GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Cars LOVE to tailgate motorcycles.   Is this a common thing?   Or do I just notice it more on my bike?  It's always the same thing:  I'm minding my own business on a multi-lane highway, doing about 10% over posted speed limit, and someone decides to get RIGHT behind me...and STAYS THERE.   Plenty of opportunity to pass, but they don't seem interested.  If prevailing traffic is moving faster than me, I am generally in the right lane, so it's not like they can expect me to move to the right, there is nothing there but shoulder.

I was enjoying a nice ride down US1 between Hobe Sound and Jupiter this afternoon, and some guy in a Cadillac stayed right behind me for about 10 miles.   He EASILY could have passed, which he eventually did (and just about cut me off when he pulled back in front of me).

Does anyone else notice this?  Should I be doing something different?   I suppose I could wave them on, but I figure if they want to pass, they will.   I could pull over, but it will just be a matter of 2-3 minutes before the next car gets right behind me...

nothing you can do about it.  Most people tailgate EVERYBODY all the time.  That is just the way they drive:  1 car length off everybody's bumper.  Move over, and they drive like that behind the next guy.  You notice it more on your bike because it's much more of a danger to you, and therefore much scarier, but they do it to everybody.

I will never understand why people drive like that.  The bottom line is that somewhere between 50-75% of mankind is just dumb...and that is a conservative estimate.

I notice it, and it really pisses me off. I hate that, just as much as I hate it when they pull up on your bumper at a light.

Most people tailgate, but it gets worse if they can see past you.  I'm always tailgated on the bike or in the miata, but it's not so bad in a bigger car.  
Wanna try something fun? Rig the break light to a manual switch (don't disconnect it from the brakes) and give them a bright red in the face if they get too close.

I always flash the brakes (just enough to engage the lights) a few times when I notice someone too close.  If it is a multi lane road and it has been a good distance without them changing lanes, I'll change for them and get on the brakes and do this:  :nono: as they pass by.

I have a few other hand gestures that I reserve for the biggest of idiots...

If someone is tailgating while I'm moving down a single lane, I just go slower and slower until they get the hint...  If they don't get the hint, I'll turn on my turn-signal...  If that doesn't work, then I'll slow down more and speed up fast to get them off my ass...

On a multi-lane road, I'll either change lanes and let them go by or slow down so they change lanes...

At lights, I stop about a full car length before I need to...  Slowly if possible.  Then I'll creep forward a little to see if the guy is going to ride my ass...  If they decide to ride my ass, I turn around and give them a dirty look...  Assuming there is time.



I was actually thinking about getting one of those "Stay Back 50 Feet" signs that some trucks have and wearing it on my back.  :thumb:

I'm thinking of doing the LED tail light and place some amber LED that will spell "back off" or something

Quote from: Aerospikeamber LED that will spell "back off" or something

Or maybe "f%$k off"

Actually...  Some of the LED tail lights are cool 'cause you get make them flash a few times when you first apply your break. :thumb:

I live in the new river valley area of VA and I do get some tailgaters but I get less of it when I am on my GS than if i am driving the Jeep.  When it happens when I am on the bike I just tap the rear break enough to light the tail light and  most of the time they get the hint.  I know that some drivers will follow closely, esp on the interstate, if they are comfortable with your speed.  So another trick i try is speed up slightly and normally That puts a nice little gap between you and the @$$ that is tailgating you.

I'm with you on the rear brake thing. A couple of light taps of the brake to get their attention is all it usually takes.

If they really piss me off, I either change lanes or just speed up a bit.

I live in canberra - Australia, and the drivers here would be the worst in the country for tailgating. I commute to work on the GS every day and always try to leave at least a 3 second gap between me and the vehicle in front. However, every bastard here sees that as a gap they can squeeze into. So you back off to maintain the gap again and the cycle repeats itself  :x . It also seems the norm that drivers here also speed up when the road is wet  :nono: . I can't work them out  :dunno: , they seem to be a breed of their own. It is also sad that this is a world wide phenomenon  :( .

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: Aerospikeamber LED that will spell "back off" or something

Or maybe "f%$k off"

Actually...  Some of the LED tail lights are cool 'cause you get make them flash a few times when you first apply your break. :thumb:

And while their attention is on your flashing lights, you drop a bananna peel... that always does the trick ... and if they don't spin out you always have one less bananna peel in your tankbag. Yep.

Just before you go riding pour a quart of oil into the tip of your exhaust and if they get too close give it a good rev and spit oil all over they're hood.

I keep a few rocks in a small bag on my bike. I toss one over my shoulder if they get to close.....you should see how fast the back off and how they freak out. Yes I know I could cause an accident but it will be behind me and not in front of me.....they will think about it next time if they tailgate a biker. :guns:

Quote from: rclzJust before you go riding pour a quart of oil into the tip of your exhaust and if they get too close give it a good rev and spit oil all over they're hood.

