| Author | Message | ||
     Rick_A |
I've always gotten strange stares, dirty looks, etc. when I ride my Buell on any given day. Every now and then some older motorist gives me a lecture. Lately it's been happening a lot. Just in the past two days... A truck was in front of me and we came to a fork in this lot. He took the outside...I hauled through the inside and passed him then weaved through some parked cars at low speed. I was lectured on how he just scraped a friend of his off the road and didn't want it to happen to me. WTF...I didn't see that as anything dangerous. Today a couple of cars piloted by older ladies were driving in front of me on a swoopy road with a 30 mph limit. They were doing 25 and slowed down to 20 when a turn came up. I couldn't stand it anymore and passed them both full song and passed a woman walking a dog in the process. She put her fist up in a not so nice gesture. So, the one lady follows me home and tells me I almost caused an accident(?!). She claimed I was almost hit by a car coming the other way...and to me it was a mile away! Eventually she ended up saying that us young people just need not be so impatient. Gimme a break. I do the little wheelie every now and then. I do a *little* over the speed limit sometimes in the turns...you know...to make sure the tires wear evenly. Every now and then I let the rear step out a little under power. Is that so evil? There are many elderly folks here. Any of these people outdoors gives me an evil glare when I ride off on my steed. Is this beautiful exhaust note really so offensive to these fine folks? If you have similar experiences...please tell! | ||
| Spiderman |
Like a wise man once said. You can't please all of the people all of the time." Take it with a grain of salt, 'cause the same people that tell you that you are a "spped demon" and a million other Cliches are the same people that were that way when they were younger. And I found out an intresting thing, once you tell some one who is, motorcycle ignorant, that you own a bike. They feel compelled to tell you every motorcycle wreck or accident that they ever heard of. | ||
| Iamike |
Rick, We just send all of our geezers down to you. My parents want to move to Florida & I told them fine, just don't expect a visit from us. Now if they went to Arizona, that'd be different. I've read accident reports and FL is the worst state for bicyclists and pedestrians. I would guess it's all the old people that get afraid if you pull up behind them to pass. I've had geezers hit their brakes on the open highway as I pull up behind them to pass. I really try and not scare them but man, if they freak out just because you come up from behind (even in a car) most anything will scare them. At what point should we drive like little old ladies ourselves? | ||
| Timbo |
On a related note, You guys may or may not know, but I was t-boned on Sept 8th, broken leg, totalled bike. Anyway, your guys comments remind of what I faced after the accident. The police and emergency personel had an attitude of "hey, you had it coming, you were on a bike" even though the girl was clearly at fault. Then I got lectured by several of the emergency room personel about the foolishness of riding. The next day, who was the first to show up in the hospital room from my shop? The guy who has told me on numerous occasions, "it's not if, it's when". He didn't say 'told ya so', but he didn't have to, it was obvious in his eyes. All this was followed by the gasps and looks of horror and disbelief of neighbors and acquaintences when being told 'yes, absolutely I will ride again'. This was in the first couple of days after the accident and it was really beginning to make me angry. Then I began to approach it a different way. I decided to give these people the benefit of the doubt, that it wasn't them trying to defeat the 'evil motorcycle', but that they were concerned for my safety. So I began to honestly thank them for their concern. Not in a sarcastic or phony way, but to genuinely thank them. I'm not angry anymore when this happens and most of the time it silences the concerned individual. This may not be exactly what you are talking about Rick, but it is related, and I hope none of you ever face this same scrutiny. Timbo | ||
| Spiderman |
I always tell people the thousands of deaths caused by dangerous, slippery bathtubs. And ask them, "Are you gonna stop bathing or showering?" | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I wrecked my X1 last spring and I got about the same reaction from friends, family and people at random like you did Timbo. People were the most shocked when I told them that I will NEVER stop riding! And that all this incident did was make me able to fix the bike up the way I want it. (perfect time for aftermarket goodies when parts need replaced anyway) My Grandmother is the person that probably worries about me the most, but I just dont tell her about all the stupid things I do. What people dont know wont hurt them. Craig Davis HD-Buell Cycle Center Waterloo, IA 1-800-342-7539 Ext. 39 | ||
| Rick_A |
