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Post by Fox on Jul 25, 2012 18:02:24 GMT -5
Couple days ago 4 black guys in a Volvo wagon were riding right on my rear splash guard. They were behind me at a light and when i took off I didn't notice them riding my ass until I was doing about 45. I had a shot of adrenaline shoot through my heart and then I pulled to the side of the road without slowing and they went by me on the left real close. The driver was laughing his ass off as they passed me. He was having a great time.
I've had a cup thrown at me and people give me the scowl because I wasn't traveling fast enough for them etc...
I get angry for a while and it goes away.
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Post by njyuriy on Jul 25, 2012 21:49:40 GMT -5
Never have any problems on the road, maybe live in the nice area, Princeton NJ. Lots of bikes here, some scooters,always waive to each other (even HD crowd),not a sportbikes though. Trying to stay away from cages anyway,they just don't see me (bright colors don't help) Take a highway sometimes for a few miles,55 speed limit,stay in the right lane behind some old lady or a truck, move to middle lane when right is way too slow (happens all the time,people on the phone,eating,etc.,) Get some looks,some surprised,some interested (biiiiiig chinese and indian comunity here! and you know, those countries full of scooters, so I think unusual for them to see one in US,but they respect one :-). But since I can do 60 no problem (Strada Eurojet RX150i, UNI airfilter, NGK plug, opened pipe, Kenda tires,tuck my knees in,duck my head :-), 9K RPM) I'm fine!
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Post by jach on Jul 30, 2012 19:49:26 GMT -5
LMAO Powerplant: 4.6 liter DOHC 32 Valve V8 engine with twin turbo chargers 600 HP 580 ft. lbs. 8.5:1 Multiport electronic fuel injection Top Speed: Buy one and let us know.
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Post by boosterb16 on Jul 30, 2012 20:17:05 GMT -5
ive had people try to run me off the road even before, twice it happened to me in two weeks. THe first time i was going through a neighbor hood going 30 or so plenty fast enough. This person was in a mini van right up my ass the whole time honking the horn. I mean they are so close i could turn around and touch their bumping. And this is 8am sunday morning im the ONLY person on the road. I flipped them the finger and they came up beside me and tried to run me off the road. I ran out of road and had to stop, they stopped next to me i was yelling at them. They never got out cuase they were scared i assume. I took off.
I dont care how much a rush someone is in there is NO REASON to risk my life cause someone else is careless. From that point on i bought i really good knife and a big adjustable wrench incase i have to use them.
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Post by boosterb16 on Jul 30, 2012 20:34:32 GMT -5
LMAO Powerplant: 4.6 liter DOHC 32 Valve V8 engine with twin turbo chargers 600 HP 580 ft. lbs. 8.5:1 Multiport electronic fuel injection Top Speed: Buy one and let us know. HAha u cant ride that thing safely!! 580ftlbs of torque will make u fall off the back of that thing
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Post by psychedelicode on Jul 31, 2012 11:36:15 GMT -5
Hope you never drop that big sucker. You would need a tow truck to get it back on two wheels. I know I would not try to manhandle a 1040lb bike. My CX weighs half that and I can barely pick it up if it falls over (only happened once...my gf bumped it with her jeep) of course I only weigh 150.
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Post by jach on Jul 31, 2012 16:24:09 GMT -5
Being a scooter rider out on the road is analogous to being the outside fish in a school, you have more freedom to move around, but you are also the first target of all those %^$hole sharks and barracuda. Add to that you don't have the speed of a motorcycle to dart away, so might be closer to the injured fish swimming on the outside. Most drivers aren't mean-hearted towards riders, however the ones who are leave a big impression. Luckily where I live angry drivers are the exception not the rule.
I don't count pedestrians, they have special laws and areas to walk through that let cars pass easily and pretty much ignore their presence. Most often incidents are purely accidental with car vs pedestrian.
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Post by avguy on Aug 10, 2012 20:30:04 GMT -5
Kind of the reverse of the above. I was 1st in line toward the right of the lane at a red light on my 250cc Kymco. In my mirror I caught a 50cc pulling up just off my left. As soon as the light changed, he took off & passed me, staying in my lane. If I had shifted to the left he would've run right into me. That really ticked me off. It was in a construction zone with a 30 mph limit so it wasn't like he was gaining any big advantage. I understand watching out for the cell-talking, burger-eating, radio-changing cagers, but there are idiots on scoots, too.
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Post by kixome on Aug 10, 2012 22:41:05 GMT -5
I haven't had that problem though my scoot always did 45 so it wasn't a problem on most roads. Of course i do have my carry permit and a lot of times i had a 12 gauge hanging on my back, and a 40 cal on my hip. I would recommend doing the same if old enough. I bet nobody messes with you again.
