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How do you handle tailgaters?

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  #11  
Old 06-21-2010 | 12:17 AM
skameigh's Avatar
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i usually move over if possible. If not then Ill find somewhere to stop and let them pass. Id rather them be in front of me than behind me
 
  #12  
Old 06-21-2010 | 01:01 AM
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make distance, or let em go around.
 
  #13  
Old 06-21-2010 | 01:12 AM
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I've actually had somebody bump my rear tire. I then zipped through an opening between the car in front of me and a truck (hauling dirt bikes) beside me. I put enough distance ahead so that when the jackass got through he had room to get past me. I thought I might have pissed the guy off in the truck because I pulled off to assess any damage and he pulled over to give me the plate number of the guy that bumped me. Thanks to his passengers they witnessed the contact.
I had to change my shorts after that happened. I thought I was going to loose the bike and hit the pavement surrounded by other vehicles.

The outcome was that there was no serious damage to the bike or myself, but going to court with witnesses to press charges on wreckless driving, driving too close, and leaving the scene of an accident (funny how they ruled that strictly on him making contact with me). With a previous record his license was suspended for 6 months and pay an $800 fine.
 
  #14  
Old 06-21-2010 | 01:21 AM
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Another thing, many times an aggressive driver will be stopped behind my bike at a traffic light and be staring directly at my bike or myself.

Usually at a traffic light, people are into their own thoughts, or looking to the left or right at something.

An aggressive driver (from my experience) will be stopped way too close to my rear tire and the driver will be looking at my back.

I dunno what they are thinking, that I will do some magic trick for them or amuse them with some wheelie or endo?

But there ya go...
 
  #15  
Old 06-21-2010 | 01:27 AM
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Depends on the driver. If it's just some jackass riding my rear because that's how they ride everyone, I either change lanes or make the other lane look more appealing... AKA, do 5 under the speed limit. Those people are generally in a rush to get somewhere really fast and will take the opening that'll help them get there quickest. Going slower than the speed of traffic will make them want to go around you.

Aggressive drivers OTOH are a completely different animal. You have to consider it may be personal, or as close to personal as someone that's never met you holding a grudge for something you never did. You cannot leave them on your six cause you don't know if they'll escalate. When faced with a situation you cannot predict, you need to assume the worst: that he'll run you down and flee the scene.

An aggressive driver trying to specifically harass you needs to get dusted. WOT + turns. Get as far away from him as I can as fast as I can. Worse comes to worse, I'll tell the cop the entire situation and take the ticket if I need to. My life is worth far, far more than a couple hundred dollar ticket
 
  #16  
Old 06-21-2010 | 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Unknown
Try waving them to slow down and or to back off. That usually works. Rather then responding aggressively at first contact.
It's surprising how well that works.
 
  #17  
Old 06-21-2010 | 11:15 AM
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I'll tell you that as far as you vs. a cager you definitely have the advantage with regards to acceleration and manuverability. If its me, I'll definitely dust the fool who's tailgating me. Especially here in NJ, where the majority of the population seem to be able to get their licenses @ k-mart.
 
  #18  
Old 06-21-2010 | 03:45 PM
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I usually just tap the brakes enough to make the tail light come on several fast times and if that fails, usually turn (if its safe) and give them a nice stare and speed up to get ahead and then I turn off the road.. Usually I ride back roads for that reason and the fact that stop lights SUCK w/ gear on and temps 85+
 
  #19  
Old 06-22-2010 | 12:42 AM
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I usually let them pass me. I find that there are a lot of guys riding your run of the mill econobox who feels they need to prove that they can keep up with a bike or whatever and after they've passed me, they slow down considerably at which point I just cruise right on by if they start going too slow.

If being nice doesn't work, I do a barrel roll.
 
  #20  
Old 06-22-2010 | 11:09 AM
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1. tap the brakes
2. try and find an opening and let them pass
if none of the above works
3. slow wayyy the freak down and when they finally decide to pass you , speed up and then when they get back behind you slow wayy down again.. (repeat as necessary)
4. (if you come to a stop light) put your kick stand down, get off the bike and have a polite conversation about the proper and safe distance needed when following another motor vehicle

had a car cut off our group while riding one day there were 5 of us. so we surrounded the car while driving and dropped the speed down to a complete stop in the middle of the backroads we were on . lol that was an awesome day
 


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