2 things confirmed on todays ryde

[pierrelogic]

If I hadn't actually experienced this first hand, I would doubt the authenticity. 2 things happened on today's ryde the proved valuable lessons. some cagers clearly are out to kill bikers and not all bikers are created equal when it comes to brains.

In the span of about 5 miles both of these happened. First the cager. Cruising down a country road clearly marked 55 mph I get behind a line of vehicles. Car right in front of me (the idiot), next a biker (brainless) all following another slow moving vehicle leading the pack. Everyone pretty well spaced out by at least 5-6 seconds between them. Not bunched up at all. Here I come behind them and am putzing along following them at 40-45 mph. After chugging along for a miles or so I get an opportunity to pass the first idiot. Downshift, hammer down and the Spyder comes to life. I'm well on my way around the cager. Then I notice oncoming traffic fairly far ahead but to my shock the cager sped up too. I try to bail, roll off the throttle to get back behind the cager...but so does he I speed up...so does he..leaving me hung out to dry on the wrong lane with no place to go. :yikes: I literally had little time to think so I eyeball the cager and just reacted. I took my right foot and tried to plant my right heel in his left ear. (Billy Jack move) Not even close but that got his attn. I know...not at all smart to tangle with cagers but this was all reaction. That move got him to back off and I was able to merge in front of him before being splatter by oncoming traffic. I'm exaggerating it wasn't that close at all but the point was the cager hanging me out to dry on purpose. Once I got over in front of him about 1/2 mile down the road he turned...of course. Cagers are trying to kill me.

Next the biker. I'm cruising behind him long enough for him to known I'm back there. No problems. I'm not passing anyone soon I don't care if i'm in 3 gear going 30 mph. A few miles down the road we come to a freeway with an on ramp and we both take it. As we speed up to merge we both look into traffic and here comes a semi of course so I'm thinking the biker is going to throttle up like you should and merge in front of the semi (knowing I'm behind him...make room for me too brother). But no, he gets it up to 65 and that's it. This leaves enough room for him to squeak in front of the semi as he makes it onto the freeway. Of course the semi lays on the air horn. I actually anticipated this move because of what just happened with the cager and merged behind the semi. As I sped by this biker on the freeway I just shook my head at him in disbelief. Classic "here's your sign" moment.

Every day is an adventure on the Spyder...just some are more than others.

 

[Dudley]

I believe most of us have had the same experience over the years. Guess "stupids" are still created as they were when I first started riding in the early 60s. Glad you didn't get hurt. We all need to be highly anticipative in our driving habits.

 

[bikeguy]

Sounds like valuable lessons thankfully learned without being seriously hurt.

Though it isn't funny, I had to smile when I read about aiming your boot at the cager's ear. I remember riding through Poteau, Ok many years ago on a 1973 BMW and having a cager all but center punch me when he pulled out from a side street like he was aiming at me. I managed to get out of his way and was half a block down the street when it dawned on me that my left foot was in the air ready to kick something. I wasn't trying to kick the driver. My foot was in the air to try and push off the car. That's how close he was to me. About a mile later, I was stopped and waiting on a red light to turn left when another cager squalled his tires and stopped about two feet behind me. When I turned and looked at him, he was grinning. I changed my mind, turned right and went to Arkansas. I'd had enough of Oklahoma for one trip.

Cotton

 

[Tom in NM]

both incidents show . . . .

. . . . a total lack of consideration and awareness on the other "drivers" part. ( with the cager's motives being more suspect )

But, I have noticed that fairly often, the Spyder's "Rock Star" appearance does cause some drivers to do irritating and dangerous things.

They will slow down/speed up to get a better view or take pictures of the Spyder. I cannot guess at how many times I waited for a car to pass before pulling out of an intersection, but they slow down to get a better look or give me a thumbs-up, then traffic fills in behind them and I have to wait another minute or two.

A few times on the expressway when passing a car, I experienced exactly what you described ( without the added thrill of on-coming traffic ) as the car would speed up ( or slow down ) to pace me, so they could smile and try and get their wife to look at the Spyder. I have missed more than a few exits that way, since I could not get over to the exit lane.

