They say your more likely to get into a motorcycle accident within 7 miles of your home - I believe it. For me its 300 yards.
The setup I was working on the viffer all weekend, painting, putting the wheels on, fixing up the rearsets, doing various wiring jobs. I needed a molex connector for my led clear rear lens. The connector that came with it just wasnt staying in and it would fall out, so I just cut off the wires and wanted to get a good solid connector for it. Trip to Radio Shack. So I put on my leather jacket, boots, helmet and gloves. Roll the XR650 out of the shed and off I go.
I roll exactly 300 yards to the intersection at the end of my block and see a blue Mazda rolling right through the stop sign, I have no stop sign but see the guy is going right through it and INTO ME! I jam the brakes and it howls, I can feel the knobbies squirrly behind me on that big rear wheel. I come to a stop. The guy half ass stops in the middle of the road 5 feet in front of me turns left to avoid me and then continues, half ass stops as in still moving but slow. I am pissed, its the THIRD time some jackass has blown that same stop sign and almost piled into me on the same bike. I never have this issue on the viffer always on the piggy! So I decided to follow the guy, I follow him 3 blocks to his house and pull in behind him. He rolls down the window and starts appoligising profusly, I let him have it. I did pretty well though I must say no cussing at all, no yelling but I let him have it.
"there was a stop sign back there - you have to stop at the stop sign - you put my life in danger - a guy on a motorcycle can get killed really easy with those kinds of mistakes"
So again he appoligizes and I say "ok then" and I ride off. He was about 50 gray hair and very scared. I am not out to hurt anybody I just want them to know that hey - motorcycle here! Dont freaking kill me - watch out and Drive correctly!
The other two times it was the same 16 year old girl who did it to me last time - she pulled out infront of me I was going home though, and in a fit of anger I pulled in behind her too but she was a nut and started speeding so I let that one go. Then the SAME girl same car 2 weeks later did it AGAIN so this time I cut her off and she had to stop! She tried to back out but I stopped her, "I said I got your licence plate number you better stop right now, I am not going to hurt you", followed her home and spoke to her father, she lives 2 blocks away and boy he grabbed her keys and started ripping into her like... well.
I dont know if I am going to follow anybody anymore cause later today I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
Nice job HS, I think it's a good idea to try to let people see thier mistakes. As long as you don't act like a crazy person, you represent all riders, and could save someone elses life!!
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:
I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
A pistol on his hip?!?! I guess it really is the wild west. Did you get the connector?
Didn't you tell me about chasing down some lady on your way to Tmac one year? People are crazy AND armed so you gotta watch yourself.
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 14 April 2010 - 02:11 AM, said:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:
I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
A pistol on his hip?!?! I guess it really is the wild west. Did you get the connector?
Yes, Colorado Springs/ El Paso county allows a licenced gun owner to carry with a permit, it was in a holster. Still it was uncomfortable for me, its NOT a common thing to see around here. It did however make me reflect on my propensity to confront those who pull out in front of me on my motorcycle. I dont want to dwell on the gun thing but you never know if sombody will just whip out a gun and start shooting before talking.
yeah.. i know about that.. most accidents happen with in 5 miles of home...
SO I MOVED!!! :angry:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:15 AM, said:
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 14 April 2010 - 02:11 AM, said:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:
I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
A pistol on his hip?!?! I guess it really is the wild west. Did you get the connector?
Yes, Colorado Springs/ El Paso county allows a licenced gun owner to carry with a permit, it was in a holster. Still it was uncomfortable for me, its NOT a common thing to see around here. It did however make me reflect on my propensity to confront those who pull out in front of me on my motorcycle. I dont want to dwell on the gun thing but you never know if sombody will just whip out a gun and start shooting before talking.
Yea, calling in a license plate is probably the safest thing if you're going through the trouble of following someone and considering bikers are usually viewed as aggressive or you're not packing :angry: .
These signs were lit all around the state (CA) as the commute weather broke about a month ago (even on the snowbound roads in the Sierras snowboarding bound).
[image: Posted Image]
I'd like to see more of this at different intervals of the season since the effectiveness wears off after about a week!
http://news.motorbik...motorcycles.htm
Share-the-road.jpg
Bet ya they both will STOP and take a second look before rolling through now (at all Stop signs)... You didn't get aggressive, just brought attention too an all-too common problem - and made it a little more personal to them.. I say Good Show!
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:15 AM, said:
Yes, Colorado Springs/ El Paso county allows a licenced gun owner to carry with a permit, it was in a holster. Still it was uncomfortable for me, its NOT a common thing to see around here. It did however make me reflect on my propensity to confront those who pull out in front of me on my motorcycle. I dont want to dwell on the gun thing but you never know if sombody will just whip out a gun and start shooting before talking.
We've got a concealed/carry law here, so most of the time the gun is hidden, but doesn't have to be. When my dad used to repo cars it was so common for people to want their gun out of the glovebox of the car before he took it away, Like he's stupid enough to GIVE you a weapon. LOL.
Glad you were able to read the situation and react quickly, Miguel. Good on ya for "teaching" the cager afterward, too, esp. without too much commotion.
Besides the obvious safety lesson here, I think the rest of the story brings up a good point about what happens after incidents like this. HS' post ended well, but not too long ago a father somewhere killed a motorcyclist who had followed his 2 teenage girls home after (IIRC) they almost ran over him in a mall parking lot. They freaked out, called ahead and dad was waiting with a gun when they got home. Again, IIRC, he shot the guy in the back after he turned to ride away.
As much as I'd like to yell at an offending cager, it's not worth getting shot, stabbed or run over. Get the tag #, call it in and move on.
[image: View Post]TimC, on 14 April 2010 - 07:58 AM, said:
As much as I'd like to yell at an offending cager, it's not worth getting shot, stabbed or run over. Get the tag #, call it in and move on.
Yes, not worth getting in a confrontation with a 4000 lb 200 hp 4 wheeled idiot/daydreamer. You never know when someone has had a really bad day and you giving them the one finger salute will send them over the edge, using their vehicle as a weapon.
With respect to the daydreamers drifting through stops, every summer around here, there are more and more bikes on the road and as a result, accident rates for them are going up, however, they don't usually publish the ratios, just the incidents. The upside is that the news issues as well as the sheer number of bikes around do tend to make folks in cages somewhat more aware of bikes which is to our benefit. I see now that the most common motorcycle accident no longer involves another vehicle but instead, involves the cyclist alone leaving the roadway.
As a kid I used to live on a long dirt road with many logging trucks and there was a large sign at the start of the road that just said "Drive Defensively". I always thought they should have more of those.
BC
In Tennessee we have the lazy driver; I don't have to stop at stop sign jerks too. It is a normal happening that people in my neighborhood run them all the time. Two years ago it got to the point I even call the Police and signed a ticket myself against a 40 year old that tried three times to run me down at a stop sign about 100 yards from my house. I had to show up in court to testify against the driver and won!!!! The officer was amazed the judge allowed it.
Not sure if this is on topic or not, but I have sent a letter to the Tennessee DOT requesting they program Motorcycle Awareness messages on the message signs located on the Interstates. If your state has them take time to send a note asking they do the same.
Good advice there Miguel - and glad that you didn't get "hoodwinked". I've had more run-ins with eejits while riding my bicycle than my moto - last year I had a blue-haired granny pull a left turn in front of me, only quick reflexes and covering my brakes in a known danger area saved my bacon. I followed her into the parking lot and politely started explaining to her that she'd nearly killed me. Her reaction? She literally gave me the finger and told me that bikes are for kids and I should be more careful!" That was it - I let her have it and said the next time she was probably gonna roll over her grandson if she kept driving like that - she blanched and said "are you threatening me?" "NO - I'm trying to reason with you but you obviously are senile and therefore should NOT be allowed to drive anything more dangerous than a motorized shopping cart..." Man, I wish I had a camera on her because she went into MELTDOWN mode. I rode away before she hit me with her handbag, shaking my head laughing and and sad at the same time that our society has gotten so crass. And stupid... So yeh - bottom line for me is I'm always riding like they're out to get me...
