Lately I've been starting to think a lot of drivers seem to slow down - noticeably - when I come up behind them. I'm no speed demon, I'm generally one of those 10 over the limit people no matter what I'm driving, but I'm wondering if it might be a response to the assumption that I AM fast and reckless because I'm a punk on a yellow sportbike and people respond by trying to make me go slow, or if I'm distracting them and they're paying too much attention behind them and not in front, I don't know.

Does anyone else experience this?
What is your explanation?
What do YOU do when a motorcyclist comes up behind you when you're driving?

I usually try to keep the vehicle more to the right side of the lane, to give the biker better visibility around me and so i can monitor him better in my side mirror.

 

im definately more cautious and pay more attention for their sake. Ill brake sooner and slower sometimes ill tap the brake to flash my brake lights a little bit before i have to start slowing down to get their attention. Stuff like that to prevent as much as possible.

As far as other drivers when im riding i get the same reactions most of the time since they probably are thinking were reckless because were on bikes

 

I think they do that on purpose basically saying "go around me" is what I assume and therefore I do. So I guess they kinda put us into that "young fast punk" catagory by slowing down.?? What choice do we riders have?

 

Im also a 10 over rider. Ive tried doing the speed limit like other cars are 9/10 times a car cuts into my lane and i have to pull an avoidance manuever. It never fails.

When i come up behind people i notice they begin to slow down or if im coming up on the side of them the feel the need to speed up. I think its because alot of cagers place us is in the young and reckless bracket.


Ive had people yell at me/stomp there brakes, and flip me off for being 1 1/2 car lengths behind them. Heck even had a guy follow me to a gas station saying i need to stop being a reckless punk. I think it has to do with peoples depth perception alot.

EDIT: i didnt comment on the cage part cause i dont have one : )

 

While driving my cage I look out for bikers n let them by if I can, I dont slow down for them tho. But I have noticed other cagers tend to slow down when we're behind them, but I never assume its because they are letting me go around unless they are signalling me to do so or its clear and I can over take them. Other than that I treat all cagers like they are out to take my life

 

They slow down when I get behind them too.... I don't know, but when they do I just go around them.

 

I drive the same I usually do, except I try to pay more attention because I know they can out handle the car in every way, and are able to do things you wouldn't expect from regular traffic.

I am of the opinion Loud pipes save lives, but don't be a jerk about it.

 

Pretty much do what you guys do in a cager. Pay a little more attention to whats going on around me while keeping the biker in mind. I don't have a bike so I can't say anything towards that

 

I don't know why but whenever I go out, everyone stays as FAR away from me as possible.

It's either they're 30 feet back or it's like they try and race me from a light to get as far away from me as they can... (i'm talking minivans here o_o)

OR if they are directly in front of me, they GUN IT when they notice me. (I only speed 5ish over btw) It's weird as hell lol. I'm like the plague or something. I guess people are really afraid of bikes around here... They aren't too common where I live.