Riding Stupid - A new trend in two-wheeled dumbassery

[Alien]

I belong to a bunch of Facebook motorcycle groups and I am seeing a trend of videos being posted of people acting stupid on bikes in traffic.  Sure there's always been the sport bike "stunters" but now the trend seems to be Harley Davidson baggers, with a helmetless, jacketless, gloveless rider drifting in and out of traffic on busy highways, like in the video below.

https://youtu.be/bk7f2pia7cw

Now, I ride the Mothership hard and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not above an acceleration run from time to time or gleefully dragging floorboards in the canyons.  That being said, I can't fathom the total disregard these guys have for the safety of themselves and others, to say nothing about beating the everloving piss out of their bikes.  (To me, this last part is a sure sign of someone who has never had to work or save to get a motorcycle.)

I try to reason with them, telling them that I'm a little older, been riding for 30 years,  I've crashed before and it sucks.  Tried explaining that that sort of behavior, especially on film, leads to public anti-motorcycle sentiment and restrictive laws for all of us.  They don't want to hear it.  The response is always the same:  "Don't hate just because you don't have these mad skills bro."  

Rant over.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's too bad they couldn't be identified and charged with driving (riding) infractions.

[Bighead]

Can you say a new tire for each ride?

[Dave Ritsema]

Not to worry, natural selection and karma will prevail. 

[Bret SD]

There's a mountain road section near the Hideout at Lake Henshaw in San Diego.. nearly every weekend sport bikers crash up there.

My last trip to Mt. Palomar I was getting a little aggressive on the South grade going up.. it was fun for a spell but after a time I gaffed it and relaxed.

Dumbassery in traffic is just plain stupid and gives bikers a bad rap, I just shake my head when I see them weaving around traffic already moving at 80 mph. My son told me a story about a sport biker who crashed into a concrete pillar at well over 100 mph, the cops on scene couldn't find his head anywhere and were perplexed.. later it was found inside his chest cavity with helmet on still.
I hate morbid stories and try to forget/avoid them, but this one stuck in my brain. Sorry if it offends, but I believe it illustrates the dangers of dumbassery on a motorcycle. It's dangerous enough out there without making it 10 times worse.

Being on a big bike and being cool I get a wide berth out there from drivers, even on SD freeways. Most recognize the vulnerability of riders and are respectful of that fact.. also being 'not an a--hole' goes a long way toward creating good will from drivers.

Just my 2 pennies

[Ramie]

With how much smoke was coming out of his exhaust and the way it was running he probably locked the engine up before he got home.

[3W-lonerider]

as hot as the front rotors got on that bike i'm surprised the front brakes didn't lock up from boiling the brake fluid.

[Patrick]

We don't call them riders, they're donors.


I like to scrape the pegs as much as the next guy, there is a time and place,,,,,,

[scooperhsd]

There are old bikers, and there are Bold bikers, but there are no Old,Bold bikers.

Idiots. Giving the rest of us a bad name / rap.

Yes, I'm also guilty of sometimes accelerating as fast as I can, and trying to scrape the footpegs, but - there is a time and place for everything. I'd really like to take the Valk up to max speed sometime - but the best, safest roads (multi lane limited access Interstates) to do that on are well patroled around here.

[cookiedough]

they are right, I do not have the skills to do that, nor the stupidity....

2 biggest stupidest things I have seen was in a group ride the HD rider in his 60s with heavier set wife on a full dresser next to me popped the clutch me side by side him did a 1 foot wheelie doing 60 mph so I stayed clear of him after that.  Just glad he kept it straight since was 4-5 feet away from him when he did it.

biggest one was local on crotch rocket coming at me had to do a double take guy was NOT riding on his cycle seat but standing next to it ONLY hanging onto handlebars doing well over 60 mph skidding sparks up with his metal skid shoes on pavement on a straight flat smooth road coming right at me.  Yah, took talent and strength but organ donor for sure eventually.    How the heck does he jump back on the bike doing 60 mph standing next to it?   

[f6gal]

Not to worry, natural selection and karma will prevail. 

As long as he doesn't take others with him.

[f6gal]

I would like to invest in insurance on that guy. 

[Jess from VA]

I've seen a distinct uptick in dumbassery (great word) in my area.  Although mostly cages and not bikes.  No traffic enforcement of any kind for months will do that (though I love it).

Last week, some nut in a V10 hot rod pickup truck did tire burning multi donuts in the subdivision intersection in front of my house (25 limit).  Kids on bicycles all day every day out there. 

[John Schmidt]

With how much smoke was coming out of his exhaust and the way it was running he probably locked the engine up before he got home.

That smoke was off the spinning rear tire, did you notice the totally red front rotor? Riding the front brake is how you get the rear spinning while in motion.

[Chrisj CMA]

With how much smoke was coming out of his exhaust and the way it was running he probably locked the engine up before he got home.

That smoke was off the spinning rear tire, did you notice the totally red front rotor? Riding the front brake is how you get the rear spinning while in motion.

And a bald way over inflated rear tire. The last rear tire I had mounted. The guy pumped it up to 50# and it felt very slidy. I probably could have done that without riding the front brakes if I was stupid enough

[cookiedough]

I've seen a distinct uptick in dumbassery (great word) in my area.  Although mostly cages and not bikes.  No traffic enforcement of any kind for months will do that (though I love it).

Last week, some nut in a V10 hot rod pickup truck did tire burning multi donuts in the subdivision intersection in front of my house (25 limit).  Kids on bicycles all day every day out there. 

although not doing burnouts,  my neighbor up the street use to drive up/down our street 35-40 mph in a 25 mph city limit speed zone with my kids and others when younger riding their bicycles.  I yelled at him repeatedly as he drove by to slow down.  Now he is slower but back then he was not. 

[old2soon]

        Even with the rear skin over inflated I would like to know the carcass temp at the time of his dumbassery. And Duz the doofus at the controls have Any Idea atall What will transpire should that rear skin decide It's had enough?    I've lived thru a rear tire blow out at speed. I would NOT care to repeat that exercise again. Let's just say my Dr. Dentons were never the same after that. 
                                                               RIDE SAFE.

[Robert]

That front rotor is insane, this is the reason motorcycle insurance can be expensive. I find the lack of respect for his bike disgusting.  

These guys usually get in an accident and are out of riding and they make things bad for the rest of us that are long term riders.

[Jersey mike]

That there is a prime example of the saying “ride it like ya stole it”.

One thing that does come to mind is the bike belongs to a friend and he’s out for “just a quick ride”.

[Farside]

  "Death Wish idiot" to be continued.