Good Decision, or Maybe Not?

[@Sanemancured]

One step at a time, carefully considered and while you might have ended up nose to nose it wasn’t dangerous.

[@PNH63]

I personally would not have gone past hedge cutter until completely sure what white car was doing. As soon as gap became a tiny bit bigger it would have probably moved forward. Just my view of course but from experience cars are very impatient when having to wait for things like this.

[@1050cc]

I would probably have done something similar myself. Safe and steady progress 😁 I like to keep moving if it's safe to do so but never keep moving regardless. My only concern is that the motorcyclists going the opposite way only became visible late in the manoeuvre. Had one of them set off in the opposite direction, they would have had more right to claim right of way and there could have been a moment of some firmer pressure on the front brake 😁🤔

[@martinguy3803]

Thanks for another great video. Agree it hinges on the perception of the hedge cutter overtake. I just wonder how you knew the white car wasn't intending to move forward as you passed the hedge cutter?

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thanks for the comment, yes, it was something I thought might happen, but I observed it and there were no signs of any movement, what my old police instructors would describe as “stable”. So I decide to dominate the road space and get on with it. I also based the decision on the fact that there was nowhere reasonable for the white car to move into when I committed to the manoeuvre. All the best

[@martinguy3803]

@MotorcyclePWR thanks, a useful insight

[@johnbiddal5951]

There are occasions when nobody does anything in a situation like that. Congestion builds, people get impatient and then someone does something stupid. Better to act positively but safely and clear the obstacle as you did. Why was the blue car stopped? Was it parked ? I thought I saw a driver in it. There was plenty of clearance for it to pass the Hedge Trimmer safely if the car was being driven, rather than stop and unnecessarily hold up vehicles behind.

[@05gt99]

I think due to the very low speeds the risks were minimal and the move was well executed. None of the other drivers seemed to think your action was unreasonable. Also it got you clear of the traffic. If you stay behind the cars once clear of the tractor you would still have been behind them which potentially creates a hazard further down the road.

[@spudgunson]

Perception is never clear cut. It’s in the eye of the beholder; one man’s milk is another man’s poison etc etc. In many countries around the world bikes are zipping through the streets everywhere and people expect them to be making progress whereas in the UK the default view of many road users towards motorcyclists is ‘get in line and wait your turn’. I occasionally get drivers intentionally closing gaps to prevent me filtering, and of course there is little we can do about it. In your example, would you expect a mother with a pram to walk around the hedge cutter? What about a bicycle? Pedestrian, horse or a group of children under the supervision of their teachers? The hedge cutter is a site of work just like road workers or a farmer working a field albeit on the other side of a hedge. Under these circumstances it’s impractical to create a safe zone around the hedge cutter so are passers by expected to hold back from getting near for safety reasons and out of respect to the operator of the machine? Large objects can be thrown out by the blades and if something had caused you to fall and hurt yourself would the operator be held responsible for not suspending cutting whilst you tried to pass? An emergency vehicle that is on a call has validity to go through and under blue lights other road users including the hedge cutter must give way. So were you rationalising your actions when considering SLAP? You certainly gained an advantage but isn’t the ‘A’ in SLAP also to consider if a manoeuvre is ‘Appropriate’? Did the reward outweigh the risk? It’s impossible for viewers and me to judge and I don’t know what I would have done however I think I may have held back. But then my assessment of working machinery and how unpredictable things can be is shaped by my experience of working on construction sites. However, you have a different overall experience having been a police rider and the decision process around ‘making progress’ may come more naturally to you. An interesting question and one that will get several different answers I suspect. It’s interesting, so many respondents to this question have reacted by saying ‘yes it’s what I would have done’ however I wonder if they would? There is a group of riders approaching from the other direction that are sitting and waiting. Makes one wonder how many viewers of the video really would have emulated your approach?

