Strafing / Tailgating - don't do it.

Alex · March 18th, 2012, 10:18 AM

Saw something on a ride a short while back and wanted to write it up on the site. I was riding on the highway coming home after a Marin ride, and came upon another motorcyclist going in the same direction, and going almost the same speed. From outward appearances, seemed to be a non-newbie. (full gear, riding a newer Concours 14). What I noticed was that several times when he was changing lanes, he would cross behind a car in the adjacent lane with only a few feet to spare. In other words, if he was in lane #3, and came up upon traffic, he would make his way over to lane #1. And then if he hit traffic again, he'd sometimes do the same back to lane #3. The lane-switching wasn't jerky or haphazard, and he smoothly transitioned across the lanes each time. But twice, the clearance behind the car he was strafing in lane #2 was quite small. If car #2 had hit their brakes for any reason at all (something in the road, traffic slowing, flat tire, gets spooked when they see a bike crossing nearby), there's a very good chance he'd smack their bumper before reacting.

I think sometimes riders (and drivers) on the highway start to get zoned out and believe that the cars around them are stationary in place, and just happen to all be moving the same speed down the road. I think it's important to remember that at any time, the speed and even direction of one of the cars can change very quickly, and each one needs to be treated as its own hazard that you have an escape plan for avoiding. Being 3 feet off the bumper of one of them at speed, even if only for a few moments, means there isn't an escape plan and you're only relying on luck that they do continue at exactly the speed you assume.

TL;DR: Don't tailgate other cars, even if only in the process of passing them to get to a lane beside them.

choneofakind · March 18th, 2012, 10:34 AM

Good public service announcement, as this is something I'm sure we're all guilty of at times. I know I catch myself doing this every now and then.

Alex · March 18th, 2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Good public service announcement,

Motofool · March 18th, 2012, 03:02 PM

Thanks, Alex.

I have seen so many objects appear from under the cars ahead of my bike, that I think of the strip of road among their tires as conveyor belts.

iceknyght · March 18th, 2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Wow, it's been a while since I have seen that! Do they even do the 'More you know..' stuff anymore?!

When I ride, I keep a couple car lengths between me and the car in front of me at all times... Since I have only been riding for a few months, I want/need all the cushion I can get! LOL! It makes me nervous seeing the riders that weave in and out of traffic! Car or Motorcycles!

csmith12 · March 18th, 2012, 03:48 PM

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. ijs...

Boom King · March 18th, 2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceknyght

Wow, it's been a while since I have seen that! Do they even do the 'More you know..' stuff anymore?!

The only ones I actually remember are the spoofs that Conan O'Brien used to do. They still crack me up.

Alex, sound advice as always sir.

iceknyght · March 18th, 2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom King

The only ones I actually remember are the spoofs that Conan O'Brien used to do. They still crack me up.

LOL! Those were good too!

The 'real ones' I remember seeing during cartoon commercials after I got home from school (and on Saturday mornings) back in the 80's... God, I am old... LOL!

CZroe · March 19th, 2012, 12:11 AM

Using lane splitting in CA, I could limit my time in close proximity be being only a moment, so I was tempted to do a lot of that. No more, and not just because I'm not in CA!

MikeBudd · March 19th, 2012, 01:14 AM

Also important in case the person you are tailgating randomly swerves to avoid a wheelbarrow in the middle of the highway.

If I had been tailgating I would have not been able to react and probably would be dead.

THEREFORE:

Don't tailgate or you will get *DEATH BY WHEELBARROW!*

CZroe · March 19th, 2012, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBudd

Also important in case the person you are tailgating randomly swerves to avoid a wheelbarrow in the middle of the highway.

If I had been tailgating I would have not been able to react and probably would be dead.

THEREFORE:

Don't tailgate or you will get *DEATH BY WHEELBARROW!*

IT WAS A GOOD DEATH. /Klingon

NDspd · March 19th, 2012, 06:06 AM

@Alex you make a really good point there man, to be truthful, I am guilty of cutting too close. Usually, I make sure there is at least 2-3 car lengths to move through and I keep a safe distance away from the rear of the vehicle I'm trying to pass. But, like you said there is little room for error.

jason_hann53 · March 19th, 2012, 01:06 PM

safe>sorry

LoD575 · March 20th, 2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_hann53

safe>sorry

+1

adouglas · March 22nd, 2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBudd

Also important in case the person you are tailgating randomly swerves to avoid a wheelbarrow in the middle of the highway.