My old V8 ute was great for that, it did it automatically. I believe it was a case of broken piston rings. Anyone who got too close I just planted the right foot and the dual exhaust' did the rest  :mrgreen:
Here is a picture of my ute in case anyone is wondering what a ute is.

Quote from: AerospikeMost people tailgate, but it gets worse if they can see past you.

I think that's the biggest problem, the fact that people can see past you makes them very comfortable being right on your tail.  Almost had to run over a squirrel the other week because this lady was so close on my tail I was afraid to brake hard.

I little LED panel with messages.... that'd be cool :mrgreen:

Because our brakelamp is located so high on our bikes, people will get as close as they can as long as they can see the brakelight. Now, I know why Harley has theirs mounted so low.

Also, here's a good idea: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=c7ed135faa19362eabb33898182a3028&threadid=127656

here what you need to do.....

flash your brakes, slowly start slowing down and pull over on a shoulder of the road....GET THE F$$ERS LISCENCE PLATE NUMBER AND CALL 911 and thell them that you've been tailgated by this guys for over a mile (or whatever)

there is no reason to risk your life, just because some a$$ likes to tailgate or never learn anything about driving

I like it, I want one.  I bet shipping would be a Buddha Loves You. :lol:


 Mad Max style.

Quote from: on2wheels

Quote from: rclzJust before you go riding pour a quart of oil into the tip of your exhaust and if they get too close give it a good rev and spit oil all over they're hood.

My old V8 ute was great for that, it did it automatically. I believe it was a case of broken piston rings. Anyone who got too close I just planted the right foot and the dual exhaust' did the rest  :mrgreen:
Here is a picture of my ute in case anyone is wondering what a ute is.

Hmmm, and I thought this just happened in England. Somehow, in a very strange way, it's nice to know it's a world wide thing.

However, how about adjusting your mirrors so you can see rear left and right, just not directly behind you? (Mine seem like this anyway). It may not sound safe, but  I found that if someone was tailgating me my riding became eratic. Now it's a case of 'what the eye don't see won't break the heart' as the saying goes. Only, sometimes when you look round to perform a lane change or something, you kinda jump when you see someone driving two feet behind you. Still, you were riding quite happily before you knew they were there!!

Once I was pushed along the road by a driver whilst at the lights - her car was creeping forward while she was looking out the side window at some cows grazing :o

usually flashing my brakes (NOT brake checking, just flashing) gets the hint across.  if it doesn't, slowing down to 10 under the limit does.

however, i have long contemplated a "back off my ass" vest.

Quote from: SpitfireHowever, how about adjusting your mirrors so you can see rear left and right, just not directly behind you? (Mine seem like this anyway).

I have mine adjusted this same way, if I still need to look directly behind me I can tuck an elbow.

No need for me to mess with mirrors. I can't see a darn thing anyway unless  I get in a contorted position. :mrgreen:

Derek

people tailgate me constantly when i'm out visiting my family in Minnesota.

In California, everyone drives fast, so if you don't drive 80mph on the highway, you will get tailgated because everyone keeps catching up to you. I learned very quickly to go 80mph or ride only in the rightmost lane.

I don't have mirrors  :dunno:

Not really much to help with tailgaters but more of a general safety device -- I have installed one of these on my GS.

http://www.flashalert.com/integrator.htm

They have scratch and dent sales sometimes on ebay where you can pick them up for about 40% off of their retail price.

They cause the brake lights to flash while actively braking and also work to make one of the brake lights flash when your turn signals are on.

I am considering getting one of these annoying things.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=34284&item=4561654120&sspagename=WDVW

Anything to help w/ visibilty.

Sorry for the semi-OT post.

Chris

Whilst we are on this topic, it makes me cringe when I see riders using the wrong wheel track within a lane and they have a car behind them who is thinking mmmmeeee I could just squeeze past this bike, they seem to be mainly scooter and smaller cc bikes riders.  Remember guys, position yourself so should your ass go through their windscreen it hits them fair and square in the face.  

Tailgaters shaZam! me and I use a staged approach starting with flashing the brake light working up to some nice abusive gestures and language.  My preference would be a high powered rifle capable of reengineering their engine with a new intake  :guns:

Quote from: conradvrMy preference would be a high powered rifle capable of reengineering their engine with a new intake  :guns:

in conjunction with the "do you pack while riding" post from a few days ago, a .357 magnum will crack an engine block easily, and fits nicely in a tank bag

Tailgaters really piss me off too, even more so on the bike than in the car.  I'm more vulnerable plus the bike can stop a lot faster than the car and the idiot behind me doesn't realize that.  

