Have we bikers lost our manners? - Helmet tipping.
Out on my XT6E (red) today in this lovely weather (30 degrees). Did a short trip from Sheppey to Bexhill in Sussex and back (100 miles).
Bit hot and sticky in my full leathers especially at lights and jams. But it was glorious. I just love my single cylinder torquey bikes.
During the ride I tipped my head to a vast number of other riders passing me by on the other side of the road. This practice comes naturally to me and I have done it since I started to ride in 1980.
Nearly wiped out by a young girl driver (T boned). Good thing I was riding defensively and left a wide berth.
I can report here that about 50% of riders totally IGNORED my gesture and went speeding past without reciprocation.
I have always considered us bikers to be an elite on the road - members of an exclusive club where we all help each other out if things go wrong. We also show car drivers how to drive properly particularly on rounderbouts etc. I have always considered that riding on 2 wheels improves your driving skills on 4 wheels too.
I found that riders of small capacity bikes (mopeds and learner 125's) were more inclined to reciprocate.
Yes I always tip my head to mopeds/learners and large capacity riders alike - We all started out on these things and they are on two wheels taking exactly the same risks as the larger capacity bikes.
What has happened to bikers? Have half of riders lost their manners or, did they never possess them in the first place?
AND why are car drivers not using their indicators? I noticed a driving instructor not using them and even a bloody police car!
AND why do many car drivers do right turns on rounderbout's using the LEFT hand lane?
Got my moaning head on, sorry.
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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).
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