Bikers Tailgate?!

[CheriAnn]

Well, I know it is wrong and can be serious when someone tailgates. However, isn't it even more dangerous when a biker tailgates a cager?! I LOVE bikers and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS show respect to them on the roads. It sure shocks me when I get one that shows ZERO respect for me, especially when I am riding in something three times as big as they are!!!!!

Coming to work this morning in rush hour traffic, had an impatient biker on a cruiser looking HD behind me. He was riding SO CLOSE to my bumper that I felt nervous everytime I had to apply the brakes. When traffic came to a stand still, he would stop way over to the right of my car, and a little PAST my bumper, sitting BESIDE my rear quarter panel!! I was starring at his face from my passenger side mirror. Not to mention, it was bumper to bumper traffic and there was NOTHING I could do to "help" him get somewhere faster. I couldn't wait to get him out from behind me. I know this is dangerous, but it brings up a question for me....I'm still waiting to take my MSF course, but I had always heard that bikes can't stop as quickly as cars. Is this true?

Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
Cheri

[daemon]

actually most bikes can stop quicker than a car.
this is the danger of tailgating.
a car cannot react quick enough to keep from hitting a bike that has made an immeadiate stop

[2WheelFun]

Tailgaters in any form are idiots.

[jukief]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

Tailgaters in any form are idiots.

I've noticed lately that when I ride with other riders I'm keeping more and more distance between me and the rider in front of me. Saturday, going over Trail Ridge Road, I stayed way back from Alan because the five cagers in front of him were the worst drivers I've ever seen. Four of the five were going 20mph under the speed limit and riding their brakes all the way UP and down the mountain (the fifth cager was desperately trying to get around the four idiots, but it was a no-passing zone for miles and miles). It's like they were terrified; they shouldn't have been driving over the road to begin with. You never knew what their next move would be. I thought Alan was following them too closely, although at 25mph, I supposed he could have stopped as quickly as he needed to. But it made me nervous, and I backed way off. The guy who was following me had even more distance between him and me than I did between me and Alan!

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!!!!!

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by jukief

I've noticed lately that when I ride with other riders I'm keeping more and more distance between me and the rider in front of me. Saturday, going over Trail Ridge Road, I stayed way back from Alan because the five cagers in front of him were the worst drivers I've ever seen. Four of the five were going 20mph under the speed limit and riding their brakes all the way UP and down the mountain (the fifth cager was desperately trying to get around the four idiots, but it was a no-passing zone for miles and miles). It's like they were terrified; they shouldn't have been driving over the road to begin with. You never knew what their next move would be. I thought Alan was following them too closely, although at 25mph, I supposed he could have stopped as quickly as he needed to. But it made me nervous, and I backed way off. The guy who was following me had even more distance between him and me than I did between me and Alan!

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!!!!!

Did they have Colorado plates, Julie? Possibly visiting there? Or maybe they just are not use to driving mountain roads?

The only time I'll get close to a vehicle in front of me is when I am planning to pass to help close the distance and even then I am very wary of the vehicle in front of me until I get around them.

[cudaosix]

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!!!!!

Yup, never fails. I do the same thing you do Julie, even when stopped and its kept me from plowing into someone in front of me when I've been rear ended.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by daemon

actually most bikes can stop quicker than a car.
this is the danger of tailgating.
a car cannot react quick enough to keep from hitting a bike that has made an immeadiate stop

Oh! I didn't know that. Thank you for telling me. I was given the wrong impression about a bike's stopping ability for all these years
What you said about making it easier to get hit from behind from a cager, makes alot of sense now. That will be valuable information for me when I start riding myself!!!!!

Julie, I agree with you! I always try to leave a little space in front of me. However, leaving a little "room" seems to be an open invitation to the aggressive drivers to cut in

Thanks for "listening" gang!
Cheri

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

Oh! I didn't know that. Thank you for telling me. I was given the wrong impression about a bike's stopping ability for all these years
What you said about making it easier to get hit from behind from a cager, makes alot of sense now. That will be valuable information for me when I start riding myself!!!!!

Julie, I agree with you! I always try to leave a little space in front of me. However, leaving a little "room" seems to be an open invitation to the aggressive drivers to cut in

Thanks for "listening" gang!
Cheri

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.

