An appeal to all riders of motorbikes.

[Shep]

Please....

When you are following a line of vehicles behind an agricultural tractor which is indicating it will turn right, do not blast past on either side.

The driver's mirrors will only give a good view of the area just behind the tractor and implement or trailer. He may not see you begin your run 50 yards back. There is also a blind spot next to the tractor.

The implement or trailer may initially swing to the left as the tractor turns right, and he may not see you passing on the left.

He may not be turning right into the byroad 80 yards away, he could be turning into a gateway 5 yards in front of him.

When he starts to turn right, a 4 foot diameter wheel will appear in front of you, followed by a heavy steel engine.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, if you hit the tractor at 70mph, you will lose.

:(

[scouselee]

thats the worst site in the world as I've found out on a couple of occasions, not overtaking but when tractors pull out of the fields and the wheels and engine come out before the driver can see past the hedges and trees, so far I've been lucky there has been no oncoming traffic........s'pose I'll have to learn to ride slower just in case eh!!!........not a feckin chance :)

[Friar Tuck]

Splutch the buggers! serves 'em right for not looking ahead and paying attention!

[Freak]

Wise words Shep
I take you're bailing then, soon to be followed by harvest.
Tractors Bailors, Combines and Trailors.

[Juke]

My mate hit a tractor at Union Mills on the IOM a lot of years ago. At a very high speed!
Result?
One written off 'Banana Katana', one near dead rider, the remainder of his stay on the island in the Manx Hospital and three pins in his leg! :eek:
The farmer was left vey traumatised even tho it was not his fault. Poor bloke.
He even offered a fly Arris home as a token gesture, bless him..... ;) :D

[hardtailbiker]

very kind of you to give advice, please hose all the mud and crap off your wheels before you leave it all over the road in large lumps

[Urban Terrorist]

'Cos I've got a brand new combine harvester' :D :D :D

[GreatBritishRob]

very kind of you to give advice, please hose all the mud and crap off your wheels before you leave it all over the road in large lumps
And please have the decency to pull over to let traffic by when its getting a mile or so long tail backs.
Could you also talk to fellow tractor drivers about having insurance and road legal tractors, trailers etc so if there is an accident people have a chance of claiming insurance.
The list goes on and on.
I know your intentions are good Shep but i think you know what Hardtailbiker and me are on about.

[hardtailbiker]

the list is indeed long Rob, I have a few farmer friends as well as family and have driven tractors, so not a dig at farmers.

when you have a long trailer in and out of fields do not take up both lanes to get out whilst traffic is using the road and having to slam their brakes on

when doing this at night please put on reflectors along your trailer

lift your fecking forks/buckets high when pulling out of fields

he he, there's more

[Gnome]

the list is indeed long Rob, I have a few farmer friends as well as family and have driven tractors, so not a dig at farmers.

when you have a long trailer in and out of fields do not take up both lanes to get out whilst traffic is using the road and having to slam their brakes on

when doing this at night please put on reflectors along your trailer

lift your fecking forks/buckets high when pulling out of fields

he he, there's more

Yeah - have a fucking bath too! :D

[John Hopkins]

Yeah - have a fucking bath too! :D

Rotton sod....you should'nt stand so close..and I larfed. :D John

[Spike]

nice to see some balanced views here again :cool: