Do you look out for motorbikes?

Fireskull

Fireskull

Fireskull

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Joined
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Wiltshire / Winchester
Serious question, not being anti car or anything like that just wondering what people though, seeing the "look, look again for bikes" advert (which imo is a really crap advert) and the last few days have had to take a longer route to work so extra few miles of motorway riding has got my thinking.
Because of a road being worked on the usual motorway taffic is even more slow than usual and is backed up for miles and i have to filter through about 7 miles of it, on tuesday 2 car out of hundreds moved over for me, admittedly i dont really need you to move but you and I both dont like me having to go closer than needed to your car but its great when they do move over, and then today 1 car moved over for me and Shock Horror it was a youngish man in a BMW :o so i defintelly gave him the thumbs up :)
But what got me thinking is is really a "dont really check my mirrors in traffic" (or at all) or is it "cant be arsed / dont want to move" i find as a biker when driving im always checking all my mirrors for bikes and faster cars oncoming seeing as im only in a 1.2, dont answer if your a van driver as we all know they move over to block you lol evil ***** :p
 
To be honest that advert is horrible, but if its a completley blind juntion or a duel carriagway or a main road, i'll always check twice before pulling off.
 
I am paranoid about bikers so if I see one in my mirrors I will always try to let him past. That way I know he is in front of me instead of sitting in my blind spot trying to overtake me (mostly youngish bikers).
 
When I first passed I was out on my own on a 50mph road near Lancaster. I was checking my rear view and spotted a motorbike about 600 yards-ish behind. Broad daylight, also the guy had mental yellow/black leathers and his lights on. Carried on driving, checked my rear view again- no bike. He then appeared alongside and overtook- I wasn't turning off or moving to the centre of the road but it sort of rammed the point of checking your wing mirrors and blind spot- they really can seem to come from nowhere. Now it's just a habit.

Also, what's with the weird biker hand-gesture? They hold their left hand out about level with their knee and make a side-to-side gesture, palms down? Was I being thanked or insulted? :p
 
I always consider bikes whenever stopping, turning or pulling away, but that's because I ride one as well!
In the car, I always pull aside when a filtering bike approaches me. Not because I think they need the room, but as a visible sign to the bike that I have seen them.
 
West said:
To be honest that advert is horrible, but if its a completley blind juntion or a duel carriagway or a main road, i'll always check twice before pulling off.
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I find it really misleading, yes its going to hurt or kill a biker if you pull out on them and they hit you but do the government really believe that if a biker is flying into your window at watever speed the car driver will be fine lol, that he is going to crack the window and slide down, i dont think so.. he will be through the window and out the otherside taking the drivers head with him.
 
Yes I do, all the time :)

If I'm in traffic and I see them filtering I even move right over. It's always nice getting a thumbs up from them, if they don't then I remember them and plan on opening my door on them next time :)

I only do that for big bikes mind. ***s on little bikes or scooters can **** right off :p

Edit - As someone has pointed out, I don't check specifically for bikes, just things in general. When I'm in traffic I tend to check my mirrors through boredom :p Gettinginto Manchester City Centre every night is a ball-ache :(
 
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DuncyBoy said:
Also, what's with the weird biker hand-gesture? They hold their left hand out about level with their knee and make a side-to-side gesture, palms down? Was I being thanked or insulted? :p
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not got a clue. If I thank a driver it's by either giving a thumbs up or wave, or by extending my leg if I dont want to take a hand off the bars.
 
DuncyBoy said:
When I first passed I was out on my own on a 50mph road near Lancaster. I was checking my rear view and spotted a motorbike about 600 yards-ish behind. Broad daylight, also the guy had mental yellow/black leathers and his lights on. Carried on driving, checked my rear view again- no bike. He then appeared alongside and overtook- I wasn't turning off or moving to the centre of the road but it sort of rammed the point of checking your wing mirrors and blind spot- they really can seem to come from nowhere. Now it's just a habit.

Also, what's with the weird biker hand-gesture? They hold their left hand out about level with their knee and make a side-to-side gesture, palms down? Was I being thanked or insulted? :p
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Thanked i think, bike to bike gesture is usually holding your leg out, but to a car driver its usually thumbs up or a quick hand out as you go past.

Heh if only you guys were on my morning commute lol would be much easier and probably get hand cramp :p
 
DuncyBoy;10208854/ said:
Also, what's with the weird biker hand-gesture? They hold their left hand out about level with their knee and make a side-to-side gesture, palms down? Was I being thanked or insulted? :p
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its to thank you I guess its because they couldnt lift there hand up high to thank you or they might fall off :p
 
I'll always be careful at junctions and leave room, and i always look around, last thing i want is a crunch for me or them!

Although for the first few months i thought those "Th!nk Bike!" signs, were ads for a local bike shop :(
 
Likewise, naturally I always check for any kind of projectile at junctions, be it 200kg or 1500kg it's not something I want to have a close personal encounter with. Also, but more so when on the bike, I'm always looking out for motorists who aren't aware of my presence, and take whatever means necessary to make them aware. Easiest way to avoid an accident is to be prepared for the worst.
 
Well as far as being cuteous to bike riders I will always let them past when safe, give them a quick flash of my left indicator and they ride past, and normally get a thumbs up from them which I always find nice.

Im wierd as I really dont like motorcycles behind me.
 
TripleT said:
Yes I do, all the time :)

If I'm in traffic and I see them filtering I even move right over. It's always nice getting a thumbs up from them, if they don't then I remember them and plan on opening my door on them next time :)

I only do that for big bikes mind. ***s on little bikes or scooters can **** right off :p
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LOL, can just picture you aswell, opening your door. "BOO!" :D
 
West said:
Well as far as being cuteous to bike riders I will always let them past when safe, give them a quick flash of my left indicator and they ride past, and normally get a thumbs up from them which I always find nice.

Im wierd as I really dont like motorcycles behind me.
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Yea if any biker dosent thank you after indicating to let them past give them some abuse, its as bad as holding doors open for people and them not saying thanks
 
i pull over a bit more than usual when i spot a biker in my mirrors.

being a biker myself, since i passed my test i find it a lot easier to observe things. weird huh?

my mums observation for bikes also piped up a bit when i passed my test... presumably because she didnt want to knock any bikes off in case one was me lol.
 
I normally keep an eye out but I have to say since I've been back in the car full time I've seen some bikers do some stupid stuff on my route, stuff that they really ought to know better about.
 
Fireskull said:
Yea if any biker dosent thank you after indicating to let them past give them some abuse, its as bad as holding doors open for people and them not saying thanks
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depends... if a few cars move over for them or if its a bit tight and they will have to accelerate or brake in the next few moments i let them off.

most are good though to acknowledge you. i always used too...

also if you ever see a biker doing the following signal... holding hand up and closing and opening his hand like from fist to open palm multiple times its because hes just seen a speed camera or a copper on his route. very useful for when i used to go the wild ox/durham ox :)
 
I'm not sure about looking twice, I think I do anyway, but once I've seen a mokerbike t hey get more of my attention than a car would.
 
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