Motorcycle Week

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

To many non riders the "close to the center line" riding looks dangerous when in fact the bike is usually in a track where the left wheels of a car would travel. The issue is brought up by non-riders here every year. The following is from a post I made in 2009.



I also hope that all ride safe and enjoy the area. We have been out twice this week and as always rode safe.

There is a huge difference between riding on the left side of the travel lane and riding with the bike handle bar extending over the center line. I don't know why there aren't more accidents caused by this type of bike riding. Please remember all those times when opposing traffic drifts over on to the center line, perhaps due to drivers texting etc. or otherwise not paying attention.

[Jonas Pilot]

I see a lot of bikes hug the yellow. When I do I make sure to give them plenty of room.

[Grant]

More dangerous, and encountered multiple times this week: A line of bikes ignoring yield sign on a rotary as traffic is coming around. Two close calls in those situations this week.

[NoBozo]

I have 220,000 miles all over the USA and Canada on bikes with my bride of 45 years. Never rode with a group. Always ride in the right or left "Rut". If you ride in the Center of your lane...you will be riding on a Hump..and the OIL patch...where the oil drips from cars and trucks land..don't want to be there. You always want to ride on clean pavement.

This "Oily" condition is particularly noted when riding into a toll booth. I figure my Allotment of "Time" is at the limit..SO I have QUIT riding. I am 70 NB

PS: Picture a watermellon tossed out of a car at 60...

[SAMIAM]

Smart to quit while you're ahead,NoBozo.It would be a shame if you got yourself banged up after almost 1/4 million miles of safe riding.

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I have 220,000 miles all over the USA and Canada on bikes with my bride of 45 years. Never rode with a group. Always ride in the right or left "Rut". If you ride in the Center of your lane...you will be riding on a Hump..and the OIL patch...where the oil drips from cars and trucks land..don't want to be there. You always want to ride on clean pavement.

This "Oily" condition is particularly noted when riding into a toll booth. I figure my Allotment of "Time" is at the limit..SO I have QUIT riding. I am 70 NB

PS: Picture a watermellon tossed out of a car at 60...

Was following some bikes last night and this ride in the tire tracks thing came to mind. What I noticed, is a car or truck only has a little bit that sticks out beyond the tire(mirror mostly), a motorcycle has basically half of its overall width sticking out beyond the tire. On some bikes this is a considerable amount of bike and distance toward oncoming traffic.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by LocalRealtor

Was following some bikes last night and this ride in the tire tracks thing came to mind. What I noticed, is a car or truck only has a little bit that sticks out beyond the tire(mirror mostly), a motorcycle has basically half of its overall width sticking out beyond the tire. On some bikes this is a considerable amount to bike and distance toward oncoming traffic.

My procedure was this: I would ride in the left rut. ALWAYS keepng an eye on oncoming traffic. If someone coming toward me was leaning toward my lane...I would switch over to my Right rut ..ie..using judgment if I thought there was ANY problem at all...then back to the left rut after the offending car passed.

The reason for staying in the left rut to begin with...is to show your headlight to oncoming traffic...you are behind a car. You want the oncoming traffic to SEE that there is a motorcycle behind the car.

We had many enjoyable thousands of miles..and sights of our Great Country....Very few close calls.......but it only takes ONE..On a motorcycle. NB

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

There is a huge difference between riding on the left side of the travel lane and riding with the bike handle bar extending over the center line. I don't know why there aren't more accidents caused by this type of bike riding. Please remember all those times when opposing traffic drifts over on to the center line, perhaps due to drivers texting etc. or otherwise not paying attention.

Exactly the point I was trying to make. I am a former rider from the 60's to the 80's. With no oncoming traffic, I would ride the left rut, but always moved over to the right rut when oncoming traffic was present. I thought it was good to have as much room as possible between me and opposing traffic. A little more margin for error is a good thing.

[laketrout]

I heard the numbers for Bike week, 230-240,000 bikers. A lot but when compared to 2006 , 440,000. The lower numbers are noticeable on the roads leading north, I drive Spaulding turnpike. At the lake its noisy at night but not as noisy as used to be,. Economy, I hope the local business did well.

[magicrobotmonkey]

This is our 3rd bike week at Burrito Me Laconia and we had our best single day since we opened on Friday. We had a lot of repeat business from the previous years bringing their friends and a lot of new bikers as well. It was a good year for us in downtown.

[Gavia immer]

Originally Posted by laketrout

I heard the numbers for Bike week, 230-240,000 bikers. A lot but when compared to 2006 , 440,000. The lower numbers are noticeable on the roads leading north, I drive Spaulding turnpike. At the lake its noisy at night but not as noisy as used to be,. Economy, I hope the local business did well.

Did we see fewer boat trailers this weekend due to traffic?

There doesn't seem to be a way to find NH's economic "net gain" for Bike Week.

[Woodsy]

Gavia...

The full economic gain is hard to nail down, however a good indicator is the jump in the meals & rooms tax for June....

Woodsy

[jazzman]

I was amazed we got an outside seat at Garwoods at 1pm last Saturday... There were a bunch of bikes out front, but plenty of tables available.