The scariest/most unsettling thing that ever happened to me was on a back country road. In the middle of nowhere, there was a old beat up pickup at an intersection - it must have been nearly a quarter of a mile ahead of me when I first saw it. It waited as I approached and then pulled out after I had passed by. I was moving along around 60mph or so, but they guy must have really gunned that old pickup, because suddenly I saw him closing in on me VERY fast from behind. I sped up, but he was still coming on like a missile locked on to my tail. I whipped through curves and turns that called for speeds under 30mph at speeds well over 50 and while I would leave him in the curves, on the straight-aways, he would come barreling on. There was only one car we passed (like it was standing still) - and I had hoped that it would slow him down - but it didn't. For the 15 miles to the next little town, he was un-relentingly on my tail - and I know there were times I was well over 100mph. That movie Duel, kept on popping into my mind.

At the speeds we were going, it didn't take too long to make the next "town" ahead. As I braked and slid into the parking area of one of those little western desert gas station/stores - he came in right behind me and stopped right behind me - blocking me in. I jumped off the Spyder and pulled my helmet off and was ready to apply it to whoever came at me - and the guy bounced out of the truck cab and said, "Wow! What is that? Did you make it? It sure moves! How much did it cost? I never seen anything like that!" and on and on. Well, you know how all the questions go.

So, I have never experienced aggressive mean-spirited drivers, but I have seen more than I care to of the inconsiderate & inattentive ones, plus more than a few overly attentive ones. The only thing you can do is ride VERY defensively.

Glad your experience ended up OK, but it is always something to remember and plan for "the next time".

Tom

 

[Star Cruiser]

I TOTALLY agree with Tom.
On more than one instance I am accelerating to merge into traffic only to find the guy that I am intending to follow (coming from the right in traffic) SLOWS down to get a gander at the Spyder. So I am running out of ramp and merge lane and he is still beside me. Accelrate MORE to beat him? (not knowing if he will speed up after the look) or slow down to get in behind him and be slower than the traffic on the merge? Wee THANKFULLY the Spyder has tonnes of acceleration and I usually slow down behind him and then speed up. As I pass the "idiot", I normally get a thumbs up from him indicating that he likes either my bike, or the acceleration that it has.

You really have to be alert out there!

 

[SpyderWolf]

Glad to hear you were not hit by any of the vehicles involved. I have also had my share of them speeding up and slowing down when I am attempting to pass. Like Tom posted, I also had someone trail me to a gas station before.

The funnier one was when I rode 2.5 hours away to work my friends adventure race. The traffic was pretty heavy, and I was ryding a little more aggressively than I probably should have been. I made it to the event, and started handing out the goodie bags as the racers registered. About 45 minutes later, a couple college girls that help us out with the races show up and come to help with the bags. They were talking about this really wild motorcycle they saw on the interstate on their way to the race. It had 2 wheels in the front, and was all kinds of wild colors. They tried to catch up to get some pictures of it, to show to us, but it was going to fast and able to change lanes faster than they could. I started grinning, and told them to go look behind the race trailer and they could probably take all the pictures they wanted to.

The only time my wife has been in jeopardy on her Spyder so far was when a lady ran a stop sign in the construction zone on the highway, and nearly merged into my wife. Of course this lady was talking on her cell phone when that happened.

 

[murphybrown]

Not even Duct Tape

I believe most of us have had the same experience over the years. Guess "stupids" are still created as they were when I first started riding in the early 60s. Glad you didn't get hurt. We all need to be highly anticipative in our driving habits.

High Alert!!!! The one thing DUCT TAPE CANNOT FIX is STUPID :2thumbs:

 

[Sopher]

As forest says, Stupid is as stupid does.

I was on my way up to Laconia on Friday. Passed right thru a 2 minute old motorcycle crash; i looked to the left, pickup truck, and a guy stumbling to stand up and eventually sist on the guard rail; he had a helmet and seems ok. The bike. Where is the bike? Down the road about 10 fft or more is the bike crashed on the far tight side across 4 lanes of traffic. A few other stopped cars on the far right and box truck up ahead stopped. I think someone cut somebody off.

 

[Raptor]

Sopher, that avitar pic is WILD!! Is that for real?? :shocked:

Anyway, back on topic. I have already had some experiences with people causing potential situations because they want to get a better look at the bike. They don't mean harm, but they also don't realize the problems they are causing. I guess the key word is anticipate and use properly measured reactions. After a while you start planning your moves about 4 to 5 ahead!

 

[GaryTheBadger]

Anyone added a LOUDER horn to their Spyder?

 

[Bersquack]

I would agree that the cager was stupid, but you made a mistake by assuming that the biker would react a certain way. It's not because you would have sped that everybody also would.

When my dad taught me to drive a car he would always tell me to not rely on others to see me or act as I was there.