I'm glad you didn't get creamed.
I'm all for confronting idiotic drivers if the opportunity presents itself. I've done it. I've showed some anger, but never aggression; just enough emotion so the driver remembers the incident whenever he/she sees a motorcycle from then on.
...and as far as the guy with a pistol; excercise your right and carry one too. Statistics show that more good guys carry guns than bad guys...
Ride safe!
I almost got ass ended yesterday while attempting to turn left... Turn signal on.... brake lights working.... slowing.... big white suburan with a middle aged woman on a cell phone running me down.. I can't turn due to on coming traffic... she's still coming... I start looking for my exit plan... she sees me... and swerves to the right to avoid me.... as she passes me she blows her horn and flips me the bird.... I see RED! I hammer it down and catch her at the next stop light where I "explained" that if she would STFU on the phone and pay attention to driving she might have noticed either the turn signal, brake lights, or the motorcycle stopped in front of her. I then proceeded to "explain" that she had no F'ning right to blow her horn at me.. and flip me off.
Oddly enough we traveled to the next town in line with one another and at the next stop light she pulls along side me and appologized. I appologized for cussing her.... which I did like a champ...LOL. She told me that she reacted that way because it scared her.... I laughed and said "let's switch places and see how scared you might be sitting there on a bike."
Be careful out there... All the time. And, yeah, it's best to keep road rage under control. But sometimes :lobby:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:15 AM, said:
Yes, Colorado Springs/ El Paso county allows a licenced gun owner to carry with a permit, it was in a holster. Still it was uncomfortable for me, its NOT a common thing to see around here. It did however make me reflect on my propensity to confront those who pull out in front of me on my motorcycle. I dont want to dwell on the gun thing but you never know if sombody will just whip out a gun and start shooting before talking.
It is my understanding that in Colorado you need a permit to carry concealed, but anyone that is allowed to own a weapon can open carry in public. We used to have a citizen show up to city council meeting with a shotgun that he kept across his lap during the whole meeting. Council finally decided to bar open carry in government buildings and some business ban open carry on their premises.
[image: View Post]TimC, on 14 April 2010 - 07:58 AM, said:
Glad you were able to read the situation and react quickly, Miguel. Good on ya for "teaching" the cager afterward, too, esp. without too much commotion.
Besides the obvious safety lesson here, I think the rest of the story brings up a good point about what happens after incidents like this. HS' post ended well, but not too long ago a father somewhere killed a motorcyclist who had followed his 2 teenage girls home after (IIRC) they almost ran over him in a mall parking lot. They freaked out, called ahead and dad was waiting with a gun when they got home. Again, IIRC, he shot the guy in the back after he turned to ride away.
As much as I'd like to yell at an offending cager, it's not worth getting shot, stabbed or run over. Get the tag #, call it in and move on.
I agree. Get the tag #, call it in and move on.
very interesting topic,Ive had similar incidents as above ,i now don't get involved with wrong doers as they don't like to take criticism well.just my theory. :lobby:
My last close call - and closest to contact EVER, was with my daughter on board. Grampa and Grandma made a left in front of me from a regular lane that was NOT also a turn lane. He even cut off the people to his left that WERE in the turn lane. I followed and had a very sedated chat. I took my helmet off so Gramps could see me and I told him I was not going to hurt him. He had absolutely no idea what he had done wrong, never saw me, and didn't even know why I flagged him down. Grandma was apologizing prufusely the whole time. I told her that maybe it's time for Gramps to hand over the keys.
A left from a thru lane.
A left across the path of a truck waiting for me the "real" left turn lane.
I was on a red bike with a red jacket and two bright lights on.
- and he had to hook the turn at about 30 mph because he had the full body roll going on and crossed all the way to the curb THREE lanes over. I'm pretty sure it should be a left turn to the left lane here stateside...
I just aimed for his rear bumper and prayed it was gone before I got there. INCHES AT MOST!
