Other two wheelers (with engines)

[GrumpyGregry]

Mixed bag. But most motorcyclists have a greater awareness of their own vulnerability and so some ride accordingly. My own days of twistgrips and triples, v-twins and shaft drives are over. Reflexes too slow, traffic density too high.

 

[nich]

traffic density too high.

Too right! I rode my scooter into London today as my legs were feeling it. Barely any quicker for the actual ride in compared to a bike, plus I spent 10 mins faffing about finding some secure parking

 

[krushavik]

I also ride a scooter and whilst doing so I wear a relective yellow bomber jacket and the motorist always gives me a wide berth. So i'm thinking of wearing something similar on my bike. Just a thought.

 

[brockers]

Sorry folks, but I'm bored in the office and couldn't resist this thread.....

PTW's can be a problem since they love to cut through in the cycle lanes but my biggest problem with them is their attitude towards the ASL. They seem to think its entirely put there for their convenience.

What you might not realise is that motorcyclists generally try to filter to the front of the traffic (often out of a feeling of safety, much like cyclists) and have done since before ASLs were invented, as their tendency is to roar off ahead of the cars when the lights change. Now you're on your motorbike, bimbling along in the middle of the road between two streams of fast moving traffic, and you naturally find yourself filtering up to the lights but find there's a green box there. What are you meant to do? If you can't filter to the front, then there's no point in using a motorbike. Might as well make filtering illegal like in Germany.

That said, what does piss me off with a lot of motorcyclists of all persuasions, is that they'll filter down the inside, between the cars and the gutter into the ASL and obstructing any cyclists from entering the box. Now that's bad form imo.

 

[pshore]

I agree with that brockers.

Here in Cambridge, cycles filter on the left, motorbikes filter on the right and there is room for all at the front and harmony breaks out.

The asl conflict seems like a big city problem from here.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Filtering - if I were on a motorbike I would filter as far as was safe to do so. I wouldn't barge into the ASL, as I see bikers do in London, nor block the cycle lane. I would know that cyclists are more vulnerable since they don't have the same acceleration. The ability to filter is not the only reason to have a motorbike.

Secondly, if I were sat in the traffic unable to get to the front, but my machine can do 0 to 60 in a few seconds, frankly, it wouldn't bother me. Some motorbikes can accelerate faster than cars, and armed with that amount of power, would you need to get to the front?.

Funny thing about motorcycling. I see them being ridden at speed on motorways, often changing lanes at 70-80mph, which is far, far more risky than sitting in a jam. The faster you go, the proportionate the risk is. High speed is high risk etc. So why then, do motorcyclists suddenly feel 'at risk' when they come across a line of stationary traffic at 0mph?. By forcing their way into the ASL, they put cyclists at risk. Ever tried to get into the ASL and it's full of motorbikes?.

I was cut up badly last year by biker who entered the ASL behind me, moved over to the left and pulled alongside me (I am turning right, so occupy the centre of the ASL). He wasn't indicating, and when the lights changed, he roared ahead and....guess what?. The fool did a right turn from a left hand position. It was one of those wish-I -had-a-helmet-cam moments.

 

[addictfreak]

Only had one bit of interaction with a motor cyclist. I was riding along the coast on my way into work and was passed by a car (good overtake) and bit further along the car indicated to turn right and took a good road position while oncoming traffic passed. Just as I was about to pass on his left (plenty of space) another car tried to get through the same gap. Caused a bit of a wobble on my my part and a few swear words shouted.

Biker came along side and asked if i was ok, which I was and I gave him the thumbs up. Anyway the offending car was stopped a traffic lights a little way ahead. There was no way I would get there before they changed to green. But the biker did! I could see him giving the driver a right old roasting.

On the whole I find motor cyclists to be ok, I think they certainly appreciate our situation. Mind they sometimes scare the s*** out of me on country roads as they hurtle passed at 100+.

 

[Norm]

So much rubbish and stereotyping in one post but I will just point out...

Some motorbikes can accelerate faster than cars...

... that my first bike, a basic Kwak 500 beginner's bike, happily trained my boss's Porsche 911.

In practical terms, every motorbike you see can accelerate faster than every car you see, except for a tiny number of small bikes or exceptionally fast cars.

 

[Bicycle]

I'm a former motorcycle rider and was once a motorcycle courier in London.

I just love motorcycles, but stopped riding them when we were expecting our first child.