 

[IWN2RYD]

Anyone added a LOUDER horn to their Spyder?

Yes.. Worth every penny... (Link) I purchased that one because it included the wiring harness and mounting bolt. :2thumbs:

 

[boborgera]

Anyone added a LOUDER horn to their Spyder?

From my Experience, If you have to use a loud horn to get somebody's attention or for them to move over, sometimes your going to upset their ego/pride.
So you can do one of two things, If you use the horn to pass, Pass quick and keep on going, no head shakes or dirty looks. OR better yet don't get in a spot where you have to use a loud horn. I only use my horn to get my Grand son's attention so he'll move his toys so i can get up my driveway without hiting his toy's:yikes:

 

[Latemarch]

From my Experience, If you have to use a loud horn to get somebody's attention or for them to move over, sometimes your going to upset their ego/pride.
So you can do one of two things, If you use the horn to pass, Pass quick and keep on going, no head shakes or dirty looks. OR better yet don't get in a spot where you have to use a loud horn. I only use my horn to get my Grand son's attention so he'll move his toys so i can get up my driveway without hiting his toy's:yikes:

Missouri law requires you to use your horn when passing on a two lane road.
I find that a quick beep-beep is a friendly "here I come" versus a long blast on the horn is a not so friendly :cus: outa-my-way :cus:

It's not the loudness of the horn, it's how you use it. :doorag:

 

[krb1945]

Yep... I added a louder horn set just for times like this. I've seen this type of driving behavior many times over here along the east coast and the further north I go the worse it is. I surely don't understand the insanity out on the roads these days. It would be nice if a 7.62x51 mini-gun was legal to mount or even an M60 would be ok. Ride 'em safely my friends, it's a dangerous world out there.

In europe they use a headlight flasher to let people know their passing... it might work there but around here there are many drivers that got their license out of crack jack boxes and they don't know the rules of the road and they don't pay attention to the business at hand... "driving!" Ken krb1945

 

[retread]

Anyone added a LOUDER horn to their Spyder?

Earcannon from Aerostich, 139 db, 37 bucks plus 12 for installation kit. Definitely gets their attention.

john

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Merging in Illinois

I TOTALLY agree with Tom.
On more than one instance I am accelerating to merge into traffic only to find the guy that I am intending to follow (coming from the right in traffic) SLOWS down to get a gander at the Spyder. So I am running out of ramp and merge lane and he is still beside me. Accelrate MORE to beat him? (not knowing if he will speed up after the look) or slow down to get in behind him and be slower than the traffic on the merge? Wee THANKFULLY the Spyder has tonnes of acceleration and I usually slow down behind him and then speed up. As I pass the "idiot", I normally get a thumbs up from him indicating that he likes either my bike, or the acceleration that it has.

You really have to be alert out there!

Everyone driving in Illinois should be careful!!! Illinois drivers do NOT stop at red lights when making a right turn. I have seen many accidents occur when they run the red light thinking they can just merge into the right lane. Some will look and stop but many don't look or wait until it is too late. This even happens when one driver will stop due to traffic but one behind still tries to run the red light.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Everyone driving in Illinois should be careful!!! Illinois drivers do NOT stop at red lights when making a right turn. I have seen many accidents occur when they run the red light thinking they can just merge into the right lane. Some will look and stop but many don't look or wait until it is too late. This even happens when one driver will stop due to traffic but one behind still tries to run the red light.

That is good to know considering all of the people currently headed to Illinois for the owners event. Be careful out there.

Here is SC, people do not understand that the left lane is supposed to be the fast lane used for passing. They figure since they pay taxes they can drive in whatever lane they want, and you can go around if you are in a hurry. Unfortunately, my father in law also falls into this group and it annoys the heck out of me when I ride with him.

 

[boborgera]

Yep...

In europe they use a headlight flasher to let people know their passing... it might work there but around here there are many drivers that got their license out of crack jack boxes and they don't know the rules of the road and they don't pay attention to the business at hand... "driving!" Ken krb1945

Remember when =
Back in the stone age you would use your left foot to flash to pass,
and most people would slow down and let you pass. Now in modern
times if you flash your lights it's almost like waving a red flag in front
of a Bull.:yikes: And stop signs that's just a suggestion you don't really have to stop. :shocked:

 

[Eddie]

Anyone added a LOUDER horn to their Spyder?

NOW THATS A THOUGHT!!!! The little bicycle squeaker they come equipped with is just not enough!!!