Total Motorcycle Community Forums

beardking wrote:Because of my newbieness, if I come up behind another rider, I stay behind them. If I'm in front, I'm in the middle of the lane basically signaling that I'd prefer to be left alone in my lane. It's not me being rude, it's me being safe. I know that sometimes, when I take off, I'm still a bit wobbly. If someone was next to me during one of my less graceful starts, then I'd be afraid for them as well as myself. Maybe once the newness wears off of me I'll be more accommodating to others, but for now, my lane is mine.

I don't care for other bikers coming up beside me either, but once I have more experience and skill, I don't imagine it will be a problem. For right now though, I need space! Too bad the cagers won't give us space either!

beardking wrote: If I'm in front, I'm in the middle of the lane basically signaling that I'd prefer to be left alone in my lane.

You might want to rethink your position at stop lights. The center of the lane is where all of the slippery stuff from leaky cages ends up. Oil and antifreeze build-up can make for a very unhappy stop or start. I have gone down before when braking hard in the center part of the lane at an intersection. Even if it looks dry, you will get less traction there.

scan wrote:I agree about not doing it to someone unless you know them well. When I ride with Loonette I always pull up along the side at the light. If I'm with buddies we line up side by side at the light too. We always ride staggered though, and never ride side by side. I would never pull up next to someone, and I'd be annoyed if someone did it to me.

This sums it up pretty well for me. If I'm riding with people I know, we'll pull up next to eachother and usually end up yapping while waiting for the light to change.

But if it is a stranger I pull in on the opposite side of the lane behind them (e.g. staggered). As others have said, the whole lane is technically theirs and I'm not going to invade their space. I don't get annoyed when someone pulls in next to me (why bother? not like it'll change the situation), but it's just not something I'd do myself.

I think there are two questions here: 1) the etiquette of sharing the lane at the stop light and 2) talking to strangers.

I'm fine with another bike coming in and sharing my lane, I sit in the far left section at a stop light and 50% of the time I have a car sharing my lane. Might as well invite a fellow biker to join and help block me from the crazy cagers.

I'm not interested in talking to unknown bikers at stop lights. Just like I'm not interested in talking to strangers in line at the grocery store. I think that may be partially a regional thing.

Funny story: Earlier this year I had a guy on a cruiser with very loud pipes pull up next to me at a light while I was on my 250. He shouted over, "Hey! Is your bike running??" "Uh. Yeah."

Generally speaking, I pull up behind other bikes and stop so it's staggered. Unless they're going strtaight and I'm turning right. I'm cool with people pulling up next to me. Though if it's a cute girl on the bike, I may just have to break my own rule.

Usually I won't, again its an ettiquette thing. But if someone moves right to the edge of their lane in an obvious manner to make space for me, I'll move right on up and chat

flynrider wrote:

beardking wrote: If I'm in front, I'm in the middle of the lane basically signaling that I'd prefer to be left alone in my lane.

You might want to rethink your position at stop lights. The center of the lane is where all of the slippery stuff from leaky cages ends up. Oil and antifreeze build-up can make for a very unhappy stop or start. I have gone down before when braking hard in the center part of the lane at an intersection. Even if it looks dry, you will get less traction there.

I guess I should clarify the middle of the lane comment, basically I meant a little closer to the middle of the lane. I try to remember not to stop (or ride even) in the center of the lane for the reasons mentioned. Of course, it's a hard habit to break since I'm used to taking up the whole lane with my truck.

I've been startled once or twice by someone just pulling up beside me, so I try not to do it to others. I stop about 1/4 car length back and just wait.

I've only had one person pull up beside me so far, and they were nice enough. I didn't mind I like having a quick chat with other bikes at a long light. If I'm in the right lane and going straight I try to pull up so the person behind me can make their right turn though. I probably wont pull up to someone that hasn't signaled me to, but I don't mind it at all as long as they aren't moronic and give me right of way when traffic gets going again.

I love it when I see outlaw riders stopped at lights in front of me, I try to time it perfectly, as Im comming down behind them in between the cars, I slow until the lights are about to change, then absolutley gun it past them just as they are taking off, then I spend the next few minutes trying to get away from them as I have just scared the dodo out of them, and made them look bad to other road users.

I have never been caught up with yet, Ive done it to big groups of them as well. Probelm for them is HD's are not quick off the mark, and no where as easy to get through traffic as my bike. Im sure my day will come


Apart from outlaw riders, Ill stop and chat to anyone at lights, Ill lane share with them and have no probs with them sharing with me.