Disappointed

[JohnTC40]

It was threatening to get into the 60s today (though it was 34 in the am when I left home at 8 am), so a friend and I went out for a leisurely day ride up the coast. On the way home at about 4 pm, I was cruising through Santa Maria on Hwy 101, a four-land divided road currently undergoing construction for widening to six lanes. Traffic was heavy and moving along at about 65-70 mph (even though it’s posted at 55 due to the construction). Anyway, I was just over the bridge and entering Santa Maria when a 2007 FJR and a newer BMW 1200RT (I don't know either rider) came zipping by me. I continued my pace and watched as they cut through traffic, lane splitting at speed, passing on the right, and on one occasion, (the BMW) pulling onto the breakdown lane on the right shoulder of the highway in order to pass a pickup on the right. All this at 75-80+ mph.

Now, while I am accustomed to seeing the occasional sport bike rider exhibiting this kind of reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous behavior, I was disappointed to see sport-touring riders behave in this manner. I know there are some who consider it entirely acceptable and, in fact, their right to treat freeway riding like a session at a track day, but this kind of behavior, in addition to endangering the lives of the riders and motorists around them, reflects badly on all motorcyclists. As I said . . . disappointed.

 

[Fred W]

It was threatening to get into the 60s today (though it was 34 in the am when I left home at 8 am), so a friend and I went out for a leisurely day ride up the coast. On the way home at about 4 pm, I was cruising through Santa Maria on Hwy 101, a four-land divided road currently undergoing construction for widening to six lanes. Traffic was heavy and moving along at about 65-70 mph (even though it’s posted at 55 due to the construction). Anyway, I was just over the bridge and entering Santa Maria when a 2007 FJR and a newer BMW 1200RT (I don't know either rider) came zipping by me. I continued my pace and watched as they cut through traffic, lane splitting at speed, passing on the right, and on one occasion, (the BMW) pulling onto the breakdown lane on the right shoulder of the highway in order to pass a pickup on the right. All this at 75-80+ mph.
Now, while I am accustomed to seeing the occasional sport bike rider exhibiting this kind of reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous behavior, I was disappointed to see sport-touring riders behave in this manner. I know there are some who consider it entirely acceptable and, in fact, their right to treat freeway riding like a session at a track day, but this kind of behavior, in addition to endangering the lives of the riders and motorists around them, reflects badly on all motorcyclists. As I said . . . disappointed.

It ain't the bike, it's the rider.

Those guys were probably just late for an appointment at the hospital and need to get there asap.

 

[C&C]

As with all 'tools' of man, it's not the type of bike, but the operator. Just as you really can't generalize about car drivers, by the car they drive, so is it also, with bikes. Unfortunate, but idiots abound; gets my goat alot as well.

 

[odot]

Sounds like something toe/two and madmike would do.....did they blind you with the HIDs?

 

[Bounce]

refreshing to read about CA lane sharing and how it empowers riders like this. i can hardly wait for it to pass in TX so i can do more than the currently-legal use of "developed/improved shoulders".

 

[ionbeam]

refreshing to read about CA lane sharing and how it empowers riders like this. i can hardly wait for it to pass in TX so i can do more than the currently-legal use of "developed/improved shoulders".

Move to Massachusetts, some of the main 6 to 8 lane highways have what are called ‘Active Breakdown Lanes’. During morning and afternoon rush hours the breakdown lanes are opened up to be used like a normal travel lane. This can do really cool things to traffic around entrance ramps leading on to the highway. Don’t even think about actually breaking down. All the normal road debris that comes to rest in the breakdown lane now gets picked up in tires and grills of the cars that use the breakdown lane too.

 

[madmike2]

Sounds like something toe/two and madmike fairlaner would do.....did they blind you with the HIDs?

Actually, if truth be known, most members complain that I ride too slowly for them. Yes, I split lanes, but at a rather sedate speed when trafic is at a crawl. I've been known to get aggressive when someone is purposely blocking the #1 lane, but only to get into a clear space. My reputation not only precedes me...it is inaccurate.

 

[Scab]

My reputation not only precedes me...it is inaccurate.

Sh'yeah, right. Mine too. B)

 

[wheatonFJR]

My reputation not only precedes me...it is inaccurate.

Sh'yeah, right. Mine too. B)

So those crash club sticker thingies are just some sort of cyber graffiti?

 

[Scab]

Oh, that reputation.

 

[odot]

ha ha

 

[Scab]

Man, that was cold.

 

[madmike2]

So those crash club sticker thingies are just some sort of cyber graffiti?

And are related to speed and wreckless behavior in what way? Stupidity and lack of applied skil, perhaps. In Sept. '04 my FJR was totalled because a H.D. rounded a corner in my lane and forced me over a cliff. My latest "adventure in medical recovery" is because I passed out from heat stroke/dehydration and fell off my KLR @ 30-35 mph.

 

[dcarver]

I too have noticed a different breed of ST's in our area.

Then again, TWN and I had a freakin GREAT hooligan ride heading down the coast several months ago..

Sometimes you see ordinary, law abiding folks just on a 'bad', err, 'fun' day, when they shed the ties of legality and let 'err rip. Normally, not the course of action.. but for those very few days.. what the phuck.. let it ride.

The rest of folks, in the norm of society, see this and think how terrible..

So my question would be, have you ever been the guy you saw today? I have... maybe not proud of it, but glad I did, just once in a great while.

IMHO, YMMV, BTAIDGAF

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

So those crash club sticker thingies are just some sort of cyber graffiti?

And are related to speed and wreckless behavior in what way? Stupidity and lack of applied skil, perhaps. In Sept. '04 my FJR was totalled because a H.D. rounded a corner in my lane and forced me over a cliff. My latest "adventure in medical recovery" is because I passed out from heat stroke/dehydration and fell off my KLR @ 30-35 mph.

Then shouldn't you have two crash club thingies Mike? :tonguesmiley:

 

[Ari Rankum]

This can do really cool things to traffic around entrance ramps leading on to the highway.

Hahaha. Awesome!

 

[Ari Rankum]

I've been known to get aggressive when someone is purposely blocking the #1 lane, but only to get into a clear space.

Ah. Perhaps the best feature of the FJR. They're no sooner checking their rear view to make sure you're still dutifully blocked behind them than you are checking the Feej's side view in time to see them still searching the rear view. Heh.

 

[Fred W]

This can do really cool things to traffic around entrance ramps leading on to the highway.

Hahaha. Awesome!

The sad thing is it is 100% true. And even worse, it has actually helped alleviate some of the congestion. The road Ion is talking about is I93, which is the main corridor in and out of Boston from the North. Before they opened up the breakdown lanes (only during rush hours, BTW) the road was a freeking parking lot every day for about 25 miles. Now it's just challenging at those pesky cloverleafs, but the traffic does seem to move along better in between.

 

[wheatonFJR]

So those crash club sticker thingies are just some sort of cyber graffiti?

And are related to speed and wreckless behavior in what way? Stupidity and lack of applied skil, perhaps. In Sept. '04 my FJR was totalled because a H.D. rounded a corner in my lane and forced me over a cliff. My latest "adventure in medical recovery" is because I passed out from heat stroke/dehydration and fell off my KLR @ 30-35 mph.

I take back my snarky crash club thingie remark...sorry scab, sorry mike, sorry et al.

I could claim crash club thingies on my sig-line and one-time it was my fault. I do enough stupid stuff on the roads sometimes, I could easily have more. Don't ride with me...I is dangerous.