Good weather today and a day off work so I think woohoo lets go for a ride, being a wednesday that means little traffic and tires like superglue. So I spend half the day having a good time and was going to head down to Shoreham for a drink and haves me a look at the planes. Half way there blow me down the the ol' oil light comes on and the engine starts losing performance quite rapidly.

So I pull into the nearest garage post haste and buy some injector oil and have to do the change right there at the garage and it's nearing hometime for stressy people in suits and Mercs. The on board tool kit of the NSR is fairly woeful and getting to the 2 stroke oil tank involves removing the damn petrol tank. Several bent allen keys and 45 minutes later (doing this without a funnel is not fun or clever) I'm ready to go home so I put a fiver of petrol in the tank and try to go home.  

I hate rush hour, I have to endure the baiting of people in BMW's trying to show me how OUTRAGEOUS it is that I should filter and get home five whole seconds before them, never damn mind the fact I pollute less, use less petrol, take up less road room, put up with the uncomfort and try do some harmless filtering (which is legal by the way.) One guy actually pulled out in front of me while I was doing it, I nearly hit his car and he nearly killed me but I'm still apparantly in the wrong (he pulled out to stop me filtering.) So I get off my bike to talk to the nice gentleman and suddenly he seems awfully shy now

I'm a curteous driver, I let people out and don't overtake dangerously or piss people off and still my L plates seem like an open target. I damn well hope I pass my test on monday and then I can get a damn bike that's a little less stressful.

I know this is self-indulgent but everybody needs to rant sometimes Car drivers may now express their views on filtering, I'm open to a debate

Calm

Pete

I'm not anti-bike. I was a motorcyclist myself many years ago so I can see it from both sides. Some bikers give them all a bad name by doing the most stupid things imaginable. On the other hand, some motorists have an inherent distrust of anyone on two wheels. Rush hour is not the best time to be travelling, whatever mode of transport you use. Having commuted by road for many years I found that the regulars have their own way of driving. They do it every day & know what to expect from other regular road users. People tend to drive quite differently at other times of day.

Filtering might be legal but I know some motorists that get very bothered by it. They've possibly had a bad experience in the past or maybe the sort of person that won't give way to anyone. There's plenty of inconsiderate road users of all types around. I must admit it makes me nervous as it would be so easy to hit a bike trying to squeeze in between two cars, possibly with serious results for the biker. You need eyes in the back of your head these days. Before getting too hot under the collar you might try driving a car in the rush hour.

The last idiot who tried to kill me on my bike lost his mirror to my brake handle! I have to say I think most car drivers in the UK are dangerous as well as anti-bike. The first time I rode on the continent was mind-blowing Tin-cans would move over to let me get past! Then I discovered that most people on the continent had been on 2 wheels before 4 so they had respect for you. Oddly there isn't much in the way of road rage and the like in mainland Europe (that said I'll still avoid Greek taxi-drivers 'cos they make Kamikaze pilots look sensible) 8)

Quote:
you should ride in the US of A (specifically Los Angeles). . .it is scary.

Sadly that is the other half of the biking community, it seems to be an expanding phenomenon now in america with stunting. Specially with digital video cameras so affordable. Although loss of life is never a good thing most people who ride like that a tempting fate. Everybodys luck runs out sometime.

I just think British motorists need to chill out a bit and stop assuming the worst of the guy in the next car or  bike. We all just want to get somewhere so if it doesn't affect you don't cause danger in value of getting a point across.

Hey cool, I wonder what you decided to go for in the end