Motorcycles
 

rant/on

Ok, I realize that motorcyclist may look like a really great target but I for one would hope you cagers out there would give us our 9' of space on the road.

Wed morning I was rear ended on the left side.
Thurs I almost had to kick in a door of a tailgater.
Today I was rear ended in the center rear fender.

I pay my taxes, so that means I get fair use of the road the same as anyone else.

rant/off

Re: Motorcycles
 

that sucks.
I just got back from a ride, it's dangerous out there.

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I hate tailgaters in general, but when I see someone tailgating a biker, it really pisses me off. Sorry to hear, Mike

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Have you checked you back for a big bullseye??? :D

Seriously, that bites big ones! Be careful out there!

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time to install go go gadget machine guns and oil spray

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sorry man...

motorcycle riders do not get the respect they deserve.

Stay safe bro

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A buddy of mine was riding his bike from work when we were on Active Duty and this lady in a brand new MB was on her cell phone tried to merge into him because she was not paying attention. He swerved and got her attention and she flipped him off.

So he got up next to her and punched her brand new mirror off the car. :r

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Well, the first accident the cop called for 1 back up. This morning the trooper called for 2 extra cars. Had to because the city wasn't even called by me. Just gotta love profiling.

I'm out of lugnuts, time to swing by the tire place and get some. Backs the tailgaters up real quick. I have no qualms dropping them, I don't have 3,500 lbs of cage wrapped around me with air bags and I intend to get home alive.

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Nice! :r

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I can neither confirm or deny that I would ever kick in a car door..... I have heard though that they normally back off when you do though.

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The lugnuts are a really good idea btw. Not that I'm endorsing that :tu

My best friend (a Motor Cop) and best man at my wedding once said, ride like every car you see is actively trying to kill you.

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As a former motorcycle safety instructor with Team Oregon (rated top program in the country by NHTSA almost every year), I will point out that car drivers are trained by experience to look for large objects the size of cars. Since motorcycles and scooters and even bicycles are so infrequently used in our car culture, that's just operant conditioning. Not making excuses, just saying it like it is. While you have the right to your space, be proactive and make sure that you aren't "dead right".

My username used to be "vstromMark" and those who know about Suzuki dual sport bikes will recognize the Vstrom part. My fave bike is the DL650.

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That's ridiculous man. I've been riding a few years now & my first week on the bike 3 different people almost ran me off of the road. I try to stay as far away from people as possible. They just don't care. When I'm stopped if I see a car in the rearview I tap my brakes to get there attention. If they could only ride a mile in our shoes. In the cage when I see road debris or something fly out the back of a truck I hope it doesn't mess up my car. On the bike I hope it doesn't kill me.

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Ditto on the lugnuts. Not that I am endorsing that. ;)

I try (DO) where obnoxiously bright colors and have my thumb on the horn and ride very defensively. Even when they look right at you they don't see you somtimes.

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I ride a 49cc scooter to work everyday. I live on post and only about 3 miles from work. The top speed on post is 30 and I can do that on the scooter but I have still been almost ran off the road a few times. It is crazy cuz there is so many MPs on this post and people still drive like they are brain dead.

When we got the scooter my wife wanted to ride it but then she actually got on the road with other cars and was so afraid she parked it and walked home.

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I actually just bought a bike this past Saturday. I've never ridden before though so I'm working on getting a feel for it late at night with empty roads before I brave the crazy a$$ drivers we have down here. They scare me in my car, much more so I imagine on a bike.

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Have you done the MSF?

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On my to-do list. This week I've been just riding up and down the road in my neighborhood and turning around. Still haven't gotten around to finding a place and registering for the MSF course. Any recommendations on where?

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I have about 40K miles logged in on the street and tracks. My best advice would be to go 20MPH faster than traffic. If they start to merge into your lane you will be past them before they get far enough over to hit you.

I ride pretty conservative on the streets and light it up on the track. The extra speed on the road really helps you avoid sitting in someones blind spot and gives you more control.

It was already said but imagine everyone is going to do something crazy and you will avoid them the 25% of the time it actually happens.

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sorry to hear about your accidents - glad you're not severely injured.

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Back in the day when I was riding, that was basically the advice I was given by a Cycle Cop. Even driving my 10,000 lb truck, I usually try to go just a bit faster than those around me. Gives me a head start on getting out of trouble BEFORE trouble happens.

Frustrating thing is, I'm not really sure it's just motorcycles that people don't see these days. I can't tell you how many idiots try to merge into or pull out in front of me while I'm looking directly into their eyes. Put down the %$@))( phone and drive dangit!

Like I said, be careful out there!