[@TheSupercollier]

How good was your view as you passed the hedge cutter ie might there have been another bike coming

[@AndrewSmith-hy8gl]

I asked an old friend who has cut hedges for many years to review this footage. Interesting, his "perception" was that the most difficult element of his work is anticipating and monitoring the actions of other road users. He does so while operating the cutting blades precisely in three plains consistently, ensuring the blades avoid hazards such as telegraph polls and operating the tractor safely on small country roads, all at the same time.

[@vincents8165]

I agree that it's the "P" in SLAP that's the only thing in issue here. As long as you nodded / waved then I think it's on the right side of the line.

[@deanmsimpson]

That's a good point. A little wave or nod of acknowledgement can go a long way to de-escalate a situation.

[@keithgill4299]

Suppose the motorcyclist coming the opposite way had done the same thing. It's not clear from the video whether you'd seen them prior to pulling into their lane to pass the hedge cutter. If they'd also filtered to the front, you'd might have met them while passing the tractor. Probably still not a problem. But if there was, you would have been in the wrong.

[@techtinkerin]

It felt like the most uncertain moment was just as you first begin to see the road blocked by the tractor, there was a fraction of a second where if anything had have been coming the other way you would have had nowhere to go just when you were level with tractor. Perhaps the cam angle makes it appear worse. In all honesty at that sort of speed it's no issues whatsoever but anything faster I'd say was asking to meet another biker doing the same thing opposite. I often think drive in a way that if you encountered yourself coming the other way there'd be no issue. Thought provoking as usual, thanks !😊

[@m007uk]

You had the opportunity to safely pass the cars and tractor which you performed in a measured and managed approach. With you being an ex police rider filtering through hazards I would suggest being "Second Nature" (A task so familiar you perform it without needing to think about it)

[@abhalluk]

Making progress and well executed. The only thing I noted was as you overtook the tractor, the tractor applied the brakes, possibly due to the overtake?

[@andrewbryden3654]

perception wise, I'd have smiled and said there's someone who knows what they're doing, good on 'em!

[@allistonhyde]

Interesting question set, using SLAP I think you should have taken the first overtake only, Perception from the Red car would have been frustrating that you passed him, as he was moving forward and patients would have only delayed you by as much as 30 seconds based on the tractor speed, but riding for progress I would have taken exactly the same decisions. Liking all the comments, we all have different levels of risk acceptance.

[@mrdygga6]

Good video, interesting points. My question to you would be, "If you were training and a candidate performed in that way, what would your feedback be?" Good use of Observation allows us to have better control in any perceived hazard.I feel that some control of the situation was lost to the driver of the white car, who may have moved for a safer position away from the hedge trimmer. That loss of controlling the situation could have contributed to a different scenario. SLAP appeared to be well used and implemented up until the overtake of the hedge trimmer. Only hindsight (or watching this twice) will seriously interrogate P for Perception,, but at least it is something we can all learn from. RSMF and HNY.

[@guitarplayerwannabee]

My only hesitation would have been overtaking the tractor, for 2 reasons. Firstly, the white car could have stopped because of a vehicle about to emerge through the white gate - "a junction". Secondly, there was no view down the left hand side of the tractor and there could possibly have been another entrance similar to the one on the right. The view was only apparent when alongside the tractor.

[@aj63]

You made good progress and seized fluid moments that worked to your advantage. There is of course lots of ‘what if’s’ that many others have correctly identified in the other comments. However, it’s all about making your mind up very quickly based on the information around you. Cars could not pass as the tractor was taking more than his side of the road. That left you to quickly ascertain what will the other road users do and what is the likelihood of anything getting flicked up by those cutting blades. Instances such as that require quick surefooted calculations to proceed. What certainly goes in your favour is your white motorcycle and high- vis clothing that echo’s your past profession. If that was someone on a naked bike wearing black clothing I wouldn’t have been surprised if the driver of the red car nips up as you pass to put you closer to the tractor and it’s cutting blades - just to be funny like some motorists like to. And that’s another reason not to hang about once you’re committed to the manoeuvre. Good clean passing in the end, so no harm done. BTW - loving your videos, what a great service you provide us all, thank you! Happy New Year to you 👍

[@ed7540]

Having operated those types of machines I would say you were too close. I appreciate it looks different when watching on my phone, but you would be surprised what is hidden in the hedges like bits of metal or vehicles that can fly out at tremendous speed and your visor or clothing would be no protection at all. I personally would keep my distance to at least a car length. It’s just my opinion. Have a great new year.

