I don't know what it's like in the rest of the world but in Michigan the driving is getting ruthless. Every time I turn around I got some dumb bitch in one of those god-forsaken crossovers breathing down my neck, and I got a big ass bike with a...well big ass!(luggage) I'm afraid to make left turns anymore in town because I gotta have an extra set of eyes in the back of my head to make sure Buffy in her POS Mercedes is seeing my signal while she texts, talks on the phone, and rushes to something so important it's worth running over motorcyclists to get to! I really think they have made the average vehicle too fast. People step on their gas pedal and their little four banger takes off faster than they can probably safely handle but they all do it because the car can do it and you know, they gotta get to Starbucks before they run out of cream. I think vehicle performance has increased at the same rate that driver skill has decreased. And all the extra bullshit they put on the car to try to make it easier to drive, like the BS car that'll parallel park for you, just makes lazy america think, "Oh great!, One more thing I don't have to waste time learning," and then they wonder why they can't manuever a car profficiently. And then you got these morons who think because there's something going on in their lane like part of it is blocked by a parked car of some baby boomer is taking her stroller for a freaking run, they think that they have the right to come into your lane and you should just move over to accommidate them! Then you got like what this guy did the other day where there is someone running down the other side of the road from me, in the direction of traffic mind you. As I go past the runner, the car coming up behind the runner slamms on his brakes and sits there until I go by him, then he floors it but he swerves into my lane behind me (I'm watching in my mirror) almost running over the curb on the opposite side of the road in order to 'give the runner plenty of room'. Jesus friggin Christ! Why is this shit necessary? Why can't people just drive level headedly and not emotionaly or like a friggin space cadet. I drive all day long in my city for my job and these people are the norm now not the freak occurance. I run into an idiot about every 60 seconds and I am not exaggerating one bit. My wife rides motorcycles, my daughter and her husband ride motorcycles, all closest friends are on motorcycles and it literally scares me to death that one of these people might not have the luck or the awareness 100% of the time like I try to have and some idoit could take their life FOR NO GOOD REASON! Makes me want to bust through a wall and shout like the HULK or something!!!

NO ONE LIKES IT WHEN I'M ANGRY!!!!

* Last updated by: Edgecrusher on 5/5/2011 @ 6:48 AM *

It's the same even here in sleepy little Grand Junction, Colorado, with the addition of all of the very old people who shouldn't even be driving because they are no longer capable of driving. My son lives about 2 miles from the office and generally has 2 or 3 near misses every time he comes to work. It IS getting worse... -bg

Ok, because I'm starting to think maybe it's my age. I'm only 36, I shouldn't be having grumpy old man issues, lol

It's just hard when everywhere you turn there's stupid people.

Just don't let it be the focus of your ride Edge....you'll end up crashing because yer mind is somewhere else.36....sheesh....youngster.Hard to relax and pilot the big bird when yer tensed up with anger!Stay alert...ya...and drive defensively.It's the only way to stay in one piece.I get away from traffic as quickly as I can.Remember...YOU ARE INVISIBLE to other drivers.Drive like that....you'll be much safer.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 5/5/2011 @ 9:41 AM *

Carry a pocket full of change, and toss them over your shoulder. lol

I had a buddy that carried around small ball bearings in his pocket in case somebody got stupid about tailgating him, but I have a feeling if he got pulled over, a cop found them, they could possibly call that premeditated if they really pushed it. But change? Everybody has change in their pocket. lol

* Last updated by: Kolk1 on 5/5/2011 @ 9:39 AM *

Disheresthe Undergroundlings. Mr. Class and I are about double your age. If we are on a spitter, what are you doing getting ready to be an accordion? We need to throw out any gov rep that sends your bike on the hook is when you are gov'INN'ear, you look for hatrick, begin with that office Sir and fire the rest on the way up before I hit the capital's chair.

If youreps are sleeping at the wheel, on the cell phone listening to cooking shows jefking the cookcough, you know; ^^^^^^ Mmmmmmmmmmm, Look at that line, I think I'll deer-eye almost crossed the line the guy was so slow and smoothed away from my ^^^^^^^ MMMmmmmmmmmmm ^^^^^ You gonna smoo000^^^ooooooth her wit Onions?