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Sorry that all of this happened to you and as a motorcycle rider for 40 plus years I've pretty much seen it all. The post below here is something that every motorcyclist needs to heed because you cannot trust the drivers around you to be aware of your presence. Fundamentally drivers are not looking for motorcycles...they do not equate the space that a motorcycle takes up because of depth of field so they don't know or can't tell how fast a motorcycle is coming up so they end up turning right in front of you even though they look directly at you...friggin amazing. As you are traveling on the hiway in your lane they still do not look and switch lanes while they are talking on their f'n cell phones or texting.

I ride with the expectation that somebody is going to do something stupid...I drive defensively all the time and always have a secondary area to go to "just in case" something happens. I drive in the far right lane and let them pass me...easier to deal with watching only one lane rather than 2 lanes where they weave back and forth. I have a Cobra Exhaust so they can hear me...a full light bar so that they can see me.

Have some motorists tried to throw things at me...open their doors to try and be an a$$hole...veered their cars towards me so as to feign hitting me? Yes they have and they paid dearly for that. I do not drive offensively but there are motorists out there who for one reason or another do not like motorcyclists. I carry a mini crow bar in my saddlebag that is easily accessible just in case and I have used it a few times in total defense for those who tried to do me bodily harm...they are now missing headlights, side windows and mirrors and windshields. I'm not proud of it by any means but it took some extraordinary means to stop them from trying to run me off the road or hitting me.

QUOTE=markem;845533]As a former motorcycle safety instructor with Team Oregon (rated top program in the country by NHTSA almost every year), I will point out that car drivers are trained by experience to look for large objects the size of cars. Since motorcycles and scooters and even bicycles are so infrequently used in our car culture, that's just operant conditioning. Not making excuses, just saying it like it is. While you have the right to your space, be proactive and make sure that you aren't "dead right".

QUOTE]

Well said!!!

Re: Motorcycles
 

have been riding for over 20 yrs in 4 states and here in FL seems to be the worst .... have had a few close calls over the years but loud pipes seem to get attention where as the car driver might not see you

so load pipes and a few lug nuts should do the trick (heard, seen, & felt if needed):D

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BTW Alex, I love your sig!

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http://nm.msf-usa.org/msf/ridercourses.aspx?state=FL

Looks like there are several choices in Tampa

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On man, that is quite a story. That is why I enjoyed wearing gloves with the same C.E. rated armor as my jacket and if someone got too close I would punch their vehicle to let them know I was there.....aftermarket exhaust is clearly not enough these days. :rolleyes:

Glad you are ok.

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I have absolutly no regrets or qualms about whatever I do when someone in a cage is trying to kill me or is putting me in harms way. It's way to dangerous in the norm without someone within a car's length of my fender. The bad part about this week is I just had no outs. Normally I leave myself an emergency out, but when I am looking left down the road to check oncoming traffic, not much I can do.

This $hit doesn't scare me off my scoot, I would not want to imagine living life and not riding, it's my sanity check. If ya don't ride - well I can't explain it. I normally ride between 18k and 24k a year so I'm aware of the hazards and do my best to avoid them.

On the MSF course, remember passing it just means your qualified to ride a 250cc motorcycle on a closed course. Riding IMO is a skill and uses skills. The more you ride, the sharper you stay and the more experience you have when $hit goes south. I like your crow bar, I have an asp I have been trying to find a spot to mount it to. And before anyone wants to "judge" wether it's a good idea or not:

I'ld rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.

Tonight I'll be in the shed with a cigar and a bourbon cooling down, life as a target this week has sucked.

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:tu:tu

:chr

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Keep a pocket full of pennies.....

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passing also means you can get your license in Florida, kinda need to take it.

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I ride with 3 MSF instructors, even they tell the students although thay passed the course and it will qualify as the riding portion for the State exam, don't let passing the course give you the false sense that you can ride safely on the streets. Huge difference between a 250cc motorcycle on a closed course with 2 instructors and a 6 lane interstate, 96 ci bike, and cars trying to get you. Too many leave thinking the are set for the real world with that card in hand. It's not a bad place to start, but is all it is, a start.

Re: Motorcycles
 

I really want a "big boy bike" but I wasn't ready to put down the money to just see if I would like it. My 50cc scooter isn't cool but I know I want to ride so right now it gets me to and from work and I save the gas money for a real motorcycle. With the scooter since it is a 50cc I don't need the course or anything to ride. I know before I go take the course I will be ready.

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No doubt that riding in the real world is different. But I think the MSF does a great job.
I never rode before moving to Florida from CT. I knew that once I got here though that a motorcycle was in my future. I took the course, got my endorsement and bought a Ducati 696 the next week.
I have 9,700 miles on the clock now.

Also passing the MSF is all you need in Florida. Just take the card down to DMF pay the fee and you have your endorsement. No Exam. Plus you get a discount on insurance.

