other cars showing off

[Anville]

Ok, I just did 200 miles on my bike (I was around 7k on my 2 scooters before this) and Im noticing a pretty big problem.

Never saw this happen on the scoots (since I cruised @ 38-40mph) but ALL KINDS of people drive fast past me all the time. On a 35mph road, Ill be going 40 and a suv/econobox/sedan will fly by @ 50mph. I even had a bread truck (!) race me at a light this morning.

What is the deal? Do they see "Bandit 1200, oh this guy is going DOWN!" and just slam on the gas? I have been riding extremely conservatively (not getting on the freeways and just cruising @ 40 pretty much all the time, taking off slowly @ stoplights) and I wont give into the "Ill show you up" mentality, but this is borderline annoying, not to mention a hassle on the road.

The only other thing that can explain this is maybe my speedo is 10 mph off?

[kay]

I have a scooter too and I've noticed something similar. Maybe it's cuz with scooters, you're more or less ignored???

To be honest, I don't have an answer....would like to have one myself.

[Funkmon]

Could be a slow speedo. I don't ride anything that even looks something close to a sporty motorcycle, but that's never happened to me.

[GregR1]

find a speed trap or a speed monitoring setup (like those automated lit-up signs on the side of the road that says "you are travelling ___ mph"), and do a double-check.

[Anville]

I know where a sign is, Ill buzz by it on the way home.

But the other cars trying to out-accelerate me and woosh past me really fast...its obvious. Ive been driving 5 years, and I think the speedo is ok, but the mentality these people have is ridiculous.

[kay]

My scooter isn't that slow cus it's 125cc and light. Can do about 75mph alright which is fast enough to be comfy in town. So I don't think it's the speed.

I do hear a lot that cagers will try to scare a biker when they see that it's a woman riding. Like they'd close in deliberately.

[themeatmanlandry]

Bandit (and pretty much all sportbikes in my experience) speedos are traditionally off anywhere from 6-10%. Use a GPS to confirm your error.

[Barbarian]

Are they squeezing you out of your lane, or just passing?

One is your problem, the other is theirs.

[Clint]

8% here. I ride at least ten over the limit, indicated.

[inspiron]

When I'm on the highway, I don't even look at the speedo anymore. I look at the tachometer.

6th gear, 4000 rpm = 125 kmh (the speed limit), 3200 rpm = 100 kmh, 2400 rpm = 80 kmh.

When passing thru a local tunnel (with speed cameras), I just keep the tacho needle on the top half of the "3" and have never had my picture taken (and I usually am still faster than most of the cars).

[Anville]

Cars passing mostly, only a few have edged me out simply because I wasnt visible. Im working on keeping my bubble open now (I read "The Book").

Im still getting cars passing me, every other stoplight, I get some dude who tries to out-accelerate me. I let them win most of the time.

[omegajim]

That'll learn ya for getting that kind of bike.

Although in all honesty, every once in awhile, people want to race ME, with my ancient decrepit piece of equipment. Usually I'm fool enough to oblige them. Of course the old Yamaha doesn't have anywhere near the power of your Bandit, so the odds of me doing something like 130 down a city street is not only unlikely, it's absolutely impossible.

[DragonRider]

Originally Posted by Anville

Ok, I just did 200 miles on my bike (I was around 7k on my 2 scooters before this) and Im noticing a pretty big problem.

On a 35mph road, Ill be going 40 and a suv/econobox/sedan will fly by @ 50mph. I even had a bread truck (!) race me at a light this morning.

What is the deal?

Hmmm...they are Idiots? Seriously I have the same thing happen to me all the time. I have people change lanes to be in the next lane on a fourlane at the light. It's like they don't want to be behind a sloooooow bike. How many cars are going to outrun a bike,I ask ya? By the time I shift to second I am 200 ft out in front. Then when they get thier rubber band wound up and they catch up, they fly by me at twice the speed limit. Sheesh! At least thier blocking the Police for me.

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

8% here. I ride at least ten over the limit, indicated.

Me too. Unless I'm in a school zone. They are hard on that here,and they should be....

Originally Posted by kay

My scooter isn't that slow cus it's 125cc and light. Can do about 75mph alright which is fast enough to be comfy in town. So I don't think it's the speed.
Dang it Kay you Are a speed demon,riding 75mph through Tokyo?

I do hear a lot that cagers will try to scare a biker when they see that it's a woman riding. Like they'd close in deliberately.
Really? That's not right.... You better be careful Kay