Why do you think the cagers (that dislike us) dislike us?

[Toecutter]

I was having a discussion with somebody and this person offered that most people who dislike us do so because of our reckless riding styles. I got kinda defensive and countered with the theory that they're jealous of our freedom. Aside from the noise pollution issue, what do you think is the prominent cause of their disdain?

Like JB said, we're three-dimensional creatures in a two-dimensional world. To me, it's like having the capability of flight among a crowd of ground-bound earthlings, not unlike the closing scene in The Matrix I, which reminds me, I gotta get that song loaded onto my iPod someday....

 

[odot]

rage against the machine kicks ass.

 

[bluesfool]

I don't really think people (cagers) spend much time contemplating how free it feels to be riding rather than stuck in a cage, but I do think a driver that sees a cyclist doing 100 and weaving in and out of traffic with (apparently) little concern for other people will stick that impression in his mind, thereby "proving" why all motorcyclists are bad. Nevermind the other 99% of the riders that that same cager will see but not notice.

 

[05fjrman]

I say jealousy. We're having fun and they're stuck in a cage, maybe with the windows down. I know when I see a rider, and I can't ride, it makes me jealous. So suck it, Californians!!

 

[radman]

We move through traffic, and they hate it. Can't count how many times someones doing 60 in the left lane, until I make a move to pass. Their foot finally works and suddenly their piece of **** finds itself capable of 70, then 80. I flash to indicate they're crawling, move right please, their slow ass refuses to move right, I get by them and move left only to find them right on my ass at 80+ flashing the headlights like they turned on a strobe. People are generally perfect ******** that hate their lot in life, and hate anyone who finds a way to enjoy the road. Cynical, yes, but observed time and time again. :glare: Over and over and over again the general driving public shows just how ****** up they are, to the point where a kindness shown is the exception rather than the rule-I acknowledge a kindness shown, making sure they know that I know that they know. It's something anyway.

 

[VMax_03]

We move through traffic, and they hate it. Can't count how many times someones doing 60 in the left lane, until I make a move to pass. Their foot finally works and suddenly their piece of **** finds itself capable of 70, then 80. I flash to indicate they're crawling, move right please, their slow ass refuses to move right, I get by them and move left only to find them right on my ass at 80+ flashing the headlights like they turned on a strobe. People are generally perfect ******** that hate their lot in life, and hate anyone who finds a way to enjoy the road. Cynical, yes, but observed time and time again. :glare: Over and over and over again the general driving public shows just how ****** up they are, to the point where a kindness shown is the exception rather than the rule-I acknowledge a kindness shown, making sure they know that I know that they know. It's something anyway.

+1 -

 

[JimLor]

I don't think cagers give a rats ass about 99.99% of anyone else regardless of what they're on or in. When they do get pissed at a biker it's usually because it's a noob dickwad w/his rail thin girl friend (both dressed in t-shirts and shorts) on his GSX that zip around, thru, and if necessary, over traffic at roughly mach 2.1. Or, like happened to me the other day, a dickwad on a HD who "screams by" with pipes blasting 2 feet from your/my door. To be honest, I've found in my 23 months/20k miles of motorcycle experience that more folks give me room then screw with me. Of course, I only ride like a dickwad when I'm on the road alone. That's what I think.

 

[radman]

To buttress my earlier post, read MCN's LT Snyder's article on getting whapped by the 19 year old cell phone yapper who is on it when she hits him, and doesn't stop yakking until the cop who arrives cites her, and it's not her first. I mean, Jesus H Christ, if that isn't perfect, I don't know what is. And the public hates us? :blink:

 

[JimLor]

She'd have done the same thing if she hit a car. 99.99 % don't give a rats ass because 99.99% don't know what the hell is going on outside their car!

Actually, I think cagers just hate Toecutter!!

 

[TheAxeman]

I want to say "stereotyping" but I wouldn't classify it as "justifiable anger". I think they see us all as leather clad, tattooed, drug infested, drunk, hell raisers who are looking to deflower their daughters. Of course none of that is based on their real time experience and the vast majority of them have never had an unpleasant experience with a motorcyclist to make it "justifiable anger". It seems that unfamiliarity breeds contempt. I once worked with a guy who was probably the most racist person I have ever met in my life. When I quizzed him about his hometown and his schooling it turned out that he didn't have a single experience (much less negative) with a person of color in his entire short life but certainly had an "unjustifiable anger" towards them. I think the same thing holds true here.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

I think they see us all as leather clad, tattooed, drug infested, drunk, hell raisers who are looking to deflower their daughters.

Drats...

I guess i will have to sell the FJR and get a Harley then... :lol:

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

In a word: IGNORANCE.

I believe most cagers don't make the distinction between the relatively few asshats who ride recklessly on public streets, or have insanely loud exhausts.....or both...and the rest of us, many who go WAY out of their way to correct and/or protect the image of a "biker". Unfortunately, it's not much different than any other group of people. The irresponsible actions of a few usually taints the reputation of the rest.

Also, most cagers don't even think about how vulnerable we (or bicyclists or anyone else NOT in a cage) are when we ride. Again, the actions of those who ride in shorts and flip-flops, without helmets or other protective gear, don't exactly help with that.

I could go on, but someone's waiting to take me out to lunch and I never pass on a free meal. Besides, I think you get my point...

 

[Scab]

People have become LAZY! Watch people drive. They are just plain lazy. Courtesy requires effort. Of course, laziness on a motorcycle has a tendency to eliminate rather quickly, so the surviving lazy *******s are driving cars.

 

[chornbe]

It's because of "bikers". I don't mean riders and I don't mean motorcyclists.

It's because of the loud pipes and the janky attitudes.

And thanks to squidly idiots doing wheelies in their flip flops and open Hawaiian shirts, people dislike non-cruiers riders, too.

Juuuuuuuust great to be lumped in with these people. Yeah. Great.

 

[twowheelnut]

Radman is there, but it seems to me that drivers simply don't care about anyone - riders, drivers, cyclists (OK, I'd like to run most of those ******** off the road, too), pedestrians, equestrians, baby buggy pushing nanitas - I swear it's seems any more that it's 'Pull Out In Front Of TWN Day', everyday.

If I could find a cheap '61 or '62 Catalina or Bonneville, it would be "Ramming Speed, Mr. Sulu!"

 

[Bustanut joker]

If I could find a cheap '61 or '62 Catalina or Bonneville, it would be "Ramming Speed, Mr. Sulu!"

Been there done that tdub, Had a 74 ford pickup I used to exact revenge occasionally 'specialy the dipshit in parking lots that backed up w/out looking or tried to hog in to a space yer waiting for. Really good for the guys who like to disregard stop signs. Alas She met her demise to a kid in Dads Deville

:jester:

 

[v65]

I was at Sturgis this year, but not on a motorcycle (a long pointless tale). Visiting the Washington Monument there is a guy and gal walking next to me and the guy is hopping mad. The woman is trying to calm him down, he finally concluded his tirade with "Those guys are f'ing jerks, I hate bikers".

I know exactly the crowd he was talking about, he was probably justified in his anger, and I was sad that someday his anger might be directed at me. I doubt there is any one answer to this question, but certainly for some its anger at past experience.

PS Keep an eye for that individual that meets all of Toe's criteria h34r:

 

[FJRottie]

Over and over and over again the general driving public shows just how ****** up they are

+ashitload

 

[dcarver]

I think they see us all as leather clad, tattooed, drug infested, drunk, hell raisers who are looking to deflower their daughters.

Drats...

I guess i will have to sell the FJR and get a Harley then... :lol:

Hey, I already HAVE a Harley! :yahoo: