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Post by trigerman on Sept 26, 2008 23:42:18 GMT -5
Hello fellow dawgs,
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I get the impression that many people riding motorcycles in my neighborhood cannot respect the right of my 50cc scooter to share space with them.
Am I right? and if I'm right, why? Or is it possible that I am doing something unknowingly to provoke people?
It seems like every time I approach a motorcycle that has been going along without incident there is a 50/50 chance that they will suddenly do something weird: suddenly speeding up and/or maneuvering to get in front of me are the big favorites. Sometimes this has happened with pairs of motorcyclists riding together. Its not normal behavior: I've seen motorcycles racing or otherwise interacting and challenging each other and it is not that. A couple of times what ever they did got them honked by the cars around them.
In az, I have to share a lot of space with lots motorcycles. Traffic being what it is, there is hardly a relationship between how cool or powerful your bike is and how fast you are going half the time. And that may be the problem. A smaller bike moves faster in traffic like mine: I fit nicely between cars on the parking and on the street. For this reason, it is it not uncommon for me to pass a motorcycle, or go faster than a motorcycle.
That is, if they will let me pass . . .
Maybe I'm preaching to the choir, but I bring this up here because I've only been riding scoot 1month here in US, so maybe I am misunderstanding something. Also, I especially get the impression new riders are bothered by it. I say that based on the fact that I am more likely to be cut off or otherwise harassed when 1. the motorcycle is a new model and/or very shiny and clean or 2. the gear (if they even have it) is bright, clean and matches. People with new matching Harley gear are pretty bad, but people with bright shiny sports bikes are the worst
My general sense is that I am just trying to get home and somebody's ego is getting in the way.
There are so many good riders out there I see everyday -- and many helped and encouraged me. Thank you so much. I don't mean to make every motorcycle out to be a jerk, but the police in motorcycles are, LOL!!!
I just don't get it -- am I paranoid? pls don't say yes.
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Post by educatordan on Sept 27, 2008 0:29:17 GMT -5
It's not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you. I hope it's not a trend of motorcycle harassment. I'll be getting my license soon and I know there are a lot more motorcyclist out there than there are scooters.
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Post by jpn on Sept 27, 2008 7:48:25 GMT -5
A smaller bike moves faster in traffic like mine: I fit nicely between cars on the parking and on the street. For this reason, it is it not uncommon for me to pass a motorcycle, or go faster than a motorcycle. That is, if they will let me pass . . . Could you clarify how you are passing? It sounds like you are describing 'lane splitting', riding on the line between two lanes of traffic. Lane splitting is legal in some areas, but completely illegal in other areas. When interstate traffic is backed up and crawling due to a wreck, it's not that unusual to see some driver pull over onto the shoulder and run down the shoulder at 20mph or more faster than the traffic in the lanes. It's also not that unusual to see drivers in the right lane, especially large trucks, ease over to the right to partially block the shoulder and make it difficult for shoulder runners to pass. They do that for two reasons: One is that running down the shoulder to get around traffic is illegal (at least it is here), since the shoulder is supposed to be kept open for emergency use. The other is that those shoulder runners are speeding up themselves, but creating a bottleneck at the point where they have to merge back into the right lane - aggravating the traffic problem and slowing down everybody else. You stated that you have been riding a scooter in the US for one month. Is it possible that you are trying to pass in some way that violates local traffic laws or accepted US motorcycle safety guidelines?
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 27, 2008 7:49:21 GMT -5
I think some of it is purely ego-driven. "No scooter can pass my Harley/Sportbike/Whatever." The same things others discuss with cars. It's like scooters are considered the bottom of the food chain to a lot of people and they should never pass or even keep up with your car or bike.
I got behind about 15 Harley riders on a back road last summer with a friend on his 150. We caught up to them at a stop sign and a couple were nice enough to acknowledge us. Now that we were there, the group went from a Sunday drive to trying to carve corners. (In case you are wondering why our little scoots weren't just left behind, this was a very tight twisty back road.) Some of these riders looked like they were gonna lose it in turns trying to prove who's boss. To their suprise, both scoots were still right behind them in formation lol. They turned off of the back roads and went out to straight roads with faster speed limits. Scooters turned the tables on the big bikes. ;D
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Post by jimk on Sept 27, 2008 19:41:37 GMT -5
yeah, truth be told, there are some ego's out there that need an attitude check.. And 90Gt, that is a good story... They honestly didn't understand physics, the scoots would always win out on handling in curves like that, it's the way they are designed.. Those smaller scoots could handle way more than the big bikes could ever dream of.. That is why I never understood making bikes for road use bigger than a 750.. Makes no sense to me.. The weight and overall size of them makes it impossible to maneuver well.. But, I dunno.. I freaked out when the guy at the Honda/Kawi dealership told me a 900 was a great starter bike.. I was like "WHAT???" a 900 should never be sold to a newbie.. oh well... times they are a changin..
