Bogeys

[dB]

After what I saw this weekend I'm officially adding late model Mustangs to my list of vehicles that, by their mere presence, instantly trigger a moto-alert. By the time I happened along, a tow truck was winching the twisted remains through brush and over rocks to get it back to the road while two young hotshots stared in disbelief. They'd gone straight through the corner without even a skidmark. A few months ago a kid in a Mustang tried to outrun me on a canyon road and left the roadway twice before I slowed down, afraid he'd hurt himself. The order is now something like:

1. SUVs - big, and a good chance the driver is either on the phone, looking at their self in the mirror, or completely turned around in their seat dealing with the kids

2. Mustangs - thought to be fast and bought for that reason by drivers who are not

3. Volvos - infamous, only this far down on my list because I rarely see them where I currently live

4. Hillbilly Work Trucks - maybe more popular where I live than where you live, characterized by a bed full of lumber, tools, beer cans, dogs, car parts, etc., any or all of which may end up in the road at any second

[Gauss]

Yeah...I guess I gotta agree on the SUV thing...of course I should also mention that my girlfriend drives an SUV (early 90's cherokee), and does it in a very considerate and aware fashion (not her vehicle of choice...just circumstance). And yeah, when my bike was out of commission (due to an SUV initiated incident BTW.."I never saw you") I drove it every day to work and back...still do on the days when the roads are too covered with ice/snow to ride. It's just that people are in general, giant assclowns. And lately, these semen stains have decided it is fashionable to drive an SUV. The size, and unwieldiness of the vehicle only serves to magnify their stupidity and general lack of concern about the welfare of others. But these are individual traits manefesting themselves on a grand scale. There's just so freak'n many SUVs on the road out here in Denver...seems like at least 2 out of 3 vehicles are either light trucks or SUVs...and a lot of them are of the Fordzilla brand of "Jump'n Jesus on a pogo stick, that thing is freak'n huge" , never been off road, 2 wheel drive, trophy SUV. I really hate being on the right hand side of one of those montrosities...huge blind spots...but even when I'm up by the passenger window I can barely see the driver...so I know they won't see me.

But really, for the most part, it's the drivers that worry me...not the vehicles. Such as..

Mr Businessman/Businesswoman/Soccer Mom driving some sort of land tank while talking on the phone/disciplining children. (Or reading the paper! I've seen this too many times during the morning rush hour...) Can you say: "My life is infinitely more important than yours." ?

Then you have the teenage hot-rodders that think they can out-accelerate you...(But, it is fun to edjumicate them aint it? ) or think that its their birthrite to cut you off (see "poor little rich kid out cruising" syndrom)...etc. They come out at like 3 pm on the weekdays....once they're out of class for the day and had their milk and cookies.

But, the ones that worry me the most...really old men in hats....swerving around...blinker on since the defeat of the Kaiser.. Just can't tell what those corpses in waiting are going to do next. (Of course, the female equivalent being the old woman looking through the steering wheel) Senility, blindness, and/or slow reflexes may be cute when they're hocking hamburgers and screaming "Where's the beef?!"...but not so much on the road.

[dB]

Not all SUV drivers are bad, and I don't mean to imply anything immoral about choosing to drive an SUV. My wife, who also rides, drives a CRV which isn't sure if it's a large car or a small SUV.

I mean only that I've seen enough bad behavior by SUV drivers that it triggers a self-preservation alarm when I see one.

[Joel Cool]

The problem I have with SUVs is a simple visibility issue. I can't see around them, can't see over them, can't see under them. They're just in the way. Vans are the same.

Problem I have with every Chevy Citation is the vehicle is in poor mechanical shape. BTW, if I see a red light on the dash of ANY vehicle, that's reason enough to stay away.

In my neighborhood I seem to have problems with most horse trailer-towing rigs. For some reason they can't stay in their own lane.

I haven't had any issues with Mustangs on my outings lately though. Maybe that's telling us that we should go on some ride, db?

Bigest worry for me is deer and blind driveways.
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'01 929RR
Ride well.

[dB]

[quote="Joel Cool]Problem I have with every Chevy Citation is the vehicle is in poor mechanical shape.

I hadn't noticed that one. Good tip with the dash light thing...

In my neighborhood I seem to have problems with most horse trailer-towing rigs. For some reason they can't stay in their own lane.

Hmmm...over on my side of the County they're just painfully slow. Not a problem if you're the first one behind them, but I usually find myself about 20 vehicles back.

I haven't had any issues with Mustangs on my outings lately though. Maybe that's telling us that we should go on some ride, db?

