Modern Vespa

I have never really managed to conquer some inbuilt fear of riding fast, but something strange has happened in the last week. I seem to have become less nervous and have started to enjoy my stint on fast motorways. Started last week when I had to get from Stansted to work in double quick time and the only real choice was the M11 in rush hour at 7.30am.

Since then I have been flying and even sitting in the outside lane of three lane roads flying past everything else whenever I can. I used to stick to lane one with all the slower traffic and was terrified of overtaking anything.

The culmination of this was today when I took Flash, my newly "revived" ET4 for a blast down the A12. Sitting in lane three with a big grin on my face. Genie was following me on the GT200 and I think maybe she was a little shocked!

I hope this is a case of experience and a bit more confidence, not a case of two steps forward and one step back. Anyway, having the ET4 pegged at 65 was a complete blast and I had a big grin on my face while doing it. Now all I need to do is get the Honda pegged at 90....

Doug, I actually prefer to ride in the inside lane (lane 3) of a three lane highway. That is where I find I feel most comfortable. There is less traffic changing lanes into that lane compared with the middle (lane 2) or curb (lane 1) lanes. I have been really enjoying riding the Super on the highway yesterday and today, it has given me a sense of greater confidence on the highway for some odd reason.

Yeah Benny, but you have no fear of riding WOT. I have or maybe had...

Interesting - we number our lanes from the inside ('slow') lane outwards.

On the Bikesafe course run by the Police here, they state that the safest place to be is in the outside lane (lane 3) "All the shit happens in the inside lane". That said, over here it's only meant to be for overtaking if there is space on an inside lane. So I make sure I'm always overtaking!

Well done Doug, I know you had a bit of fear to overcome, glad it's now 'clicked'. IAM next?

I am not sure whether it has really completely clicked yet, but something is definitely ticking... bomb? I think it might be some of your words reverberating in my head that all bikes will "stand up" at speed and not fall over. It's only going slow and at a stop that they do that I think you misunderstood Benny. Lane three (overtaking lane) is nearest the centre. Benny this is actually the outside lane. The nearside is the curb lane. Or at least it is this side of the pond.

the last time i rode behind doug on a fast road was riding back from dover on the M2 at about 10pm.... at ... uh ... 50mph .... that was a bit of a hair raising ride for me given that i had an HGV riding up my arse most of the way and wasn't going to budge from the tail-gunner position because i didn't want to leave you on your own. that was not my most fun ride.

today, by contrast, was great. you did the A12 the way it's meant to be done i.e. WOT and don't spend more than 10 seconds in any given lane

What is an HGV is it like a thong?

Heavy
Goods
Vehicle

Not thong-like at all.

I hated it too. Mind you the first twenty miles of impenetrable wet drizzle/fog didn't auger well for the rest of the trip! Thank you for putting up with me. I still don't like heights so the Dartford Bridge and the South Woodford flyover are still out; oh and as for the Millau Viaduct, foget it...

I am quite surprised Doug, I always imagined you were super-confident! You certainly come across that way. I am glad to hear you are getting over your uncertainties. I've been over Dartford bridge a few times, it is a bit scary, and windy but if you close your eyes it goes real quick.

For me its pretty simple, if you want (or need) to overtake you use the lane to your right. I can't sit in lane 1 for very long I run out of patience very quickly.

(last week the 300 finally caught a brief glimpse of an indicated 90mph )

You can't really see over the sides of the Millau viaduct that well when riding over it.

The QE2 bridge and Le Pont de Normandie at Le Havre are far more 'oo-er'-ish.

The Super and I touched an indicated 140 km/hr today. 8) I wish I had my GPS on it to see what the real speed was.

I hope I wasn't confusing in my post above, we typically do not number our lanes here, but I was trying to guess what your lane numbering convention was.

Nope all talk and no action. My preferred setting is urban. Love acceleration and playing with the traffic as jim would say, hate speed per se. Bill always rides flat out. Not my cuppa cha.

Benny - perhaps we both got confused.

I didn't have an issue keeping up with Bill, I went past him eventually. That 200 is surprising considering it was peeing down and windy.
My problems are in central London, as soon as I am surrounded by a million cyclists, scooter, and motorbikes my riding goes to shit.

I need to see how you and Genie do it*


*in reference to the traffic

Every day in rush hour is the answer. And having been knocked off by white van man, I think my town riding is a wee bit more defensive... I have this to remember it by of course Insurance finally settled last week and I have got back some of my excess and equipment cost...

I ride assertively and as fast as conditions allow - but try to ensure no other road user has to change speed or direction because of my presence.

It helps if you have a good spatial awareness, so can almost unconsciously read when gaps will open up or close.

I know, I just dont go into central London often enough, It seems every time I venture down the A13 when I reach the City I slap my L's back on. Oh well I will get the hang of it.

I remember that picture. The last time I saw it I was about ready to stop scootering. Until you cheered me up by telling me about your misfortune.

Glad to hear about the insurance.

Great news.

I spend most of my time riding in heavy downtown Toronto traffic. Although not as crazy as London is, but cagers here do not notice scooters much. I actually enjoy riding in traffic and riding aggressively to avoid getting stuck behind slower vehicles. I doubt it, you're probably right and I'm probably wrong.

It was your use of 'inside' lane to mean the fast lane (3) that confused me. The numbering is the same as here.