This is sort of what I was thinking. Not that they’re (or we’re) trying to be intimidating, but that not being able to see the eyes might be construed as intimidating by some people. (Side note: I know cops like to wear shades for the purpose of intimidating people. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud when I was pulled over for speeding one morning well before sunrise, and the cop was wearing shades. )
Damn that’s an awful wide brush. Gotta cite for this?
This is IMHO.
Once had the opportunity to spend an evening with a friend at his “club house” secret knock on the door, tied up rottweilers in the back, black out windows. What did we find inside? A pool table,pop dispenser filled with beer, twinkling christmas lights and somebody was running the vacuum. It was christmas eve and a slow night,i remember there was a gal at the bar who didn’t look at us, but soon her “date” arrived and off they went upstairs. Just a few guys hanging around doing domestic type things, getting ready for boxing day i suppose. still they were hardcore bikers and i was intimidated.
The only time motorcyclists intimidate me is when I am in the pits at an event, up close to those machines…makes your heart race and you knees get jellied.
Generally, the main intimidating thing about motorcyclists is the big threat to my insurance; I’m wondering what idiotic maneuvers they’re going to pull that I’ll have to look out for. I mean, don’t slip between stopped cars on the road and pull out 10 feet in front of me, don’t do that insane ‘ride on the line’ bit, etc. While I’ve read a lot of complaints from motorcyclists about how dangerous car drivers are, from my experience it’s the cyclists who are completely oblivious to basic road safety.
Damn, it must have been the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing instead of my riding gear!
I’d just like to thank the people here who actively give bikers a little more room on the road. We do take the extra risk by choice, and a siginificant minority of bikers make us all look like anti-socials with a death wish. But it’s nice to know that some people will give us some space regardless, knowing how vulberable we are on the road. It’s appreciated!
I drive a lot and I ride a lot. I’d have to say I observe more bone-headed maneuvers from car drivers than from motorcyclists.
Re: Lane splitting. This is legal in California. I remember reading an article in CA Biker about 10 years ago that said the CHP made a study and concluded that lane-splitting is “not particularly dangerous”. In my personal experience, I’ve found that people who split lanes generally know what they are doing (except for some “squids”, but they’re in the minority) and that people who are not comfortable with the maneuver don’t do it. I think it’s not the motorcyclists who are the problem, but “left-seat passengers” who fail to be observant while operating a ton and a half of machinery. YMMV.
I’d like to second Coldie in thanking those car drivers who give motorcyclists a little extra room.
Johnny I guess I know you too well. I can’t see you as ever being intimidating.
Boscibo is right. The import bikers are dressed for a day at the beach and they’re always poppin’ wheelies and weaving in and out of traffic. The Harley guys look a bit menacing to some (I used to run with that kind of biker), but they’re infinitely better drivers (just an observation…sorry no cites), and they frequently have loads of money and big fat jobs. How else can you afford the Harleys?
Nope. Not even bikers, really. My brother belonged to a motorcycle “club” (they don’t call them gangs) and has been a life-long motorcyclist. I find those all tricked out in leathers amtched to their bikes sort of amusing, as I also find those like my next-door neighbor whose Harley is all chromed and customized. He hardly ever takes it really “on the road” - he’ll putter up and down the neighborhood streets a few times when the weather is nice and spends a lot of time pressure-washing and polishing it. His chihuahuas wear little Harley bandannas. People like that seem to buy bikes more for the looks they get than for love of the bike.
I doalways give motorcyclists a wide berth on the highway, and try to watch out for them. If I have seen one, I always make sure I know where it is before I change lanes, etc.
StG
Motorcycles are hot. Its a distraction when I’m driving really, because I get grumbly about having to watch the road rather than the pretty people on the pretty machines.
All-clad riders aren’t intimidating. Neither are bikers. Usually the first thing I think of when I see a biker is “I wonder if he smells bad?”
There are some punks around here who race around on their crotch rockets on the neighborhood streets. Sometimes I want to string a piano wire across the road…lop…problem solved!
The only bikers I find annoying are the CHiP bikers. (You know, like the tv show, but in real life.) Once again, no cite, but 9 out of 10 times they’ll be going easily 90 to 100mph IMHO, changing lanes without signals, squeezing between two cars, etc. I understand bikers lane splitting when traffic is backed up, but why must these cops pass me on the right (I’m usually going about 80) while I’m passing someone else? If there’s an emergency, put on your lights and sirens. If not, obey the damn law! Besides them, I just give bikers some extra room and gaze enviously at their bikes.
