pull up or not?

so, i can't really help it but when i see another bike i tend to chase it..

anyway..if im behind a rider that i dont know and we come up to a red light, and they are over to one side, should i pull up beside them and say hi or do you stay back?

i stayed back to opp side, is that snub to riders or the proper thing to do? is it like if they pull off to side its invite for me to come up and if they stay in middle sorta its a indication to stay back?

also i waved on a curve to two riders, who waved back, milestone: taking a hand off bike on a curve.

 

I tend to get into a lockstep with a bike if I come upon it as well~

Perhaps it's the "flock" mentality..

Unless I had something specific to tell them, though (nice bike!) I'd not come up alongside at a stop or light. I give folks their space when they're riding....

 

Pull up or not?

Case by case basis.

I had a Moto Guzzi Griso rider give me the evil eye once. Apparently he felt i was invading his space or crowding him. I really just wanted to let him know I liked the bike.

If its a "patched" rider I'll stay about 3 ( minimum) car lengths away.

 

As a rule I don't pull up to another bike at a light. I just don't feel it is appropriate. I had a guy on a BMW pull up next to me once and never acknowledged my presence, but caught me off guard when he aced me as the light changed. I've never had that happen since nor would I allow it, the saying goes "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me".

 

"Aced You"....? It's not a race~

As I've gotten older, I've learned to laugh at things like this when they happen.

 

Exactly, I certainly didn't think this guy's reason for pulling up alongside was to pass me. Unfortunately life in America these days is a "race", a rat race.

 

oddly enough i was riding tonight and passed a bike on 2 lane, some chopper? we still say chopper? i dont think it was a brand, anyway, bout 3/4 mile ahead only his lane went straight, went over and stopped at red light, he came up close but not beside me, not close enough to say hi, i figured he didnt want to be my new bff so i showed him vfr-ness, hitting 7k in 2nd gear makes my dick move btw. he never caught back up.

i also yelled at a woman at a red light, perp 2 lane but i was going west in left lane, her south at stop sign, she pulls out west in front of me and comes into left lane, my lane, f'n people, i swerved into right lane and lil ways up hit a red light beside her, told her not so nicely thanks for almost killing me, she just looked at me like i was the dick. maybe i should ccw when i ride.

 

....OR...perhaps you should leave your EGO & your CCW at home....

 

buzzkill.

not sure it's ego, i dont swerve i eat back of a tahoe. as for the other bike, i would have hit 7k in 2nd if he wasn't there, it's fun and its 50 mph zone.

 

If a rider pulls over to one side of the lane, as in close to the line or curb when at a stop light, then I take that as an invitation to pull along side, as that's what I do if I'm riding solo and don't mind the company. But, i would expect them to follow the two second staggered formation rule when in motion, if I were the inviter, and I would do the same as the invitee. If they stay in the middle or even close to the middle of the lane, I take that as "no need to pull up beside me, not interested in making friends". If I wanted to just compliment them or give them a "heads up", as in LEO spotted, I may pull up next to them in the next lane over, if possible.

 

I am afraid that I am like a little kid when it comes to bikes and other riders. If you are riding I want to know you, say "hi", drool over your ride and if time permits shoot the shit over a soda when we stop. I do tend to chaise other bikes or, maybe "chase" is not the correct word, but I do catch up to riders ahead of me. There is something to be said for safety in numbers. Drivers will see two or more riders and think they are a gang. I keep several bike lengths between myself and any other rider out of courtesy and because I have never ridden with this person and do not know their skill level.

 

Give them their space.

Second milestone is going to be not caring about other riders in a curve and staying focused on your lines.

 

When I stop at a light I will always stop in one of the tire tracks, usually the right one because I put my right foot down and don't want to put it in the, possibly, oily center. This is not an invitation for someone behind me to share the lane. I would never think of pulling up beside someone I don't know at a stoplight. But that's just me.

 

I went riding with a group of cruiser/Harley riders today and kept having trouble not hitting the rider in front of me that was parked in the corner. I would ride with the sport bike guys but I would get killed.

 

That to me is not pulling over, your still in the "tire lane", I'm talking about giving someone the "invitation" to pull up next to them/me by getting all the way over in the full lane, typically the far left of the lane next to the line.

 

Stoplight..... If the person favors one side or the other Ill pull up beside. If they occupy the center I obviously don't and give them their space.

Highway. I do chase other bikes but only for the more visual-ness of having more than one bike in a lane. Ill pace them until I feel that the speed becomes excessive. (ludicrous speed is a no-no on the highway for me) I have only had one Hardley absolutely not want me to pace him. He went out of his way by going 3 lanes to the right, blindly, and taking off.

Do what you wish.... I always keep in mind.... You meet the nicest people on a Honda.

 

I kinda like 00TVS and DeVefr's responses.I don;t have hard fast rules but what I do, is usually something like what they post. If I come up on another bike, I will often just pace them unless they are going at a speed no where near what I want to do. In which case, they leave me behind, or I leave them behind when the opportunity to overtake them, without blowing my wad, arises. I don't have anything to prove other than I am older than dirt!

What I do find kinda frustrating though is when someone pulls up beside me at a light and wants to talk, and I am wearing ear buds and playing tunes on my ipod that is tucked way down deep in my jacket. I want to partake in the conversation but it is really difficult to turn that thing on and off. SO I just point at my ears and they seem to get the message. But most times now I use my Garmin that has music storage and a quit touch of the screen, mutes the tunes.

 

I tend to only feel chatty with strangers when I am drinking. I don't drink when I ride so I don't like to chat with folks at red lights. Plus, I am usually wearing headphones or earplugs so a short conversation is not worth the effort.

 

I don't have anything to prove other than I am older than dirt!

maybe they dont see the wire for earbuds and when you point to your ears they just think you are old and deaf, just an observation

thanks for all the replies, really was wondering that it wasn't a slight, like not waving when you could or such by not pulling up, I'm not one to pull up just to chat or talk about a bike. I've had a handful of people ask about my bike, one guy in lane beside me at light asks whats that bike, it say honda on the tank and intercepter on the tail so i said VFR, he kind had a look i couldnt tell if he didnt hear me or didnt understand me, green light, cya.

also i have to say i am 100% against ear buds now. not on bikes, on women walking, you see a nice ass on sidewalk and you clutch and rev it up, women used to look over, it's like whistle "hey babycakes" but NOW!! they all have ear buds in while walking, don't even hear it, maybe i need a louder exhaust.

 

Oh yeah, I pull up to all bikes at the light. Just curious I guess. While riding though, I catch up to sport bikers & pass the cruisers. I've had strangers ride along and vice-versa. It's all in good fun!