The Thought Crossed My Mind...

[RadioHowie]

I ride every day.

EVERY day. Rain or shine, hot or cold. Haven't cranked my car in 4 years.

I don't particularly live in a high-traffic area. Hell, the entire population of the county I live in is only half-a-million. But I swear-to-God, the other 499,999 drivers in my neck of the woods couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the sole. They're not particularly overly-aggressive. They're just brain-dead accidents waiting to happen.

I've been riding since the mid '60s, only hit the pavement once, but it's gotten to the point where I'm not just invisible on the Feej...I'm a ******* target!

On the way to work yesterday, TWICE, ******* cell-phone-gabbing women pulled out on me from the right. And I don't mean pulling out when I'm a block a way. I mean pulling out and damn-near T-Boning me. Thankfully my reflexes aren't completely shot, and the FJR can change directions like a border collie. And equally thankful I didn't high-side the Feej locking him up to avoid the pain on both occasions (although I've probably flat-spotted the Michelins...)

...then, coming home, a woman, again on a cell phone, in a Honda minivan next to me on a 4 lane pulled right in to my lane almost right on top of me. And I wasn't in her blind spot. I was right next to an open driver's window, looking her right in the face when she moved over. Kicked the **** outta her door, too.

Maybe I just had a bad day...maybe it's some kind of subliminal fall-out from the New York City SUV/Biker mix-up...but the after 3 REALLY close calls in one freakin' day, the thought crossed my mind that maybe it's time to park the bike(s) and get back in a cage. It was THAT bad...bad enough consider getting rid of my bikes completely.

I mean, c'mon....thinking about giving up riding after 40+ years on 2 wheels? I'd NEVER considered it before, but around here, it's a daily occurrence....somebody trying to kill me on my way to or from work. I'm 61 years old...my "faster healing" days are well behind me and even though it's been a couple of decades since I had to spend time recuperating from a get-off, I don't think my heart can take much more of this daily "getting-the-****-scared-outta-me."

Don't know why I bothered sharing this will you mooks...each of you rides for different reasons...but I had to get it off my chest.

If I get another "oh-****" moment in the next week or so, you might see a used FJR or ZRX up for sale soon.

In the immortal words of Danny Glover in "Lethal Weapon" - "I'm getting too old for this ****!"

 

[beemerdons]

I hear you Loud and Clear Steve-O, here in Central Arizona it seems to go in phases where I swear to God every ***** cage driver sees bounty dollar signs on my helmet!

Plus, you and I live in an area that abounds in Snowbirds; and half of the Snowbirds are Canuckistanis! Those Hosers are either Drunk or cussing out the Maple Leafs eh!

 

[bluesdog]

Maybe you need a break from riding...

 

[airboss]

Howie, maybe you just need something that's a little more suitable for urban combat.

 

[ionbeam]

Howie, maybe you just need something that's a little more suitable for urban combat.

 

[FJRMGM]

Wuss, you gonna let a little thing like a life threatening close call (or two) cause you to stop riding your FJR?

Hand us your keys and your man card and start watching Oprah...

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Howie, did you ever think that maybe these people know you? That would account for them trying to run over you.

Seriously, we all go through phases where we start to rethink our passions and priorities. One or two close calls (or several) can make you consider the safety of your chosen vehicle. What you have to consider is how much will you be giving up. If you are like me (painfully for us both, you probably are just a bit) then the bike is an outlet, a form of therapy. Is giving up the bike for the relative safety of the car going to make your life miserable? You already know that you don't have to ride the FJR to work every day, you do it because that is who you are. The bike has become part of your identity, part of your personality. Are you prepared to give that up?

I will congratulate you on your good reflexes and riding skills. Since you were able to look into the eyes of your mini-van driver, you apparently still have the skill set to keep yourself safe. You said you are 61 now. How long before retirement will put an end to the daily commute? How long before you can use your bikes for recreation rather than transportation? Don't sell the bikes yet. Even if you choose to commute in a cage, keep your bikes for playtime.

Stay safe my friend.

 

[beemerdons]

Wuss, you gonna let a little thing like a life threatening close call (or two) cause you to stop riding your FJR?
Hand us your keys and your man card and start watching Oprah...

FJRMGM: 1) RadioHowie will gladly hand you his keys. 2) Regarding the man card, how can RH hand you something he never had! 3) There is NO way in Hell Steve-O will stop watching Oprah! jes' sayin' and nuff said!