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Post by jwalz1 on Aug 19, 2012 20:52:01 GMT -5
Had my first bad experience yesterday. Just sitting at a stoplight and some 35ish lady (and I use the term "lady" very loosely) pulls up next to me on a Harley and says "Why do you ride such a f***ing piece of S**T and get a real bike!"
I was in the lane to go straight and she was to my right in the right turn lane. I was kind of surprised. I have nothing against Harleys but I flipped up my visor and said "I would have bought a Harley but I don't like the cheap whore-ish women they attract." The light turned green and I smiled and drove off.
Sorry about the off color remark. I have a pretty quick mean streak if you take a shot at me out of nowhere. She looked as surprised as I felt when she came up next to me a barked at me. I lol'ed.
And if people hate scooter riders they better just get over it. I swear I see more of them every single day. Multiplying like crazy.
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Post by larry001964 on Aug 19, 2012 21:04:29 GMT -5
That's a surprise that a Harley rider ( female or not ) would act that way, most of the time i never have any problems with them... But given your situation I would have probably said far worse to her..
I'm actually a nice guy until something like that happens...
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Post by jwalz1 on Aug 20, 2012 9:27:14 GMT -5
That's a surprise that a Harley rider ( female or not ) would act that way, most of the time i never have any problems with them... But given your situation I would have probably said far worse to her.. I'm actually a nice guy until something like that happens... I was a little surprised to, but I was coming from a strip mall with a pretty low-rent bar that is where I think she was coming from and she probably had a few. She was in a tank top, I was in helmet and mesh armor jacket. She probably assumed I was a wuss. I have a plan to go riding with my friend who rides a Vrod. Talk about being outclassed, I will have to try hard to keep up. My only full day of riding the back roads, the few Harleys I did see all gave me "the wave".
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Post by spandi on Aug 20, 2012 10:01:27 GMT -5
That's a surprise that a Harley rider ( female or not ) would act that way, most of the time i never have any problems with them... But given your situation I would have probably said far worse to her.. I'm actually a nice guy until something like that happens... I was a little surprised to, but I was coming from a strip mall with a pretty low-rent bar that is where I think she was coming from and she probably had a few. She was in a tank top, I was in helmet and mesh armor jacket. She probably assumed I was a wuss. I have a plan to go riding with my friend who rides a Vrod. Talk about being outclassed, I will have to try hard to keep up. My only full day of riding the back roads, the few Harleys I did see all gave me "the wave". What is she talking about? The 300i is a sharp looking machine. Hmm?, riding drunk with a tank top=road rash = Darwin award recipient
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Post by ericrockstar on Aug 20, 2012 11:19:17 GMT -5
Do people hate us? Sadly, Yes. Don't take it personal. It's only when your on your scoot.
Our little 50~150cc scoots excel at stop n go city driving; however, many people treat us like commercial vehicles. They'll do anything to get around us even though our scoots are out-performing their high dollar gas guzzling SUV's.
I'm a truck driver and I see it everyday People will take the most ridiculous risks to get in front of me and then have to slam on the brakes because the traffic is still not going anywhere. I can't blame em. I used to act like that. In a hurry to go nowhere fast.
On a scooter, you have to drive extremely defensively. Be cautious and courteous, aware of your surroundings, and ready for the unexpected at any given moment. Not unlike driving a car or truck.
There is a huge misconception that scooters are slow and lacking in power. Most 150cc scoots can smoke any given car stoplight to stoplight unless the car is trying to race you. Even then you'll likely hold your own for a 1 or 200 yards from a dead stop.
With fuel prices staying in the sub $4/gal range, we're likely only going to be seeing more of them on the road. Big motorcycles aren't getting much better fuel economy than new compact cars. Even the hybrid cars are only actually getting in the 50 mpg averages; far below their initial hype.
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Post by ridecheap on Aug 21, 2012 9:24:08 GMT -5
They need a bumper sticker saying "saving the earth one not a very nice person at a time! Now back off me bro"
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Post by spandi on Aug 21, 2012 9:39:59 GMT -5
Had my first bad experience yesterday. Just sitting at a stoplight and some 35ish lady (and I use the term "lady" very loosely) pulls up next to me on a Harley and says "Why do you ride such a f***ing piece of S**T and get a real bike!" I was in the lane to go straight and she was to my right in the right turn lane. I was kind of surprised. I have nothing against Harleys but I flipped up my visor and said "I would have bought a Harley but I don't like the cheap whore-ish women they attract." The light turned green and I smiled and drove off. Sorry about the off color remark. I have a pretty quick mean streak if you take a shot at me out of nowhere. She looked as surprised as I felt when she came up next to me a barked at me. I lol'ed. And if people hate scooter riders they better just get over it. I swear I see more of them every single day. Multiplying like crazy. You should have said to her "why are you riding a two wheeled steamroller?"
