Not for me . No telling WHAT might be just in front of the semi , and you won't be able to see it in time to react .

I've done it before (in my youth), until I found out that the stopping distance for a fully-loaded semi is shorter than the reaction time for a cold rider + stopping distance for the bike. These days, if I get caught out, I'll find a wally world (Walmart) and buy the cheapest sweatshirt or long Tshirt, gloves or thermal underwear as needed, or just suck it up. Because the last thing I want is to be sucked up under the tail of another semi...

Things to consider:

Retreads. If a semi hits a retread that has spun off (or spits one off itself), the typical height that tread will reach in it's arc is about where your head is on the bike. Personally I don't like steel-belted semi radials slicing me up while knocking me off my bike.

While the engine uses up less fuel and less power to cruise at speed while drafting a semi, it also doesn't shed heat nearly as well (since it's being deprived of the same wind). Depending on the speed the two of you are running, this may result in overheating without your expecting it.

The semi can roll right over a deer carcass or anything smaller than about a full-sized couch without concern. When it suddenly pops up from under his rear axle, you won't have the same luxury.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

Md 86 wrote

Not for me . No telling WHAT might be just in front of the semi , and you won't be able to see it in time to react .

Well maybe I do. :P

Well, I don't normally do that, but I have a while ago.

I did it because I was in the right lane behind a slower car, while a semi was passing us on the left. As the rear of the semi passed the front of my bike, I slipped over behind him. I was literally 10' behind him for about 15 seconds. It was one of the wildest feelings I'd ever felt. I was doing about 75 mph, and I could have been standing still. ZERO wind or noise, but I look down and I'm doing 75...wild. I'd never do is again so close, but it was awesome.

Trucks can barely see us as it is, even with the big mirrors but you get directly behind one and all of the sudden he swerves or slams on the breaks and u'll be eating a trailer tail light for dinner !!