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I had an unusal occurance driving home tonight. A large BMW bike complete with 'outrigger spotlights' came up behind as I was following a pretty slow driver. The slow driver turned off so I pulled away 'making progress'. Bike seemed happy to be behind so was not overly worried. As I got to another slower driver, I sat behind knowing full well there was no where for me to overtake or to pull in to let the bike past. When there was a small gap, the bike accelerated then hit the horn while overtaking. This is the bit that surprised me, I nearly swerved into the bugger and I was expecting him! He then turned into mr **** by sitting behind the car in fornt hitting the horn until he found another overtaking spot. So, no real bother but is this a 'bike' tactic to ensure that us car drivers know that the bikes are around and should be let past?
Genuinly interested, not a rant (note lack of !!!!'s and CAPITALS). I do however drive an Audi, so let the flaming commence
BMW v Audi anything could happen. Does seem odd behaviour mind.
Sounds like a knob. Don't worry about the Audi thing, we understand. 😉
The police used to teach a lot of horn sounding as part of "The system" way back in the 70's. Maybe its an old copper or someone who canny find the indicator cancel switch.
Could be the indicator switch thing - on many BMWs its perfectly possible to sound the horn instead of cancelling the indicators
And those kind of bikes are the new "bankmanagers rocket" having decided that Harleys are old hat - they all want to be Ewan McGregor.
I find as a regular biker, that its the adventure riders that dont nod, and want to pass you faster than its sometimes apparently safe to do so...
IAM training for motorbikes includes use of the horn when you suspect you're behind a dozy git (not my words) and about to overtake. It should be done in advance whilst indicating though - to avoid the panic swerve as you mention.
Proper use of horn!
It means "I am here" if used correctly
I once filtered through 10 miles of traffic, 2 up, on the M3. I must have tooted 200+ cars!!
A blip of the horn or a flash of the lights is to alert other drivers to your presence.
Leaning on the horn is to alert other drivers to the fact you're a nob (or can't find your indicators in the dark).
Ah, ok I thought there must be something to it. Normally I pull over for a bike to allow then to go 3 abreast, but on that road, in the rain, no chance. Never been given the horn before though 😉
I actually think it's a good idea, I keep a good eye out in my mirrors (a youthful disregard of speed limits got me into this habit, need to keep an eye on where plod is, hard to break now I'm more interested in mpg!) but letting people know a bike is there and going to come past seems like a sensible thing to do. Still think this bloke was a knob to the bloke in front though.
Many moons ago, on many cars, the headlight flash was labelled 'Passing'
The idea was to give the car you were about to overtake a quick flash so they knew you were about to pass them. I've done it in the past. These days the passee would just cop a strop and go mental if you did that. 🙁
Beep beep, here I am going to force my way through a tiny gap that I cann only get through if you give way, and you'd better get out of my way cos I am better than you and I ROCK YEAH! EAT HORN, SUCKERS!
(some of the above may be trolling)
A large BMW bike complete with 'outrigger spotlights'
😕
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Not a BMW, but you get the idea
Sorry that should have been a 😯
Ewan/Charlie wanna be obviously, ignore 😉
Thats what the horn is for.
I suspect that we forget that becuase the world is full of dimwits who use it as a repremand instead. A decent lean on the button is needed not a apologetic blip.
Same with flashing your lights. I AM HERE is the message not after you. I do wish people would get the latter.
When I used to ride motorbikes the first thing I used to do with a new bike was to fit a pair of Fiamm horns to it. They saved my bacon on more than one occasion; once I remember in the outside lane of a motorway in the dark when a driver simply pulled out beside me - he got a hell of a shock when I unleashed the Fiamms just a couple of feet away from his right ear.
Could be the indicator switch thing - on many BMWs its perfectly possible to sound the horn instead of cancelling the indicators
I hired a R1200GS for ten days touring in the Alps. Whilst the indicator switches are strange compared to other bikes, I never hit the horn by mistake once 🙂
I would have liked the indicator system more if the cancel button was not on the throttle side !!!
Is there a similar set up in BMW cars?
They never seem to indicate.
I commute every day by m/c, and regularly use the horn to both warn cars/vans I'm there and to [i]Beep beep, here I am going to force my way through a tiny gap that I cann only get through if you give way, and you'd better get out of my way cos I am better than you and I ROCK YEAH! EAT HORN, SUCKERS![/i]
Try riding the new hondas. They've swapped the indicator and horn locations on the left grip! It annoyed me so much I bought a Ducati instead 😀