Bad Drivers

Every time I go out, riding leaves me with a certain set of feelings. It’s a little hard to describe at times. One of the feelings that comes up with frequency is frustration. There are entirely too many piss-poor drivers on the road. I don’t mean just a little bad. I mean they’re a danger to everyone around them, especially people on two wheels, and they’re totally oblivious end entitled.

This past weekend Justin was cut off by one such driver. The driver went into his lane with no signal while completely ignoring the rider. Justin slowed down and used his horn. Horn use is really meant as a “hey, watch out!” kind of thing. It can really help. This driver? He proceeded to flip Justin off. What a horrible response.

I’ve had similar happen. On my first big riding day (this was last season), I was in a parking lot and going a reasonable speed in the proper lanes. A cab driver whips through the parking lot, and I thankfully stop quickly or I would have been hit on my right side. He stops. I give a gesture of “watch out” and he got angry and started giving rude gestures. I had a few choice words for him that wound up muffled by the full-face helmet.

More recently I had someone come right into my lane as I was riding. They didn’t see me at all. They didn’t signal. I braked, they continued into the lane where I would have been if I maintained speed. I used the horn, and Justin showed them a gesture of appreciation up ahead.

Be kind, share the road, and check for your blind spots. Even then, some people can’t be helped. Be vigilant.

Protecting from more than theft

A serious concern of riders of all kind deals with the safety of their rides. Not just in terms of crashing--but in terms of theft, vandalism, or other manhandling. Protecting against theft can help you protect against the other issues.

One morning on a weekend not too long ago, we went out and grabbed some breakfast. The bikes were parked at the house. The Duke ALWAYS has its brake disc lock on with a highly visible cord draped from clutch lever to rear brake. It screams "don't play with me." The Ninja has a malfunctioning brake disc lock that had been taken off temporarily (it started doing weird alarm shrieking anytime it was locked, on or off the bike). For that morning I opted to keep the lock off.

When we returned maybe a half-hour later, I saw something bad. Ass-prints! Fresh on my seat. They stand out extremely well on a black, dusty seat. And there it was... someone sat on my bike. The cleft cheeky smudges did not lie. I couldn't believe it.

Nothing was wrong with my bike, it wasn't dropped, it wasn't gouged up... but I still felt a little defiled. Who DOES that? Nobody goes up to a car and just sprawls out on the hood, and they don't invite themselves into a convertible with the roof down. But that's what happens with a motorcycle. And quite often they'll get a little too vigorous and might tip the bike.

The Duke--which is by all accounts a much nicer, newer, and more exciting piece of machinery--was untouched. The bright cord does seem to deter people. It's worth considering, if only to prevent ass-prints. Cables across the seat keeps people off the seat, or at least more reluctant to start grabbing at your bike. My lock and cable cost about $100 CAD together, and a slightly nicer Xena lock and cable will run you $120 CAD or so.

On the nice side of things, some neighbor kids plucked flowers and put them on our gas tanks last summer. It was kind of sweet of them. Weird, but sweet.