No, but you don't see it, won't look at it, won't admit you are the fucking IDIOT!

Ya Young Yip YEAR Yapper! SHAD-UP! Chew on your own dickiss it too is you juice did chew get PEE'd UN 2 ODOR US ASS DAY DOG DUE IS ON YOU!!!!!! 22-Ski-Do Is YOU = Smell clean assay whistle!

WADissssssssss The Fuck you looking for trouble? You CLEAR and move on. That is all you can do is do nothing else is nothing else is more important than to keep clear, stay clear, USE hose 2 get clockeDis all EYE can say. Slow down, think smooth line.

I am clearing cars and [practice alone] I color code a tire. Then, I apply the same old, thishit and that shit is shit on that mustank is push it if it wants to play. Then, all of a sudden, I get that INSULT about to happen. Out CUM'is the REGGIE GULP, the fork shadow, the here you go; no brakes needed. Eyes gooze'inn each plan of attack and that is keep showing that stank how I'm going to move right up to that truck bump her and keep the INSULTill I DIE!

I keep adding to INSULT is she wants a front position, I moved over so she could slide INN and did she for every insult there is an opposite and equal insult is the push, the pass, the set her up she keeps getting that facial cream on me is that yeast infection is clear rear cell is to send her over the edge and I was giving her more INSULTING ROOM.

Chew see me setup for my line, tag the other like; Lick it I kept going and going and going NO BRAKES ATE ALL!! DAY FORKShadow Knows! Be nice to the cagers. Don't hang with the cagerStu Pit! (PIT-PIT D~~~~~~) EAR Is cab fare. ((("Now going in SheePee Mode.")))

* Last updated by: Hub on 5/5/2011 @ 10:22 AM *

ShittyCity LefTurn Tactic!

Dough-D Doo Sea Herb Dee Burb Dee Ya Hoon Da Carz'inn front dove you is squirt the perp ate tray dear inner ear lies a section-8, meaning, WOTar the odds you find a car in front of you, squirt as fast up it's ass you can. This way, the car is going to turn left, you TIME INN OR STAY HOME! OK, so you only have a de- Windeer, yes, better half your "DEER LIGHTS ON" or sell me your bike, you are done, Sport!

Walk away from that fear. Turn in you Man Card..... Ho shit her day cum!

* Last updated by: Hub on 5/5/2011 @ 10:42 AM *

No matter what anyone says, you commit to 100% street savvy thinking or you are going to die you blow a percentile.

You look crazy... But every move is looking out for you because you are doing way too much commitment at that electronic widget than driving.

I'm going to eat you if you fall asleep at the wheel is wake you the fuck up 100% Cum'INN ATE CHEW!

Man, if you can't make them stand up and think they are in a weapon, where is a cop when you needem.

You're preaching to the choir Blue. I ride very aggressively, the opposite of what they taught us in (auto)drivers ed. You need to attack traffic and be on top of every new thing that comes along. I'm more worried for the innocent people who don't have that frame of mind or constitution. Not that I haven't had this thought a multitude of time in the 15+ years I have rode, but that video of the guy down in texas a week or two ago really got me thinking; just take your eyes off 'everything' for one second and splat. To make matters worse, the cocksucker anchor reporting on our local station explained what happened suggesting the biker could have avoided this by moving off the road into a ditch or median. Did he watch the damn video? The car was day dreaming and never hit the brakes! The guy should be put in prison for attempted homicide! I'm always watching my mirrors after I come to a stop light until I see the guy directly behind me come to a stop, but once in awhile I catch myself off the ball on those long days where maybe I'm a bit more tired than usual. All it takes is one time. And don't get me wrong I'm not afraid. I'm just angry that other drivers out there seem to be getting more and more self centered in the way they drive and think. The thought process in my predominently religious and old fashioned/prudish area is good people drive cars, trashy people ride bikes, and if the biker gets hit it was prolly something they did wrong whether it was then or two weeks ago when only him and god saw it and he's just getting what he deserves. Kinda hard not to ride around with a little hate in the back of my mind. The hate comes naturally to me, it more makes me angry that I have to share the road with them without getting any paybacks. Maybe I shouldn't rant, you all are gonna start thinking I'm an angry person. Just venting here so I don't do anything brash like throw things at cars on the road. lol

Anger, BTW, while riding always ends badly for the rider.

