How many draft behind a big truck?

[Maddog]

+1 on everything that has already been said. The only thing I would add is that at freeway speeds small objects have enormous energy. One night coming home from work on my FJR I was doing about 70 mph and at the last second saw a small piece of gator, maybe 6 or 7 inches long. I figure no big deal I'll just ride over it. So I did.

My big toe was torn to shreds, the bone shattered (strangely the boot was completely unscathed), the shifter mangled, the fairing gouged, the side stand had a nice gash in it (the solid steel part), and the center stand was dented.

I hit it because I was being stupid and not looking for road debris (I look for road debris now); if you're behind a truck (or any vehicle really) you can't see road debris if you are too close.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Oh, yes, number 3 on my "Things I hate about other drivers" list. People that drive with their high beams on (Isn't it a strange coincidence, they are the ones that also have the really heavily tinted rear windows.). I work at night and get a real headache from having to look at people's obnoxious high beams and their poorly adjusted driving lights. Why do I look, well because one is supposed to check his mirrors every 5-10 seconds when driving defensively using the "Smith System".
LC

That's on my pet peeve list too. On my four-wheel days, I drive to and from work in the dark, in a low slung convertible. A badly adjusted headlight is like a high beam, and obscures any visibility through the plastic back window. And don't get me started about the morons with the super-cool fog lights....... Perhaps they are really handicapped people, with bad cataracts, and they think that every day is foggy enough to need two million watts of extra illumination.

Jill

 

[racer157]

Fewer and fewer and fewer! The same sweet spot you mention turns you into a grease spot when the driver of the truck has to slow for any reason. If you want to risk your life to save $10 worth of gas, follow a SUV with windows you can see through so you have a chance to react to what the driver ahead of you sees. The back end of a semi is solid, no bumper. Good luck and keep the rubber side down.