Has this ever happened to you? You're driving on the interstate, doing 70 or so with the traffic being relatively light, only to be zapped by a biker who is clearly well into the triple-digit zone?
This happened to me the other day. I was out with the wife driving in the slow lane of a limited access highway, when out of nowhere I got passed by a biker doing perhaps 140 mph, maybe more. That speed guesstimate is probably not far off. I was doing about 70 mph and I got passed so quickly that I feared I might have to change my shorts.
Worse still the bike came so close to my car that, if I had stuck my arm out the window, I stood a good chance of losing it. He was that close to me. A second later I got zapped by another rider doing the same schtick, only this guy was in the fast lane. I never saw the first rider coming. God forbid If by chance I had decided to change lanes.
Worse still--this was the second time this week this happened to me! A few days earlier my wife and I again got bike-zapped, but on a different highway; and again the biker was well, WELL over 100 mph. Can you believe that! It also happened to me about a year ago. That time I was with the whole family--and that biker passed me on the high-speed shoulder of the road!
What's with these bikers? Is it a full moon and these guys flat out lose it? Have they not read the latest statistics that show that car accidents are decreasing, but that motorcycle accidents are on the increase?
I used to be a rider. In fact I've got maybe 50K of bike riding under my belt, but I haven't ridden since I traded my 1974 Honda CB550 in on a then-new 1976 Honda Accord. I've also owned a few fast, wheelie-prone bikes, like the 2-stroke 60-hp 500cc Kawasaki Mach III, one of the fastest bike on the market back in the early '70s--and one with a light switch-like powerband (full-on or full-off, much like a car with super turbo lag). So I do know what it's like to ride a fast motorcycle, and how much fun they are--but what I'm seeing these days is just insane.
Jerks like these do more to hurt the image of motorcycling than anything I can think of. Imagine a soccer mom getting passed on the highway like I did, or the senior out for a nice Sunday drive. What do you think is going through their minds after experiencing such an event? Not good thoughts, I'm sure.
On this video I noticed the bike at one point hitting 272 kph, which equals 170 mph. On a public road. That's nuts!
cruiserhead1 says:
11:15 AM, 09/12/08
yep, chalk it up to ignorant motorcyclists with low self-esteem and attention issues.
The sportbikes attract a lot of wannabe's seeking attention, not interested in how their actions can hurt families.
I don't care if they take themselves out.
brn says:
12:18 PM, 09/12/08
What was really nutz was when the guy passed the car while there was oncoming traffic!
I'd be pretty upset if the messed up the bark on my tree when they slam into it.
desmolicious says:
01:50 PM, 09/12/08
Aww give it a break. There are idiots on 2 and 4 wheels. Look at all the u-tube videos that this site posts showing motorized mayhem.
There's a bigger issue with street racers - you know the type - the Fast and the Furious crowd so it shows that this behaviour is not limited to the type of vehicle.
Of far greater concern is the continous red light running that I see every single frickin day and have to avoid every single frickin day. But that's not glamorous enough to write about.
p.s.your last ride was a 1974 CB550? A 30 hp bike 32 years ago? Things have changed.
rsholland says:
01:58 PM, 09/12/08
"p.s.your last ride was a 1974 CB550? A 30 hp bike 32 years ago? Things have changed."
What does that have to do with riders or riding habits?
A jerk is a jerk whether they are riding a 50 hp bike or or a 100 hp bike.
brn says:
03:20 PM, 09/12/08
desmolicious, I'd be just as upset when a street racer messes up the bark on my trees by the road.
desmolicious says:
03:41 PM, 09/12/08
"A jerk is a jerk whether they are riding a 50 hp bike or or a 100 hp bike."
Exactly. And expand that out to people racing around in cars, and the far far bigger problem of people running red lights.
They're all jerks, you just picked on the least common but most sensational ones.
Seriously, how many times a day do you see someone running a red light? On my 8 mile commute to work in LA, I'd say at least a couple at every intersection..
benson2175 says:
03:52 PM, 09/12/08
That son is exactly the type of music a douchebag like that would be listening to and not ironically.
tryan says:
03:55 PM, 09/12/08
"ave they not read the latest statistics that show that car accidents are decreasing, but that motorcycle accidents are on the increase?"
Part of that has to do with the current economy and having more riders on the road than before. However, it's not only more riders, it's more inexperienced riders.
I have been riding motorcycles for over a decade now and find that it has made me a better driver. I am more aware of my surroundings than a typical automobile driver and am more apt to anticipating the actions they might take without warning (e.g., changing lanes without signaling).
The riders on these crotch rockets represent the minority of motorcycle riders, and hopefully Darwin does his job expeditiously.
rsholland says:
04:35 PM, 09/12/08
desmolicious
"They're all jerks, you just picked on the least common but most sensational ones."
I picked on it because it effected me and my family directly; twice in one week, three times in one year.
When you get your own blog you can pick your topics. In the meantime I'll pick mine, thank you very much.
cruiserhead1 says:
07:14 PM, 09/12/08
"mo-tards" that's what I'll call them- and it's a legit topic- just like irresponsible drivers but today's topic is motorcycle dumbarses... stay focused kids! ;)
I would be all for Motard stains on the 110, 10 and 5 except they usually take out someone's wife, daughter or mother or their property along with the Motard.
(yes I specified females for maximum dramatic effect. wooooo)
smokeonit says:
01:55 AM, 09/13/08
i guy like that hit me head on, he was passing in a no-pass curve.... bike against bike, head on!
took me 12 months to get back to be able to walk!!! the other guy only broke his arm... i don't think he will change over this accident, which earned me a spot in the handicapped parking....;_(
i only ride in the city now, no more head on highways where idiots like that could hit me head on... i only drive on those highways with my car!!!!
ateixeira says:
07:53 AM, 09/15/08
My family has a history of kidney problems, so we need organ donors like these.
Let 'em.
I just hope they don't hurt anyone besides themselves.
m_thrizzle says:
10:31 AM, 09/15/08
I can see bikers going fast in their own open lane but I'm shocked that they'd zip by cars and lane split while doing those speeds.
Anyone drifting within their lane, merging to another, or even squirting their windshield wiper fluid could cause them to crash (and die at those speeds).
desmolicious says:
03:05 PM, 09/15/08
" picked on it because it effected me and my family directly; twice in one week, three times in one year."
Three times in one year!!! Wow!
Try having to avoid red light runners about 15 times a day, on my way to and from work in LA.
What do you think causes more accidents?
rsholland says:
06:51 PM, 09/15/08
desmolicious... hello... reality check...
We're talking about 2-wheelers hurling themselves down the highway at 120+ mph, weaving in and out of traffic, and you're comparing that to red light runners?
desmolicious says:
04:34 PM, 09/16/08
Yes I am. Look at accident statistics. #1 cause of accidents are people failing to give right of way in intersections.
Where do you think 2 wheelers hurling themselves down the highway at 120 mph rates? Miniscule in comparison. But that's ok cuz you got buzzed by one and so had to write a blog about it.
rsholland says:
06:50 PM, 09/16/08
I think it's more a case, that you being a biker, don't like to see any bad motorcycle press, and therefore have tried to shift the focus off of 120 mph bikers on to red light runners; sweep it under the rug so to speak.
Yeah, I got "buzzed," twice in one week, and decided to write about it. Moving on...
hondacura4 says:
01:55 PM, 09/17/08
I hate it when people say "motorcycles are so dangerous". Its not the bikes that are dangerous its the people. When will people stop blaming everything but themselves?
desmolicious says:
02:36 PM, 09/17/08
" think it's more a case, that you being a biker, don't like to see any bad motorcycle press, and therefore have tried to shift the focus off of 120 mph bikers on to red light runners; sweep it under the rug so to speak."
I see how you chose not to address my statement because hey, that would be dealing with fact instead of drama...
Riding through traffic at 120mph is stupid. But I'll ask again, what is the greater contributor to road fatalities in the US. A handful of nuts riding like idiots on the freeways, or red light runners?
I don't expect an answer as I've seen you've already moved on..