Motorcycles: Why the hate?

[OldDuffer]

Motorcycles: Why the hate?

My days riding motorcycles are near over, getting too old, however it’s always been the same. Ride a motorcycle for much over a few weeks, and you’ll encounter it. Nay, you can truly feel it. It wouldn’t be true to say all car owners loathe us, only clearly many do.


And yes, some of us are a bloody nuisance, your door-mirrors suffer (although that’s usually cyclists) only the ‘all motorcycles should be banned’ mantra follows no easy logic, yet it definitely exists.

You’re troubled by other car owners far more… almost by the minute. It can’t be about clear common-sense. Other cars deprive you of an easy parking-space; other cars limit your progress on a daily basis. Your Bugatti Veyron is as slow as the Ford Fiesta in front, yet when did a motorcycle last get in your way?

We skip round and zip away from you in traffic-queues (something else you seem to resent us for?) yet fact is, if you were the only one left with a car; your roads would be the easy motoring paradise seen in car commercials.
Yup, your roads would be seen near as damnit empty, and far too wide.

Shirley, it’d be in the interests of most reading if the rest of the world did run a motorcycle. Greener too. And… you - your erminess, as one of the few car owners left - would have more of us to knock-off, and ‘claim’, “You didn’t see”.

No queues, your journey times set to match despatch-riders moving medical supplies. I see near motoring utopia for you.

What’s not to like?

There’s whole threads on ‘Middle Lane Morons’ and ‘Why does no one overtake?’ etc. Your current problem is other cars, not motorcycles. Why the bile?

Edited by OldDuffer on Monday 8th May 12:16

[Legacywr]

I’ve not experienced this? Obviously we all see the clown positioning himself so you can’t filter, but there are a small minority.

[OldDuffer]

Maybe it's a South-East thing, can't go more than a few weeks without seeing and feeling it. And yes, they'll actively try to stop you filtering.

Saw an motorcycle/car accident a few months back as by-stander. One of those 'Didn't see you' shunts, and serious injuries, yet the bystanders comments, were gunning for the motorcyclist, they shocked me. And I've seen it all before.

[Road2Ruin]

Not here either. I do object to motorcyclists being knobs, but that goes for every motorist. I think one issue is that there are more motorcycles doing stupid things (pro rata) than most other road users.

[OldDuffer]

Road2Ruin said:

I think one issue is that there are more motorcycles doing stupid things (pro rata) than most other road users.

Yes, that'd be true. The knob-count is higher.

[SimonTheSailor]

Race cans.
Weaving through traffic.
Taking up a whole car space when parked.
Thinking they own the road.
Getting angry at car people.
Riding with improper clothing.
Biker gangs.
They smell.
Look silly in their outfits when not on a bike.
Hate car owners.
Always want to race cars 'because bikes are faster than cars'.
Hyper critical.
'No other motor sport exists other than motorcycle racing'.
WE ARE RIGHT.
Can't understand what they are saying even when they are shouting/screaming at you.
Very rude - always gesturing with their fingers (probably because of above).
Always look like they've got arthritis (or stting themselves) when walking.





Oh and - wheelies and stoppies.

[Silvanus]

OldDuffer said:

Road2Ruin said:

I think one issue is that there are more motorcycles doing stupid things (pro rata) than most other road users.

Yes, that'd be true.

It's certainly the case in this neck of the woods. It's not to say that there aren't plenty of cars being driven by knobs, but the bikes certainly stand out. Considering there are far less bikes than cars I suspect the pro rata thing hits the nail on the head.

[ScoobyChris]

I don’t hate them and most are well ridden and navigate through traffic without impacting me (I’ll move over where I can in queues to give space etc and get a thanks).

I think the only time I’ve been “frustrated” by a biker was on a nice twisty b-road where he overtook me on the first straight (no problem with that lol) but then I caught him up at the first bend as he crawled round it, only to blast off again as the road straightened up. Rinse and repeat a couple of times. Ended up pulling into a lay-by for 5 mins to put some distance

Chris

[Driver101]

I've never thought there was a widespread hate of motorcyclists from drivers. I think there will be more dislike from residents due to the behaviour of too many motorcyclists.

We are quick to call out boyracers for driving like idiots in their overly loud cars. Motorcyclists are often worse and a real nuisance.

[vulture1]

I think the only "hate" comes from when any almost anybdiscussion about a car being mega quick or faster than xxx car a bike always chimes in with. I'd smoke it on my bike blah blah blah. Other than that never had any issues on the actual road with.

[Oceanrower]

I ride my bike every day. Put just over 50,000 on the current bike of choice and I’ve never, honestly never, come across this.

I’ve had sports bikes (R1, Ninja, Blackbird, etc.), scramblers, tourers and proper chopped customs and never felt a moment of hatred. Inconsiderate, yes but not hated.

Guess I’m just lucky.

For comparison, mostly South Eadt and current daily rider is 1200 Bonneville…

[oceanview]

As you mention , you get good and bad drivers and riders.

I personally don't have a problem with bikes filtering at all- helps us all move along easier.

