BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Motorcycles Motorcycle Etiquette

You are out on a ride solo when you come up behind an unknown rider. The stoplight changes to red. The unknown rider is in the left-hand position of the lane, so do you pull up beside them and start chatting, pull up beside them and nod, stay in a staggered formation behind them, or pull directly behind them? I would love to hear your opinions and experiences on this.

I am too shy to pull up beside someone and start chatting or even nod. I'd probably stop behind and a little to the right. Plus, I don't like to let myself get distracted while riding, I need to keep my attention on me, my bike and the road.

I'm with Claybird. Plus, I'm a bit of a loner most of the time anyway.

If someone came up and started talking to me, I'd think they were a weirdo...

This is exactly what I need to know. The reader that asked the question isn't sure how to handle. I am not sure what I would do. The fact that they are in the left hand of the lane suggests they don't mind you pulling up beside them. However, it would be kind of weird to start chatting. I think I am for staying staggered on the right, somewhat behind.

Froggie

By the way, still waiting on the pics of your new ride. How is it? I bet that V-star is really smooth........

Sorry. I still haven't taken pictures... Soon, soon...

It is a pretty smooth ride. My bike before this one was a '96 Yamaha Virago. It sat much higher and definitely rode a lot rougher. I don't know if that was just because of the age of the bike or what, but there is a noticeable difference with the V-Star.

Though going from a 750 cc in the Virago to a 650 in the V-Star is noticeable too. The V-Star definitely doesn't like to go faster as much as the Virago did... If I get another bike in the future, I'd like to get one with at least a 750 cc engine. I'm not a speed demon, but when you take the V-Star on the Interstate it acts like it doesn't like 65-70 mph too much.

wow im diggin this up after a month, sorry lol.

um i think motorcycle etiquette should be like car ettiquette. like you know how guys in corvettes, when they see another corvette, they have a certain wave in a certain position in the windsheild. same thing with ferraris and lambos and generally all the "club" cars.

when you see someone else on a motorcycle, i'd say nod if you have the opportunity. a convo, even from car to car is weird, so i would be weirded out by being approached on a motorcycle and talked to for sure. but nods are like "hey, i see youre on a bike too." and aside from squids being idiots, i see a lot of bikes out. it's the season for it.

I would give them a nod and be on my way!

In this area (SW KY), all bikers give each other a specific 'howdy'---make the OK sign with your hand, but instead of holding it up, stick it straight out to the side, kinda casual-like.

When pulling up alongside at a red light, generally I stay back a bit...if the other rider turns to look at me I just nod politely. A full face helmet makes conversation a bit awkward.

I would think yoiu would pull up behind them in a staggered formation, since the rider is unknown and you do not know what his intentions are.