Cagers . . .

[bramfrank]

Tried to post this in NEPRT, but it seems that, even though I KNOW that this has been discussed to death and it is pointless to discuss because nothing will ever change, only the admins can determine whether a thread is pointless or not.

So, since it concerns what happened today while I was riding, it constitutes a 'ride report', and so I shall post it here and let the powers decide where it shold ultimately be dispayed.

Few riders of FJRs have as much conspicuity as my bike provides; A pair of HID driving lights at headlight level, coupled with modulated high beams facing forward. To the rear a set of police grade light heads providing auxiliary brake lighting, with a modulator emitting enough photons to blind followers.

Does it accomplish ANYTHING?

No.

As I rode home this afternoon in the left lane, riiding with the traffic and passing everything in the middle lane yet another small(ish) car decided that he wanted too be where my bike was (relative to his car) and he blithly moved over to the left into my lane as I wateched (and honked).

When he DID see me he simply ignored me - no 'I'm sorry' wave or shrugging of shoulders.

So the reason for this post is to remind all that it just doesn't matter what you do, unless you dress up the bike to look like an 18 wheeler, you will get zero respect.

Be extra careful out there.

 

[tmc]

So... is he still looking for his mirror, or is it still stuck to your boot?

 

[Happy Rider]

I feel your pain. Its hard not to leave a boot print in the driver's door after a bone head move like that.

Something happened to me like that once in Bakersfield about 15 years ago. I was in the #2, slightly behind a SUV in the #1 lane. Yes in the blind spot, doom on me. :dribble: The guy in the SUV decides he needs to turn right in a hurry and moves into my lane without even looking over his right shoulder. I swerve to the paved right shoulder and avoid any conflict. I'm pissed and give a one finger salute as he drives away. Next think I know I see a Bakersfield PD Officer fly past on a Harley and pull the guy over. He gives me a thumbs up as he passes and I return with a huge wave. He made my day. I also learned not to linger in blind spots. Thanks for th post. Its always good to hear about close calls. :good:

 

[dustyrains]

Sorry you got muscled around on road. It happens to all of us occasionally, no matter what aftermarket shiny bits we install. Sometimes you just happen to be in the wrong spot near the wrong *** hat cager and then it's a matter of might makes right out there, as you implied. But I don't believe that all your aftermarket visibility is for naught, either. You will never know how many times it may have saved your butt.

 

[Tree Doc]

Man, it must have been one of those days for us. A very similar thing with an identical reaction took place with me today. Headed west on a main Blvd and was approaching a right hand turn off the main drag that I wanted to take. Riding invisible, I'm being cautious and I have my right signal on wayyy before the turn comes up. Headlights on high beam and me wearing my Hi-Viz Yellow Jacket and travelling at a safe speed, I notice an oncoming vehicle dive into the center turn median and I see the wheels turn and she's still rolling at me even though I'm comitted to my legal right of way right turn. I grab a handfull of clutch and front brake and a whole lotta horn as this ol' primadonna just dives across oncoming traffic and tries to, in no uncertain terms, kill me without so much as a bat of her eye. She never acknowledged her mistake, never turned to look at me and see if I fell in a heap or not, the ol' ***** just kept right on smokin' up the road. I got behind her a safe distance and did well to control myself even though the Glock wanted to be unleashed from the holster, I just drove by as she made an unsafe right turn into the Public Library.

 

[James Burleigh]

MadMike to the white courtesy phone.... I don't think it's about our inconspicuity. I'm sure cars merge into semi-trucks. We know they pull in front of cop bikes with lights and siren and police cars, not to mention fire trucks. It's not about us; it's about the drivers. Add to all this the fact that some percentage (10%) of the driving public is certifiable crazy. DD

 

[bramfrank]

Add to all this the fact that some percentage (10%) of the driving public is certifiable crazy.

I understand that last bit.

On Sunday morning I was driving the car in to town with my son. I turned on to an industrial street and found myself behind a VERY slow moving high end SUV (Range Rover LR3) clearly being driven by a cell phone user.

So, I pulled into the oncoming lane to pass him and as I went by I tooted the horn and pointed my finger to my ear and then made the 'no no' sign - it is illegal to use a handheld phone in Quebec while in the driver seat, though the cops are too busy ticketing people for not wearing seat belts to enforce the cell phone laws.

His reaction? He tried to run me down!! The good news was that my car has a large, powerful engine that can outrun anything that doesn't constitute a muscle car and I easily outdistanced him.

Clearly this person of Asian extraction constitutes one of the 10% you referred to.

 

[sportsguy]

See, Bam, there's your problem ....... You're in Quebec!

 

[airboss]

It's not just drivers

Went to the local Drivers License Facility Saturday to renew the plates on the bike, as I pull into the parking slot I noticed a lady striding purposely across the parking lot having a highly animated conversation with her cell phone.

I come to a stop, kickstand down, turn ignition off, remove gloves, start to unbuckle helmet and from the blind side BUMP! There's cell phone lady giving me a what the heck are you doing here stare, then she walks away, never stopped talking to the phone.