In my experience they're generally a lovely lot and show good road manners (so much the same as cyclists and car/van/lorry drivers).

If there's one place I get slightly spooked about motorcycles, it's on the A40 west of Brecon on a sunny day.

It's a delicious ribbon of melt-in-the-mouth, bendy, undulating tarmac perfection - and for that reason it attracts one or two whose ambition outweighs their ability (Copyright C Stoner).

I've been buzzed many times along there by R1s, Fireblades, 749s et al who either try to nail an apex without looking for cyclists or who whip out to pass a car and don't see me coming the other way. That doesn't sound scary, but it is when 3 bikes make the pass at once and some go wider than is prudent.

There are wonderful stries in the press down there about 'bikes being stopped and the Police finding camcorders taped to the tank, focussed on the dials.... playing the tape shows big, big, big speeds being achieved. BIG SPEEDS. It can be scary cycling along there on the wrong day.

That's my only gripe really - and it's with a tiny, tiny percentage of motorcyclists....

 

[captain nemo1701]

Norm -

Are you referring to my post?. If so, am I really stereotyping motorcyclists by saying that they switch lanes on motorways at high speed?. I don't think so as I see this all the time. It seems typical riding to me. I was merely pointing out that they seem to feel 'at risk' when in stationary traffic where any risk to them is actually very, very low compared to motorbike riding on motorways. Therefore, when you couple this with the accelerative power of motorbikes, they don't really need to use the ASL at all.

I have been cut up several times when using the ASL. The biker who turned right from the left hand position had no thoughts at all for my safety and I was so angry, had I caught up with him at the next set of lights, there may well have been an 'incident' (I wanted to shove my U-lock somewhere).

While working here in London, I see this kind of road space abuse all the time. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a cyclist cut up in Waterloo by a motorcyclist who wrongly entered the ASL. Luckily, the cyclist anticipated this and did a trackstand to let the biker through. However, one of these days, I'll probably witness an accident.

In my opinion, if motorcyclists in London want to use the bus lanes, they should show more respect to cyclists and keep out of the ASL and also cycle lanes. It's a matter of self-restraint. I suspect a lot of motorcyclists filter into the ASL out of pure habit, which is bad riding. I have to anticipate other road users when I drive, so why can't the motorbiking fraternity anticipate that there might be an ASL at a junction or that it might have a cyclist or two in it?. Some of the motorbikes who like to join me in the ASL often look surprised to see me there.

 

[BrumJim]

Generally OK, except those that like to open the throttle and ride the chain when passing you, just to scare you.

 

[Norm]

Norm -

Are you referring to my post?. If so, am I really stereotyping motorcyclists by saying that they switch lanes on motorways at high speed?. I don't think so as I see this all the time. It seems typical riding to me. I was merely pointing out that they seem to feel 'at risk' when in stationary traffic where any risk to them is actually very, very low compared to motorbike riding on motorways. Therefore, when you couple this with the accelerative power of motorbikes, they don't really need to use the ASL at all.

Yup, and all cyclists ride on the pavement and knock down old ladies and murder drivers who carelessly open their doors...

Mind you, I will bear the emboldened section in mind when I'm next out on the motorbike, and remember to slow down when I change lanes. Expect the obituary shortly.

Nemo, one bad incident can colour your perception of the group but it doesn't change the reality that they are riders, just like you and me. In any group of people, the stand out ones are the knobs who behave terribly, whether that's cyclists, bikers, truckers, yoof in hoodies or grumpy old men.

 

[jonny jeez]

From my experience (as the driver/rider of a car, a 1000cc motorcycle a 125cc scooter and a pushbike)...by far the largest proportion of uncaring and generally lawless travellers on the roads are cyclists.

...sad to say.

Fortunately (and most probably the reason why this is the case), “most” cyclist cause very little direct harm to others through their attitude and actions.

Notice the use of the words “Direct and Most” there.

But in the great scheme of things I see very few really bad or dangerous road users at all. The vast majority just want to get to work without any drama

 

[scouserinlondon]

My rule of thumb after a couple of years London commuting. The bigger the bike, the better the biker. 50cc mopeds are most dangerous and aggressive. Proper bikers tend to be better.

There are always expcetions though.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

I'm wary of any and all motorcycles whether I'm on my bicycle or in my car.

I despise fair weather riders but I tar them all with the same brush, of all the road users, to me they are the worst and most dangerous.