[@stephenashby9858]

Cheeky - yes, but well executed and thought out. A decisive manoeuvre in my opinion and safe for a motorcyclist to take…

[@tenbear5]

Your dayglow jacket served its purpose well. 🙂

[@jjnewman65]

You may have been compromised if the white car came forward as you were overtaking the tractor 🚜

[@brucewhetton5039]

Absolutely nothing wrong with your planning and actions; however, you have an abundance of experience and training under your belt. I dare say there will be one or two watching this wanting to emulate, not understanding the vision and planning involved. You made what was quite a technical system of motorcycling look very safe and easy. Could I ask you? What you would have done in the same situation, same vision, but with a solid white line in the center of the road? There is a reason for asking this.

[@andyhewitt7588]

Looks good to me. The fact that you did the manoeuvre in controlled steps should allay any bad perception fro the other motorists 😀

[@Costema37]

Another good video to get people thinking. My only comment which is subjective I would have gone passed the hedge cutter a little slower only because the view in front of the machine was restrictive and there could have been a road user or pedestrian waking out across the road as the white car was stationary and may not have seen you. It’s hard to see how fast you were going and I’m sure not that fast I just away think of what if’s. Videos don’t always show what the rider or driver sees. Cheers Matt 👍🏻

[@PhilbyFavourites]

You’re one of the few, if the only one, to have mentioned pedestrians… The pedestrian if youthful may have jogged across to get in front of the tractor - bang into the bikes path. The pedestrian if older or infirm may have caused the tractor to stop and the gap for the bike that was opening would have disappeared in an instant. Both outcomes would be negative……..

[@46rrodriguez]

@@PhilbyFavourites lot of tosh. He took slow and wide berth to see front of the tractor to eliminate any hazard. FYI the bikes have brakes in case you need to stop swiftly

[@curbjumper]

To proceed can be both right and wrong; to not proceed can be both right and wrong: You are put into a lose/lose situation by the hedge trimmer. The fact that you are riding a motorcycle which is capable of fitting into narrow places is fantastic; the fact that you are surrounded by less capable drivers operating inferior vehicles, is not so fantastic. To not proceed in the manner that you did could have resulted in being at the mercy of an impatient driver; sitting still on a road is always dangerous as the threats multiply from behind. To proceed as you did puts the rider in control of a situation where the car driver is, by nature of their vehicle being ponderous and their decision making being the same, incapable of timely decision making. This is a situation where a decision must be made, even though there was no job briefing and feedback from each party involved prior to it happening, which is common at work, but never happens with other drivers in traffic. The decision to proceed had a successful outcome in this case, and the successful outcome is the result of years of training, experience, and evaluation. In many countries, there would have been a road crew working with the hedge trimmer, a flag person at each end allowing one direction at a time to proceed. It is not so simple to give a 'yes' or 'no' answer to this, but is is easy to understand that the process of timely decision making is crucial to safe operation of a motorcycle, which was done in this case.

[@programmingfortheweb]

One of the reasons to have a motorcycle is to make progress. Therefore, as the first three parts of _SLAP_ were satisfied, there's no reason for others to have a poor Perception of your riding. As a motorcyclist, had I been driving one of those cars, I may have even tried to make it easier for you to pass. Having said that, unfortunately, today, some road users are, to put it politely, not as tolerant of others as they should be. As this was in the countryside, road users tend to be more tolerant. So, Good Decision in my view.

[@COctagons]

I think that given the assumption that most people follow the rules of the road, everything you did here was good. I don't know how well they drive in your part of the country, but in Merseyside I could guarantee there would be some idiot coming the wrong way up your side of the road to jump the queue. Part of the context as to whether or not such a manoeuvre is wise has to do with local knowledge and observations of other road users' driving standards.

