Stupid, ignorant BMW Rider...

Everyone has to learn how to do it properly. I'm sure none of you were born with the skills and expertise in how to filter. I for one am a relatively new rider and have just got my new SV and I do filter slowly because I'm still learning the capabilities of the bike. If someone comes up behind me then, if there is space, I will pull over, but I will not hurry up just because some impatient biker wants me to, thereby increasing my risk of having an accident. Its very easy to forget how it feels to be a newbie on a new machine.

MK

Originally Posted by Cronos

Is it really worth getting that excited about?

probably not but at the time its just frustrating...

I tend to be tolerant of learners because we were all there once... I did this journey on my cg when it was a lot scarier and remember it well!!

but when you want to ride a bit faster than the boxes next to you and you get held up by a biker I look at whats going on. If its wall to wall traffic and theres nowhere for him to go, fair enough. I will go at his speed with no probs and not get frustrated.

Its when the guy in front KNOWS you are there, KNOWS you and all the other bikes behind you want to go faster than the cars and him but STILL blocks you even though theres room for him to pull over and let you through that when I get wound up a bit...

I find having the loud can and riding with full beam very few people pull out in front of me so I do feel I can go faster in traffic. I understand some people arent as comfortable with that and go slower... fair play to them.. you gotta ride how you are comfortable or youre not safe.

but the issue isnt how fast should you filter but one of pulling over and letting people past if their choice is to go faster... to block someone deliberately is just....

If someone is filtering right behind me and looks like they want to come pas then I let them. However, I sometimes find that they're then not as fast as me. I also find that other bikers want to get past my harley much more than they want to get past the SV - even if I'm filtering at over 30mph on the harley.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Mythkind

Everyone has to learn how to do it properly. I'm sure none of you were born with the skills and expertise in how to filter. I for one am a relatively new rider and have just got my new SV and I do filter slowly because I'm still learning the capabilities of the bike. If someone comes up behind me then, if there is space, I will pull over, but I will not hurry up just because some impatient biker wants me to, thereby increasing my risk of having an accident. Its very easy to forget how it feels to be a newbie on a new machine.

MK

agreed. Filtering can be dangerous and it only takes a little mistake and ur stuffed, as i found out the other day. Luckily the car driver was on the ball and braked in time not to kill me. Wish i'd stopped and thanked them but probably would have just got shouted at, and the middle of the road isn't the best place.

Be careful out there

Fuggin muppets!!
Coming back from Cumbria a few weeks abck there were 2 harleys hogging the white line I wouldn't say they were going slow but the front guy was dragging his feet. Cars were stationary and it looked like he either had no confidence or no balance. Whichever people like this should stick to a lane until they grow a pair of cojones!

Lets not forget that most car drivers don't inspire confidence in filtering. I'd only had my bike literally a couple of hours and some old b***ard moved out to the centre line forcing me to momentarily travel in the opposing lane towards fast moving oncoming traffic. Riding a bike and filtering is dangerous enough without these pillocks trying to make you a stain on the road.

MK

[northwind]

I quite often find I pick up a trail of bikes in heavier traffic... I think I've got a pretty good filtering head, I rarely find myself in an outright bad situation due to healthy paranoia, but at the same time i make better progress than most folks... I've had slower filterers move over and then pick up to my pace to follow as well, they seem to realise that it gets them there faster than blocking me up...

At first it made me feel good, to have people following my lead like that, but thinking about it more it started to bother me... I'm quite happy to stake my safety on my decision making in traffic, but I don't see how anyone else can choose to trust in a total stranger who might turn out to be barking mad... And it seems like quite often there are people just going "If he can get through there, then so can I..." Sorry mate, but maybe you can't, and chances are you're watchigmy rear wheel when you should be watching the cars who might be about to try and kill you...

We do / did all have to learn. But common sense says you don't ride at the cars barely moving pace in between them wobbling backwards and forwards. If that's the case you stay behind the cars. When I'd just passed that's exactly what I did. Filtered when I thought it was safe and stayed in behind them when it wasn't. I still do today - although I know know I can filter much more than when I passed.

It was the fact that this guy knew I was there, and still just wobbled all over the place. Biking is dangerous enough without someone doing stupid tricks like that...

Stu

You're assuming that whoever's following you isn't paying attention to the traffic ahead... I prefer to follow other bikes, that way I'm not pressured.
U watch the bike in front and then do the maneuver if it's safe for u to follow.

I've only commuted into town 4 days this year and it was an eye opener. Narrow gaps between cars... not at all like the filtering you do on the M25 or something where it IS practically a whole lane's space between...

It's quite alot to think about, watching traffic ahead, keeping an eye on bikes behind and staying ready to hop out the way of faster bikes.

It amazes me that us newbies don't make MUCH worse mistakes in those situations...

I'm glad someone else has noticed how rubbish BMW riders are!

[runs for cover]