"Anger"...always ends badly for the rider.SOOOOOO true!Ya Edge...I understand ya...totally.Had some really stupid stuff happen here as well.I just try to remember when I'm out there....watch wtf I'm doing,and when and how I'm doing it.Bikes are no match for a crash.Kinda like flying...if you walk away...you've done good.Sometimes...you really WANT to get back...but I usually try to understand HOW a close one happened,and avoid anything similar in the future.Cages do some dumb things...usually...cause they don't ride,never think about riding,and are lost in their own lives.The idea of"hey,there JUST MIGHT be a motorcyclist near me"....never enters their 4 wheel mind.That's what I meant by "invisible"...they can look right at ya...and it STILL doesn't register.Like you said...gotta stay on top of it...for sure(I guess you might call that....offensive driving?IDK.)I hate riding in traffic...just don't like it at all.One reason I love to get out away from the city here and get busy!

Closest one I ever had here...was cruising at a good clip...two lane highway.Van up ahead.Followed him for maybe a mile,something like that.I've got HID's,on brite all the time during the day.I know he had to see me back there.Okay...so we're cruising around 80 or so.I decide,why waste this sweet curvy road here...I'll pass.So I'm coming up on him...legal speeds and all.He kinda hits his brake for a second...then he begins to pull into the right shoulder.Cool...he's lettin me get on by.WRONG!!!!!He flips a u-turn right in front of me!WTF!!!!!!!!!!No signal,nothin.I gassed it as quick as I could.Ya...sailed on by him JUST IN TIME.Dude just missed my rearend by mere inches as he stupidly continued with his u-turn.Couple seconds later...I'd have been toast.Seriously.It was that close.Had there been a car comin the other way...that would have been all she wrote for me.Mind you,I was movin at around 80 as I went to go around him.(he wasn't).If he'd have caught my tail with his frontend,it would have been VERY UGLY for me.I learned something important that day....DON'T trust cages to drive like they know what they're doing!Strange thing...I wasn't pissed...I should have been burned up...but I wasn't.Just thanked the Lord right there and went through the whole deal again in my head.Gotta watch everything out there...it can be a jungle.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 5/5/2011 @ 12:31 PM *

CrusHER,

I hear ya, [the rant] is fine. Remember, that is your abyss. Why are you mad at drivers that want to go to work or run to wherever they are going, you've got the pin-ball, why worry then? YOu don't count in their world they close the door and stop driving. You are on a hammer and can nail any place you put it.

The mantra is to say to yourself, "CLEAR." You want to clear all avoidance. This breaks the chain of thought. I use my bike for both mental and physical exercises. I have no time to be pent up worrying about how bad drivers are. That is ((((Youresponsibility))))!!!!

Don't go looking for lawyers you were not aware of a cager and your hand grips are not white nickle and diming some dork that can't hold a tool in his hand but can a phone and you own that pinball direction due you?

YOu see me show that guy mirror all wagtail between traffic, we had that VW van in the way? Yell and beep at the VW, you're mad or you yawn do you have bike you weight ... Waithe odds.

RE... LAX! WEAR YOU OUT, where is the rush on your end? Show courtesy not a finger. You trip on your own shoe laces, I laugh you can't dress yourselfor the crash is down you go, take your line at the coffee machine drive-in you had to beat them or slow them UP?

Pinball Playing Field Of Dreams

I can so relate Edge. I live in CA, land of tech and dipshits. The demographic where I am located is old people, and college kids. Not the greatest for survival. But as said, you have to ride without fixating. I usually can identify the problems before they happen. Scan, think, and do it all it again. It would be great if I could mount a weapon on hte bars, and just blow the f'ers away. Now that would make for a fun ride.