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:
I dont know if I am going to follow anybody anymore cause later today I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
I carry a BB pistol on my bicycle for just such incidences. I started carrying it for the loose dogs in the countryside (don't feel like being chased by great danes or blue heelers) after one attacked while I was clipped in and ended up with a broken collar bone. But it works on cagers, too. They may fail to notice you as a person on a bicycle, but the second you draw that pistol, the alert meter pegs. To date I have only had to fire at chasing dogs, and only when they come into the street - not running along their property line. Don't want to hurt anyone either, and just showing the pistol to some dogs backs them off. But if you've ever lain in the middle of a 55 mph blacktop at the crest of a hill, worrying if the next passing vehicle was gonna be the last thing you ever see (not able to move)...25 bucks at wally world for a crossman bb pistol.
I hope you stay on the safe side. I haven't had too many problems on the VFR, but worry about my wife and her new mc license. We go Sunday nights to the Lowe's parking lot and do drills.
Here's to keepin it shiny side up.
Cheers!
[image: View Post]COS_VFR, on 14 April 2010 - 10:34 AM, said:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:15 AM, said:
Yes, Colorado Springs/ El Paso county allows a licenced gun owner to carry with a permit, it was in a holster. Still it was uncomfortable for me, its NOT a common thing to see around here. It did however make me reflect on my propensity to confront those who pull out in front of me on my motorcycle. I dont want to dwell on the gun thing but you never know if sombody will just whip out a gun and start shooting before talking.
It is my understanding that in Colorado you need a permit to carry concealed, but anyone that is allowed to own a weapon can open carry in public. We used to have a citizen show up to city council meeting with a shotgun that he kept across his lap during the whole meeting. Council finally decided to bar open carry in government buildings and some business ban open carry on their premises.
Generally allowed open carry in 11 states, many others have the same with little restriction. Even California permits it if the gun is unloaded and the ammo is carried open but separately.
http://opencarry.org/opencarry.html
Makes you think twice about confronting people's idiotic driving...
[image: View Post]vfrcapn, on 14 April 2010 - 12:43 PM, said:
Generally allowed open carry in 11 states, many others have the same with little restriction. Even California permits it if the gun is unloaded and the ammo is carried open but separately.
http://opencarry.org/opencarry.html
Wait a minute. You can open carry in CA, but the gun can't be loaded? If you carry a can of mace, does it have to be empty? And pepper spray, too? Do you have to use an open hand rather than a fist to fight off an attacker? Crazy. Posted Image
[image: View Post]Jmmymc750, on 14 April 2010 - 12:26 PM, said:
But it works on cagers, too. They may fail to notice you as a person on a bicycle, but the second you draw that pistol, the alert meter pegs.
:pissed: ......BUT.........
I wouldn't recommend that around here. There are WAY TOO MANY people here with the real deal and you WILL find yourself with a face full of .40 caliber. You can also be arrested here for just pulling a bb gun on somebody. It's just the same as pulling a regular firearm. I'm an owner and carry at times as well so I'm not an anti-gunner blabbering here. Be careful with that idea!
[image: View Post]The mailman, on 14 April 2010 - 02:12 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Jmmymc750, on 14 April 2010 - 12:26 PM, said:
But it works on cagers, too. They may fail to notice you as a person on a bicycle, but the second you draw that pistol, the alert meter pegs.
:pissed: ......BUT.........
I wouldn't recommend that around here. There are WAY TOO MANY people here with the real deal and you WILL find yourself with a face full of .40 caliber. You can also be arrested here for just pulling a bb gun on somebody. It's just the same as pulling a regular firearm. I'm an owner and carry at times as well so I'm not an anti-gunner blabbering here. Be careful with that idea!
Yep, that's a good way to either find out which motorists carry real guns or get shot by a cop trying to "protect himself".
Glad you didn't get hit X3.
this reminds me of a few months ago when I was lleaving work. A guy look right at me and then just muscled me off the road. When I recovered, he looked over at me and floored it. I began to give chase. We go gong pretty fast when I asked myself: What are you going to do when you catch him?
