tailgater

**AverageJoe** · 03-21-2010, 05:19 PM

So I am a very new rider. Today was my second time on the road after about a week parking lots.While going to the inlaws house on a quiet stretch of road I get to "enjoy" someone who wants me to go faster. The speed limit is 25...which I was doing , and he keeps driving his SUV right up on me. I moved far right, tried to waive him around etc to no avail. He was less than 2 feet ffrom my rear tire at least once. This being said my nerves were shot when I got to the drive where I turn into the Inlaws. While taking this tricky turn( real hard right) I lost control and almost went flying off the bike.Shear luck saved me this time but now I am pissed to no end. In the words of my uncle , who got me into riding, "Never trust a cage dweller while on the road"!!!

**cagie** · 03-21-2010, 05:40 PM

Be aware that on the Rebel, 25 does not mean you are actually doing 25. The speedo reads faster than what you are going. I think the difference averages about 10%. So if you were doing 25 indicated, you were probably going closer to 20 -22 mph. That's why the tailgator.

If you can pull to the far right side to let these people go by. You should also drop your left hand down to indicate for them to back off. Flash your brakes a few times. DON'T do anything to agrivate them (like shooting the finger). You may be mad, but they have a 3000 lb weapon at their disposal.

JunkyardDog · 03-21-2010, 06:45 PM

The speedometer on every single motorcycle I have ever owned, when they worked, were seriously optimistic, including the Rebel. Cars and trucks are the same way. I have never seen an accurate speedometer, when compared to GPS. They all read high.

Still, if the moron had plenty of room to pass, he should have. This is the kind of fool I love to play games with when on a much faster bike, but you can't do that on the Rebel, because it is not fast enough to outrun an SUV. On a Rebel, I would have just pulled completely off the road, and flipped him off as he went by. Very few cagers are going to try to run over you if you are just standing there. Just attempting to is attempted murder. I have also never had one brave enough to get out of their cage to confront me, they feel safe in their 7,000 pound tank, but aren't about to get into a fight. I also have a concealed weapons permit, and often carry one. Jerry.

**AverageJoe** · 03-21-2010, 07:05 PM

He had plenty of room for a pass and in hindsight I shouldve just pulled over and let him drive on...or pull over with me...that wouldve been fun. Regardless there is no excuse for trying to bully someone on a bike. OK IM done *****in now, time to move on.

**cagie** · 03-21-2010, 07:31 PM

yep, FIDO.

**star_deceiver** · 03-21-2010, 07:34 PM

Spark plugs and ball bearings (1/2 inch and bigger) bounce nice and high when dropped at speed... but will bring you more drama then it's worth!

Easiest thing to do is to pull right off the road, get his/her licence plate number and call the cops! Tell them the story amd let them deal with it!

**flitecontrol** · 03-21-2010, 09:18 PM

Welcome to the real world of motorcycle riding!

One technique I picked up on a motorcycle safety site was "The Wave", no, it's a wave for tailgaters. Put your left arm down and slowly "sweep" them back, like your hand was a broom. If they back off, thank them with a thumbs up signal. If they don't, pull over and let them by when it is safe. Works about 80% of the time.

While throwing something in their direction may give a great deal of satisfaction, it is illegal and could also get you pinned against a guard rail or rolled under a cage. Keep your cool, realize there are idiots on the road, and live to ride again.

JunkyardDog · 03-22-2010, 04:41 AM

There are tailgaters, and there are tailgaters. If one gets to close, as far as I am concerned, it is attempted assault with a deadly weapon, and I will respond accordingly. On a fast bike it's easy, you just run off and leave them. On a small slow bike, you may have to defend yourself. Most of them are just being a$$holes, but some of them are actually dangerous. That's what Mr. Beretta is for. Jerry.

**flitecontrol** · 03-23-2010, 04:56 PM

Unless it is clear to a neutral observer (like a police officer, not the rider) that the tailgater is trying to do bodily harm, Jerry, it most definitely is not attempted assault. The law doesn't recognize an individual's ability to differentiate between close and too close. That is the police's job. But what you describe definitely sounds like reckless driving or possibly negligent endangerment (judgement call for the officer who sees it), but, again, not attempted assault. However, just pulling a gun is considered a terroristic threat/road rage/attempted assault (depends on how your state defines it), and if you fire that gun at the cager you have most definitely comitted assault or attempted murder (depends on how lenient the prosecutor feels when he charges you). As a result, you will probably wind up in prision for a long time, which is where the law says you belong.

There are enough hot heads on the road as it is. Jerry, in another thread you suggested that bikers should hold themselves to a higher standard of vehicle operation. I don't think riders need to be packing heat to shoot tailgaters that are bugging us. While there have been many times the guy riding my tail would be dead if thoughts could kill, that is as far as it should go. While the person talking on the phone and eating a burger/adjusting the radio/putting on makeup/getting something off the back seat/combing their hair/changing CDs may appear to be a homicidal maniac in our mirrors, they are probably an average Jane or Joe who doesn't have a clue about the hazards involved. Remember, you can usually turn on your blinkers, pull over, and let them pass. Whoops, I'm wrong. Jerry, you can't because you removed your turn signals. But if you are sufficiently in control of yourself, you can calmly give the proper hand signal, hopefully with all fingers extended. I doubt there are many folks left that even know what hand signals mean, but that is neither here nor there.

**Colours** · 03-23-2010, 05:24 PM

basically i do the same as i do in a car...i slow down. Think i should have a bumper sticker on the car "i slow down for tailgaters" .

I do like the idea of the left hand wave and will do it the next time it happens but have found slowing down works a treat (it also decreases their stopping distance). The important thing is not to feel pressurised into increasing to a speed you are uncomfortable or may get a ticket.

I do like the bumper sticker "this car may be old,,,but its paid for,,,,and in front of you"

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