If I had been tailgating I would have not been able to react and probably would be dead.

THEREFORE:

Don't tailgate or you will get *DEATH BY WHEELBARROW!*

Can you imagine showing up at the Pearly Gates after that?

St. Peter (stifling a laugh): "Wait, you... what? How did you die again? That's hysterical!"

alex.s · March 22nd, 2012, 03:01 PM

solid advice especially in heavy traffic. when you go to shoulder check for getting into the target lane, guy in the strafing lane can easily tap the breaks and put you on your ass if you are tailgating. i've made the mistake three times now where i was swinging around someone, went to shoulder check, was too close as the person in front hit the brakes. luckily only once were there any consequences.

March 18th, 2012, 03:02 PM	#4
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Thanks, Alex. I have seen so many objects appear from under the cars ahead of my bike, that I think of the strip of road among their tires as conveyor belts. __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

March 18th, 2012, 03:48 PM	#6
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. ijs... __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 22nd, 2012, 03:01 PM	#16
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	solid advice especially in heavy traffic. when you go to shoulder check for getting into the target lane, guy in the strafing lane can easily tap the breaks and put you on your ass if you are tailgating. i've made the mistake three times now where i was swinging around someone, went to shoulder check, was too close as the person in front hit the brakes. luckily only once were there any consequences. __________________________________________________

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March 18th, 2012, 10:18 AM	#1
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Strafing / Tailgating - don't do it. Saw something on a ride a short while back and wanted to write it up on the site. I was riding on the highway coming home after a Marin ride, and came upon another motorcyclist going in the same direction, and going almost the same speed. From outward appearances, seemed to be a non-newbie. (full gear, riding a newer Concours 14). What I noticed was that several times when he was changing lanes, he would cross behind a car in the adjacent lane with only a few feet to spare. In other words, if he was in lane #3, and came up upon traffic, he would make his way over to lane #1. And then if he hit traffic again, he'd sometimes do the same back to lane #3. The lane-switching wasn't jerky or haphazard, and he smoothly transitioned across the lanes each time. But twice, the clearance behind the car he was strafing in lane #2 was quite small. If car #2 had hit their brakes for any reason at all (something in the road, traffic slowing, flat tire, gets spooked when they see a bike crossing nearby), there's a very good chance he'd smack their bumper before reacting. I think sometimes riders (and drivers) on the highway start to get zoned out and believe that the cars around them are stationary in place, and just happen to all be moving the same speed down the road. I think it's important to remember that at any time, the speed and even direction of one of the cars can change very quickly, and each one needs to be treated as its own hazard that you have an escape plan for avoiding. Being 3 feet off the bumper of one of them at speed, even if only for a few moments, means there isn't an escape plan and you're only relying on luck that they do continue at exactly the speed you assume. TL;DR: Don't tailgate other cars, even if only in the process of passing them to get to a lane beside them. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

March 18th, 2012, 10:34 AM	#2
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Good public service announcement, as this is something I'm sure we're all guilty of at times. I know I catch myself doing this every now and then.

March 19th, 2012, 12:11 AM	#9
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Using lane splitting in CA, I could limit my time in close proximity be being only a moment, so I was tempted to do a lot of that. No more, and not just because I'm not in CA!

March 19th, 2012, 01:14 AM	#10
MikeBudd ninjette.org guru Name: Mike Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): RED 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 304	Also important in case the person you are tailgating randomly swerves to avoid a wheelbarrow in the middle of the highway. If I had been tailgating I would have not been able to react and probably would be dead. THEREFORE: Don't tailgate or you will get DEATH BY WHEELBARROW!

March 19th, 2012, 06:06 AM	#12
NDspd 1/4 English, 3/4 Kick Ass Name: Jeremy Location: Dayton, OH Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, '05 Suzuki SV650S(retired), '11 Ninja 250R(sold) Posts: A lot.	@Alex you make a really good point there man, to be truthful, I am guilty of cutting too close. Usually, I make sure there is at least 2-3 car lengths to move through and I keep a safe distance away from the rear of the vehicle I'm trying to pass. But, like you said there is little room for error.

March 19th, 2012, 01:06 PM	#13
jason_hann53 ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Sask, Canada Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 28	safe>sorry