Biker Etiquette

[SteveHF50]

You find that many police bikers have a sports bike sat at home in the garage, and enjoy the road like the resy of us.

[Aaron_R125]

There's a lot of plod in my force that love their bikes; and not necessarily traffic. On my first long ride out I did get a nod and a flash from a police bike coming down the other side of the dual carriageway which I thought was nice - especially when traffic plods get more stick than they really deserve.

[nattynoona]

Originally Posted by Aaron_R125

There's a lot of plod in my force that love their bikes; and not necessarily traffic. On my first long ride out I did get a nod and a flash from a police bike coming down the other side of the dual carriageway which I thought was nice - especially when traffic plods get more stick than they really deserve.

You sure you just hadn't forgot to put your lights on?

[Woody2106]

The bike plod are alright; figures that they'd be into their biking to take the job

Its just the ones in the cars that are out to get me

[Pollydriver]

Originally Posted by Hic! Mine's A Triple

Oh good God. Are we still in the bloody dark ages? What's the most numerous type of road user? Car drivers. Who's got the size and the blind spots to take us out in a blink? Car drivers. What are most bikers when they're not riding their bikes? Car drivers. And if I, as a biker, get severely titsed off when I move over in a queue to give a bike more room to pass when I'm driving my Land Rover and the arrogant twot can't even be bothered to lift half a hand from the left bar in acknowledgement, how do non-bikers feel when it happens? When filtering on a choked-up motorway, I remember that quite a lot of cars used to move over a tad to give me room, but not any more. I wonder why? Then there's the tailgating, the ridiculous close passing and all the other brain-dead, near suicidal things we've all done, but hopefully learned from. Biker ettiquette? We should treat ALL road users with respect and courtesy, 'cos if we don't, the next rider the driver in question encounters may end up dead. You never know when the driver you're being a tit around might turn out to be a boneheaded imbecile with no social conscience who'll take it out on the next biker he sees. Of course we don't 'fooooook the cage drivers'. Bloody child.

Many fascinating and insightful things have been said on this thread, some I agreed with, some I didn't.... But the admirable words of Mr Triple seem to flow the best with me and my way of thinking.
I got into bikes fairly recently but have been enthusiastic about cars ever since I was a small boy and started learning to drive as soon as I was old enough. In contrast I only passed my bike test a fortnight ago and so I realize I have many many things to learn. I guess my point is I'm willing to take advice on safe riding, and that I do try to see things from both sides....

Yes, there are a lot of idiotic drivers, but there are also many idiots that pilot many different kinds of vehicles. Everyone should just respect everyone, from scanias to scooters and everything in between.....

[geodude]

Originally Posted by snappo

ME TOO!!

I'd just exited a roundabout, as he was coming the other way - he must have approved of my lifesaver, cancel indicator, check mirrors and accelerate, cos it was a proper 'approving' nod I got back!

I was smiling for miles!

He probably sneezed :P

[Joeskeppi]

heh, this thread is really insightful.

When I rode a 50 for a year (13 years ago now) people on "proper" bikes very seldom nodded at me, which meant I never nodded at a biker for fear of looking like a nob.

But I remember so clearly the day some guy came past the other way on an R1 and gave a cheeky little winking type nod, the sideways type one, made me laugh and I still remember it so clearly all this time later.

[Z3X]

Originally Posted by Joeskeppi

heh, this thread is really insightful.

When I rode a 50 for a year (13 years ago now) people on "proper" bikes very seldom nodded at me, which meant I never nodded at a biker for fear of looking like a nob.

But I remember so clearly the day some guy came past the other way on an R1 and gave a cheeky little winking type nod, the sideways type one, made me laugh and I still remember it so clearly all this time later.

Glad we could all have been helpful

[nikstar]

I lo0ve that there are unwritten rules of bikes. It really annoys me to be honest when I nod at bikers and they don't nod back!! I know sometimes they might not see but it still irritates me slightly.

Also I do ask bikers on the side of the road if they are ok or need any assistance. Only because, if it was me, I would like someone to do the same as sometimes you just need a second opinion about certian things and then don't need to call out the AA.

I would however recommend that you carry a few tools with you as sometimes it is just a tiny thing that needs tweaking and you feel like a fool not being able to fix it yourself!

[stroppybitch]

When we were on the run last weekend, I waved to every bike I saw, sports, cruisers and learners. Most memorable one was a young lad on L-plates that we passed, as we were going slow through town, I not only waved, but caught his eye too, he tentatively waved back and then the HUGE GRIN appeared on his face. Reminded me of some peeps here on L-plates who are proud to announce they have been acknowledged by a 'big biker' and how they grinned all the way home


The only road I DONT do the wavey bit, is on motorways, tried it once and nearly ripped me arm out of the socket