The first time I took the bike to work I had a woman in a big honking SUV about 6 inches off my rear fender all during the fastest and scariest part of the trip. Fortunately it was only for about 2 miles (nowhere to pull over, it's a secondary road with serious hills, twists and guardrails).

I tried flashing the brakes to no avail. Also tried waving my left hand in a "get back" motion, no luck.
I tried speeding up but was already 5 or 10 mph over the speed limit and I'm still a noob so I started to scare the hell out of myself. And it didn't help because she would just speed up too.

When the road finally split into 2 lanes I pulled into the right one and she roared past me on the left. I shook my fist at her as she passed but she didn't see because she was screaming into her CELL PHONE  :x .  

LQ

sometimes this comes in handy...
http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=5423&tabID=137

The Instructor in my MSF course told all of the students to carry marbles or washers in there pockets to help with the tailgator problem.. seems like good advice in my experience

I read this post this morning and not 6 hours later I was riding along on a 30mph side street and someone was riding my ass. I went to make my left turn and must have caught them offgaurd cus they had to lock up the brakes and hit the horn when I slowed down. If done right they could have killed or seriously injured me. Some people!

Quote from: erijinThe Instructor in my MSF course told all of the students to carry marbles or washers in there pockets to help with the tailgator problem.. seems like good advice in my experience

Yeah, that is bad advice.  Just speed up, move over, tap your brakes, etc.  Throwing dangerous items at a moving car is a bad idea.  Not only could you hurt the driver (or other drivers), but that seems like a VERY good way to make a car want to actually run you over, instead of just riding your a$$.

If you cause an accident by throwing something at a car, or otherwise injure somebody, you could  face both criminal and civil penalties...not good times;  bad times.

One of the funniest things I have seen in the last few years was a guy who had a 200X Mercedes CLK, they have a rear sunshade that comes up with the flip of a switch.  He wrote in big lettters(In tape) "f%$k YOU" on it, so when he was pissed, he'd press the sunshade button, and there would be no question at all as to his feelings about someone... classic.  :cheers:

Just 15 mins ago some sh$t was tailgating at 30 mph .... I turned around and gestured  :nana:  at him... to no avail.... what are people thinking?

While commuting this morning I noted that I was following a wee bit too close to the hearse in front of me.  Bad karma?

Only if you smack into it...   :?

My MSF instructor said that one of his Harley-riding friends chews tobacco while he rides, and if someone gets too close the guy will swing his head up and to the side and spit a big lugey so that it lands on the windshield of the tailgater :lol: .

And no, the guy doesn't wear a full-face helmet!

LQ

When i am in my Jeep and a person tailgates me, while on a curvey two lane road, i slow down to about 25 under the speed limit.  Then drive straight in my lane till they build up enough corage and frustraition to try to pass, as soon as i hear them rev the engine to gain speed, windows are down, i swerve into a spot where passing is impossible, no oncoming cars.  My record is a 20 sec horn blast from an @$$ about 1 ft of my bumper. to them.... :guns:

to all us out there just trying to enjoy the road and not get run over :cheers:  (after the ride of course)

Why would you intentionally trade a crappy and oblivious driver behind you for a crappy and VERY PISSED OFF driver behind you?  That seems to defy common sense.

I'm at the point in my life where I can laugh at the high-strung soccer moms and power dads beating their steering wheels in frustration.  Life's too short for that shaZam!.

Cheers,

Cay

Mainly cause then the person behind me will be watching me, cusing me, but watching me.  Also most of the tim I watch how they are driving and if they are swerving and trying to pass me on a non passing area I do this as I call the police and tell them my location and the license number of the car following me.  I knew most of the cops in Fredericksburg 6 of the 9 times they were doing that they were drunk or messed up on something.  Most of the time I pull over and let them by.

Wow,   I thought Seattle was the tailgating capital.

Now here is an odd one: I get tailgated more in my Volkswagon van than on my GS....and no its not because the van is going slower. I usually do about the same in the van and on the GS on the open freeway.

I was in a psych test testing following distance. The 3  test subjects : afluent (BMW, NICE riding gear), adverage Joe (me in jeans, KZ650), and a "social deviate" on a Harley. The results: cars followed closest to the adverage Joe, farthest from the social diviate.

Moral: If you can't rise to the top, go to the bottom???? I've heard people will honk 5 times as often if the car they are honking at is worth less than their own.

that is right on par with what scratch said earlier about the person behind you being able to see your tail light while they are right on your butt.  Ave Joe = higher tail light than the deviant on the Harley.

Quote from: natedawg120that is right on par with what scratch said earlier about the person behind you being able to see your tail light while they are right on your butt.  Ave Joe = higher tail light than the deviant on the Harley.

I wonder how much is the fear factor. Seriously. Assuming you don't kill him when you run him over, would you rather piss off a Harley dude with tatoos or a guy rding home from his desk job at Microsoft?