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Post by mrjowee on Sept 16, 2012 0:02:37 GMT -5
I regularly take my scoot into the city down a 5 mile stretch of road with a 35mph limit and only two stop lights. Traffic generally travels 40mph. When I'm in my small car or my work truck, I do 40-45 (depending on the rest of the vehicles on the road) with no problems. Going the exact same speed on the scooter, I get passed regularly.
Because of their smaller size, it's harder for drivers to properly judge a motorcycles speed and how far away it is. It has less to do with them not seeing as it does them just not paying attention. We've all had it happen; they look you dead in the eye and pull out anyway.
One little annoyance I have is when people stop at a stop sign, then inch forward a few feet more into the travel lane. When I'm driving my 8,000lb work truck they don't do that.
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Post by borockster on Sept 16, 2012 9:38:04 GMT -5
Their are very few scooters in my small town. I actually just bought mine as an occasional "toy" with no real intention of riding it much. Then after realizing how much fun it is as well as being able to fill up for less than $3 I ride it all the time!
I get asked all the time "did you lose your license?" Annoying bastards!
I guess a lot of folks turn to scooters after losing their license? I never even thought about it but I guess it makes sense if you don't have to license a 50.
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Post by justbuggin on Sept 16, 2012 15:31:18 GMT -5
i have had idiots throw a watermelon at me one time if the dam light did not catch me i would have put a hammer through their windshield
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Post by shalomdawg on Sept 16, 2012 20:13:24 GMT -5
howdy, i'm wondering if the bicycle forums have the same stories or worse. they can be a terrible pain in the a-- and don't seem to minimize their impact when possible. lotsa miles and smiles to ya
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Post by jim63 on Sept 20, 2012 15:34:08 GMT -5
Me and my wife have not really had any real bad experiences riding our scooters. But then again on 250's we can ride with the flow of traffic in most cases. I have seen other riders that have drawn ire from other motorists, mostly from impeding traffic or riding like idiots, i.e. weaving in and out of traffic. Situational awareness to whats going and where you plan to ride, especially if on a smaller scooter. Put yourself in the car drivers seat, if you on a road with a 55mph speed limit, and you are tooling along at 30mph on your 50cc scooter you are putting yourself at risk, not to mention annoying other drivers by impeding traffic. Sure you are legal to ride there but not the smartest idea.
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Post by jwalz1 on Sept 24, 2012 8:32:03 GMT -5
Situational awareness to whats going and where you plan to ride, especially if on a smaller scooter. Put yourself in the car drivers seat, if you on a road with a 55mph speed limit, and you are tooling along at 30mph on your 50cc scooter you are putting yourself at risk, not to mention annoying other drivers by impeding traffic. Sure you are legal to ride there but not the smartest idea. I went for a ride with a neighbor couple who have 50cc Ruckus's. They have some regular route that goes on mostly back roads with speed limits of 30 to a wooded route out to and island connected by bridge to the riverbank. It is a nice scenic ride but has two half-mile stretches on a 55, although the road has very little traffic. The husband was leading, and the wife told me I should ride in front of her because she was "nervous about going fast" even though her scoot can only do 40 tops. I said I should ride in back because it would not make her feel like she had to keep up with us (her husband goes full throttle the whole way) and my scoot is much larger and can be seen easier. I have always been told weather biking or riding in a group, slow people to the front, no passing, let them dictate the tempo. Scared the crap out of me when we hit the couple stretches of 55, the hubby would take off and she would pull out, accelerate as slow as she could and not break 25. We picked a clear spot, but I could see the far away traffic closing FAST in my mirror and just praying we were going to turn off the road. Nice folks but NEVER again. That lady is going to get herself killed. The husband would slow up or stop to let her catch up every so often but for her own sake, riding in a tighter group is safer and she would be in a lot less danger if he said, "You might be scared, but keep up for your own safety."
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Post by yoshidawg on Sept 24, 2012 21:37:57 GMT -5
Yes people in cars HATE us!!! I think a lot of it they think their superior because they have a car. Well I've got a car, got a truck too. But want to ride the scooter more than either of them.
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Post by loncindawg on Oct 15, 2012 9:34:34 GMT -5
I posted this elsewhere, but it seems to apply here, too.
