Interesting Opinion

whats the "you're to close" hand signal then??

Originally Posted by mototech

whats the "you're to close" hand signal then??

That'll be your right hand holding the handlebar grip, your fingers over the lever in front of the handlebar grip and squeezing ever so lightly. Just enough in fact to illuminate the brake light.

Originally Posted by BigApe

That'll be your right hand holding the handlebar grip, your fingers over the lever in front of the handlebar grip and squeezing ever so lightly. Just enough in fact to illuminate the brake light.

yep just what i thought

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

There are times when brake light flashing is the safest thing you can do IMO, particularly when it's another bike, rather than another car tailgating you. Say you are in the outside lane and the inside lane is rammed with cars, nowhere safe to pull into. Your slowing down in the outside lane will definately wind them up, and if they are a bike, may tempt them to over/under take you within your lane, whereas a quick flash of brake lights (without any real braking) will at least communicate to the ones who are merely inattentive (rather than aggressive ****s) that they are following a bit close and they may drop back. I've even given a "you're too close" hand signal and had cars/vans drop back before now. With a bike, I'll usually move to the far right of the lane and wave them by. If they're in that much of a rush, they can go past me. Of course, if it's safe to do so, I just pull into the slower lane as you described.

If we are talking Bike on bike - there is never an excuse to brake flash ... if you have clocked them behind, they have caught you up ... pull over slightly and let them through ... indicating where you intend them to pass if necessary ... I hate it when bikes 'hog'

As long as you are both aware of each others presence, 2 bikes can be in/pass in one lane quite 'safely'...

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

You are ignoring the fact that unless the person in front is just slamming on the brakes for no good reason, that they should both be reacting to the same stimuli on the road in the same manner

Erm no?
If I'm cornering I can see further ahead than the car behind can, so I react before he can see whatever it is that causes me to slow down.
If he is behind me on a straight road, I hope to fluff he isn't just watching what is in front of me, I may want to slow down to turn off! (Now tell me indicating is just as bad as flashing the brakelights )

There is a reason that if _you_ rear end someone it is always regarded as being _your_ fault.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

If we are talking Bike on bike - there is never an excuse to brake flash ... if you have clocked them behind, they have caught you up ... pull over slightly and let them through ... indicating where you intend them to pass if necessary ... I hate it when bikes 'hog'

As long as you are both aware of each others presence, 2 bikes can be in/pass in one lane quite 'safely'...

Did you not read my post before writing that then?

I did say I move over to let them pass. I did say I indicate this. I did say they can pass in the same lane as me. Them catching up doesn't always mean they are faster riders and I'm holding them up- sometimes it means there isn't an opportunity to overtake/filter and I am waiting for one. I hate bikes blocking my progress too and like to think it's not something I'm guilty of. If someone is close behind and I can't go into the other lane, first thing I'll do is move over in my lane and indicate "go on then, pass" and surprise surprise, they often don't. Perhaps they don't fancy filtering between two transit vans at 90+, nor sitting closer to the vehicle in front than I am?

To re-iterate: I'll flash the brake lights (only) if it's unsafe for me to move in to let them by, or I've already gestured for them to pass and they're not interested and they are still too close (usually when they're blindspotting me). When I say flashing my brake lights, I mean just using the brake enough to put the lights on, not actually slowing me down.

As an aside your argument about the second person should be able to see everything the person in front can is nonsense. There are loads of things that can occur up the road that a tailing vehicle can't always see (wreckage strewn on the road surface, car in front of them swerving, etc.), irrespective of how good/observant/fast to react they are. Even if 9/10 times you can see why they are braking (queues of traffic ahead, etc.) you still need that margin of safety for when they brake for something you haven't seen.

Yes, police riders, riding in close formation use the technique you describe. That's because:
a) They tend to know what they are doing and know/trust each other's abilities.
b) Bikes don't obscure the view ahead (much).

Indeed, when riding in groups with riders I know, I'll ride much closer behind, in a staggered formation, than I would with other vehicles. Relying on this technique when you're following a white van with no rear windows that you can't see past, 2' off the bumper, however, is asking for trouble.

Mototech: Left hand off the bars, glance over your left shoulder at them followed by a "pushing" backwards hand motion with your left hand. Not an official one, but I've yet to have someone misunderstand it. Make sure there's plenty of stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front before doing this mind.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I think the people that 'brake test' (hit the brake light or slow, either-or) to try and make people drop back are the idiots. It is dangerous as the tailgater might overreact and cause an accident that just didn't exist.

But then you'll be in front of the accident and out of the way...

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Did you not read my post before writing that then?

Clearly not, what the hell happened there?!?!!! ... sorry about that, I seemed to unjustifiably go off on a rant there ... my bad?!!?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

But then you'll be in front of the accident and out of the way...

Screw the rest of the world .. I like your attitude

ya both nobs!