JimK
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Post by dean on Sept 28, 2008 11:07:35 GMT -5
I like riding behind the HD when lane splitting. I figure whatever he can get thru so can I.
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Post by greg on Sept 29, 2008 20:28:26 GMT -5
ok its obvious what your doing wrong... when you pass them its a biker thing in america to puff out your chest and have one hand on your knee. when you pass make sure one foot it sticking out straight ahead. its like waving.
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Post by bravobravo on Sept 29, 2008 21:50:37 GMT -5
I ride in AZ as well, The people on Harley's are bad. They ride like idiots and NEVER wear helmets "their too cool!" Crotch rocket guys are OK, they will wave a lot and seem pretty cool most of the time. But the people that drive cars/trucks are the absolute worst!!! I really can't stand AZ drivers anymore! I usually leave about a car or two gap when following and 90% of the time the cars next to me speed up and cut me off squeezing in for no reason. Or if I'm going 40-45 mph in a 40mph speed limit in my truck, I'm riding with traffic... If I'm going 45-55mph in a 40mph speed limit on my scooter they are FLYING past me! Its not you dude its the a$$hole AZ drivers! I feel your pain! Don't let them bother you as much as possible, stay focused on the ride and lets face it your going to catch up to them at the lights anyways lol ;D Be Safe Man!
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Post by lairnbear50 on Mar 2, 2009 21:27:00 GMT -5
They had a rally in my part of the world last june.Harleys everywhere.They figured over 30,000 showed up to this function.I live in a campground from spring to fall,so durring this time the campgrounds were booked solid.Every biker I talked with, showed respect and if someone needed help they tried to help.I really enjoyed there company.Stugis was the same way when I went out there..
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Post by erictheviking666 on Mar 6, 2009 15:09:00 GMT -5
I can't say I've ever had any problems here in Florida. Even now during Bike Week I get nothing but waves. But maybe it's because I kind of look like a biker, I don't know you would think they might make fun of me. If that has happened they haven't let me hear them anyway! ;D
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Post by thumper650 on Mar 6, 2009 16:24:42 GMT -5
Bikers can definitely be jerks at times. Even among themselves. When I'm on my Dualsport I rarely get waves from Harleys. There's one Harley I see every morning in the Summer and he waves when I'm on my scoot or bike, so I try not to generalize.
I once had a bunch of HOGS pull into traffic behind me while on my Dualsport, I looked like leader of the back until they backed waaaaay off. I love insecure people!!
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Post by Alsenor on Aug 1, 2009 14:53:49 GMT -5
I suppose there are just as many immature motorcyclists on the roads as their are immature car drivers, or drivers of anything. Just ignore their antics and always ride defensively! [edited]: OMG, I finally got infected by moronitis - I am starting to spell stuff like "their are" instead of "there are". My apologies to the few people left who notice!
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Post by arwen on Aug 3, 2009 10:08:06 GMT -5
I got my first motorcycle wave yesterday! Its funny actually, in Maryland it seems motorcyclists are divided into the sports bikes and non-sports bikes. A guy riding a harley will rarely wave to a guy on a Ninja etc... go figure. I think anyone out there on two wheels aught to be recognized and respected. So I wave at whatever I see and yesterday someone finally waved back! Yay for me. I think seeing me ride my scoot along with hubby on a magna and son on a ninja is a rare sight indeed.
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Post by maxximtl on Aug 4, 2009 12:15:26 GMT -5
What I like best is when a motorcyclist will start to wave then try to take it back once he realizes you are on a scooter.
The other night I had some guy in a SRT-10 Dodge ram truck go blowing by me in a left hand turn lane because I got the jump on him off the light. hahahaha. I guess someone's ego needed a little stroking.
I have encountered some bad attitudes while riding, but I guess you have to take it in stride. I respect the person who's out there enjoying themselves more so than the arse who has something to prove at every light.
