Other Bikes at Stoplights/Intersections

[Rhonda66]

Do you guys pull up next to other bikes if you come up behind one at a stoplight or intersection? When I was riding home yesterday, a guy on a cruiser pulled up right next to me at a stoplight and kinda threw me for a loop. I was like "Is this normal? Am I supposed to talk to this guy or what?" I find it nearly impossible just to talk to my husband when we're sitting on the bikes next to each other with helmets on. Anyway, of course it was a long red light so I turned to the guy and said hi and he starts talking and I can't hear him so I have to put up my visor and ask him to repeat. He was just saying he liked my bike and it sounded good and all that. Anyway, just wondering if there is some unwritten rule that I'm supposed to just pull up to other stopped bikes or just stay behind like a car would...

[joberly]

Sometimes people do that to me, and sometimes they don't. I don't reall mind if someone pulls up to say hi and chat or whatever... it's all good. I don't do it to other people just because you never know if they'll get pissed.... but it doesn't bother me ...

[babo]

Unless a dude pulls up to me at a stop light because we were lane splitting, and there happens to be room next to me,........... its just gay.

I don't want some rider next to me that Ive never ridden with at a stop light! who's gonna go first?

Maybe he was just checking you out???

[MissTwisties]

I wouldn't mind if someone talked to me, I love to meet new people! And who knows, that might end up being a riding buddy in the future. I might or might not do it myself if I come to a light. I would surely make a head sign at least to aknowledge the person, after all he is a fellow rider.

[knobby]

Yeah, I don't mind it either. It's one of those things that you
just let happen if it's going to, and just go with it. I've had other riders pull up next to me, and say hi. It's all good in my book. It
may only feel strange if neither rider doesn't aknowledge the other, so I make a point of it right away.
I've done it, and never felt that my approach was wrong. Most
riders, I believe are pretty easy going when it comes to that, and respond well. Heck, almost every rider waves to another in passing anyway.

[ssg]

I don't mind either way, but when they try to talk to me without putting their visor up or they have an obnoxious bike I just reply with random questions or answers so that they have no chance of actually understanding what I'm saying and the conversation then ends.

ie: "eat chinese food"
"there are squirrels in my attic"
"do you know jacob?"

[breakdirt916]

I think it's circumstantial to do it. Read the other rider (lane position, body language, nods your way, etc.), and determine whether or not they want the company.

[Kham]

don't be a snob!

[Rhonda66]

Originally posted by Kham
don't be a snob!

It was you, wasn't it?

More like I just didn't know what I was supposed to do just cuz that hasn't happened before...I don't think I did anything snobby at all...

[By-Tor]

I'll just give them a quick nod and look forward again.

[SLOOLD]

If it's a cruiser, I usually pull up behind and to the side. So they don't feel like that they have anything to prove. If it's a sportbike or standard I usually pull up beside and give a nod. If they want to lift their visor and talk that's cool, I will respond in kind.

[RandyO]

unless it's someone I'm riding with, I say behind and to the side, except when I come to a light and theres cages behind a bike that is first at light, then I zip past the cars, pretend I'm riding with the other bike to get past the cages

[Honclfibr]

If there's time at the light I'll put my kickstand down, get off my bike, and give the other rider a hug.

I don't know why, that doesn't usually go over so well Everybody needs a hug, right?

[Kham]

Originally posted by Honclfibr


I don't know why, that doesn't usually go over so well Everybody needs a hug, right?

heh.. not from you.

[MissTwisties]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
If there's time at the light I'll put my kickstand down, get off my bike, and give the other rider a hug.

I don't know why, that doesn't usually go over so well Everybody needs a hug, right?

[babo]

Rant starts here:


I took a nice early morning ride up into VT on Saturday, and of the dozens of sport bike riders I saw, maybe only one or two had any meaningful gear on.

I’m become pretty judgmental when it come to squids who think that t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers are appropriate riding apparel! Do I really want to chat with these squids at a light?

Back in the day, you could easily spend more on gear than you could on a bike. Vanson leathers or a Hein suit cost a fortune.

Now, there is no excuse for a dude that’ll buy a $700.00 Arai, yet wear no gear. WTF is with that?

So, if you pull-up to me at a light, don’t expect a conversation, unless you are wearing some gear. We have very little in common, least of which is self preservation.

These guys that don’t think they are ever going to go down, or are only going around the corner, need to wise-up. Please.

Rant off.

I feel much better now.

[Kham]

Originally posted by babo
Rant starts here:



Now, there is no excuse for a dude that’ll buy a $700.00 Arai, yet wear no gear. WTF is with that?

maybe he got use Arai real cheap. you don't know.

[ChrisNoF4i]

Originally posted by Kham
maybe he got use Arai real cheap. you don't know.

Maybe he stole it from some pantless rider.

Is it mandatory for every thread to contain some form of gear lecture?

[benVFR]

I won't ever pull right up to someone at a light.

Anyone except another fully suited up guy on a sportbike or maybe a guy on a gold wing, etc.. is going to bother me if they pull up next to me too.

Squids, noobs on cruisers, etc.. are just as dangerous as a car IMO, no need to be too close to them, the cruiser guy is likely to try and ride right next to you as you take off too, rather than staggering as is safe.

I had some squid do a burnout next to me last year, I wanted to get off the bike and clothesline him to the ground. He wasn't even in my lane but the last thing I need is him dumping his bike and it cartwheeling into me in the next lane.

I can't hear you anyway, as I always wear earplugs, and if you've got a loud pipe just forget it, all I am going to say back is "what"???

If it's someone I know that is a totally different situation though.