It’s a topic which always unites; ask a group of bikers what their pet-hates are and you get a slew of energetic responses ranging from annoyance to incredulity to outright rage! Of the numerous examples of pet-hates we’ve heard over the years, they can usually be grouped into one of the following three groups: speed, road conditions and motorists. Let’s take a closer look our biggest pet hates in each of these categories.

Speed

Restrictions -  Most of us accept there is a need for speed restrictions for safety reasons but what really makes our blood boil is when they seem to be there for seemingly no good reason. When there is no safety issue present but the speed limit is set at 30 or 40 is incredibly annoying!Cameras – well let’s be fair…who actually likes speed cameras? The thing that presses our buttons is when there aren’t any safety issues present, yet we’re forced to slow down to 30mph just to avoid getting a ticket. Insert “grrrr” here.

Road Conditions

Spillages – whether liquid (such as diesel) or solid (like crates of scissors…okay we made that one up), spillages are not only a safety hazard but turn the joy of riding into an assault course you just want to get through! Likewise, potholes make our list, not only are they dangerous and annoying…they’re painful in all the wrong places!

Motorists

If you’re like us, it’s the car-drivers out there that really breathe life into our pet-hates! Here are some of our biggest annoyances when it comes to other motorists we are forced to share the road with:

• being on their mobile phones
• not indicating
• purposely preventing filtering
• tail-gating
• parking in spaces designated for bikes
• throwing rubbish and cigarette butts out their windows
• spraying us with their windscreen washer spray (jury’s out whether that is done on purpose or not)
• being oblivious
• not looking in their mirrors
• simply not seeing us!

Honourable mentions

We recently asked our friends on Twitter and Facebook what their pet hates were and here are some of the more creative responses, (top marks for originality guys!):

• flies stuck to my lippy !!!
• Other people being on MY roads
• push bikes and them all riding 3-4 abreast
• alien invasions, I hate the bright lights they shine on the road, very annoying!

The existence of all of these issues means that, as bikers, we have to work that much harder remaining adaptable, quick-thinking …and the safest ones out there on the road!

What about you, what is your biggest pet-hate?

Tags: biker safety, motorcycle pet hates, pet peeves