The problem in Tecate, Mexico is that people don't see me, so I ride with my high beams on during the day. I've had no complaints about speed thus far. When I'm at the front at a red light, my scoot effortlessly leaves the cars far behind when the light turns green. On the US side, on Highway 94, I smoothly veer toward the right as soon as I spot a vehicle in my rearview mirror. I get nothing but "thank you" waves from most, including Harley riders. Most people who make comments are merely curious about mileage, scooter prices, insurance, etc. Most Mexicans and backcountry residents on the US side are pretty laid back. It's probably due to the slower pace and comparatively stress-free lifestyle. Tecate is small, and even the most aggressive drivers worry that the person they're flipping off might turn out to be an acquaintance, a neighbor, or a co-worker, so they exercise restraint for the most part. In addition, young girls comment on my "cool" helmet and goggles (though I'm 48). I was inspired by Isle of Man scooter rally vids from the late fifties to adopt my current look of white JP Pilot Series helmet, Smith OTG goggles (necessary in this dusty region), J. Peterman black leather retro Mackintosh, Double-H double-zip motorcycle boots, and Alpinestars black leather Octane gloves. No one takes me for a misfit in that getup. They think it's cool and different -- or at least eccentric. A humorous first impression of many is that I'm a cop: At four-ways, they abruptly come to complete stops and nervously muster polite gestures to motion me on my way. (Motorcycle cops themselves do a double take when they come across me.) In a worst-case scenario, that outfit will provide a measure of protection if I am forced off the road by a "cowboy" in a four-by. Some of those are cartel lackeys who are taken on precisely because they have attitudes.
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Post by sharks06lly on Oct 31, 2012 18:56:13 GMT -5
i have had it happen plenty and i havent had my scooter long. was omw to work and a lady in a old chevy lumina decided that she was going to pass me since i was going to slow for her..... that does not bother me what bothers me is that i was all the way to the left of the lane in the left hand lane getting ready to get into the turn lane at the next light.... she goes to pass me IN THE SAME LANE..... she didnt even leave the lane she was so close to me i could touch her car so when she came up to me i slammed my hand into her driver window with the flat palm of my hand scared the living sh!t out of her and she swerved over to the next lane( which was empty the whole time......) and started cussing at me and flicking me off. she is lucky i didnt bust her window in i was pissed that she was that stupid.
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Post by loncindawg on Oct 31, 2012 19:32:04 GMT -5
i have had it happen plenty and i havent had my scooter long. was omw to work and a lady in a old chevy lumina decided that she was going to pass me since i was going to slow for her..... that does not bother me what bothers me is that i was all the way to the left of the lane in the left hand lane getting ready to get into the turn lane at the next light.... she goes to pass me IN THE SAME LANE..... she didnt even leave the lane she was so close to me i could touch her car so when she came up to me i slammed my hand into her driver window with the flat palm of my hand scared the living sh!t out of her and she swerved over to the next lane( which was empty the whole time......) and started cussing at me and flicking me off. she is lucky i didnt bust her window in i was pissed that she was that stupid. Serves her right.
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Post by jlee on Oct 31, 2012 20:21:39 GMT -5
I'm a truck driver and I see it everyday People will take the most ridiculous risks to get in front of me and then have to slam on the brakes because the traffic is still not going anywhere. I can't blame em. I used to act like that. In a hurry to go nowhere fast. I will pass trucks, but not because they are going too slow. It's because I can't see anything in front of them! Behind a truck, you are at the mercy of their reaction time, not yours. You can't see developing conditions ahead. You can't see potholes or road debris until it is too late. Sometimes, as you say, I'll get in front of them and have to slow down - why? because their big-ass truck did not allow me to see the traffic in front until I got past them. It's not that I'm mad at the truck driver - just don't want to ride behind a small building...
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Post by sharks06lly on Nov 1, 2012 8:37:10 GMT -5
idk i have always had a respect for motorcycles even when i am driving aggresively if i see a bike i make sure i maintain where they are near me at all times in case they decide they want to switch lanes and haul ass. but it seems like everyone else doesnt give a sh!t about people on bikes i cant even count how many times i have seen someone just switch lanes on a person on a bike or cut them off with only a foot between them and the bike.
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Post by yoshidawg on Nov 2, 2012 22:52:19 GMT -5
I could never ride two wheels at freeway speeds, in any kind of traffic I mean. That's just too scary! It seems every few times I'm out someone "doesn't see me"..It scares the crap out of me even at 25/35mph. I get people running red lights, not even looking as they breeze thru the stop sign. My favorite riding road has round-a-bouts..What a joke, you never know what's going to happen if you don't basically treat them as a 4 way stop! Person in front of me last week was going real slow, then makes a left handed U-turn at the roundbout..I wasn't ready for that but luckily no-one was coming the other way and there was no head on crash in front of me.
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Post by solidsnake2008 on Nov 9, 2012 12:11:36 GMT -5
I think people are just jealous of us, at least here in Mexico City they are, For example I have to ride 10km to get to work, here in Mexico City if I take my car it would easily mean that I have to be stuck in it for at least 45 min every morning and every night when I come home, but if I take my scoot it only takes me 15 min to get there.
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