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haithabu
Standard Member
232 Posts
Canmore, Alberta
Canada
Honda
Varadero
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Posted - 10/22/2009 : 3:22 PM
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Shadyrider: quote: My Shadow has a headlight modulator which can be activated via the horn button....Very effective in being seen.
I like that idea! |
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rkfire
Advanced Member
667 Posts
Stratford, CT
USA
Suzuki
Bandit
Peer Review:
Blocked
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Posted - 10/23/2009 : 1:35 PM
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I don't know, and I certainly didn't have your real time perspective, but from the last picture it appears to me that the pickup truck was pulling into the left lane even before the red car had passed.
I don't see anything wrong with that either, provided the left lane was clear. I don't see it being much different than traffic merging on a 4 lane city street except on the highway the speed is higher.
No doubt a motorcyclist will wonder if he is seen or not, but that's always the case. In this instance, I don't think I'd want to get into the left lane, but I might want to close up the gap to the red car, just to use him as a blocker. Slowing down and making space is a viable method.
I too am leary of flashing lights. Get a modulator if you want that effect. I flash my lights to signal the other guy to go ahead, and it seems to work fine for that purpose. |
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nedj10
Starting Member
5 Posts
Alpharetta, ga
USA
Yamaha
XS400 Seca
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 1:39 PM
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Just a thought,
but from the pics we see the truck is a commercial one, with a name and number on its door. No need to be impolite but judging by the trucks size the owner of the business is probably the driver. A polite phone call to him, telling him who you are and what he did might leave an impression on him that might make him look twice next time.
Ned
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Mystic Red
Senior Member
294 Posts
Twin Lakes, Idaho
USA
BMW
K1100LT
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Posted - 11/02/2009 : 8:47 AM
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quote:
Maybe he did see you. I see people do this all the time. Because you were in the right lane, perhaps he felt it was ok to pull out into the left lane.
Perfectly legal. Would be illegal to head for the right lane.
quote: To be honest, I felt the OP handled this situation quite properly. He was aware of his surroundings and reacted accordingly. What surprised me was the degree of importance he placed on a situation that I would consider a normal occurance. In this situation I would have expected the truck to have cut out across both lanes without seeing me and I would have prepared for that. If he did indeed perform to my expectations, I would have been stopped or slowing on the paved shoulder and simply saying to myself "see I told ya". If he simply made the turn into the lane closest to him as his front wheels would indicate, then I would have simply continued on satisfied that this was a non-occurance. Getting bent out of shape over driver error or stupidity will simply serve to keep one in a constant state of agitation and undoubtedly lead to rider error at some point due to this distraction. When we ride, we assume the risk. To me assuming that risk is to expect the worst case scenario, ride accordingly and welcome the outcomes that are non-events.
Well said. People will treat you like you are just another vehicle, not a vulnerable one and to be expected to treated differently because you are on a bike is not realistic. That being said, I always like the guys who never come to a complete stop or start rolling into traffic before you get past them. Doesn't bother me too much with four wheels under me but really gets to me at highway speeds on two wheels. |
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Peter Darby
Junior Member
39 Posts
Manassas, va
USA
Kawasaki
Nomad
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Posted - 12/09/2009 : 8:16 AM
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It looks like you did everything well (I describe any potential wreck I didn't have as good). By the way that is a great road to ride on a nice day. Looking at your pictures and basing my opinion on just what I can see I would probably have done things differently. In my case I don't really care whether they see me or not if I can get them to act like they do. I have found that here in NVA people tend to pull out as soon as they think they can. The road can be visibly clear after you for a mile and they will pull out if they think they can get away with it.With a visible red car and a police vehicle in front of me that he was obviously waiting for, I might have stayed behind the red car close enough that the truck wouldn't have been an isse. After I got passed the red zone I would have slowed back to what I wanted to ride and let traffic continue on without me. This of course is strictly situational dependent and can change easily. For example if there were cars behind me I might have stayed exactly as you did.)
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cincyjacket
New Member
14 Posts
Redondo Beach, CA
USA
Yamaha
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Posted - 01/25/2010 : 3:12 PM
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I would have slowed down and created a bigger gap between you and the cars in front of you.
That way the truck would have had plenty of space to do his thing... whether it's cross the street or turn left.
Or if he chose not to act on that gap, there would have been no visual obstructions between you and him. |
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