[Tweek]

Are you sure bikes stop quicker? That doesn't seem right to me.

[cudaosix]

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.

Cary, was my penny tossing idea under the "Funny" column or "Madness" column?

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by cudaosix

Cary, was my penny tossing idea under the "Funny" colum or "Madness" colum?

While it made me laugh initially...I opted not to use it.

[cudaosix]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

While it made me laugh initially...I opted not to use it.

Ahhh...Madness then.

So how about some kind of bright spotlight pointing behind you so you can flash it at a tailgater?...Wont do much good in the daylight. Possibly blind the driver momentarily too.....The spotlight might not be such a good idea.

[traveller]

I also agree - always leave manuver room even at stoplights, keep it in gear and watch behind.

I was at a stoplight saw a cage coming up fast. Afraid they would not stop in time, I gunned it and moved over onto the yellow line - there was no turn lane. I watched in amazement as the car coming up then plowed into the car in front of me. A lesson not lost, I can assure you.

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by cudaosix

Ahhh...Madness then.

So how about some kind of bright spotlight pointing behind you so you can flash it at a tailgater?...Wont do much good in the daylight. Possibly blind the driver momentarily too.....The spotlight might not be such a good idea.

It is a great idea actully. I wonder if a cop saw that if he/she would ticket the biker if that was being used?

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by traveller

I also agree - always leave manuver room even at stoplights, keep it in gear and watch behind.

I was at a stoplight saw a cage coming up fast. Afraid they would not stop in time, I gunned it and moved over onto the yellow line - there was no turn lane. I watched in amazement as the car coming up then plowed into the car in front of me. A lesson not lost, I can assure you.

WOW!!!

It makes you wonder how some people can get a license?

[cudaosix]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

It is a great idea actully. I wonder if a cop saw that if he/she would ticket the biker if that was being used?

Good question, I've seen a couple of pickups with lights like that mounted high on a bar attached to the bed. Used to light the bed I imagine but could be used for tailgaters too.

[bross]

Originally Posted by Tweek

Are you sure bikes stop quicker? That doesn't seem right to me.

Poached from a Sportbike rider website:

Motorcycle Consumer News is the only US magazine that consistently tests braking performance. Cycle World tests braking only rarely, and Motorcyclist and Sport Rider never.

Here are MCN's top five 60-0 stops from the list compiled in 2003:

code:
1999 Triumph Speed Triple 106.7ft
1997 Suzuki Marauder 107.6
1997 Yamaha YZF600R 108.2
1998 Ducati 750 Monster 109.1
1998 Suzuki TL1000S 109.4

The 2004 compilation should be in the next issue, but the sportbikes tested year-to-date (R1, ZX-10R, CBR1000RR, et al.) are in the 115-120ft range.

Though Car and Driver tests braking from 70, Road and Track tests from 60, and they include a summary of road tests in every issue.

A few cars brake very well--some even stop from 60 in under 100ft--but the rest average around 130ft. In the MC News list, fewer than 10 out of the 120 or so bikes tested brake from 60 in 130 feet or more.

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by cudaosix

Good question, I've seen a couple of pickups with lights like that mounted high on a bar attached to the bed. Used to light the bed I imagine but could be used for tailgaters too.

I can think of things "I'd love to do" to tailgaters but then we're back to square one.

I know before when I posted about this I was frustrated with this issue and may have sounded a little exasperated over it. Now...I just want some hand grenades to lob behind me when they get to close.

[jukief]

Originally Posted by traveller

I also agree - always leave manuver room even at stoplights, keep it in gear and watch behind.

I was at a stoplight saw a cage coming up fast. Afraid they would not stop in time, I gunned it and moved over onto the yellow line - there was no turn lane. I watched in amazement as the car coming up then plowed into the car in front of me. A lesson not lost, I can assure you.

That's always my biggest fear. I always leave room and watch my mirrors like a hawk. You just proved to me how important this is! Thanks for telling this story.

[jukief]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

I can think of things "I'd love to do" to tailgaters but then we're back to square one.

I know before when I posted about this I was frustrated with this issue and may have sounded a little exasperated over it. Now...I just want some hand grenades to lob behind me when they get to close.

Flame throwers and oil slicks come to mind...