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Post by nittany1 on Aug 22, 2009 16:27:56 GMT -5
In my area of Florida bikers wave at me too. I never had any problems with them. They seem to be happy to be out riding in the sun too I guess.
Of course nothing beats 15 scooters in the other lane heading the other way all of them *beep* *beeping* madly because they see another scooter! That happened to me the other day and it was 50/50 girls/guys on those scoots.
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Post by nickiemcnichols on Aug 22, 2009 20:14:10 GMT -5
My rule of thumb is: if it's bigger than me, it has the right of way. I always yield to 'the higher power', but of course, being a woman, I have no ego about this stuff. However, if some a$$hole tries to kill me, I'll let him have it, if I catch him at a light. Other two wheelers do not typically engage each other around here, too busy dodging cars. I ran out of gas this morning, on a lonely bridge, and not one motorist stopped to offer help, didn't even slow down. This guy on a crotch rocket just hauled a$$ by me... people don't know how to stick together in this country any more. I can only imagine what the tourists from abroad think of us. If we can't get along in traffic, no wonder there is so much strife and stress in our society. Why in the hell can't we be nice to each other? There would be less than half as many accidents if we were. I almost always wave at other riders, it promotes friendliness, but only about 1/3 of them honk or wave back.
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Post by nittany1 on Aug 24, 2009 13:25:32 GMT -5
I would've helped you with gas if I saw you on the road. I helped a girl past midnight with that just the other day at Walgreens, and she wasn't even on two wheels, she was in a car.
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Post by gr8shotz00 on Sept 5, 2009 8:22:45 GMT -5
Truth be told the bikers are just jealous cause they have to shift all the time. They are always ticked off cause their hand is all cramped up.
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Post by kz1000st on Sept 5, 2009 18:12:18 GMT -5
Just so you know. It's not your hand that cramps, it's your wrist, and only in stop and go traffic. Most of the time we're just whizzing along enjoying the music of an engine out where we can hear it.
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bluesluver
Big Dawg
'94 Honda Magna VF750
Posts: 25
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Post by bluesluver on Sept 5, 2009 23:24:43 GMT -5
Might be partly your location, too. The other night I rode down to "bike nite" here in Wichita, Ks and there were around 150 bikes of all types: cruisers, choppers, customs, crotch-rockets, and a scooter or two. One lady biker made the comment that where she was from (around New Mexico I think) the Harley riders would not be caught talking to the rocket riders, ect. She thought we were strange around here. I also know a guy that rides a Helix 250 and a Hyabusia.
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Post by rlim on Sept 11, 2009 13:37:03 GMT -5
Near the DC Metro area, other 2 wheel drives seem to wave at each other. I got waved and I don't think I ever got like cut off by motorcyclist. I think most of the time in Montgomery County, 2 wheeled drivers are worried about not getting hit by crazy cars drivers.
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Post by greg on Sept 15, 2009 18:29:32 GMT -5
about half the time the harley people will wave at me ive had no problems so far.
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Post by fossel on Nov 25, 2012 10:18:19 GMT -5
harleys are a dime a dozen on the coast here.I rode a 63 panhead for 20years.the bikers in the 70'swere some bad ass dudes.Now a guy buys a stock harley and he's an instant outlaw biker.I think its funny.I like to pushthem.some are cool ,others have to pass you.Im having as much fun on my buddy 125 as I ever did on my harley.I love to ride.Harlets are super popular.Riden by lawyers,doctors and wanna be bikers.I like 2b different and ride with my harley friends often.I think their jeolous.
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Post by loncindawg on Nov 25, 2012 11:34:23 GMT -5
I've never had a problem with HD riders in the states. In fact, they've been downright courteous and appreciative of my prompt adjustments to let them pass ... and I get an enthusiastic wave from motorcycle riders about 95 percent of the time. I understand that this might be some kind of beginner's luck and that my personal stats might change over time. I learned about the wave when riding on a friend's motorcycle in Copenhagen when I was going to school there. I assumed it was an international gesture, but here in Tecate, I've only gotten one wave from a rider - a cute little scooterist who, like me, was dressed for her ride. We have a Vagos chapter here, and while they don't wave (I certainly don't wave at one-percenters - at least not those flying their colors), I draw no ire from them either.