I love the "and you still ride???!" comments you get from people if you've gotten into a mishap. Almost everyone has got into some kinda traffic incident in a car..."you still drive???!!" Should one stop riding a bicycle 'cause they have/may fall? People here really seem to show no concern for pedestrians either...especially during heavy traffic. You wait for a walk signal and drivers will literally attempt to bully you out of the way! It's unbelievable. I now sprint across intersections. We may move to Northern Florida in a year or so. I hope it's better up there... | ||
| Ray_Maines |
Spiderman: When my wife was PG old women came out of the woodwork to tell us all of their horror stories. Same thing with riding a M/C I guess. “My third cousins sister had a brother-in-law that died when his Harley blew up and caught fire while he was going 200 mph around a corner………. Therefore you shouldn’t ride a bike” Huh? Rick: 10,000 people a year die of heart disease but that doesn't stop anyone from eating french fries either. On a semi-related note: I've never understood the logic that old people use to declare that I should be punished because they were startled when I pass them. They drive in the left lane at 45 mph while in a coma and I’m a bad guy for waking them up. What's up with that? | ||
| Sportyeric |
I think part of the thread is about courtesy. I try to short shift on a pass if I can, especially if the car's window is open. Passing pedestrians or people on horses out in the country, I pull in the clutch, if I can. Show's you're paying attention to your surroundings. The fewer people that get pissed off, the less the non-riding public will cry for enforcement. That said, there are also lots of times when up-coming good corners requires a little extra effort to get past the traffic that'll block them. | ||
| Iamike |
Eric, I definitely agree on the courtesy part. I also do a lot of bicycling and one of the most common things I get are the cars that pull up next to me and yell "get on the bike path", even though there aren't any nearby. One of the things that cause that reaction are the idiots that run stop signs, ride the wrong way, etc. When I would confront those idiots about their behavior, the would just smart back at me. Unless we can police our own and not do these dumb things around other motorists we will always fight this problem. Take the Extremes group. They get a kick out of doing their really stupid tricks around people. Guess what, we get grouped with them in the public's perception of cyclists. I get frustrated on group rides because you either have the Harley parade mentality where they ride 50 in a 55 and block cars for miles or the sport-bikes that pass at terrible times. I will pass on a yellow if it isn't unsafe but I've seen guys passing when there is oncoming traffic around blind curves, etc. When I see that I will usually fall away from the group and let them go. The one thing I've noticed though is that people don't seem to be as negative about bikers as they used to. I think it's because of the Harley explosion. People see their doctors, lawyers, pastors riding bikes and think "Hey, maybe bikers aren't so bad". | ||
| Jdbuellx1 |
I too agree about slowing down and idling past a group of horses because when they get startled people get hurt. As for passing cars or people on bicycles I figure they hear me coming and their vehicle/bicycle isn't going to rare up and buck them off. The only time any one ever approached me about how loud my bike was was to give me compliments and one woman actually told me that she almost pulled out in front of me, but heard me coming around the corner so she stopped and waited! Testimony to the saying "Loud pipes save lives". | ||
| Jocklandjohn |
People's perception of 'risk' varies widely. Apart from my Buell (god what kind of deathwish have I got!)......I seakayak and have been told that "whoa that's a really dangerous sport, you could drown!". I respond saying that actually more car drivers drown than boaters.....because most boaters wear flotation devices, which car drivers dont.....so when cars go off piers, into rivers, floods or canals the occupants *usually* drown. Official stats. from the Royal Yachting Association!!! I was recently approached by an elderly couple, in their late 70's, who wanted to congratulate me on my choice of bike! "That's a REAL bike sonny" I was informed. And they knew all about the Buell marque...turned out they had a stable of bikes, an old Norton, Matchless, BSA and what the lady described as 'The Red Devil' ......a MotoMorini Strada 350!!! But then informed me that they could not ride them though as their eyesight had failed so much. Not all elderly folks are unsympathetic to bikers, and intent on having you as a hood ornament. Enjoy your bikes while you can....... | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
