M40 this morning...Harley rider trying to filter
Discussion
The M40 was as good as closed this morning between J2 and J1 because a lorry had shed it's load, of what looked like some sort of wooden roof structure.
I was on the bike, so didn't really care about the huge tailback - I just filtered through at a steady pace, as you do.
All was well in the world until I got stuck behind some tosser on a Harley.
He couldn't balance his huge mass of motorcycle properly, and because he had stupid great panniers with tassels hanging either side, he was having trouble getting through (although to be honest, he had tons of room and simply lacked ability).
Would he move over to let me passed....no.
The worst thing was, every time he came up behind a car which was positioned a little too far over to the left, he was on the horn, revving his farty engine and making hand gestures to the drivers
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
I was on the bike, so didn't really care about the huge tailback - I just filtered through at a steady pace, as you do.
All was well in the world until I got stuck behind some tosser on a Harley.
He couldn't balance his huge mass of motorcycle properly, and because he had stupid great panniers with tassels hanging either side, he was having trouble getting through (although to be honest, he had tons of room and simply lacked ability).
Would he move over to let me passed....no.
The worst thing was, every time he came up behind a car which was positioned a little too far over to the left, he was on the horn, revving his farty engine and making hand gestures to the drivers
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
tfm said:
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
If he had panniers with tassles, I wouldn't use the term 'biker' for him at all......
Sounds a right tool judging by the way he was riding.
However, anyone who attempts to use a 'bagger' for a commute is daft IMHO. I've only got a Dyna and I wouldn't attempt to use that for a commute into London. A run into London on a weekend is about as close as I bother to use it for a commute......nimble they ain't. So, many times the brain see's a situation that was easy on my Ducati Monster, and then a nano-second later the brain registers, err......your riding the Harley.....forget it!
hornetrider said:
...If I ever get caught up behind someone filtering slowly through a motorway tailback, I'll swap left to L1/L2 rather than wait behind them. Then move back over to L2/L3 at the next space / opportunity.
Me too. L1/L2 is not a place I like to be as that's where the least aware driver tend to lurk and lane-swap, but it's better than being stuck behind such a numpty.I used to give such poor filterers a blast of the horn, but it tended to either scare the hell out them slowing them even more or turn them into raging madmen
so I if they see me and don't move over, I just go around them.A, probably lame, plea / question from a slow filterer
I'm a new rider - so I filter more slowly than many. On my way home there's a stretch of dual carriage/triple carriage A road - with a 40 mph limit. It's often slow moving or at stand still. I tend to filter through at about 30mph (assuming there's room and no lane changing) if they're standing still. if it's up to 40mph I stop filtering and just join the traffic.
There's also a 30mph tunnel on the way which is usually at standstill/very slow moving on the way into work. Through there I tend to filter at about 25mph.
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
I'm a new rider - so I filter more slowly than many. On my way home there's a stretch of dual carriage/triple carriage A road - with a 40 mph limit. It's often slow moving or at stand still. I tend to filter through at about 30mph (assuming there's room and no lane changing) if they're standing still. if it's up to 40mph I stop filtering and just join the traffic.
There's also a 30mph tunnel on the way which is usually at standstill/very slow moving on the way into work. Through there I tend to filter at about 25mph.
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
sdowse said:
A, probably lame, plea / question from a slow filterer
I'm a new rider - so I filter more slowly than many. On my way home there's a stretch of dual carriage/triple carriage A road - with a 40 mph limit. It's often slow moving or at stand still. I tend to filter through at about 30mph (assuming there's room and no lane changing) if they're standing still. if it's up to 40mph I stop filtering and just join the traffic.
There's also a 30mph tunnel on the way which is usually at standstill/very slow moving on the way into work. Through there I tend to filter at about 25mph.
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
I'm an 'old' rider and I don't tend to filter through stationary traffic at much more than 30mph. In fact, I've been making a conscious effort to slow down as complacency meant I was getting faster and faster. I do filter at about car speed + 20mph through slower moving traffic, though. I sometimes have to check my speed as I find I'm still filtering through quite fast traffic.I'm a new rider - so I filter more slowly than many. On my way home there's a stretch of dual carriage/triple carriage A road - with a 40 mph limit. It's often slow moving or at stand still. I tend to filter through at about 30mph (assuming there's room and no lane changing) if they're standing still. if it's up to 40mph I stop filtering and just join the traffic.
There's also a 30mph tunnel on the way which is usually at standstill/very slow moving on the way into work. Through there I tend to filter at about 25mph.
