Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

You asked...and I'm feeling honest...so here's how I deal with it.

I found out a while ago that bikes accelerate heaps quicker than cars, so first thing I do is create some space using the throttle. If I can't get away because the traffic is really thick and covering all three lanes without gaps, this usually means it's travelling slowly. So then, I lane split, varying my position from lane to lane depending on how close the cars are up ahead! I found that in almost stopped traffic, 100kph is an ideal splitting speed allowing little time for the tin tops to see you and attempt to close the gap. If some dick attempts to close the gap, I find...providing you are wearing knee armour...that a knee or a boot placed strategically can smash a side mirror into smitherines instantly!

If I am stuck on Parramatta rd in the sections where it's too skinny to spilt, then I just suck it up till I get to the bits where I can split again. Once again, higher speeds are encouraged while splitting. However, avoid wheelstands in peak hour. Sometimes ya gotta stop in a hurry and it can wreck the steering head bearings in no time! Have fun and I hope this helps!

Ahh yes, the old "you wont be needin that mirror f-head !!" is my fave

I was on another forum and they recommended a fistfull of 20c pieces thrown behind at 80k's generally keeps f-wits in cars in line !

20 cent peices? fark that waste of money. Just don't throw out your old spark plugs!

The important thing to look for is blind spots.... NEVER be in a blindspot of a car/truck for longer than 1 second (and avoid even that if you can)....

The reason why people come into your lane is because you are in their blind spot...

Car drivers always asume that if they cant see a motorbike it is because they have gone somewhere else.... with a car they assume they are still in the same space..

as far as your position left or right, doesnt matter, be even with their drivers window so that they see you.. if they start merging into your lane while you are still there HONK at them. Do no gesture, it is not personal...

i had my fix today of 4wheel p platers, well she might have a few scatches on the side of her car since i went up the side of it.
Coming home from work was behind 2 p platers in the right lane, now it merges in from 2 lanes to one, and up abit further is a set of lights { this is a dangerous part of werrington county with a few deaths over the years} all of a sudden somebody slams on the brakes and the p plater infront of me doesnt have any brake lights so there is me sliding up her arse, the back end went sideways and lucky it was to the right that i could flick the arse end and go between the cars but ended up cliping her side, lucky it was only my arm really that hit her car and maybe the side of the bike, but have no damage to the bike thankgod...

Agree with most of what's been said here - Dave#3, Hoffy and Wattie in particular seem to actually have sensible posts
Stay out of blind spots and maximise your reaction distance.
In time you'll learn to 'read' other drivers a little, but that just gives you more reaction time and shouldn't change the distance/position you keep.

However, I've been taken out twice, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Listen to everyone else though
ty

I stick to the side of the lane closest to other traffic, be it coming my way, or going with me. as i pass, i move to the opposite side of the lane, and then back once i/they pass.

this is a very basic rundown of what was my interpretation of the roadcraft section of roadready, moving around in your lane may have the cagers thinking that im a dick, but at least im a dick that they have noticed.

maximize your reaction space, and the horn is there for a reason.

also, unpopped popcorn kernels are great for freaking out drivers, drop it in front of them, and as it bounces around in their engine bay, they start thinking something is wrong and back off. otherwise a bag full of laser printer toner will encourage them to pull over and leave you alone