[@outandaboutwithmartin445]

I would have done exactly the same. You were riding in a safe manner. You could pass the tractor when the cars couldn't so you didn't inconvinence anyone. The other bikers were holding well back, maybe they wanted to stay in a group as they passed the tractor.

[@jafa486]

Okay this is a tricky one, yes everything you did was SLA but it is the P for sure. As a biker I get it, but the bikers oncoming to you probably thought differently. But natural human response is you are pushing in front, not that we are more vulnerable standing still or that we can fit where you can’t. It’s all speculation but I’ve encountered dangerous jealousy in these situations and it’s not nice. If you are a new rider hold back a bit and try to judge people as you pass, I find a little hand up to acknowledge people being courteous letting you get ahead goes a long way, they might not see it always, but the ones that do hopefully feel as happy as we do sneaking past. To all drivers that move over enough to let us bikers through I salute you. Be safe and respect everyone. ❤

[@MGman100]

Well thought through, you were making progress. The only thing that may be a negative is the potential for other less experienced road users in the other vehicles to perceive you in a negative light.

[@Imaginary_Life_UK]

I have 40 years experience over half a million miles in 36 countries on motorcycles. Had I been in the other vehicles (including the bikers waiting) I would have thought he was being a bit of a dick. Now, I might be wrong, but it is nothing to do with experience.

[@mosshague3313]

@@Imaginary_Life_UK yeah but experience doesn’t mean that you know everything, some people do the same things repeated for years and reckon they’re great because of experience, but they learnt little new.

[@Imaginary_Life_UK]

@@mosshague3313 - yes, obviously, but I was responding to the comment very precisely not claiming any skill or knowledge on my part. At least we agree that experience is not the issue. Thanks for confirming my point.

[@mosshague3313]

@@Imaginary_Life_UK fair point, I think the variety of comments show that there will always be a difference in opinion. Many shades of grey in road use, but someone isn’t necessarily a dick just because of a biased or less educated opinion. Sadly in the modern world we’re very quick to judge others, but less likely to reflect honestly on our own behaviours and thoughts?

[@Imaginary_Life_UK]

@ I wrote nor thought nothing whatsoever about being a dick due to bias or a less educated opinion. But you’ve edited your original comment so the thread is lost.

[@FREE_PUREBLOOD333]

From the view of the camera I would say you assessed each hazard and acted accordingly to your plan for each. You made decisions and proceeded safely where other road users were hesitant and just waiting for the slow moving hedge cutting operation to finish and drive off or turn into an entrance or similar and clear the road.

[@Ken.ch452]

Perception: I'd say, if I was any of the drivers facing you, seeing you overtake the cars behind the hedge cutter, predictable. I think that is the correct word. I'd have a very good idea that you were intending to come through. No hesitation, you did as I would expect you to do without dithering. Your intention was clear to observe.

[@tomellis4750]

If you want to sit in a queue, drive a car. Nothing wrong with your careful manoeuvre, it's what bikes are for.

[@andrewgateway]

If the road was wider all traffic would have flowed past the tractor, the road width was not an issue for a motorcycle. I would consider it a reasonable manoeuvre 👍

[@notsohairybiker]

Nothing wrong with that move. It's all about making progress, If you can't make progress, get a car.

[@NooBiker]

Seems like you actively assessed all the hazards and risks. I'm assuming you had good vision of the waiting oncoming (not clear from the video). I'd be concerned about what i couldn't see (what's directly in front of the digger? Could I reasonably expect something to emerge from there?) But otherwise i might have done the same.

[@MrMesospheric]

Two thoughts: (1) might waiting have allowed you to avoid getting so close to the hedge trimmings falling onto the road, which are often ready puncture-makers? And (2) no there was nothing 'wrong' with the passing of the tractor, but from the sofa, it initially appeared difficult to judge if there might be a vehicle in front of it but coming the other way. Certainly not rash!