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
Don't worry about the speed you filter. Just move aside to let other, faster filterers past, if need be.
sdowse said:
I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
You should only filter at speeds you can react at within.I'm a fast filterer and have been for many years from back in my London courier days and ultimately if someone did a sudden and unexpected move on me, I'd be off. In reality though there are clear signs of when a car is about to pull a lane change on you. They edge out a smidge or brake a little to give room for the manouvre, look in the mirrors (even if they don't don't see you) etc. and you learn to read these signs.
Also, slow down for junctions, speed cameras, filter lanes (on and off) etc. where irratic behaviour is more likely.
On a 3 lane road, stay out of 1/2 as that's where the dopier drivers tend to be. Try to filter between cars rather than when there's a gap that a car could leap into.
There are lots of indications to potential numpty manouvres, but they only come with time, so stick with a speed you're happy with
In the meantime just use your mirrors regularly and let the faster guys through
95% of riders I come accross on the daily slog on the M11 and A12 are slow filterers, but as long as I'm not stuck behind them for miles it's not a problem.I see some crazy filtering most days with some riders doing 90+ in a 50 with inches to spare, but I just move over and let them get on with it.
aeropilot said:
tfm said:
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
If he had panniers with tassles, I wouldn't use the term 'biker' for him at all......Sounds a right tool judging by the way he was riding.
However, anyone who attempts to use a 'bagger' for a commute is daft IMHO. I've only got a Dyna and I wouldn't attempt to use that for a commute into London. A run into London on a weekend is about as close as I bother to use it for a commute......nimble they ain't. So, many times the brain see's a situation that was easy on my Ducati Monster, and then a nano-second later the brain registers, err......your riding the Harley.....forget it!
This forum seems to be full of people moaning about everybody else & wot a t
t they are for their riding, outfit, choice of bike, wheel size & how they approach every aspect of biking. The people moaning on the other hand seem to know everything about everything.
I have a Springer & use it for anything I like! Especially the farty exhaust. No tassles though.
AcidRich said:
aeropilot said:
tfm said:
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
If he had panniers with tassles, I wouldn't use the term 'biker' for him at all......Sounds a right tool judging by the way he was riding.
However, anyone who attempts to use a 'bagger' for a commute is daft IMHO. I've only got a Dyna and I wouldn't attempt to use that for a commute into London. A run into London on a weekend is about as close as I bother to use it for a commute......nimble they ain't. So, many times the brain see's a situation that was easy on my Ducati Monster, and then a nano-second later the brain registers, err......your riding the Harley.....forget it!
This forum seems to be full of people moaning about everybody else & wot a t
t they are for their riding, outfit, choice of bike, wheel size & how they approach every aspect of biking. The people moaning on the other hand seem to know everything about everything.
I have a Springer & use it for anything I like! Especially the farty exhaust. No tassles though.
.....But you have to admit there are bikers...and then there are 'bikers' with tassels.This biker I got stuck behind was riding like an ass + he had tassels.
As for the filtering speed. +25mph over what the traffic is doing, within the speed limit is more than enough IMO. You're perfectly within the law and filtering safely.
At leat you're moving and if anything happens you can stop pretty quickly. If the road is wet I'll drop down to +20mph.
At the end of the day, the faster you go, the further you'll be thrown if someone crosses your path
Edited by tfm on Tuesday 30th October 17:40
AcidRich said:
aeropilot said:
tfm said:
This sort of riding gives bikers a bad name...you sir, are a tosser of the highest order.
If he had panniers with tassles, I wouldn't use the term 'biker' for him at all......Sounds a right tool judging by the way he was riding.
However, anyone who attempts to use a 'bagger' for a commute is daft IMHO. I've only got a Dyna and I wouldn't attempt to use that for a commute into London. A run into London on a weekend is about as close as I bother to use it for a commute......nimble they ain't. So, many times the brain see's a situation that was easy on my Ducati Monster, and then a nano-second later the brain registers, err......your riding the Harley.....forget it!
This forum seems to be full of people moaning about everybody else & wot a t
t they are for their riding, outfit, choice of bike, wheel size & how they approach every aspect of biking. The people moaning on the other hand seem to know everything about everything.
I have a Springer & use it for anything I like! Especially the farty exhaust. No tassles though.
Noted. I can't filter anyway. The beachbars are 36" wide 
personally i try not to filter at more than about car speed +20mph, often less if the gaps are small. you need to be able to react to what happens so pick a speed that suits you. just watch your mirrors & let any bikes that catch you past when you can.
on the odd occasion i find myself catching another filterer i hang back a bit as i dont want to push them faster than they want to filter. im still beating the traffic so its no skin off my nose.
btw - i only passed in january so i fully remember feeling like your holding people up & so forth. only muppets arent cool with it, anyone with a brain would understand why you are slower/more careful than them.
on the odd occasion i find myself catching another filterer i hang back a bit as i dont want to push them faster than they want to filter. im still beating the traffic so its no skin off my nose.
btw - i only passed in january so i fully remember feeling like your holding people up & so forth. only muppets arent cool with it, anyone with a brain would understand why you are slower/more careful than them.
