Car driver's attitudes towards trail bikes.

[G-Bru]

Its because it is a Trail bike that car drivers regard us as YOB's who can't afford a proper bike and probably have the attitude that we should not be on the road........

G.

[Fleegle]

Here's my take on it using my bikes as an example

Everyday bike - TRX850 with cans that will shatter your eardrums - this is my second and I can't recall one incident were a car has tried to intimidate me, and I travel through Brixton and Streatham every day. On tickover/low revs the sound is a deep throb, so approaching a queue at lights, cars tend to part like Moses and the Red Sea. Slow moving traffic tends to pull to one side in good time as they can hear me coming. I also tend to take a commanding position when riding this

Fun bike - TZR250 with spannies that sound like angry wasps - great to ride on a sunny day and tend to ride out of town, however I need to get out of town first. While moving there are no issues, but unlike the TRX, sound wise it has no presence unless it is bouncing off the redline. Car drivers effectively mistake it for a moped and treat it like such, no pulling to one side, no allowing through...in fact quite often blocking a way through (maybe the drivers remember when they were always done over by them in the 80's)

Trailie - WR450 with completely standard pipe, so fairly quiet - the bike I feel the least comfortable on in traffic even though I can see the most allowing me to react sooner to hazards. The way I am treated on this is very similar to the TZR, no special treatment or allowances to get to the front, although haven't experienced anyone trying to block me yet. This is the bike I am most respectful towards the law, speeding, filtering, etc probably due to shyte tyres, poor brakes and so much suspension travel, so least likely to piss the drivers off

So in conclusion, swap it for a big twin