[@BeardedBiker6611]

For me nothing wrong with the overtake, for me i would have waited just to keep well away from the tractor so i would not go over the sharp twigs those things fling off in case of going through tyre. Once the cars had come passed, would go well over the otherside minimising the risk of puncture. Really do not like those hedge trimmers, would be checking me tyres down the road anyway so would not of made progress.

[@tonybarton3746]

Lived in the country all my life , lots of tractors , combine tractors etc , and I’m always doing it , maybe a little slower , but the only people who get annoyed are car drivers who can’t make progress.. so nothing wrong with it 😊👍👍

[@MotorSportsFan46]

As soon as you posed the question my mind went to SLAP. Definitely definitely advantageous. I'd suggest from a perception perspective you almost certainly made a few hackles rise so for that alone this one I'd rate 50/50. Now to the "was it safe?" question. Well you completed the move safely "so it must have been safe." From the camera perspective it looks like you lost the view of the bikes beyond the white car (only you know if you still had them in view). If we now play "what if?" If you had both gone for the developing gap neither would be able to safely abort, it was therefore unsafe. What if the tractor driver had not been complicit, you started the move before he stopped, I think that you forced him to stop, what if he had not stopped? You'd have been riding into a closing gap. What if the white car, having seen your previous moves, became triggered and decided to punish you by edging forwards. For me there were far too many variables outside of your control and once committed you had no safe abort options. Bikers use "having got away with" something as justification for that something "must have been safe." Personally I think that you rolled the dice and got lucky. Yes, your skill and experience mitigated the risks, which meant that it would probably have, at worst, resulted in an awkward standoff with some rude words and hand gestures but that's not a justification for taking the risk. Was this legal? Let's go back to basics Rule 167 of the Highway Code states *DO NOT* overtake where you *might* come into conflict with other road users. I'd suggest that the potential for conflict was quite high so no it did not pass this test either. All of this analysis is with the benefit of hindsight and the limitations of the view provided by the video so I may have done the same thing in the moment but I think this is one where I'd hope to have learned from the mistake, too much control of the outcome was given to others and that is unequivocally a mistake.

[@roddywardrop6858]

An interesting one. I like the "SLAP" methodology but when I myself rethink something I have done myself ( as if doing an AAR)I like to change from SLAP to Scalp with the additional letter representing "chance" or "confidence" in that am i confident i didn't leave anything to chance or was I taking a chance? I'm sure we have all come across the occasional narrow minded person who will move to prevent filtering or prevent an overtake, or in this case any of the 3 cars could have reacted differently, which is taking a chance? Another method I apply when thinking about whether something should or shouldn't have been done is if this manoeuvre was performed either in front of a police car or when taking MOD2 would I have done the same? Loving the vids and at the end of the day there was no accident or cause to adjust by anyone so the move should be regarded as good? Stay safe everyone and Happy New Year.

[@worldofameiso5491]

Reasonable until you overtook the hedgecutter, a bit risky, but OK if you are prepared for eventualities.

[@xt225]

I probably would've done it. The only thing is there might have been a vehicle coming out of a turning in front of the hedge cutter.

[@RoadcraftNottingham]

I think you see more with your eyes than we do through the cam lens so I think you wouldnt have done it if you thought it was risky. 👍

[@mikerider58]

Perfectly executed 😊 Happy New Year.

[@davecarrera]

Looked fine to me. Please park your bike in the out bay at the test center and join me by my bike to discuss 🙂 Have a wonderful 2025 and safe journeys.

[@thewanderin_rider]

I suppose the ‘risk’ in some instances like that, is possibly antagonising other road users but clearly, they were leaving sensible gaps anyway, giving you the opportunity. I’m also a believer in demonstrating confidence rather than portraying aggression, of which there was none. Not a great view perhaps around that tractor from THIS perspective, but I’m well aware that what I can see viewing it on my phone and what you can see, are worlds apart. Also , you know better than I do 😄. I may well have done the same, possibly not. That probably would’ve come down to my taking too long to make a decision in the end. As the saying goes ‘you had to be there’. Happy and trouble free new year!

