Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Like, the lady that passed you was in a car and passed you in the same lane? What the hell

 

Not excusing it, just trying to understand it…..maybe you were too far over left and she thought you were gonna move left? Turn left?


It’s that whole leaving too much space thing. In traffic, if people see a big ass gap, they’re gonna take it.

 

I had a squid on a jap bike rip between my husband and I who were riding staggered and get stuck behind the 20 cars that were in front of us. Theres dipshits everywhere -on four wheels as well as two. ​

 

I’ve had the same thing happen. I usually filter back in front of them and move to center position. Not aggressively, just enough to let them know I’m occupying that space. I’m always watching for dipshits though and I’ve gotten used to having to defend my position. Drivers in my area commonly pass on the shoulder and left-turning lane. They will also occasionally cross into oncoming traffic lanes to pass. No surprise that my local paper also has a column titled “crash of the week”.



if anything it’s reinforced my defensive driving/riding. I don’t bother getting upset, I’ve learned to see it coming and try to avoid drivers like that.

 

As much as it is 100% the FAULT of horrible drivers that they are selfish, inconsiderate, and dangerous . . . The final statement here is the key to getting home safe. We have to take ownership of the fact that we are choosing to ride defensively and careful among the dangerous and poor drivers. Treat every situation as a given that was inevitable and do your best to mitigate and avoid all risks. Getting heated or upset just leads to poor choices and at the end of the ride if we go head to head with a 4,000+# cage we will lose ever time. I started to get mad at a dude for almost hitting me a couple weeks ago, then I realized I had spaced out and not been defensive and proactive enough and shouldn’t have been hanging out next to them when I saw them on their phone a few blocks back… their fault, sure, but my job to get home to the family every day, and my responsibility to keep a level head and ride smart

 

yup. all within the same lane lol, and she was in a car

possible. but my blinker wasn't on, the next lane over on the left was also heading straight. i think she just saw an opportunity and took it lol. it's just interesting how she timed it perfectly to slide in front of me, before traffic started moving i was maybe 3 feet behind the drivers side corner of the rear bumper in front of me, just left a bunch of space on the right side of the lane.

Lol i considered filtering back in front of her, but then figured why play games when i can just filter all the way to the front and save some time?

Yeah always keeping my head on a swivel. i'm past the point of getting upset at other drivers, I mostly just give myself a chuckle and move on. just wanted to share an interesting experience i'd never seen/encountered before

 

A few years ago here at my work we had a young man from Germany as an intern with us for almost 6 months. He had a driver's license from Germany but because of his young age no car rental agency nearby would rent him a car. Our company found a good deal on a used car and bought it then put him on the company insurance while he was here so he could get around. Decent deal for all concerned. Anyway....I spoke with him at length about differences with American and European culture and life. He often remarked about what horrible drivers we have here in the US. He brought up that in Germany he had to pay quite a bit of money and go to a driving school and pass a lot of tests and put in a lot of hours learning to drive but here in the US parents teach their kids to drive. He joked about our generations of bad drivers. Had to admit he had a point.

 

In much of Europe, you will pay the equivalent of $2500-$3200 to get a driver's license through formalized private training and test fees. And you will be a minimum of 18 years old to start.

 

@uurx i think I want carbon fiber wheels now...


https://youtu.be/R-vGwOXigF0

 

what wheels?

 

They're not gold tho

 

They're red? Thats all i saw

 

Japan is similar, motorcycle licenses are staged by CC. You have to work your way up and retest at each level.

Getting a license in the US is pathetically simple.

 

I took a 3 hour class and then messed around in a parking lot for the afternoon with the instructor on a provided TW200, did a few exercises, took a 30 question test, boom: license. So easy.

 

Probably why you see so many grown men duck walking all over Sturgis in tassels.

 

My point exactly. Even the requirements in Japan for US service members or SOFA personnel is pathetically simple.

At least the MSF advanced course that was the foundation was staged by cc.

<50
51-250
251-500
501-750
>750

And you took it on your bike or a bodged up CB rental.


I did my 4-part MN “skill” test, that is not limited by cc’s, on my CT110, no classroom required.

 

I used to teach the Military SportBike Rider Course on base in Florida. Big problem with guys coming home from deployment with a bunch of money saved up, buying sport bikes and killing themselves or getting injured due to lack of skill. DoD implemented a program where no endorsement meant your bike could not go past the security office and on base roads..including base housing. That class was packed every day it was offered. It put a huge dent in the problem, but far from eliminated it.

End of the day, most bike accidents involve someone turning left into your path of travel or improper cornering/curve negotiation by yourself.

Educated riders can avoid most issues, but a distracted driver can take out even the best of us.

I was hit from behind by a car doing 25mph while stopped at a traffic light on Bainbridge Island in Washington. I spent almost 4 months in the hospital and it took me about 2 more months after that to even swing a leg over a bike again, but I did.

 

I am not saying it’s the level of rider training that is the difference, though it helps. The ultra low bar to get a driver’s license and/or motorcycle endorsement in the US is more to blame. Bunch of bozos in the road, be safe yall.

 

Before ABS over three quarters of all single vehicle motorcycle accidents were caused by front brake error.