What i don't like is any bike that wants to sit inches from my rear bumper at speed- i am sure they wouldn't like it if it was the other way around, and also the times when , particularly the quicker bikes, some think it's ok to do 100mph plus everywhere and to hell with anyone else.

But yes, due to much greater numbers of cars/vans and the noticeable deterioration in driving standards, i see many more issues with car/van/lorry drivers.

[Alex Z]

In terms of visible behaviour on the roads, only a tiny percentage of drivers do anything to actively impede bikes, and a larger number will see you coming and move over to let you past.

If you're talking about people expressing an opinion online, any news report involving a bike will inevitably get a load of people ranting about stuff that's usually completely irrelevant.

[spaximus]

I think it is base jealousy. When I ride my bike I have not come across this, but in my Westfield, which has no screen, you get the windscreen washer types who think it funny to spray water.

Then you have those who object to an overtake, when they are well below the speed limit, them tailgate. As for noise, induction and exhaust is louder than a tin box, gets them.

Then the speed awareness groups, who hear a noisy car and assume it is speeding, then are crest fallen when you are not.

But, as always it is a small group who would be dheads if we only had horses so I try not to let it get me down

[bearman68]

I fking hate motorbikes and motorcyclists.

They are wnakers, almost every last one of them.

There I was yesterday, in the middle of a field, in the middle of the countryside, in the middle of nowhere. With a few nice roads about. All you can hear for miles around is the total tosspot noise the tosspot brigade want to inflict on others because? Because why, I don't know.

I know that 1000cc in a motorbike is faster than my Citroen C1. Guess what, I don't give a toss. I don't want to know. I especially don't want to know when I'm having a conversation with a friend, and I have to stop for 10 or so of the noise brigade wkers to go past at 100 mph and endanger the lives of those who walk, or cycle, or ride horses on the road.

That's why everyone hates them, because motorcyclists are almost universally wkers.

[hammo19]

bearman68 said:

I fking hate motorbikes and motorcyclists.

They are wnakers, almost every last one of them.

There I was yesterday, in the middle of a field, in the middle of the countryside, in the middle of nowhere. With a few nice roads about. All you can hear for miles around is the total tosspot noise the tosspot brigade want to inflict on others because? Because why, I don't know.

I know that 1000cc in a motorbike is faster than my Citroen C1. Guess what, I don't give a toss. I don't want to know. I especially don't want to know when I'm having a conversation with a friend, and I have to stop for 10 or so of the noise brigade wkers to go past at 100 mph and endanger the lives of those who walk, or cycle, or ride horses on the road.

That's why everyone hates them, because motorcyclists are almost universally wkers.

Come on now, don’t hold back….

[carinaman]

Oceanrower said:

I ride my bike every day. Put just over 50,000 on the current bike of choice and I’ve never, honestly never, come across this.

I’ve had sports bikes (R1, Ninja, Blackbird, etc.), scramblers, tourers and proper chopped customs and never felt a moment of hatred. Inconsiderate, yes but not hated.

Guess I’m just lucky.

For comparison, mostly South Eadt and current daily rider is 1200 Bonneville…

Seems riding a motorcycle daily could be good for you:

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsaeijae/5/2/...

[CT05 Nose Cone]

Perhaps due to the not-so-tiny minority who fit obnoxiously loud exhausts and treat the roads as a race track, with other traffic obstacles to be passed in any way they deem fit. Plenty of areas also have problems with scrotes on uninsured dirt bikes as well.

[MB140]

bearman68 said:

I fking hate motorbikes and motorcyclists.

They are wnakers, almost every last one of them.

There I was yesterday, in the middle of a field, in the middle of the countryside, in the middle of nowhere. With a few nice roads about. All you can hear for miles around is the total tosspot noise the tosspot brigade want to inflict on others because? Because why, I don't know.

I know that 1000cc in a motorbike is faster than my Citroen C1. Guess what, I don't give a toss. I don't want to know. I especially don't want to know when I'm having a conversation with a friend, and I have to stop for 10 or so of the noise brigade wkers to go past at 100 mph and endanger the lives of those who walk, or cycle, or ride horses on the road.

That's why everyone hates them, because motorcyclists are almost universally wkers.

7/10, you forgot to mention all the tosspot youf of today riding around on there dirt bikes illegally. Doing wheelies down main roads with no helmets on but god if they fall off it’s your fault for daring to be anywhere near them.

Then like the group I witnessed a few years back forcing a group of cows in to a river hearding them like a dog. fking tts.


Actually I have no issues with people riding motorbikes legally and safely. I don’t even mind them going for a spirited ride. I will actively move over to the side of the road to let you past because why not.

Doing 80mph on your back back wheel through some rural village well then as others have said they are toss pots.

Oh and I give myself 4/10, not enough swearing for starters.

Edited by MB140 on Monday 8th May 13:25

[Bobupndown]

No hate here, ex biker. (With bike still in garage which may come out again someday). I live off a rural B road which seems to attract maniac motorcyclists every decent weekend. The speeds these bikers are travelling at is genuinely frightening, an emerging tractor or car from a field or side road and it would be carnage.