Stay safe guys. If the fear, and or anger become the focus of the ride, GET OFF THE BIKE. You will be a statistic.

Zink: ... and just blow the f'ers away. Now that would make for a fun ride.

Oh? You have the buzzmotron with the no brainer beewang gear free loaderoller? That buzzhosetron?

Well hose me down for dinner... I'm the animal controllerolling pin. You win. I'm out to lunch. More like out of lunch pails.

Has DIS have JUST US written all over it?

Couple days ago, had a guy pass me on the right IN A F%%$$##ING bicycle/parking lane----------as I was pulling into that lane with my right turn signal on (IN MY CAR). Fortunately, I was watching him as well as myself. I had my two little daughters with me in the back seat.

I am noticing that since I have been driving and riding slower. at the speed limit, I have a close shave almost every time I am out. Slower does not equal safer from accidents. It is more dangerous to drive the speed limit but all i see are cops with their car parked on the side of the road waiting shooting me with lazer.

Personally, I guess I will follow the rules and keep a close watch on traffic because law enforcement is still the #1 risk. They will get you a lot easier than the stupidass drivers out there and they do not care about anything but keeping their jobs.....just like the rest of us who do not write tickets for a living.

I appreciate you cops but this economy is getting hard on us all in a lot of ways. Talk about trickledown economics! Is that still going on?

I am kind of lucky. I live in a small town, far away from the "big city".

Which doesn't mean we don't have our share of drivers who drive like they are sitting on their couch watching TV.

Four months ago, my aged mother totaled her car. It was the best thing that could have happened. That woman was a disaster waiting to happen, like an avalanche waiting for something to set it off. So for some motorcyclist somewhere in the area, I cheered that they are in less danger today.

But for every one like my mom, grounded for good and thank goodness, there are a dozen still driving their tuna boats.

I rode to work today. No problems whatsoever. Don't usually have any problems around here in the sticks. But I still exercise the MSF routine, constantly identifying escape routes and scanning for hazards in the making.

We have a lot of turn-at-the-last-minute-no-signal types around here. There is probably more of a risk I'll run up someone's tailpipe because they get stopped by the yo-yo in front of them suddenly. But shame on me if I ever do.

How's that for an old guy rant?

Edge; small town here, and my 1st ride of the season yesterday. I'm sitting on a 2 lane waiting to turn left, with a line of traffic. Nobody behind me. After about 15 seconds I hear screeching tires, look in my mirror, and there's a pickup in full lock headed for me. I have no where to go. Luckily I hear him hit the gravel shoulder, still sliding, and he flys by me at about 50mph, and within a foot of my mirror. To top it off, he flips me off as he floors it, yakking on his cellphone. The speed limit there is only 50, so he was way over in a 4-wheel drive pickup. His wake-up call will come soon, as I have his license no. As you said, anger has no place on a bike, so I didn't follow. Last time I took the wife on a ride, a biker in front of me pulled off the road to the right. Just as I was coming up on him, I moved over to the centerline, and this moron pulls out to do a U-turn. I had to pull off an amazing bit of panic braking to keep from hitting him. I have to try to avoid ranting to the wife about my rides, because something like this happens every ride around here. From a punk in his honda going wide in a turn into my lane, to people turning in front of me. She now wants me to sell the bike, and stop riding.

How's that for an old guy rant?

Don't mean to call anyone else an old guy. I was referring to myself.

His wake-up call will come soon, as I have his license no.

I live in the sticks too. Buncha small towns of 20,000 or less, one small city (Springfield) of 280,000, and not much of any traffic problems. Goes the opposite way here sometimes.. Pull up to a left turn lane stop light and can't trip it, need a car to pull up normal distance behind to help. What happens, EVERYBODY stops 30 feet back, and I'm left stranded out there to have to run the light. I even try to motion them to pull up close, and most of the time their eyes get as big as saucers and the start flipping their hands in a "what, what" gesture.
I don't go into Spfld very often because there can be problems there like everyone describes. But for the most part, everywhere else, I seldom have any incidents.

my 1st ride of the season yesterday. I'm sitting on a 2 lane waiting to turn left, with a line of traffic. Nobody behind me. After about 15 seconds I hear screeching tires, look in my mirror, and there's a pickup in full lock headed for me. I have no where to go. Luckily I hear him hit the gravel shoulder, still sliding, and he flys by me at about 50mph, and within a foot of my mirror. To top it off, he flips me off as he floors it, yakking on his cellphone. The speed limit there is only 50, so he was way over in a 4-wheel drive pickup. His wake-up call will come soon, as I have his license no. As you said, anger has no place on a bike, so I didn't follow. Last time I took the wife on a ride, a biker in front of me pulled off the road to the right. Just as I was coming up on him, I moved over to the centerline, and this moron pulls out to do a U-turn. I had to pull off an amazing bit of panic braking to keep from hitting him. I have to try to avoid ranting to the wife about my rides, because something like this happens every ride around here. From a punk in his honda going wide in a turn into my lane, to people turning in front of me. She now wants me to sell the bike, and stop riding.

Par for the course... try not to think about it... but ALWAYS be ready for it.

Goes the opposite way here sometimes.. Pull up to a left turn lane stop light and can't trip it, need a car to pull up normal distance behind to help. What happens, EVERYBODY stops 30 feet back, and I'm left stranded out there to have to run the light. I even try to motion them to pull up close, and most of the time their eyes get as big as saucers and the start flipping their hands in a "what, what" gesture.

Too funny... same problem here... I run a lot of red lights.

BTW... putting your kickstand down, on the sensor, sometimes helps... or I've run over and hit the crosswalk button before, when a light wouldn't change for me.

Tailgaters? On a zx14? NEVER!...

Like some wise old fart once said," Everywhere you go... Assholes!"
I wish the cops spent less time worrying about me and my riding and more ticketing the dipshits on their frigging cell phones, eating lunch , reading a paper, while driving their frigging Volvos.

Mad

There is nothing I can do about that phone. Here, they had too many crash related phone to bumper connections, banned the phone use in car. 4-way stop is going on, I turn and wait with another car next to me. Only I need to get over. I start to wave my hand [I have the horn's wire harness doing something else] with the horn sitting in a box, I can just about kick her car I am that close waiting to get her attention.

No shit, she is dialing or text-ing on her cell phone. She finally looks up. I finally have the tingle out of my arm and others were waving back to me as the rose parade wave stopped...(jk) I got the nod to go.

See how it takes time waiting for them? Either way, they are not driving; moving or stopped!

Well I hope this thread has been therapeutic for you like it has me. Sometimes I do get so angry I see red but I wait till I'm clear and then that is when I'm most at risk for speeding tickets because I put those people as far into my mirror as I can, and then check out the new group of morons I joined up with. I need to remember to have fun with these people, like HUB said. Oh and by the way Hub, thanks for not easing up on me with the poetry. An earlier post took me about 15 minutes and a few times through to comprehend. Great vids by the way, you whack ball! :)
One time while driving my car I was threading through traffic and this guy in a sports car I was trying to ignore coming up on me slides up next to me in the right lane. He got up behind the guy infront of him just enough to be near my front end then he made a quick fade towards my lane but never left his own, kinda like he was gonna though. And instinctively I let off the brakes which was just enough for him to get infront of me. Damn it! I felt so stupid, but also an epiphany hit me, that was 100% intentional and he was using his head (however pushy it was) and safely new how to get me to back down before I knew what I was doing. And sure enough I saw him do it again to another car infront of me. Genius, I thought, I need to try it. Moral of the story and what I believe Hub was telling me is to use the bike to your advantage and don't get angry because I can't run that car off the road with my bike just get the better of him and make him regret being an idiot cager. Right!? And I knew this just need to practice it 100% of the time.

[video assist... -bg]

* Last updated by: Edgecrusher on 5/6/2011 @ 9:54 AM *