No Superhero

[spalkin]

It's a cool, clear Saturday night and I figure traffic through town should be light enough to let me through so I head out for the city lights. I'm cruising light to light through the campus area and it's hoppin'. The light ahead turns yellow and I end up on the line beside a compact with four young kids out on a double date. The girls are in the back seat and the one closest to me is flirting shamelessly as young girls do. I slowly look over and she's staring at me with loving eyes and gives me little wave. I hesitate and just raise my chin to give her half a nod. The guys in the front seat are going, "What the hell are you doing! Don't look at him!". The opposing light turns yellow so I kick first gear and the bike lurches and settles. On green it's a perfect take off and I'm gone.

I can't see what they see. Are we feared? Do they think we're rogue mercs? Armed killers? Hooligans? Gods who do something that they could never do? I'm sure no one on board that car knew what I was riding - I do know that seeing an FJR in traffic is like seeing a Koenigsegg to any layman, though.

It's ironic, because I'm much more afraid of them than they are of me.

 

[Crash Cash]

I'm sure no one on board that car knew what I was riding

It's a BMW. That guy's RICH!!

 

[spalkin]

Could be, and boy would they be wrong!

 

[Tenchi]

I can't see what they see. Are we feared? Do they think we're rogue mercs? Armed killers? Hooligans? Gods who do something that they could never do?

And thus the problem I have with the uneducated public. I face this problem all the time - "perceived threat".

I ride my bicycle around a bit. I ride through areas of high traffic and single lanes. One of my favorite things to do is to point out vacant car bays to people who are looking but are either parked illegally or blocking the flow of traffic. It's not uncommon for me to ride up on my bicycle, tap on their window and let them know that just a few cars down, where they can't see, there's an empty car bay. It's almost an instant response from the driver, a smile, a thank you and everyone appreciates it.

On my motorcycle however, it's a whole different story. Sure, my jacket has embroidered blue-on-blue skulls on it, but I wear a high vis yellow vest, a bright yellow helmet, and high visibility gloves. If there's one way to describe me, it's goof ball. Still, I did the same thing as I did on my bicycle, and there was a completely different response from the driver. Some refuse to wind down their window; most don't wind it down more than a fraction, and almost all treat me with suspicion.

Beneath the motorcycle gear, it's still the same Aussie that loves to ride. The perception has changed though. Somewhere in the transition of my bicycle and motorcycle, I've become a cold blooded merciless kitten killer and puppy pounder. The irony of it all is that Seattle is a place where the very rich do not look all that different from the very poor, nor the good from the bad... so people should be less judgemental on appearances alone..

 

[HotRodZilla]

Uhhhh...The young girl was being a young girl, and the dork in the front seat thought you were gonna try to bone her. You were a threat because she was checking you out and he got jealous. That's my opinion anyway.

 

[E1Allen]

jealousy, kid knows the bike gonna smoke him any day, plus bikes r cool

 

[spalkin]

The guys weren't mad they were white as ghosts and stared straight ahead. I don't know, maybe they were intimidated. They were all too young to step foot into any bar.

The question is, what do they see? I know that on the road, cagers don't like to be around bikes. It makes them nervous and if something happens there's going to be visible blood, not just dents. They switch lanes or try to pass as soon as possible. That's fine with me, the more alone I am on the road, the better. I can go on and on about highway antics. I guess if there's intimidation there's at least respect.

 

[v65]

[hijack]

So I am skipping through the channels on the TV when I see some channel with a shirtless, helmetless dude cruising on a sportbike; let's just call him ******* for short. Turns out this is some kind of how to get a speeding ticket show, ******* was going to court. So here comes ******* into court, wearing a tight t-shirt to show off his muscles. His excuses for the judge are:

1) I normally don't get pulled over for 10 over, I usually get pulled over for 50 over the limit. This ticket will kill my rep. The judge reminded him his ticket was for 15 over. He looked a bit dumbfounded, a look he seemed to have perfected.

2) Now for the relevant bit: his next claim was that a carload of women spotted him on his bike and were chasing him. He was afraid of what them, so he sped away, that's why he was going so fast. :rofl: Then he proceeds to hit on the rather attractive judge, pulling up his shirt and showing off his sixpack. :blink:

To be honest I think his BS kind of worked. He got fined, which apparently cost him his weekend partying money, but he had a record a mile long. She should have thrown the book at him.

[\hijack]

 

[spalkin]

He looked a bit dumbfounded, a look he seemed to have perfected.

:lol2: :thumbsupsmileyanim: :lol:

 

[Knifemaker]

What were you wearing?

Blue jeans and a leather jacket means you might be a bad ***...

Shorts and a no shirt, well, no one is scared of you...

But if in full gear ...you are likely a killer ninja. All killer ninjas wear ATGATT and ride sport -type bikes.

Full face helmets and gear easily cover up what you look like. No one knows what is behind the mask. Assume the worst as your life may depend on it.......all geared up riders are potentialy Killer Ninjas looking for some ******* to **** with.

To chicks, you're hot, to guys, you are a percieved Bad ***. Harley riders only get that honor because they ride in groups, one Harley rider is not as much as an unknown as a guy on a fast bike in full gear. Killer Ninja, beware!!!

KM

 

[spalkin]

Thanks. I was just about to add, who's scarier - sportbike riders or HD riders.

 

[Old Michael]

... they were white as ghosts and stared straight ahead. ...

To be fair spalkin, I've reacted like that before when a guy on a motorcycle pulled up beside me.

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[J-DADDY]

Maybe one of 'em watched a "SONS OF ANARCHY" episode...

 

[pcrdude]

[hijack] So I am skipping through the channels on the TV when I see some channel with a shirtless, helmetless dude cruising on a sportbike; let's just call him ******* for short. Turns out this is some kind of how to get a speeding ticket show, ******* was going to court. So here comes ******* into court, wearing a tight t-shirt to show off his muscles. His excuses for the judge are:

1) I normally don't get pulled over for 10 over, I usually get pulled over for 50 over the limit. This ticket will kill my rep. The judge reminded him his ticket was for 15 over. He looked a bit dumbfounded, a look he seemed to have perfected.

2) Now for the relevant bit: his next claim was that a carload of women spotted him on his bike and were chasing him. He was afraid of what them, so he sped away, that's why he was going so fast. :rofl: Then he proceeds to hit on the rather attractive judge, pulling up his shirt and showing off his sixpack. :blink:

To be honest I think his BS kind of worked. He got fined, which apparently cost him his weekend partying money, but he had a record a mile long. She should have thrown the book at him.

[\hijack]

Oh man, you didn't post the BEST PART. After court, he went to show off as he was leaving, and dumped it trying to powerslide in front of the cameras!

 

[wheatonFJR]

I like the funny part of how the 19yo chicks get all flirty and stuff to a stranger in a full face helmet and full gear...not knowing it is a silver haired over weight 49yo...

 

[v65]

Oh man, you didn't post the BEST PART. After court, he went to show off as he was leaving, and dumped it trying to powerslide in front of the cameras!

Seriously? I flipped the channel, couldn't take anymore. I can't believe I missed that.

 

[pcrdude]

Oh man, you didn't post the BEST PART. After court, he went to show off as he was leaving, and dumped it trying to powerslide in front of the cameras!

Seriously? I flipped the channel, couldn't take anymore. I can't believe I missed that.

Here ya go....

Squid