A ride would be great. We'll do it over there so there's no Mustangs.

Bigest worry for me is deer and blind driveways.[/quote]

I second that.

[Jake Harsha]

You mean there is still a Chevy Citation somewhere in the U.S. that's still running?

All the ones up here (northern MN) have been reduced to unrecognizeable heaps of rustflakes and cheap plastic...
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98 VFR800FI

[brysvs]

Speaking of Volvo's being a problem.. have you seen their new commercial which shows how a well designed Volvo can be safe even around evil motorcycle riders?

I have to say.. Volvo has pissed me off at this point.

- Bryan

[faedodo]

SUVs, of course, for all the previously mentioned reasons. And don't those moms that "need" those large passenger capacity vehicles seem to spend an awful lot of time driving around by thewmselves while school is in session. Can't these DINKs afford a gas-sipper for around town errands?

VOLVOs. When your chief concern is looking out for no.1, you must drive the safest thing out there. That accomplished, you can forget any more thoughts of safety, especially when it regards others on the road. Just plough merrily on your way.

TAXIs. Professional drivers. Lazy drivers.

POOL CLEANERs. Those small pick-up trucks with the proverbial ten-foot pole sticking diagonally out of the rear of their six-foot bed. Motokebob, anyone?

GARDENERs. Every landscaping device known to man, all of them strapped and/or hanging on the outside of their truck. Automotive porcupines.

TOYOTA COROLLAs. Used to be Camry drivers, p.o.'d, no doubt, that they couldn't afford the top-of-the-line model. Just plain stupid drivers. Look out especially for the "S" models.

MERCEDES BENZES. After all, it is their road, isn't it?

ACTORs. Here in SoCal, they spend their freeway time memorizing their lines. Just look for the double-spaced scripts with the highlighted passages resting on the steering wheel.

WOMEN. Once paced a woman applying make-up in the fast lane while tailgating at 80mph.

MEN. Guys, use the mirror in your bathroom for shaving.

OVERSLEEPERs. I've seen people eating their breakfast cereal (including milk) with a spoon and the bowl in their lap.

TALKERs. How is it hands-free if you have to hold the microphone in front of your mouth?

CONTROL-FREAKs. Not only do they not not trust their passenger to drive the vehicle, they also must conduct all the cell phone conversations, while consulting the map for driving directions. Might as well have a mannequin in the passenger seat.

I'm sure I've left someone off of the list. Research is twenty years in the making and continuing apace.

[Ames]

There's an a**hole out there for every occasion. SUV's, Volvo's, Trucks, Minivans, Bicycles, you name it. Some vehicles raise my awareness more than others, true, but I've learned that it's safest to assume that EVERYONE is on the road trying to kill, maim, fold, mutilitate, and spindle me at any moment.

There's enough of a public miscomception out there about us, let's not buy into the habit of associating the driver with the vehicle. If I were to do this I'd have to assume that any person who rides a Honda Hurricane is going to do so in flip-flops, teva's, and a tank-topwith no lid. Now, I'm sure that isn't the case...is it?

Cheers,
Ames.[/b]
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If life gives you lemons make lemonaide. If it gives you tomatoes, make Bloody Mary's. If it gives you hand-grenades, now THERE'S a fuckin' message!

[Gauss]

Oh Ames, everybody is not trying to kill you...just me.

And what a**hole is good for a Memorial Day Brunch anyway?

[Joel Cool]

I think faedodo's post was hilarious. Made me laugh.

As for reality, it's my firm opinion that people out there are not trying to take us out, they're simply distracted, and lack the physical and mental skills required to control their vehicle under adverse conditions. I can understand Ames' assumption, and a lot of folks buy into it, but I believe it's more accurate (and therefore more effective) to see others as simply stupid, rather than homicidal.
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'01 929RR
Ride well.

[gregjor]

People who throw crap out of their car window. I've had a burning cigarette butt hit my chest (tried to grab it to throw it back in the car but it got away from my gloves). You don't see trash so much as when I was a kid, but I've seen people dump coffee, soda, entire ashtrays, and disposable diapers out of their windows at speed.

I rode behind a guy last weekend who was picking his nose and flicking the boogers out of his window--not really a hazard but gross.

I've thought about carrying a half-empty Starbucks cup and a chewed up cigar butt in my tank bag, for throwing into the windows of the jerks who throw junk out of their car. Wouldn't that surprise them!
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Greg Jorgensen
Portland, Oregon, USA

'92 BMW K75S
'73 Honda CB350/Four

[ME_Admin]

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