Valheru Rides!

Possibly a bit of an obvious but mildly controversial one here as I splash back into writing again….

I’m not sure where the idea of ‘Road presence’ actually came from as it does distinctly sound like a marketing ploy to sell larger bikes, if nothing else to convey the idea that a bigger bike is somehow safer because you’re more visible.

Obviously there is one huge fatal flaw with this whole idea (other than it’s wrong) in that it relies on the cagers actually looking at the road, and/or turning their heads. Both activities appear to be more and more biologically difficult to do as time passes, and the bigger the cage seems to be imparting additional aid in the continual devolution to a crab.

While contemplating the impending carcinization I have, over the last couple of days had to watch some shocking examples of just how bad this has become. With the riders of a grey Indian Scout and a Teal coloured Royal Enfield Classic (650) having to essentially smash on the sides of the respective vehicles with their arms to try and get some form of acknowledgement, being bigger doesn’t necessarily get you noticed (That’s what she said) by cagers who just aren’t looking. Straight up today I thought I was going to be calling the ambulance from the side of the road, it looked that close to being serious after a man in a black van (if the A team sold their van to Scoobie Doo’s amphetamine using cousin) decided to change lanes without looking/indicating/waving a pincer etc.

Now I do acknowledge that I’m typing this from East Anglia, which so far has the worst drivers outside of an active warzone, so the continued experiences of witnessing these near misses is possibly somewhat askew in relation to the rest of the country.

So, what is everyone else’s experience with this? Has anyone noticed you on a larger bike when it mattered most? Let me know in the comments.