A friend always says that "Loud Bikes can Been Seen" I think this to be very true. About a month or so ago I was behind an older guy in a mini-van and he was doing about 45 in a 60. The road opened up into two lanes and I gassed it a little to go by and as I was going by this twit started to blow his horn and wave. I looked down and I was not speeding, at the next traffic light he rolled his window down and started ranting about how I blew by him. I looked over and thanked him for his insight on my riding and wished him a very nice day. This guy tailed me for about a kilometer or so till I he turned off. I think being nice really pissed him off. No matter what your doing some people will always find offence to it. I instruct new riders at the local training facility and the training compound is near a 4 lane roadway, I can't count how many twits on sportbikes like to wheelie past the new riders, they go by usually at twice the posted limit with most of them wearing no more than boots, shorts, t-shirts, gloves & helmet. I am sure that they would be helmetless if it were not a law. On the other side its the actions of the few twits out there that make a bad name for everyone else. | ||
| Court |
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| Bomber |
Sporty . . . .thanks for your posting . . . . the treatment bikers receive has changed, for the better, since I began riding (back wehen Sporty's were superbikes), but we, as a group, seem to make a lot of our own trouble . . . .. . I tend to keep my high speed, high transient fun out the view of others, some out of courtesy, some out of avoidance of contact with the constabulary . .. . Sign in a local watering hole . . . . . "Gentlemen will behave Others Must" | ||
| X1glider |
Rick, look at it this way, 2 people were actually looking out for you and were concerned. Wow! How about that! As for cagers panicking and hitting their brakes during a fly by: not long ago this year, I'm thinking it was a member of LABUSA, was killed due to that. The group he was in flew past a car, dare I say, at a high rate of speed, startling the driver who slammed on the brakes. The one Busa that was still behind him getting ready to pass nailed the back of the car. Nuff said. Why the person slammed on the brakes just because someone passed, I don't know. Usually people are startled because they are in la-la land when something happens and aren't aware of everything happening in all directions. People do incomprehensible stuff all the time when they are startled or in panick mode. Beware of this danger that they do not teach in the MSF course. | ||
| Whatever |
Rick, Do you know the median age of a Floridian? Well, their IQs are not much higher. Courtesty for me is always a given when I am riding my motorcycle. I do most of my riding on back country roads alone. As a woman you always think about things like, how safe is this really, what if I broke down here, and 'don't even acknowledge the yahoos who just drove by, it will just make it worse'. For me, I came to a distinct point where someone very close to me died a really grizzly death on a motorcycle. And it was not his fault at all, which made it even harder to swallow. I was considering giving it up, mainly because it hurt to see him go that way. Then I remembered something he said that kind of sums up who he was. He rode a big Harley with a white buffalo on the tank. Vik said, 'I am going to ride the white buffalo until it won't go anymore'. We had gone to a corn festival outside of Madison that day on his bike and I was all hyper because I wanted to steal one of the baby pigs and stuff it in my jacket and get on the bike with it and make a get away. He wasn't up for creating a scene. Anyhow, He died doing what he loves. And I decided to do what I love, which is RIDE... the difference his death made to me is that I decided to DO IT RIGHT... I rarely speed, and for the most part when someone is a moron on the road I get the hell away from them and don't try to aggrivate the situation. Also, I wear all the right gear. Although, now I am realizing I need to make an investment and get better leathers and a better helmet. And, too, when people tell me grizzly stories of motorcycle accidents... I just usually listen... They mostly need to talk about these things for themselves. Just as I talked about my freind to say 'Hey Vik, I still remember ya' and you are in my thoughts'. OK, enough said. Charlotte | ||
| Court |
>>>>People do incomprehensible stuff all the time when they are startled or in panick mode. Tell me about it.....I've seen it from Mt. Saint Helens to Washington, DC. I think everyone should get a chance to spend a day playing "Taxi Tag" with Henrik and I  I've grown quite immune and, adly, am slowly loosing my sympathy for some or the things I've seen happening to the squids in our area. One pasted his half-headed face on then end of an Armco barrier using an R1 as a propellent. Maybe I'm getting old....I had an R1 and a CBR600 pull a "let's scare the old man in the convertible" trick on me last summer on the GSP. The pulled along and launched a couple mondo 80MPH wheelies. I think they were surprised when I produced the 300mm lens on the Minolta. Im guessing they were MORE surprised when I sent the pics (anonymously) to the guy on the CBR's insurance company (public info, cost me $2 to get it) showing clear as a high school yearbook pic the face and tag. Wear a full face if just to cover your ID. I'm getting older and riding slower Glad you survived ok and absloutely dug the Republic Battle Trax tales !~ Court | ||
