NEVER gets jealous!!!!

Cheri

[traveller]

On stopping distance, I have read several articles (cannot recall the source) that indicate it has more to do with the tires. Motorcycles as a general rule use a softer rubber that "grips" the road better. Thats why they are more expensive. Same with performance cars, race cars. This is at least one part of the reason.

[jukief]

We have a friend who does stoppies all the time. I know it makes ME keep my distance!