Preconceptions
Discussion
Firstly let me apologise the the BMW 1200 Adventure bike this morning that I zoomed past as the road was running out of space. I have to admit that if I know I am coming up to some filtering in London and see a big BMW, Pan, Deauville, Harley, Goldwing etc in front of me - I will do all I can to get in front of them before the filtering as experience has told me they can't filter!
I am pretty quick at filtering, and basically carving my way through the traffic after plenty of years of experience. It is very rare that I need to move over, apart from the occasional kamikaze courier.
Fair play though to Mr BMW 1200 Adventure for keeping up with the Bandit, before waving me off when I reached my destination - and again apologies for the cheeky overtake prior to the traffic. I honestly did not think I would see you again!
I am pretty quick at filtering, and basically carving my way through the traffic after plenty of years of experience. It is very rare that I need to move over, apart from the occasional kamikaze courier.
Fair play though to Mr BMW 1200 Adventure for keeping up with the Bandit, before waving me off when I reached my destination - and again apologies for the cheeky overtake prior to the traffic. I honestly did not think I would see you again!
It's a bit like those sports bike riders who make off around the twisties at what seems like a significant rate only to find that the marked BMW/Pan with full plod kit has caught them up and is now pulling them over! 
It's not the bike, it's the rider, and there are some quick riders on BMWs both in town and in the country. (There are plenty slow ones too!)
It's not the bike, it's the rider, and there are some quick riders on BMWs both in town and in the country. (There are plenty slow ones too!)
G Man said:
I was filtering with a Honda CBR600RR today, he was quick but I kept up and passed him twice by better observation and choice of lanes, I waved him through twice, I like to follow a pathfinder, I think it is safer
G
yeah good tactic..i do the same when filtering esp on motorways in big tailbacksG
Hmm there are some people with relatively slim bikes who won't go through plenty wide enough gaps.
Whole road system north/south of Tower Bridge and surrounding area was f***** tonight and you've got some idiots sitting like mobile road blocks blocking me getting through tight but plenty wide enough gaps. I came up behind this guy tonight and literally shouted at him that there was plenty of room he did actually then move the gap luckily. Some people irrespective of bike size just really can't see or visualize gaps or potential gaps in traffic and this is key for riding in London.
Generally though people on big wide bikes with panniers cannot make progress in the same way as me on a cbr600. However these are relatively rare in central london because of this.
Whole road system north/south of Tower Bridge and surrounding area was f***** tonight and you've got some idiots sitting like mobile road blocks blocking me getting through tight but plenty wide enough gaps. I came up behind this guy tonight and literally shouted at him that there was plenty of room he did actually then move the gap luckily. Some people irrespective of bike size just really can't see or visualize gaps or potential gaps in traffic and this is key for riding in London.
Generally though people on big wide bikes with panniers cannot make progress in the same way as me on a cbr600. However these are relatively rare in central london because of this.
If I come up against any bike filtering I assume he's slower and will hold me up. If he wasn't, I wouldn't have caught him in the first place.
On occasion being overtaken wakes them up though and can make for an interesting ride in.
There's a battered blue ZX9R that I often meet who, once passed, turns into Randy Mamola
We picked up another 9R on the way in yesterday and the traffic lights saw 3 bikes up on the back wheel side by side
On occasion being overtaken wakes them up though and can make for an interesting ride in.
There's a battered blue ZX9R that I often meet who, once passed, turns into Randy Mamola
We picked up another 9R on the way in yesterday and the traffic lights saw 3 bikes up on the back wheel side by side
sjtscott said:
Whole road system north/south of Tower Bridge and surrounding area was f***** tonight and you've got some idiots sitting like mobile road blocks blocking me getting through tight but plenty wide enough gaps.
I was caught in that last night as well, and had the same with (afraid to say it now!) a BMW KR1000 (I think) sitting there and refusing to move. Eventually I hopped up on the pavement, around him and back onto the road and edged my way through. Seemed to give him the kick up the arse he needed as when I checked my mirrors he was following me through the gaps. Roads were lovely from Lewisham out though - as no-one had made it there.I think people have a certain tunnel vision, that their bikes are bigger than they are. Once they start to see another bike getting through, they will then try!
You will have to keep an eye out for the Bandit or Gixxer in my profile as I have noticed before we do the same commute. Bandit easier to spot with the Pistonheads stickers on the Top Box. Give me a shout if you see me.
Had the strangest thing this morning - was stuck with nowhere to go and made eye contat with a bendy bus driver, and he acknowledged me. Even more bizarre he moved to let me get through. Never seen anything like it before!
Fats25 said:
Had the strangest thing this morning - was stuck with nowhere to go and made eye contat with a bendy bus driver, and he acknowledged me. Even more bizarre he moved to let me get through. Never seen anything like it before!
Strange. I've just been down to HG in Stockwell and had the very same thing for the first time ever. A bendy bus driver moved over to let me through.What's the world coming to?
Fats25 said:
sjtscott said:
Whole road system north/south of Tower Bridge and surrounding area was f***** tonight and you've got some idiots sitting like mobile road blocks blocking me getting through tight but plenty wide enough gaps.
I was caught in that last night as well, and had the same with (afraid to say it now!) a BMW KR1000 (I think) sitting there and refusing to move. Eventually I hopped up on the pavement, around him and back onto the road and edged my way through. Seemed to give him the kick up the arse he needed as when I checked my mirrors he was following me through the gaps. Roads were lovely from Lewisham out though - as no-one had made it there.I think people have a certain tunnel vision, that their bikes are bigger than they are. Once they start to see another bike getting through, they will then try!
You will have to keep an eye out for the Bandit or Gixxer in my profile as I have noticed before we do the same commute. Bandit easier to spot with the Pistonheads stickers on the Top Box. Give me a shout if you see me.
Had the strangest thing this morning - was stuck with nowhere to go and made eye contat with a bendy bus driver, and he acknowledged me. Even more bizarre he moved to let me get through. Never seen anything like it before!
Bus drivers giving way to bikes.. him never seen it myself before they're usually pulling some lane change stuff and seem to be able to position themselves to block bikes.
I'll keep an eye out for you.. which reminds me I must get a PH sticker to put on the bike somewhere. I'm on a dirty unwashed silver CBR600F 03 plate which is actually quite a rare colour for the injected F models
m3psm said:
Fats25 said:
Had the strangest thing this morning - was stuck with nowhere to go and made eye contat with a bendy bus driver, and he acknowledged me. Even more bizarre he moved to let me get through. Never seen anything like it before!
Strange. I've just been down to HG in Stockwell and had the very same thing for the first time ever. A bendy bus driver moved over to let me through.What's the world coming to?
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