 

[RadioHowie]

Howie, maybe you just need something that's a little more suitable for urban combat.

Howie, maybe you just need something that's a little more suitable for urban combat.

An even better choice...

 

[garyahouse]

You saw them with yer own eyes.

I know they're not cheap, but NOBODY has pulled in front of me since the day I put them on. Period. End of story.

They are seriously bright and it seems that they've cured the TBone problem for me. If I wasn't so cheap, I'd buy you a set. If you weren't so cheap... uhhh, well, never mind. I know they're pricey, Steve, but give it some thought OK? We'd like to keep ya around for awhile.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[RaYzerman19]

Commuting sucks. You have to be on high alert at all times in a sea of crazies. I tried it when I was working and ultimately took the cage to work every day. Prefer to ride on my time and on the back roads......... Howie, you ain't gonna give up riding....... it's in your blood.

 

[wheatonFJR]

If the subject wasn't so damn serious, I'd be laughing my *** off...

There are some golden nuggets mixed among the ravings...

...couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the sole.
...the FJR can change directions like a border collie.

Regarding commuting vehicles, I totally hear ya. If all I used the FJR was for commuting, I'd be done. I don't commute on the FJR. Whenever I have done it, I felt like a hockey puck amongst a whole bunch of hockey sticks.

So my FJR is for vacations only...I get about 10 to 15k miles a year...and it's all good.

 

[jmgrif]

Laws are made for breaking! In this part of north america they call driving while using a cell phone, in hand at least, Distracted Driving and comes with a fine if caught? In fact driving with a cup of coffee in your hand can be called the same thing! You might be right about having taken enough chances in life up to this point and maybe it's time to give up the bike(s)? But if you do get a lot of joy and satisfaction from riding and quit then who knows...some weird disease comes along and bites you hard? Track days? At least there you know everyone is looking out for the other guy. Or should be! I'm 63 and know something is going to get me in the end?

 

[wheatonFJR]

Unfortunately, no one gets out alive.

So pick yer poison, and enjoy the ride.

 

[mcatrophy]

Can't comment on your "companions" you meet on the road, but you obviously met a few of the worst in a short time. I reckon it's just chance. You expect a few close calls over any given period of time. If it was only once a year, you'd cuss, but wouldn't consider giving up riding. Ok, like any random event, you can get a few of the same in a short period. Keep tossing a coin, every so often you'll get 6 heads in a row.

Don't worry about your age, my experience says you have at least another 10 years. Yes, if something nasty happend, you won't heal as quickly as you would have when you were younger, but, believe me, the satisfaction you get from a good ride gets better with age.

In the limit, only you can make this decision yourself, possibly influenced by your nearest and dearest. And no real motorcyclist will criticise you, whatever you decide.

 

[Geezer]

It seems that the average driver pays less attention to the actual task of driving every year. Not only are there more distractions in the form of technology, but cars are marketed as being safer, so the driver does not feel the danger. Insurance only serves to make it worse. Most drivers simply expect to have an occasional crash and believe that they will be safe because of the vehicle and that the insurance is there to fix the car. It is only getting worse as more technology is built into cars to 'help' people drive.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Two things:

1: A thought Crossed your mind?? I hope it walked, cuz that's a short trip.

2: People are idiots...It's getting worse every day. They are so caught up in their over-important ******** lives, they almost don't care if they hit you or not. Imagine the shape your car would be in if you had been driving that yesterday. It makes no difference if you're in a bike, car, truck, HUGE truck, some dummy has to be somewhere 5 seconds before you do, so they will drive like you don't exist.

Maybe stop riding to work, and just enjoy the weekends, or other stuff. Rush hour in any city is the pits!

 

[PhilJet09]

If I stopped commuting on my bike, it'd knock off about 60% of my riding...and going to work would really suck. Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me to go to the office on days I don't have a trip. Then again, I've never had three close calls in one day. They do happen often though, in fact I had a guy cut me off today. Turning left from the far left lane, went wide right into the lane I was occupying. Friggin *****, couldn't understand why I was blasting him with the horn either. I'm still young enough to find the "who's going to try to kill me next" game interesting.

 

[Toter]

Howie,

Ever since I added the flashers to my headlights, I have not had an incident of someone pulling out in front of me. They really do catch peoples eyes and get their attention. Sometimes people pull over when I am behind them. I also added the tail light flashers. Won't solve the problem of lane changers, but two out of three ain't bad. Sounds like a Meatloaf lyric.

Ed