Rant for today Bike related

Saw two groups of riders and they were driving normal (staggered style) maybe 25 bikes to a pack with I'd say a half mile between them I would have been proud to ride with either of them.

I came to the second group as I entered the crown of a long dip on the road they (second group) were just coming down the other side.

Some idiot on a crotch rocket went between all of then almost causing one of the worst bike accidents as he surprised all those other riders, and did a victory wheelie as he went past me.

My biggest beef is .. Why are these machines allowed on the road? I have yet seen anyone that rides one ride it with respect to themselves or others. I ask a dealer one time what people see in these things .. He said "0 to 100."

No one is allowed to run a Nascar on the road so why allow something on two wheels that is only built for racing ??

I agree. You see them dipping in and out of traffic all the time around here.

I entered a pursuit with one just about a month ago. My Crown Vic topped out just over 130, the bike was running about 155 the best I could tell. He crashed about 12 miles later after I terminated my chase. He hit a fence just over 100 on a good curve. Broken leg, arms, ribs and more. Lucky to be alive, even after we found a gun on his side. Biggest waste of aluminum to be on the road.

Was doing about 110 mph on the autobahn in the left lane when one passed me on the left so fast that it sounded like a hornet and was out of site before I got my self back in grip and looked for it. Few minutes later traffic was stopped and the first folks on scene were covering what they could and had to pick up an arm and leg to bring to the pile. The people in the car that ran over him (after the gaurdrail took off his arm and leg) were basket cases............

It's not the bike's fault if the rider is an idiot. I know quite a few old pharts who ride crotch rockets because they appreciate having a bike that doesn't drag parts every time you go around a corner. The fact that a motorcycle is dog-slow (in other words, a Harley) doesn't make it safe; that's the rider's job.

My son in law dumped a bike last year,broken collar bone blood clot in lung.Just last month his cousin died on a motor cycle while passing a tractor trailer that was turning left.The loud pipes are awful here.What makes these fools think we want to listen to their noise.Sold my bike over 50 years ago.

If they could not avoid crashing if another motorcycle sped past them, what would have happened if someone in a car pulled out in front of them? Would they be able to properly brake and swerve, or would they have to "lay er" down"? Not all motorcyclists are skilled in operational skills, and not all are lucky. Just because you can dress up as a pirate and ride around in a rolling road block does not mean you know how to ride. IMHO the weekend no-exhaust parade riders can be just as bad as the young idiots full of pi$$ and vinegar as far as lack of skill and judgement is concerned.

Another thing I wonder is why are some motorcycles allowed on the road without mufflers? Way louder than anything else and not allowed otherwise.

Yes MarkB, it's not the Bike's falt, just like, when some one use's a gun in the wrong way, it's not the gun's falt, but most don't see it that way.

Just using Common Sense is what it takes, and as I've said before, you can't find Common Sense Most places.

you can't learn Common Sense, you just have to be born with it, or you live like a loser.

Well it is not really the bike that is the problem it is who is sitting one it. Way back when Kawasaki came out with the mach 3 and 4 the 3 cylinder 2 cycle that was very fast but the guys I knew that rode them rode fast but also respected other riders. I my self have always like to ride fast and have had some real fast bikes but again I do/did respect others and rode as if they where my best friend so yep some of the new riders do not care but that is true with people in cars and trucks also

I am a rider and have many friends both male and female that ride. That being said, I know around where I live there are those that will always be idiots on the road when they get a high horsepower machine between their legs. On the other side 90% of the riders in my area are good, safe riders that don't break the law like pulling wheelies down the road in traffic, speeding or just making a nusance(sp) of themselves. They save their hooliganism for the track, Pacific Raceways. It is much safer, no cars, and controlled, track day organization, where they break you down into groups based on your ability and experience.

It's that 10% that get reported on the news or are out doing stupid stuff in public that give the safe law abiding riding public a very bad name.

Another thing, when I ride I am always much more observant on what is going on around me than when I am driving my truck. Reason being, on a bike your protection is what you are wearing and your ability to react to what is going on around you. In a car you have a metal cage around you for protection and a lot more rubber to help with stopping ability and control.

Yes I have been cut off by cars and have come close to being run over and hit by inattentive drivers. Did it stop me from riding? No. Riding to me is a type of freedom and enjoyment that I don't get to often during the rainy season here in the Puget Sound.

When I ride I have the same feeling that a dog gets when it sticks it's face out the window when riding in a car down the road. Pure enjoyment.

By the way, I'm 47 years old and ride a Ducati 748 sport bike, not a crotch rocket, that I have swapped a 999 engine into.

Leonard

I too have a problem with the motorcycles (mainly Harley) that run with modified exhaust (loud). I have no problem with normal cycles. If a car were to emit such noise, I believe they would be ticketed. There is a wealth of revenue to the law enforcement with the balls to issue these peace disturbers tickets.

Remember when we were young and foolish to run loud mufflers on our cars, we were always subject to getting tickets. Not so for motorcycles.

Darwin award time in Motorcycle section. Should note that some of the younger drivers localy have had car chases over 100mph in town. And the 5 time older drunks have caused some damage with cars. A race bike replica- the "R" in models- is cheaper than a just as fast car so some people are getting cheap speed capability. As for noisy pipes? Newer models are supposed to be quiter by law, some police and sherrifs departments will get a decible meter and have it paid for in a month of inspections at road side. Next 6 months is mostly county court profit and the related vehicle inspections will turn up a monthly couple drug transport confiscations and a stolen recovery- job security for corrections and court clerks. Next year is a lot quiter on road. RN.

I have more a problem with the bicycles who wont get out of the way when Im coming up the road than I do some nut on a crotch rocket. He'll kill himself sooner or later.The cyclist around here think they own the roads and can do whatever they want....Sorry, blast away!

How did you ever get a Crown Vic to go 130? It must have been downhill! The ones we had would NEVER reach 120...not enough power to get past the wind drag.

On the other hand, the Police Interceptor Crown Victorias were some of the best cop cars I ever drove. They held together really well, were very repairable if you wrecked them, had good, predictable handling, and most were still working pretty good at 150K miles.

The old rear drive Chevy Caprices were faster, probably 130mph capable with the 350 engine, but they did not hold together nearly as well as the Fords. We had lots of transmission troubles with our Chevys, and almost none with the Fords.

We will miss the Crown Vics, and the jury is still out on the Taurus police package replacements. I hope they hold together nearly as well. They also sure are expensive, but so are the competitor cars. I remember when we bought cars for about $6K and worried about how the county could afford to pay for them. I also only made about $15K/year in those days.

I still wonder how you ever got a Crown Vic to go 130? Our experience was that they just would not go that fast. Which didn't matter much since now days most pursuits are ordered terminated almost at once. Too dangerous, and not worth it. Be careful out there!

There is nothing wrong with the crotch rockets.They truly aid in culling the gene pool. The stupid ones who ride them recklesly don't reproduce!!! LOL
Seriously, I have been down hard twice on motorcycles. Each time other than not riding, there is no way I could have prevented either one. When I see people take chances or not wear the proper gear, it makes me cringe.