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thank you, and likewise, have a good one. All the best

[@dave1994jones]

As someone who rides and drives (including a past driving very similar tractors with hedgecutters), i would have thought you were someone in bit of a hurry. Didn't think there was anything reckless to other road users, just maybe to yourself with how close you were behind the hedge cutter. Majority of tractors when using them have a metal mesh screen on the glass that side of the cab because it's not uncommon for wood/metal to fly out at such a force it can break glass, imagine what it'd have done to you even with a thin plastic visor down. That said, you can't control when that happens, could be when you go to over take anyway, it's the nature of the hazard and you did stop briefly after over taking the red car which opened the gap a bit.

[@LiamE69]

Okay decision in my book. Maybe waiting till the hedge cutter was past the white car to free up the waiting traffic on the other side would have been optimal.

[@DaveHines1]

You could make progress , no one else could really do anything , the white car probably had the potential to close your gap, but highly unlikely as he was tucked in to the side and if he moved off he’d be heading directly at the tractor. If a situation occurred you could always have stopped and the worst thing that would happen is you’d end up “with egg on your face “ 😃 Always good to review your actions though 😃🍻

[@desmondmccabe7239]

In my opinion you assessed the situation and acted in an appropriate manner... You just utilised the advantage of your motorcycle.

[@mosshague3313]

Looks ok, I’d do the same. Don’t think you caused the jcb driver to stop, looks like he just decided. Happy new year

[@stephenmcqueen4029]

I may well have done the same, but think the other road users perception would have been negative, they we’re waiting for the hedge cutter to finish or pause to let them go in a relatively narrow lane and you (and I), wouldn’t wait and just progressed thru

[@michaellyon4727]

As a Biker I saw nothing wrong other than if going to pass the first car why dip in then out to take the second,just take two.but the Hedge cutter driver in me thought why are you so close!it’s a tuff job watching the flail head trying to do a neat job whilst staying on course and watching other road users and making sure they are at a safe distance from flying lumps which is probably why the Tractor driver stopped as it wasn’t a great spot to allow traffic to escape. But that said you got yourself out of harms way quickly and safely 👍🏼

[@rcfokker1630]

My 'rule-of-thumb' goes, "Would I do this if the other car was Cop car?" Also, do you think that other drivers mistake you for a Copper? That might confer a safety advantage.

[@jamesjohnson1099]

Over taking the edge cutter was dangerous because no had no clear view and no idea what could have been on the other side fail for me

[@mosshague3313]

Yea but read other comments, camera view is not riders view. View was gained before committing and speed was low to take account of view, speed only increased when view was greater

[@trekker8187]

Very controversial indeed. I personally would of hung back after the red car reason being although you did nothing wrong and was legal it seemed you stopped the blue car from coming down once the hedge cutter passed it. The driver was waiting and i imagine his perception wasn't to happy he had to wait for you to pass?

[@SimplySpooky24]

Would of done the same thing. You read the road, understood the situation and predicted the opportunity about to show itself. You enjoyed the benefits of a motorcycle, just like a pilot enjoys the benefits of flying. No problem in that.

[@leslieaustin151]

Totally OK, except that those flail-mowers not only fling hedge-clippings, but other stuff if they connect with it, including, occasionally, a blade or two. I think you have a visual advantage over other road-users in that you look at first glance like a Police motorcyclist. That first glance makes most peoples’ minds up for them, so they might wait on your move before doing their own. But what you did was fine as far as I could see. Les

[@mikewynne6549]

To me, each phase was assessed and a plan of action was executed safely.

[@chunkiliff3184]

Other than risk of puncturing your tyres,I would probably do the same,the car drivers were probably jealous and annoyed that they couldn’t just zip by,as you did

[@blackcountrysteelhorse4813]

Nothing much wrong with that imo, you're using the flexibility of the machine to make progress. The only possible problem would have been if the white car had moved, whether just to make it harder for you or genuinely just to move on. As for perception, some car drivers just don't like m/c taking what they perceived to be advantage but that's their problem really, if you're executing an advanced manoeuvre safely, there is no real issue.

[@andyhill3292]

As always good content and reason for discussion.. I hesitate a lot on overtaking and filtering traffic, but thought that was executed perfectly at right time with no danger to yourself or others.

[@shardlake]

Looked perfectly good to me manoeuvres were done with care, at low speed. Had I been one of the drivers with no choice I think I would be envious! Luckily I ride a bike :)

[@StuartRobertson-b6v]

Think I would need to be the job done camp. Well executed manuveir.

[@grezallen]

As an advanced trainer myself - if you think ‘would others think I’m an impatient whatever’ - then you probably were ! If not - then you were probably ok!!

[@pw3591]

Did exactly what I would have done. Certainly wouldn't want to be sat at the back of that queue with faster traffic coming round the bend from behind, and maybe not being able to stop.

[@robg3545]

Don't see much of an issue there other than maybe getting a bit too close to the flail cutter which may fling something towards you. The blue car was static, pulled into the driveway until the tractor passed it and once you had given him the opportunity to come out of the driveway, there was no way that the white car was going to proceed into the gap until the tractor had passed it. There was enough space all round for a motorcyclist and good visibility, so unless the oncoming motorcycles had done the same thing, there was no issue.

[@ricardo6861]

I would say the drivers perceived you as a bit cheeky, but no problems ride on.happy new yr fella👍👍👌

[@tonybarton3746]

Lived in the country all my life , lots of tractors , combine tractors etc , and I’m always doing it , maybe a little slower , but the only people who get annoyed are car drivers who can’t make progress.. so nothing wrong with it 😊👍👍 ps once had a bike with a white fairing , I had a white bell helmet and high viz on , lots of people pulled over to a slower lane while going up a motorway first time . Never told of for impersonating a police motorcycle 😂😂😂

[@philipbassett5129]

Calculated and thought out properly, fine with me.

[@clivewalker5465]

Nice bit of overtaking . Safe and orderly .

[@sharg0]

What I (as an aspiring mc rider in my 50's) miss in your comments is that you didn't mention the oncoming bikes, what if one or more of them had decided to pass the white car?

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thanks for your comment, yes quite right. I did have a better view than my camera gives me credit for, I never commit until I can see I have somewhere to go, but thanks for raising this valid and important point

[@highdownmartin]

I think I would have done what you did, a piecemeal approach. I would have been prepared, had it panned out that way, to have picked off the first ,black car, and if things had changed in the oncoming direction, a couple of those other bikes coming through for example, then you mentally shrug and stay where you’ve got to. Getting past this moving obstruction isn’t actually the goal. It’s several or sometimes many , mini goals. I enjoy filtering for the same reasons, is a game of chess, you plan where you get to, pause, tuck in, go and slot in again. Sometimes it’s golden, sometimes your plan ends a bit early and you have to wait. But you’re ready for any eventuality As regards P perception, well I usually give as many helmet nods or hand flips of thanks as I can. But I’m sure some drivers hate the cheating bastard motorcyclists, who get to the front. I can’t change that mindset, I can only be polite and gracious to as many drivers as possible. Getting killed ,wet ,and cold gives me the right to spend less time getting wet and cold in my.view. HNY

[@mastercook62]

Maybe it was different from your view but it just seemed there was no clear view of anything oncoming when you pulled out to overtake the hedge cutter? Another motorcycle may have done the exact same thing coming the other way ? Like I said it may have been different from your perspective 🤔

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thank you, yes an important piece of the puzzle. My camera was quite a way to the left from my eye view, so I would have had an earlier view ahead. I will go out to look but won’t commit until I can see there is somewhere to go. All the best

[@cliffninja]

Thought about and executed well to me 👍

[@_______-]

Agree. It was a tidy well thought out move.