I think that some of us are being somewhat thin-skinned. The modern world is filled with people with a confusing array of allegiances to brands, beliefs, and accidents of birth. The least intelligent of them go beyond identification to militant chauvinism. Their affronts worry me as much as those of a dog that barks at me: As long as it doesn't escalate. Not too long ago, I was in the states in my dad's '96 Dodge Ram pickup with California plates. I was making a right turn onto a wide thoroughfare while cars already on that street waited at a red light. Some woman in an SUV accelerated once her light turned green, passed me on the right and flipped me off. I can't imagine what I did to provoke that. Some people - even Asians - think I look Asian. Maybe she hates them. Maybe she was stressed out. Maybe life has been unkind to her. So what? Should I Google threads on the subject? Life is too full of promise to worry about those who are too wrapped up in negativity. As long as they don't get physical, let them wallow.
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Post by 50cc on Nov 25, 2012 12:00:13 GMT -5
I don't like to generalize, but I think people on scooters are more in peace with themselves and the world around them, they don't care so much about appearance and care more about mileage, fun and the environment. Guys with machines above 750cc are either young inexperienced wannabe racers or short and ugly old farts compensating for their small dicks with the biggest possible bike they can put their masturbating hands on. Not that they need it - most of those on monster bikes barely control them in traffic and half of them (I BET ON THIS ONE) can't even lift their bikes if they drop on one side, which I find extremely funny. Of course, there are black and white sheep in both teams, but I really think that the best experienced riders go up to 500cc tops since super bike engine size is the border behind which you start to lose control over your machine in extreme situations. That's why you'll never see a 1600-1800cc stunt bike, for example. I think the only reason for oversized bikes to exist is that you can use them for really long trips with a girl behind you and most of the guys I see mod their mufflers so they can be as noisy as they can get and ride in the city only.. and always alone.
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Post by inuyasha on Nov 25, 2012 12:12:32 GMT -5
I don't like to generalize, but I think people on scooters are more in peace with themselves and the world around them, they don't care so much about appearance and care more about mileage, fun and the environment. Guys with machines above 750cc are either young inexperienced wannabe racers or short and ugly old farts compensating for their small dicks with the biggest possible bike they can put their masturbating hands on. Not that they need it - most of those on monster bikes barely control them in traffic and half of them (I BET ON THIS ONE) can't even lift their bikes if they drop on one side, which I find extremely funny. Of course, there are black and white sheep in both teams, but I really think that the best experienced riders go up to 500cc tops since super bike engine size is the border behind which you start to lose control over your machine in extreme situations. That's why you'll never see a 1600-1800cc stunt bike, for example. Hi Ivan One should never make assumptions imho I happen to own and ride many different size motorbikes including this one indian by inuyasha50, on Flickr Take care and ride safely Yours Hank
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Post by 50cc on Nov 25, 2012 12:18:56 GMT -5
One should never make assumptions imho That's why I said Yeah, I know about your big guy, but that's a different breed and I bet you don't ride it with the exhaust off the engine to be more noisy. And you, being also a scoot rider, should know exactly which type of farts I mean.
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Post by inuyasha on Nov 25, 2012 12:31:41 GMT -5
One should never make assumptions imho That's why I said Yeah, I know about your big guy, but that's a different breed and I bet you don't ride it with the exhaust off the engine to be more noisy. And you, being also a scoot rider, should know exactly which type of farts I mean. Hi Ivan ;D Understood my friend Take care and ride safely Yours Hank
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Post by 50cc on Nov 25, 2012 12:38:38 GMT -5
Like the guy with the Hayabusa who overtook me from my right riding with at least 150 km/h IN THE CITY. He passed so close to me (I bet intentional, since he had at least 2 more meters on his right) and so fast I couldn't react fast enough and almost ended under a bus because the little prick has a new ride and wants to show off. Riding a thing with 26 times smaller displacement doesn't make me 26 times less of a person.
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Post by yoshidawg on Nov 25, 2012 17:26:36 GMT -5
Let me share my recent experience. Sitting at a stoplight today, (the same one I saw the Harley blow thru yesterday), a guy on a dual-sport pulls up behind me. And there's car in front of me, light changes and of course the car goes extra slow cause there's a scooter behind him. Anyway it's speed limit 35, we finally get up to about 37, the car turns off and now dual-sport guy is trying to make me pull over. I would have, but my left turn was coming up shortly and I knew he wouldn't die if he had to stay behind me for 28 more seconds. Right when I put on the left turn signal, here he comes blasting past me on the left in the turn lane, I had already started to lean when he came by + there was a car coming from the opposite. I gave him a thumbs up as he sped away...Two death-defying incidents in two days on the same mile of road.
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