The baffle is coming out!

loud cans save lives

Would people like to get their pop-corn ready before I begin?

Steve, I dont know you at all so its safe to assume you dont know me. Which means its safe to assume you dont know I ride in a Hi-Viz jacket with my lights on (its a pointy so I dont even have the choice).
I've commuted every working day the same route for 2years in all weathers, I'd say around 80% of the time of that journey is spent filtering. Motorway and then duel carriageway, I leave plenty of space and I try to stick to IAM regs (no greater than 20mph faster than the traffic I'm filtering between and no greater than 40mph total). I know how to filter an I'm bloody confident doing it, but its not to say I'm relaxed, I'd wager my eyes move faster when Im filtering than they prob do during REM of a deep sleep due to taking everything in.

On this occasion it was only my awareness and perception of the traffic which DID avoid the accident, had I not already slowed down aware that a car sized gap was coming up on my left that I was able to stop before he took out my front end.
Clearly you dont apprechiate from my inital post my position in relation to the fiesta, my front wheel was mid way down the length of the vehicle directly behind him. (In that region where the rear view mirror cant see you but the wing mirror has you perfectly visable). I could have only been travelling at around 15-20mph as the right lane was creaping but the left was setting off picking up a bit of speed from previously only creeping forward. I had clear sight of his car and about 6-7 cars infront so visabilty was never an issue, he just didnt look. He knew the gap on his left was there and from almost stationary put his foot down and nipped across, no indicator no warning movement of him pre turning the wheels no nothing.

At first I was stunned and shocked I'd not been seen, that shock turned to anger when whilst now stationary myself I surveyed his driver side mirror and then through the window that in his right hand was his phone and his head was down, either reading or writing a text. On seeing that and when thats when the boot came out, the shock and suprise on his face clearly showed he had no idea I was even there, the only thing I said/growled was "How?" I was too speachless with both rage and shock to add finish my intended sentence of "how can you not see me? while gesturing tugs on my Hi viz jacket.

Normally I'd prob apprechiate your advice steve, but you're preaching to the choir here pal. I use many different tactics to be safe and to be seen including occasionally blipping the throttle to try make me self heard as well as seen, I wear high viz clothing, I stick where possible to the IAM regs.

Its just sometimes as with this occasion, that means F**K ALL if the stupid ignorant arsewholes dont check thier wing mirrors or do a shoulder check before making a manover.

[Paul the 6th]

I was gonna post up saying matt has a curvy and a pointy, hi viz jacket, does the same commute every day for a loooong time but it wasn't my shout.

Welcome to the forums by the way steve & good on ya for offering helpful advice other people reading will prolly be able to make use of it.

Hi viz jackets with a royal blue bottom lower half sure do make you look like emergency services don't they matt you should try putting bits of black gaffa to look like radio/numbers lol (cheers dave numbers for the suggestion)

I don't change baffles....

I change exhausts

oh doubltess its made a massive difference, I remember riding the curvy pre hiviz and I'd commute at like 5mph nervous no one could see me. Then when the hiviz came on the difference was noticable instantly, people do generally move over to make it easier for you to filter.
Those riders who dont use one I'd honestly reccomend it, and aye the blue strip paulo does prob make them hesitate for a second about if your plod or not.

Originally Posted by davepreston

loud cans save lives

+1 on that comment

and of course the hi viz is essential, especially when your gear (trousers, jacket, gloves, helmet and boots) are predominantly, if not all black!

i agree that most accidents are avoidable, but it is always the BIKER who does the avoiding, car drivers are the ones who tend to make the mistake and the bikers have to pay the price by trying to avoid it.

Originally Posted by dill89

+1 on that comment

and of course the hi viz is essential, especially when your gear (trousers, jacket, gloves, helmet and boots) are predominantly, if not all black!

i agree that most accidents are avoidable, but it is always the BIKER who does the avoiding, car drivers are the ones who tend to make the mistake and the bikers have to pay the price by trying to avoid it.

his name might be similar to a plastic penis but he speaks sense.

[dizzyblonde]

Well, one of my bikes has had a big hole in the baffle dept for 8 years. The other one has a baffle gathering dust in the loft. After getting it out on the road tonight, in prep for sale, it seems monsieur Pegasus has fallen in love with its exhaust, well what can I say, I have great taste in exhaust notes

The VRaptor will come with standard cans, can you really see me keeping the poor TL engine muffled for long

Lets just say I prefer to have prescense on the road, than be squished from people not hearing me.

[yorkie_chris]

Presence on the road is about position and mindset, not just noise.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Presence on the road is about position and mindset, not just noise.

+1 but the noise helps. I find that bright lights help (goes along same lines as reflective clothing) visibility. You may be in the correct position and mindset, but makes no difference if a car doesnt see you and pulls out on you.