On preview, I see this is a little off topic. I think I’ll post it anyway, but I am sorry for the mild hijack.
-tool
neither bikers or motorcyclists are intimidating. when i see a rider fully leathered up my only real reaction is “appropiate clothing…good”. now if you’re driving around on a bike without full leathers and a full face helmet my reaction is “retard, still one less for the gene pool”
that said i dont ride, so my understanding of bike clothing and its actual safety could be off.
Good question Johnny. I’ve actually been thinking of something along this line the past couple weeks. It’s spring here so because of the storms, my daily commutes are split pretty even between car and bike. I’ve noticed that in a car, moving or stopped, when I take a look at the guy/girl next to me, they are looking at me. On a bike, everyone next to me is always looking straight ahead, even at long lights or traffic jams. It’s as though they are avoiding looking at me at all costs. Sometimes when at lights I’ll notice people looking out of the corner of their eye, but will not turn and make eye contact. Just today, I stopped at a store on the way home to get a CD and when leaving, just as I started the bike and was getting on, a guy jumped into the SUV next to me and fired it up. I looked directly at him, trying to wave him out first but he just sat there doing the eye flick thing. Finally I just backed out and went home.
Along with what Coldfire said, I am not above following the rare person who cuts me off, even if it means changing lanes constantly or down many sidestreets, just for my own amusement of watching them constantly looking in their mirror at the “scary motorcycle guy who they almost ran over” and then eventually pull next to them and look at them, only to look at a wide eyed person doing an eye flick. Just wave at me after you cut me off and all is cool. Shit happens. You’d do it if I was in a car. But if you ignore me, I’m gonna have some fun.
My theory is it is because of the helmet. When at a gas station, or anyplace else, I wind up talking to at least a couple of people asking questions about the bike, helmet, jacket, my bravery/lack of intelligence for riding a bike, etc. When the helmet is on though, nothing.
Also have to add that I am more frightened in my commute in a car than I am on a bike. People here are nuts. In my car, I’m a bit scared of the freeway. I was never scared in LA. My wife, a So. Cal native is still scared to death of our 270. I was here a week and swore I’d never ride a bike out here, until I noticed that cars in general give a huge cushion to bikes once they see them. They stay an extra length back, will fall behind you on ramps rather than fight to get in front of you, things like that. I’m convinced that most do it out of their own fear of killing someone rather than denting a fender, but for the people that actually do it out of consideration, many many thanks!
If it’s not dangerous for motorcyclists to drive in the few feet of space between cars that are in adjacent lanes, why do you even notice “a little extra room” on the road under other circumstances, much less appreciate it enough to mention it? I don’t buy it - if “Lane Splitting” isn’t dangerous, then you shouldn’t care about cars leaving you extra space when you’ve already got far more space than is involved in such a non-dangerous activity.
Lane splitting is not particularly dangerous.
We usually don’t need extra space between lanes, but it’s easier to do when there is more room.
I don’t need the security person to hold the office door open for me, but I thank her anyway.
You may not believe that this common practice is “safe”, but I assure you that it is as long as a car driver does not do something very stupid.
Proper lane splitting is done, not at highway speeds, but at reduced speeds, such as those found in traffic jams and traffic lights. This is actually much safer for the motorcyclist (or biker ) than sitting in traffic, waiting for someone in a car to plow into them from behind.
A “little extra room” on the road at speed translates into a HUGE increase in the rider’s comfort level. I can’t count how many times I have had people drive less than 5 feet from my rear tire. Remember that I can bring my bike to a stop from 100 mph in less distance than you can stop your car from 50 mph. Less weight, and proportionally more braking power = less stoping distance. So if you are following a bike at 70 mph, and (s)he has to perform an emergency braking manuver, chances are that you will end up with a new hood ornament, and a very very anger/injured motorcyclist.
Remember, motorcycles are everywhere. Look out for us. I’m getting really tired of knocking on windows at 70.
I believe that’s true. I have family members who are weekend Harley riders, and they ride with full black leather and chains biker gear, unkept grooming and scowls on their faces. In real life, they are dyed in the wool suburban yuppies. So, I pretty much assume most of the hard ass bikers I see are the same. 'Course, I’ve also met some of the real guys, Detroit Outlaws who knew my father, when I was a kid. You can smell those guys before you see them. They sold me an untitled 70’s Kawasaki 110 Enduro for $40. Likely stolen, but God I loved that bike.
Leg Burner rider a’la Biker Boyz+driving Mach 10 on the Washington Beltway on Friday nights=moron=not intimidating