I have been riding for 5 years, daily commute for work. I started on a Piaggio B125, passed my test on it, now I ride a Gilera Nexus 500. I respect my bike, I respect it's limitations, I respect the road conditions, and I repect the fact that cars may not see me even though its bright red and according to EU law from 2003 all new bikes must have no way of switching off the dipped light. So I ride like all motorists might not see me and make myself as visble as possible and ride defensively and it worked to some degree... My dad told me always drive or ride like the worst is going to happen, so I have a few stories to tell... of the worst things that nearly happened.
Some drivers think that motorbikes are small so can immediately get the **** out of there way. Incorrect.
I pulled out of my street on a wet foggy morning and turned right, ahead I see a car clearly, there are cars parked on my right and the car pulls up to them and stops. I continue as I have right of way. The driver pulls out and head right at me causing me to do an emergency stop and they do aswell... There was no traffic behind them and none behind me so I get off the bike and put it on the main stand in the middle of the road and go an give the driver a piece of my mind, female and I made her tearfull.
Some drivers think they can multi task, Incorrect.
Exited from a sharp bend and accelrated to speed limit (50) positioned myself in the middle of my lane, and saw a white van with a car behind at about the correct distance between them, I have about 4 seconds before we pass. I then see the car driver has his hand to the side of his head. The car swerves into my lane, I drop the accelerator and chuck myself left to dodge and feel the strong flow of air from the car as he missed me by inches and I see and very scared look on his face whilst holding the mobile phone. I just hit the accelerator and continued on to work.
Some drivers expect you to just over take them, and also think its fine to be up one another butts, Incorrect
Riding along, conditions were very favorable but there were about 7 cars in front of me. The car immediately in front of me is driving over to the left of the lane to very nicely let me pass. Obviously he is paying too much attention to the fact I am behind him and not what is in front of him, I drop back because I can see the car at the very front apply his brakes gently to turn right. The car in front of me bumps the car in front and I get cussed at when I pass him... why? *shrug*
Some drivers think they can do what ever they like, Incorrect
Coming round a fairly easy corner on a national speed limit section only doing about 30-40mph, I know there is a car ahead of me because he just over took m,e speeding, when I was on a straight doing 60mph. I hear a screech and immediately drop my speed much to the annoyance of the car behind who honks his horn at me and obviosuly thinks I am going too slow. The scene we both see on exxiting the corner is a land rover side ways int he road and the car that passed me on the wrong side of the road and at about a 45 degree angle. Apparently the Land Rover was doing a 3 point turn because he missed his turning on a small section of straight road no damage to either car and the driver behind me apologized for honking his horn at me and said he was completely unaware as his music was too loud and didn't hear anything.
Some bikers like to think they are invincible and think they can show off, Incorrect.
I was riding along quite happily in good conditions on a Sunday, therefore there were a lot of Sunny day riders round. In general I have no problem with them and nod at them and they nod back. I was quite happily filtering along and I then found I had a banshee up my butt. He over took and we both had clear road ahead so I thought I would follow and keep up, which I was quite able to and he had to slow because of traffic ahead at the very back of which was a van. Me being me was quite happy that I kept up with him, then I realized he was dropping back so I thought he was going to over take or turn off. So I drop back even further to allow him room... then I realize what he's doing so I get ready as I can see the road ahead is clear but he can't because his view is blocked by the van. He pulls a wheelie and I over take and leave him behind.
This is some drivers, most are perfectly amiable, and I feel safe in general and try to be safe. I have done over 100mph on the Nexus because I was in the fast lane on the motorway and other traffic was doing that as well. You just get some idiots on the road and you have to be prepared because people in general are way to busy in their minds to really focus as much as you do have to on a bike. Don't let it get to you just deal with it, and if you can't get over the fact that other people really don't care you shouldn't be riding because your not thinking as you should especially carrying a pillion.
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