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Glad you are safe. Another 20 year rider here and I'm convinced there is a big douchebaggery magnet strapped to the chassis of my bike that attracts cars and forces them to do dumb things. Keep your head on a swivel and no *****footing around out there!

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time & experience is the best teacher :2
but also keeping your head on a swivel doesn't hurt either

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speaking of which, I need to spend some time riding up your way.

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yes you do ..... its been to long buddy ..... I've got rum & cigars, come on up anytime during the week.

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So who's coming out to California to ride this summer? Moto-herf anyone?

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Tabb, if you don't mind my :2. Make your first bike from 750 - to 1400 cc. Get it used. The average rider is 2,500 - 5000 miles a year, garage kept and never seen the rain. A great place to get some deals and you don't pay the depreciation. It's a good way to see if you will like the "hobby" or if it becomes a lifestyle.and Never buy anything I sell, they are rode hard and I put them up wet, tired but happy.


Yea, my gremlin bell has been in overdrive this week. I may have to chrome it as a way of saying thanks. :D

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Man, if I was still living in San Diego full time I'd be all over this like a cheap mohair suit.

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Don't feel bad. I was at a stop sign about a month ago when the car in front me decided to back into me Turned out the two guys in the car were illegal and not licensed and were begging me to not call the cops. Too bad for them as I was checking out my bike for damage and they were pleading for me to not call the police a trooper happened to roll up to the stop sign. So I flagged him down explained what happened and let him deal with them. Fortunately no damage to the bike as I was heads up enough to lower the bike as he came into me so the bike went under his bumper rather than into it. Plus riding a supermoto does have it's bonuses when it comes to crashes. Once I figured out my bike was solid minus a couple slight scratches in some of the plastics I walked over to the Trooper and said "My bikes good, you need me?" He responded with "Nope, your done here these guys aren't. You can head out." What really pissed me off is after they backed into me they actually laughed about it so I have no sympathy for them.

Re: Motorcycles
 

That's what I am going to be going for a 750-800cc cruizer.
I got the scooter to see if I liked being on the road with other people. Like you said it is way easier to ride around some cones in a parking lot then it is to be on the road with the cones be 10 times your size driving at you.

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I too try to drive mine like everyone is trying to kill me.:tu

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Just for kicks here a 'fun' accident story. Guy on our motorcycle board was commuting from from San Francisco crossing over the Bay Bridge on his KLR. A van punted him over the railling. Yes, like 40 feet down and over the side. He lands on a parked SUV down below. Broken ribs, torn spleen, cracked back, some other 'minor' issues but he's alive. The suspension and smashed roof of the SUV saved his life. Guy spends a few weeks in the hospital and is now home about to start rehab to get back to walking. While he's in a ton of pain, he's supposed to make a full recovery.
So what did we learn? NOthing but it's an interesting accident.

Re: Motorcycles
 

I would recommend the Honda Shadow 750 then. Couple of different looks to pick from. Most folks pimp them out to the max in chrome (which doesn't count in the price). Beautiful balance, small enough to learn on, but still powerful enough if you want to get up on the interstate safely. It does get a little buzzy around 70 - 75 mph but runs strong, even two up with the wife. I rode one for ~20k miles and loved it. A lot out there to pick up cheap as the original owner moves up to a bigger scoot.

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Oh they are, it's just your defense that will keep you alive.

Re: Motorcycles
 

Taking a MSF course his weekend and then I will be lookng to get either a

Vulcan 900
Sazuki 800
Honda 750

To get into riding again after mny many years away. Fortunately Delaware is a huge biker state (fr such a small state) so most people either ride or know a rider.

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I ride in and around Atlanta, almost every time I ride someone tries to take me out. Over the years I have learned to pick out potential hazardous drivers and I aways try to go through an intersection along side a car.

I saw one of my friend kick a car door while riding. Luckly we we going slow because it threw him off the bike.

Stay Safe Y'all.

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:tu

As others have said, expect people to not see you, and you'll be a lot safer.

On the highway I give myself plenty of space. In the city everytime I approach an intersection I simply assume somebody is going to blow the stop sign, blow the redlight, turn in front of me.....

Saved my ass any number of times.

Re: Motorcycles
 

All 3 are good rides but I am partial to the Honda 750. Easy to work on... easy to ride and runs for years without any breakdowns. I have owned 3 Honda motorcycles and they just run and run and run. I traded a Suzuki in for my current bike and it ran great as well.

I completely agree with you. Everytime I go downtown invariably I run into these same jagoffs as well and use the same method as you do...use another car as a buffer or shield. We'll have to set up a time for a cigar next time you are downtown...some great cigar places that I visit.