Dam Hardly Ablesons, prob a fully dressed FXRSTUSABT Fat Boy Springer Bob tail sissy bar banker living the dream flat out at 55 mph, and the worst thing, there so slow you have to listen to the poxy things for ages as it takes so long to get out of ear shot. Anyway sound like the engines are full of bloody water anyways. Simple fact is that all the cars it abused would trash it without trying in any situation other than a jam. Nuf said.
Don't think you can put a limit on an acceptable filtering speed. My view is that you have to assess the road situation. Sometimes other drivers on the road are chilled out and aware of other road users so you can safely filter a little faster. Other times the road seems to be filled with irate drivers who are just hell bent on getting one car in front and don't bother looking for bikes and go lane hopping. Dangerous situ so I tend to hang back and wait for the break and then move through.
I find the main topic a little cruel to be honest as we don't all have the same ability to ride a bike. Some of us do track days and are bang on at handling the machine. other people only use them because they enjoy bikes. I am sure I would be pissed too if there was a guy or girl on a bike blocking the filter lane but sounds like the whole road was a bit shafted.
Come on guys lets not fight amongst ourselves, there are enough arses out there trying to kick us off the roads as it is!
I find the main topic a little cruel to be honest as we don't all have the same ability to ride a bike. Some of us do track days and are bang on at handling the machine. other people only use them because they enjoy bikes. I am sure I would be pissed too if there was a guy or girl on a bike blocking the filter lane but sounds like the whole road was a bit shafted.
Come on guys lets not fight amongst ourselves, there are enough arses out there trying to kick us off the roads as it is!
sdowse said:
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
A reasonable speed is the one that you are comfortable with.However, if you are holding up other people, it is polite to get swiftly out of their way, when you can.
NorthernBoy said:
sdowse said:
What is a reasonable speed for filtering? I've had a couple of other bikes come past me shaking their heads and look to be filtering at around 40-50mph with cars moving at 0-10mph - which strikes me as nuts. How would you stop in time if someone switches lanes quickly? Which they do a lot of on that particular stretch. Or am I just an incapable wus?
A reasonable speed is the one that you are comfortable with.However, if you are holding up other people, it is polite to get swiftly out of their way, when you can.
I'd always wondered why slip on shoes were invented.
If I was being a pedant I'd say that a speed that you are comfortable with may not necessarilly be a reasonable speed but simply one that you perceive to be reasonable; time will tell if you have good judgement or not!
However, I'm not a pedant so I'll simply say that Harley's with tassels are major ghey, however not as ghey as the cars they pass!
However, I'm not a pedant so I'll simply say that Harley's with tassels are major ghey, however not as ghey as the cars they pass!
makatya said:
I find the main topic a little cruel to be honest as we don't all have the same ability to ride a bike. Some of us do track days and are bang on at handling the machine. other people only use them because they enjoy bikes. I am sure I would be pissed too if there was a guy or girl on a bike blocking the filter lane but sounds like the whole road was a bit shafted.
Come on guys lets not fight amongst ourselves, there are enough arses out there trying to kick us off the roads as it is!
I've no problem with slow filterers at all..as long as I'm moving I'm happy. I'm not one of these idiots who races up behind slow filterers bullying them out of the way Come on guys lets not fight amongst ourselves, there are enough arses out there trying to kick us off the roads as it is!
My issue was with this guys attitude...the fact that he couldn't handle his bike was one thing, but revving the nuts off his farty bike and sounding his horn because he couldn't get passed and then hand gesturing to the innocent [albeit slightly poorly positioned] drivers was another....it was irresponsible and made him look stupid. We need drivers to be aware of bikers, and on the whole, most of them will politely edge over a to let us through - I always acknowledge this by lifting my hand to say thanks. Intimidating drivers [like this guy was doing] is damaging to our reputation and unfortunately tars all bikers with the same brush.
The queue that day was a good four miles long and perfect filtering territory. Luckily I only got stuck behind this twit for the last 3/4 of a mile.
Edited by tfm on Wednesday 31st October 09:30
97rsr said:
Dam Hardly Ablesons, prob a fully dressed FXRSTUSABT Fat Boy Springer Bob tail sissy bar banker living the dream flat out at 55 mph, and the worst thing, there so slow you have to listen to the poxy things for ages as it takes so long to get out of ear shot. Anyway sound like the engines are full of bloody water anyways. Simple fact is that all the cars it abused would trash it without trying in any situation other than a jam. Nuf said.
Bollox........nuff said.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff