Idiots on the road...
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 240
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From: Minneapolis
Idiots on the road...
I know, idiots on the road is not a new discussion, but I have astory for you all and would appreciate your stories and feedback on this...
I put on maybe 40 miles today just running a couple errands and getting in a little seat-time on my newly-acquired RKC. The bike has a Stage 1 in it, with some Vance & Hines pipes which I would consider moderately loud, but I do not harp on the bike, so the noise is certainly not annoying.
Anyway, about 3 miles into my ride today, I am waiting to turn left out of a parking lot when an old Dodge pickup with those "I wish I was a semi" pipes rolls by. Upon seeing my spit-shined Harley, he floors his truck to let me hear his "killer" pipes. I shake my head, call him a few nice names under my breath and proceed into traffica couple of vehiclesbehind him, telling myself all the while thatI will not stoop to his level. But, we end up at a 4-way stop, side-by-side,as he is turning left, and I am going right...I roll the throttle and give him a free audio show...told myself I wasn't going to do that.
About 2 hours later, I am in an adjacent town in the left lane of a two-lane back street. A 20-something guy in a sh!tbox of an old Toyota Tercel, or something, goes by me and sticks in his clutch and revs his engine a few times as he passes. I just shake my head and mouth a few kind words to him.
I have logged a total of 250 miles on this bike in the week that I have owned it. Was today a fluke, or can I expect to run into moreHarley-envious jerks my whole career? What really gets me is I am 6' 4" and 235lb with a nice biker goatee, full Harley leather, and a pretty mean sneer when I want to wear it...why would idiots want to mess with me? Maybe my half brain-bucket makes me look like a pushover?
I put on maybe 40 miles today just running a couple errands and getting in a little seat-time on my newly-acquired RKC. The bike has a Stage 1 in it, with some Vance & Hines pipes which I would consider moderately loud, but I do not harp on the bike, so the noise is certainly not annoying.
Anyway, about 3 miles into my ride today, I am waiting to turn left out of a parking lot when an old Dodge pickup with those "I wish I was a semi" pipes rolls by. Upon seeing my spit-shined Harley, he floors his truck to let me hear his "killer" pipes. I shake my head, call him a few nice names under my breath and proceed into traffica couple of vehiclesbehind him, telling myself all the while thatI will not stoop to his level. But, we end up at a 4-way stop, side-by-side,as he is turning left, and I am going right...I roll the throttle and give him a free audio show...told myself I wasn't going to do that.
About 2 hours later, I am in an adjacent town in the left lane of a two-lane back street. A 20-something guy in a sh!tbox of an old Toyota Tercel, or something, goes by me and sticks in his clutch and revs his engine a few times as he passes. I just shake my head and mouth a few kind words to him.
I have logged a total of 250 miles on this bike in the week that I have owned it. Was today a fluke, or can I expect to run into moreHarley-envious jerks my whole career? What really gets me is I am 6' 4" and 235lb with a nice biker goatee, full Harley leather, and a pretty mean sneer when I want to wear it...why would idiots want to mess with me? Maybe my half brain-bucket makes me look like a pushover?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
RE: Idiots on the road...
ORIGINAL: Cryptoboy
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Doesn't bother me at all...just find it interesting human behavior and am curious if this happens to everyone or just to us here in MN? LOL...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 1,079
From: Brandon, Mississippi
RE: Idiots on the road...
ORIGINAL: Cryptoboy
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Ride On!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
RE: Idiots on the road...
If you drive trucks, it's the air horns...... When you ride a Harley, it's all about the exhaust note!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
RE: Idiots on the road...
ORIGINAL: AzDon
If you drive trucks, it's the air horns...... When you ride a Harley, it's all about the exhaust note!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
If you drive trucks, it's the air horns...... When you ride a Harley, it's all about the exhaust note!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 197
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From:
RE: Idiots on the road...
ORIGINAL: MarkThomas
Hey Crypto-
Doesn't bother me at all...just find it interesting human behavior and am curious if this happens to everyone or just to us here in MN? LOL...
ORIGINAL: Cryptoboy
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Man, if piddly stuff like that bugs you so much, please stay off the highway! You'll either get run over or go postal (or both!)
Doesn't bother me at all...just find it interesting human behavior and am curious if this happens to everyone or just to us here in MN? LOL...
In other words I get ya, I felt the same looks, nods, revs, and line jumps from other drivers... still do but now I just double knickle right by and leave them lookin
Welcome to club, ride safe
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 672
Likes: 1
From: Southern Indiana
RE: Idiots on the road...
Mr Thomas, you andOfficespacedout need to loosen up and realize that most people love Harleys and are just playin with ya. People say things, signal and do various things to me all the time and I consider it a compliment unless I see a gun or that old lady that threw a cup of water??? on me...all good fun. I have found that a lot of them are HD owners also.
Rick
Rick
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 530
Likes: 1
From: Dixie
RE: Idiots on the road...
ORIGINAL: AzDon
If you drive trucks, it's the air horns...... When you ride a Harley, it's all about the exhaust note!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
If you drive trucks, it's the air horns...... When you ride a Harley, it's all about the exhaust note!
Others are just trying to communicate that they get it!
Embrace the mystique, own up to it and wear like a badge of honor. You are riding the bike that Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory can only wish that they could be.
When people acknowlege you in a friendly manner, it's okay to answer, really!
This behavior you are witnessing is just camaraderie.
Don't be so full of yourself as to view every action as a confrontation!
I had some old (and I mean OLD) guy rev his 4cyl p/u truck next to me at a light all while giving me the sideways steel eye.
So, I goosed it to the next light. He pulls up cacklng with a huge grin. I guess he just wanted to see me launch and make some noise for him.
Get over yourself.