General Topics/Tech Tips Discussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.

Tailgaters

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2020 | 05:03 PM
  #1  
EagleJohn323's Avatar
EagleJohn323
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Stanly County, NC
Default Tailgaters

The whole issue is a major peeve of mine, no matter what I’m driving. Yesterday I was on my way home from work at about 5:15 pm, right around sunset. It’s a 4 lane state highway, grass median, speed limit 55. I’m running with traffic at around 60-65 in the left lane...I avoid the right lane thru there, too many people suddenly slow to turn right. I see some guy in a newer model Ford Taurus coming fast in the right lane, he dives behind me about 6’ off my rear tire, and doesn’t back off. I can’t move over, there’s a car next to me...same car he got behind me to pass. I’m 2 seconds behind the car in front of me, so speeding up just traps me behind him and Super Sphincter behind me. I turn and glance back, hoping he gets my upset, but no...he’s only backed off to 10-12’. I give him brake lights without slowing, and he doesn’t slow. Every piece of “professional” advice I’ve ever heard (I’ve driven for a living since 1986) says slow down. So I roll out of the throttle a bit, he flashes his lights, so I give him brake lights again. By now we’ve BARELY cleared the car that was on the right and Bozo jerks right and flies by...his left tires IN MY LANE. When I got my breath back, I gassed it, but he quickly turned left and I let him go. I was still shaking when I got home. Thoughts? Suggestions?
 
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2020 | 05:58 PM
  #2  
J F GO's Avatar
J F GO
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 17,750
Likes: 3,347
From: maine
Default

My thought is I'm glad you're okay and you didn't escalate the situation into something you would regret or have to explain to your family.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 04:48 AM
  #3  
guido4198's Avatar
guido4198
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 9,870
From: Florida's gorgeous East coast
Default

"When I got my breath back, I gassed it, but he quickly turned left and I let him go."
Good Choice.
Whenever I see someone succumbing to the lure of "road rage revenge"...I'm reminded of a phrase from my uncle Nunzio about such people:
sta cercando la morte.

 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 05:50 AM
  #4  
YZR's Avatar
YZR
Grand HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 2,773
From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan
Default

That's one of my pet peeves too. Normally I'll just either change lanes (if I can) or slow until they pass. It's not worth escalating to a confrontation, they won't change their ways anyhow.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 05:50 AM
  #5  
Yankee Dog's Avatar
Yankee Dog
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 2,987
From: Brighton, MI
Default

Just move over and let the jack off go ahead of you then get back in your preferred lane. While driving in a cage it's a different story, your protected. But on a bike your vulnerable, and you gotta watch out, idiots everywhere...let him go be an idiot behind someone else. I know the type, they are in a hurry and expect everyone else to get out of their way...YD
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 06:04 AM
  #6  
kel03's Avatar
kel03
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17,684
Likes: 6,061
From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Default

Two wheels never beat four wheels in those situations, just hope it never happens again, but it will. Lots of those dinks out there.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 06:21 AM
  #7  
Kawickrice's Avatar
Kawickrice
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,271
From: West Central Florida
Default

Thats why in the old days you carried pinballs in your coat pocket. With enough practice you could bounce it right through the radiator.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 07:26 AM
  #8  
Yankee Dog's Avatar
Yankee Dog
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 2,987
From: Brighton, MI
Default

Originally Posted by Kawickrice
Thats why in the old days you carried pinballs in your coat pocket. With enough practice you could bounce it right through the radiator.
Reach in your jacket pocket and grab a hand full of ball bearings, put hand back on left handlebar grip, and slowly dribble a few out of your hand as you ride...however some are too stupid to know whats happening and the ones that do will get pissed and try to run you over, so best advice is let em go on by. YD
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 07:32 AM
  #9  
Durango Dave's Avatar
Durango Dave
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
Default

Just keep right except to pass. Sometimes it's easier to sit in the left lane thinking no one should be going faster than this but if you keep right traffic moves smoothly and you don't have these problems.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2020 | 08:11 AM
  #10  
touchdown's Avatar
touchdown
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,354
Likes: 2,405
From: Lititz Pa
Default

Move the hell over left lane is for passing and you wont have any problems. After being a over the road truck driver for 45 years your are the person who the pain in the ***. If your going to ride the left lane look in the mirror if you see someone coming up to you move the hell over, I do when riding in the left lane. I think I know your are going to have some kind of a comment so jest to let you when I retired I had over 3.5 million miles without a accident and have the awards to prove it.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 AM.