Read what the public thinks about us when we ride too fast

[Titan]

I ride fast. Sometimes I ride too fast. I guess I've never given much thought to what other drivers were saying about me.

Last Saturday 4/25/09 in Columbia, SC a rider ran from a trooper when he was clocked at 99 mph. A couple of miles down the interstate the bike ran into the rear of a car and was killed.

I was coming back from a ride to the mountains and got caught in the traffic jam about 10 cars back from the scene. The wreck happened about two minutes earlier.

Below is a link to an article on the WLTX-TV web site along with a picture of the car and video of an interview with the car's driver.

At the end of the article there's several pages of readers' responses. They show nothing more than disgust and contempt for the dead rider. Some because he was running. Others just because he was driving fast on a motorcycle.


http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=73076&catid=2

[SgtBunny]

Back in college when I rode a 920 midnight Virago I did something similar...ran from the cops after being clocked speeding that is.

Looking back I was dumb and I get mad myself at how young punks make people think everyone on a motorcycle is an idiot, yeah I know he was not youngster but you get the point.  Anyone can be an idiot and disrespect the laws.

And I still have the occasion to break the speed limit, after all, I bought a Valk.

When I do take the chance I at least know the traffic and will never run from the cops again...not worth it.

[Psychotic Bovine]

A person I work with lost his license until 2013 due to high speed and stunting on a sport bike.
He told a friend of mine who also works there that she isn't a real rider because she doesn't ride like that.
She has a 250 Ninja and I told her that the guy is an idiot and pay him no mind.
He is one of those people who I judge as a "waste of oxygen". Not just for his idiotic riding, but his idiotic "player" lifestyle and illegal income.

[Bagger John - #3785]

There's a time and place for everything. Super-high speed in rush hour traffic isn't it.

[junior]

this is it in a nutshell 



 

 
 

[Bagger John - #3785]

Sounds like "he" needs a different wife....preferably, one who rides.

[junior]

mine rides and she sees me that way....lol
 

[Willow]

as in what "the public" thinks.  The population is as varied as we are and with almost as many differing opinions.

I have my thoughts on riders that appear to put themselves and others at unreasonable risk, but then I'm sure there are plenty of folks who have the same thoughts regarding me simply because I'm on two wheels.

Personally, when I find myself being overly concerned with what the non-riding population may be thinking of me as a rider I just twist the throttle a wee bit more and leave that feeling behind.

Enjoy the wind and don't try to explain it do those who can't know.

 

[Master Blaster]

And what do you think of the public when they are doing everything but driving in a cage.  Its not just every once in a while, its any time you go anywhere, country road, highway or in town.  Everything takes precedince over driving.  I am always amazed that some of these dolts manage to make it from point a to point b.

[fudgie]

as in what "the public" thinks.  The population is as varied as we are and with almost as many differing opinions.

I have my thoughts on riders that appear to put themselves and others at unreasonable risk, but then I'm sure there are plenty of folks who have the same thoughts regarding me simply because I'm on two wheels.

Personally, when I find myself being overly concerned with what the non-riding population may be thinking of me as a rider I just twist the throttle a wee bit more and leave that feeling behind.

Enjoy the wind and don't try to explain it do those who can't know.

 

Well said! 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

When I was younger I would impatiently blast through traffic which rudely slowed me without giving a damn about how they felt. I think that’s a pretty normal behavior pattern for young males. On a larger scale that’s a pretty normal behavior pattern for the young males of nearly all mammal species. A long black strip on a country road and a deer rub on a tree are pretty much the same thing if you think about it.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve become more patient and have realized that the cager I piss off today maybe the one who kills me tomorrow. I still like to ride aggressively but now I do it away from traffic where I will only endanger myself and not tee off the general public.

On the other hand as my Mom used to say, “misery loves company” and the cagers who are strapped in their cages but too afraid to enjoy our freedom will always resent us. Some will even hate us. As our society drifts farther and farther into a nanny state of whiners and safety Nazis the cager’s resentment of us will grow and our attempts at appeasement will just lead to more of the same. Although safety will be the reason stated pettiness and jealousy will be the driving force of future restrictions.

At least that’s my take on it.

[solo1]

I learned a lot when I was a councilman for 13 years.   I despise politicians that ignore and treat with contempt the very people that voted them in.  Consequently, I always tried to "set an example" for my constituents.  Observing the speed limit in my district, quiet mufflers, and trying to put myself in other people's shoes.  Most of the time, I was rewarded, sometimes not, since there are always arseholes out there.

Because of these idiots, even today,  I always try to ride, and drive, like everyone else is nuts.

However, I do remember an incident awhile back where my two sons, Mad6Gun and Psychotic Bovine, asked me to take a local ride with them. I decided to do my own thing.  Consequently, both of them got  speeding tickets on their Valks while riding in a residential area while I found a nice back road , clear of traffic and driveways, outside of town where I checked out the Valk to see how long it took to reach a "ton".   You gotta pick the right place to adjust your attitude, 

[3fan4life]

the cagers who are strapped in their cages but too afraid to enjoy our freedom will always resent us. Some will even hate us. As our society drifts farther and farther into a nanny state of whiners and safety Nazis the cager’s resentment of us will grow and our attempts at appeasement will just lead to more of the same. Although safety will be the reason stated pettiness and jealousy will be the driving force of future restrictions.

When I meet people that don't ride and they discover that I do, someone will almost always ask, "Aren't you afraid of getting killed on that thing"?

I just smle and say, "I can't live forever".

I've never understood why some people live their lives in fear of dying..... there are some fates in this world that are much worse than death.   

Remember:
"The man who would choose security over freedom deserves neither".
Thomas Jefferson