[@AW8UK]

Seemed totally fine to me.....I may have done that but also may have wimped out to avoid upsetting any sensitive souls. Great to see so many constructive & decent replies on this one. All the best for 2025 👍🏍

[@paulthompson8608]

I'm a driver, not a rider, but it looked good to me. It was progressive, rather than sitting there when it was good to go.

[@everydaybiker]

I'd probably have used the horn to make people more aware of my presence/ actions. Otherwise, I rekon all good. Also, id say that I would not want to be anywhere near the debris that JCB was creating.

[@alexharris8500]

Cheeky but got you away from the back of the q

[@markj66]

You say you didn't impede anybody but why didn't the blue Nissan move after the hedge cutter passed him? Is it because he was wary of what your next move was or because he couldn't swing out far enough to straighten up because you were in the way?

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Thanks for your comment, yes it maybe he was. It’s why I moved further left and waited for a moment in case they wanted to move to show some courtesy. But a valid point, cheers.

[@46rrodriguez]

😄nissan didnt move even when the biker passed it. Try harder to find some faults

[@46rrodriguez]

@@MotorcyclePWR you only impede the hedge cutter tractor driver he stopped for you but not the harm done. Good awareness from him

[@markj66]

​@@46rrodriguezwe can't see what he did after the bike passed. Try harder to be unbiased, your self-importance is showing...

[@abc-un4xz]

I would have done exactly the same.

[@ZZR14988]

I see no problem with that. 👍.

[@Benwheatleys]

Nothing wrong with it at all. I'd say it was a strong example of making safe progress, actually. The variables for potential risk were more due to the cutter, but you were assessing them with every maneuver. I guess the question is more, did you HAVE to do this? (At least I think that's what you were getting at) and the answer seems to be no. But then, do you want to add to the obstruction? I'd say waiting is more dangerous here. I would have done the same thing as you.

[@stephenrichards4962]

It was good advanced progress. Ok you are feeling like you do because you feel others may see you as inpatient or cheeky or giving bikers a bad reputation for not waiting. As advanced rider we look at what we do all the time how others see us and the outcome of what we have done. The only thing I thought was good safe move controlled and use of good progress. You can say every step of the way why it was safe so SLAP was followed. Move on and safe riding. Happy new year. 🎉

[@SpeedyOculus]

Bit cheeky and impatient. the bikers on the other side were waiting. You takes your chance, you pays your price if it goes wrong!!!!

[@Imaginary_Life_UK]

I disagree. You have inconvenienced the blue car by sitting on his side of the road after the tractor has passed him. He could have pulled away just as you overtook the red car - and despite your perception that he was going nowhere, he has his hand on the steering wheel in such a ways as to facilitate pulling out so I'm not sure your appraisal is correct. Then you make it worse by stopping in the middle of the road right in front of him until the gap behind him opens. In short, you held him up by over ten seconds. The fact that it was 'thought out' is no excuse.

[@GerardMarsh-bw1lg]

In my view a well considered and well executed manoeuvre.

[@danbevin6100]

Nothing wrong , you were comfortable with what you were and none of on coming traffic were attempting to move for you to come into conflict with . Did you nod your head to show your appreciation for them not edging forward or trying to blocking your progress as some road users may have ? Good video as usual and informative again All the best for 2025 to you.

[@paulabraham8724]

There was an element of you assuming that the jcb driver would not do anything unexpected before you passed in front heading towards the white car. What advantage you achieved was minimal and you could have been perceived to be impatient rather than wait a few seconds without any risk.

[@brokenbritain9441]

🤔 overconfidence can catch you out sometimes. think that farmer liked you and didn't spray you with twigs 😁

[@janesaroma]

Hope you had a nice Xmas :)

[@GerryPowell-r6s]

Smoothly done.

[@andypaddon8531]

Have to say I thought it was a fail on the P of slap. Purely subjective but I thought bit too aggressive and adding to a negative opinion of bikers in general. Interesting point however.

[@TwistedTrenti]

Happy New Year

[@MotorcyclePWR]

Happy new year too, cheers

[@mikestrivens2039]

seems ok making progress.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

Bit cheeky. Not unsafe.