| Sportyeric |
My response to the " it's dangerous" lectures is that my wife has crashed three times on her bicycle (one car door, one passing truck mirror, one to fast-around-a -corner), while I, knock on wood, in spite of my sometimes foolish behaviour,... I haven't had the courage to ride my bicyle on city streets for ten years. | ||
| Peter |
Remind me to never ride near you Court..... PPiA | ||
| Road_Thing |
Quote: "I'm getting older and riding slower" Amen, brother. Healing slower, too. r-t | ||
| Nevco1 |
Healing Slower...Amen to that. Still have daily pains from my last scew up that got me air lifted off the mountains above Ojai, CA in 1993. Fortunately, only 5 days in the hospital and another six months healing and therapy. FYI, it wasn't my skills that were lacking. It was my attention. I was so in awe over the scenery that I went straight when the road didn't. At least I bailed out before the bike went over the falls. Bummer...was a brand new bike. However, the experience is a great reminder whenever I feel Bullet-Proof a bike. Especially, the $5.0K helicopter ride on a backboard with a view of the same clouds I could have seen from the ground. | ||
| Court |
"I'm getting older and riding slower" Frankly....I don't think that's, all and all, a "bad thing". I, for years, have watched and laughed as guys my age bit the dust trying to prove to me, in my youth, they could "still hold their own". I cna still have just as much fun as I ever had, it just occurs at, perhaps, a slightly slower speed now that I'm less obsessed with proving anything to those I am riding with. I suppose it also helps that I logged, perhaps, more than my fair share of squid moves over the years and somehow survived them. I shall say this. . that Buell XB9S Lighting appeals to me much more than the FASTER Yamaha R1 or the 200MPH (beleive that and I want to talk to you about Santa Claus....'Busa folks just SAY 200MPH) Hayabusa. I'm riding more FOR fun that just having fun as a result of riding.....I know, that makes no sense to anyone here Court | ||
| Nevco1 |
Court says..."I'm riding more FOR fun that just having fun as a result of riding.....I know, that makes no sense to anyone here." Sorry to burst your bubble, but I feel there is a high percentage of BWB participants that share in your position than you realize. We just may not verbalize it and still go for the adrenaline rush of a perfectly executed set of twisties, but when it comes for the mundane sections we keep it close to the limit to preserve the old license. IMHO | ||
| Road_Thing |
Court: What Nevco said. r-t | ||
| Court |
>>>I feel there is a high percentage of BWB participants I agree with that. Team Elves gatherings, such as Colorado, logged many fast miles without a scratch. B.R.A.G. gatherings, and have in the past, seem to have consumed bikes at a voracious rate. Statistically, the most dangerous place you can take your Buell is a B.R.A.G. function. Am I right? Go figure..... | ||
| Loki |
I can attest to bicycles being dangerous..... Lost the front wheel doing squidly things. Did a perfect face plant with some right shoulder. Four teeth and four months in and out of the dentists office. The road rash was just a side note to the teeth. The good part? At least I killed the nerves in the teeth on impact. A lot less pain that way. The four root canals still sucked. Loki | ||
| Nevco1 |
Court... I believe you concerning the increased incidence rate at BRAG functions. Would feel safe in attributing it to the Testosterone Factor that generates competitiveness and over confidence. | ||
| Ezblast |
Screw this totally pc attitude - I do usually post much outside the Blast forum but I just read this section and all I can say - barrf! The same people who complain about your bike will smile at a loud hot rod chevy. One persons candy is anothers poison, and ya just can't please everybody. I had a gent pull up in his volvo, roll down the window and ask... "Is it suposed to be that loud?" , I replied - "with God's will and my tools!" I smiled and road off - save your gentle sypathies for the homeless, starving, and the un-employed. I've gotten one loudness ticket and eight other officers think its fine. If by off chance I may actually be offending someone - then I'm sorry but life goes on - live it don't worry about everyone else's oppinion of it! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Bomber |
Court . . . . I had an idea that my riding had changed over the years . . .. . I knew I wasn't going quite a fast as when my hair was blond, and road rash healed in a week, but I felt "quicker." There's a 250 mile ride I take a couple of times a year, same route (within a couple of miles) every time, spring and late summer, and my elapsed time for the ride has steadily fallen over the years, to the point where I have, without meaning to, cut about 30 minutes off the ride . . .. like my old german buddy used to say, make haste slowly |