Even though I wa the guy with the gun, I realized NOTHING good could come of this and backed off. Sorta like a count to ten situation. There is a real possibility in the DC area that someone will run you over and just keep going.
Gotta keep the big picture in mind and the big picture when you ride your bike is the same as it is in policework : Go home alive.
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 14 April 2010 - 02:37 PM, said:
this reminds me of a few months ago when I was lleaving work. A guy look right at me and then just muscled me off the road. When I recovered, he looked over at me and floored it. I began to give chase. We go gong pretty fast when I asked myself: What are you going to do when you catch him?
Even though I wa the guy with the gun, I realized NOTHING good could come of this and backed off. Sorta like a count to ten situation. There is a real possibility in the DC area that someone will run you over and just keep going.
Gotta keep the big picture in mind and the big picture when you ride your bike is the same as it is in policework : Go home alive.
very good point Timmy. For the record, I am a "count ten" believer. I don't even get mad anymore. Just accept that they are all out to get me...the bicycle is a different story. No way m I movin fast enough to be misinterpreted (or slow enough for that matter). I get mad on the bicycle. Guess my exit strategy is not as good, or I am more helpless or something. On the VFR, I just know someone wants to kill me, so I ride very warily. Motorcyclist used to have a "street survival tip of the month" or something like that. Read those all the time, and learned lots of ways to be more visible to the world...if ur gonna go fast, be visible. But on the bicycle it just makes me mad that people literally try to see how close they can get to you for funsies. Broken bones while exercising = no funsies.
never bothered chasing anyone down, as that is just an angry reaction IMO. I had a few years of fighting anybody that looked at me funny, but now I am a grownup (mostly:pinocchio:) with more things to look forward to. I would just as soon get home and pet the cat, hug my wife and settle in, than allow my infamous temper to get its way with me.
Glad to know everybody, evrywhere faces the same crap. VERY glad to hear everybody dealing with it and staying shiny side up. I wish Joe Rocket made a bright yellow Jacket that said "please don't kill me" in big letters back and front. I would buy it.
Have a wheelie nice day! :pissed:
[image: View Post]Jmmymc750, on 14 April 2010 - 12:26 PM, said:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 14 April 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:
I dont know if I am going to follow anybody anymore cause later today I pulled into the 7-11 and the guy in front of me had a pistol on his hip...got me thinking perhaps I just better let it go next time.
I carry a BB pistol on my bicycle for just such incidences. I started carrying it for the loose dogs in the countryside (don't feel like being chased by great danes or blue heelers) after one attacked while I was clipped in and ended up with a broken collar bone. But it works on cagers, too. They may fail to notice you as a person on a bicycle, but the second you draw that pistol, the alert meter pegs. To date I have only had to fire at chasing dogs, and only when they come into the street - not running along their property line. Don't want to hurt anyone either, and just showing the pistol to some dogs backs them off. But if you've ever lain in the middle of a 55 mph blacktop at the crest of a hill, worrying if the next passing vehicle was gonna be the last thing you ever see (not able to move)...25 bucks at wally world for a crossman bb pistol.
I hope you stay on the safe side. I haven't had too many problems on the VFR, but worry about my wife and her new mc license. We go Sunday nights to the Lowe's parking lot and do drills.
Here's to keepin it shiny side up.
Cheers!
A BB pistol? There's either a glock .40 on my side or a .357 mag revolver in my pocket. I love NH.
I would not recommend pulling that thing on a cager or a human. Good way to die.
Being on the XR I'm really surprised you didn't pull a Stoppie, rotate the bike & elevated rear wheel setting it on the guys hood then do a burn-out on it. :woohoo:
Glad you have the skills to still be with us! :pissed:
imho people that have to take a class to carry a pistol may be on a whole nother level of responsibility i carry concealed and i always obey the traffic laws to the best of my ability yes sometimes i make mistakes as well but when its all done it is what it is cant reverse it..
ne ways back on subject i would say most people that have to be certified to carry a pistol are less likely to yank it out especially if their life is not in danger its a part of the traing you must receive to obtain that liscense
End of thread · 30 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 20 Jul 2012