Motorcyclists; Why do riders seem to ride the center line of the road?

[wartrace]

I am curious as to why bikers tend to hug the center line of the road. Yesterday I thought I was going to end up with a guy on my hood & was surprised he cleared my mirror on my truck. I was as far to the left as I could get on this narrow road & this guy flew by me going the opposite direction right on the center line. I'm glad I didn't have my elbow hanging out the window!

Is there a reason for this?

[billyskank]

1. Because they're always looking to overtake things.

That is certainly how motorcyclists ride in the UK. I don't mind because they're small and have wicked acceleration, so they can get past anything pretty easily and safely. I am fairly sure that is why they ride down the middle of the road.

[Bravo Zulu]

2. Also,

why don't they wear helmets?

[frogcycle]

4. because they are idiots

[frogcycle]

3. dunno about the center, but

I always kept toward the center - the left of the lane in US, right in UK - where the auto tires run, rather than the center of the lane, which tends to be oilier. Also, it avoids assholes thinking they can pass you in your lane. Ten when taking a curve on a country road, the tendency to cheat a bit while leaning into the curve might be what you encountered.

[wartrace]

6. That makes a LOT of sense.

I always thought they had a death wish but it makes sense to travel where other vehicles have. I bet its a lot better to run over a dead possum that has been "smoothed out" by traffic than one sitting in the middle of the lane intact.

[frogcycle]

9. Yep.

In addition to oil and dead possums, the more rural roads tend to collect bits of gravel, leaves, sticks, you-name-it. On curves at any sort of speed, a bit of gravel can make the ride a lot more exciting than you intended.

[taterguy]

5. Gives you more time to react if people don't see you at intersections

Or at least that's why I do it on a bicycle sometimes.

[old mark]

7. I used to ride the middle, but some rich asshole in a Jaguar

decided to pass me on the right, leaving me about 3' of road width
between her car and the one in the opposite lane.
Of course, the idiot behind her saw this and attempted to do the same thing, till I got right in front of her. She was pissed because she couldn't pass, too...
My quick answer is - to stay alive.

mark

[datasuspect]

8. i always wonder why they ride like they aren't invisible to cars