Topic: Karma for Cagers...

[HavocTurbo]

So on Sat my cousin had her graduation party from high school.

They live in Arlington Heights so the ride isn't much over an hour with traffic.

Got there fine even though there were several BMW owners that tried to run me off the road because I left the slightest gap in the lane. I love chicago traffic but my parents were riding their Ultra Classic II and I couldn't ride like a maniac.

Party was great. But it was beginning to look as if the sky was going to drown us all so we headed for home.

Not five minutes after we left the party the skies opened up. Me being the "badass" of the group I elected to leave my raingear at home. No biggie it's only water.

Somewhere outside of Harvard and Chemung I got a car on my ass. And not like 10 feet away run you down if you have to stop quick on my ass but I mean trying to hop on the back end of the seat on my ass.

So I try to offer him some needed advice and flash my brake lights at him to get him to back off. Didn't work so well.

The cager decided that I wasn't going fast enough for him and started honking his horn and flashing his lights.

I even slowed down in a passing zone to let him by, he only got more upset and was yelling at me from his window.

Now any normal sane person would and should pull over and let him pass. (a 3000lb+ car is a menacing thing at 65mph) But not me. I flat refuse to give them any room because I have every right to the road. Especially at 20 over the speed limit in the rain.


When it happened.

I hit a bump, the bike got extremely loud, and the car dropped from my ass like a 200 ton bomb falling from the sky. My single muffler had broken off.

Now mind you it was pouring down rain and I was in a t-shirt and jeans and a full face helmet. I wasn’t going to stop because I was already uncomfortable and I would have killed him if he opened his mouth.

Anyone have a muffler for an 80 Yamaha XS850 sitting around?

[HavocTurbo]

When I got home I checked the bike out...

No broken lights, not missing anything (other than the muffler) and everything worked.

So I know he wasn't trying to tell me my flashers or anything didn't work.

[Inigo Montoya]

That is awesome! Even better if the muffler bounced up into his radiator!

[HavocTurbo]

I have no idea what or if any damage resulted from it. It was too dark.

Would have been nice to know though. I hope he got my license plate and called the cops.

[tramp]

some drivers have no respect for a bike
it's something you have to live with or don't ride

[gregimotis]

Caltrops for cagers - Somebody call Cycle-X with that suggestion.

[HavocTurbo]

Caltrops?

I'm slow sorry.

[Damfino]

So on Sat my cousin had her graduation party from high school.

They live in Arlington Heights so the ride isn't much over an hour with traffic.

She didn't happen to graduate from Prospect H.S. in Mt. Prospect did she?

[HavocTurbo]

To be honest I don't really know.

I'll ask my mom. She's always current on that stuff.

[sangyo soichiro]

I have no idea what or if any damage resulted from it. It was too dark.

Would have been nice to know though. I hope he got my license plate and called the cops.

I hope it popped his tire.  Don't worry though, since it was a bike falling apart, they're probably looking for a Harley.   

[gregimotis]

Caltrops (from Wiki:

made up of two or more sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). They may be thought of as the landmines of antiquity

[Damfino]

To be honest I don't really know.

I'll ask my mom. She's always current on that stuff.

Not important Hav,  Just asking because that's my old alma mater. Grew up in Mt. Prospect and graduated from there back in 1983. 

[FunJimmy]

First off, you should have moved to the right and allowed him to pass.
If you aren’t a traffic cop stop acting like one, it's not your responsibility to enforce the speed limits.
Being right isn’t going to help you much when you are punted into the ditch.
I would also suggest caring a pocket full of marbles.
Toss one in the air and see how fast the tail gaiter backs off.

Don’t forget, you are an ambassador for the motorcycling community every time you get on your motorcycle.

[Shenanigans]

I would also suggest caring a pocket full of marbles.
Toss one in the air and see how fast the tail gaiter backs off.

Don’t forget, you are an ambassador for the motorcycling community every time you get on your motorcycle.

 

[gregimotis]

Beat me to it.

[Duke McDukiedook]

How is that karma if your muffler fell off?
2 lane or 4 lane divided highway?

[HavocTurbo]

First off, you should have moved to the right and allowed him to pass.
If you aren’t a traffic cop stop acting like one, it's not your responsibility to enforce the speed limits.
Being right isn’t going to help you much when you are punted into the ditch.
I would also suggest caring a pocket full of marbles.
Toss one in the air and see how fast the tail gaiter backs off.

Don’t forget, you are an ambassador for the motorcycling community every time you get on your motorcycle.

Maybe I wasn't clear. I did slow down considerably in the passing zones and even moved over as much as I could when it went to two lanes. I have no idea why but he was being an ass.

How is that karma if your muffler fell off?
2 lane or 4 lane divided highway?

He was being an #$%* after I made every attempt short of stopping to let him by. Those actions got him a flying muffler at his car.

Went from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and back multiple times. He stuck on my ass the whole way.

[Duke McDukiedook]

So you went to the driving (right) lane to let him pass in the passing (left) lane?
And he just kept on your keister?
Meh.
 

[HavocTurbo]

Yes.

Also keep in mind I was following my parents on their bike. We weren't weaving in traffic or cutting people off or doing anything other than speeding.

He's a retired police officer. That work for you FJ?

[HavocTurbo]

I was just joshin with you.

Regardless of anyone's opinion I know (at least I think I do) that I did everything I thought I could do to let him by.

If he refuses to go around me and pursue's me in the manner that he did he deserved everything he got. (in my opinion)

The driving climate in America is completely different than anywhere else. We are more aggressive as individuals and most of the time people are of the opinion that they are above the law simply because they are late. Since I turned 18 I have ridden a bike as often as possible and have since changed my attitude towards other drivers.

My uncle (he teaches MSF classes) said it best:

"Treat every other person on the road as if they were there to kill you."

[FunJimmy]

I even slowed down in a passing zone to let him by, he only got more upset and was yelling at me from his window.

I’m not trying to be insensitive to your situation, but it sounded like you were trying to make a point that your speed was above the posted limit and that was sufficiently fast for him too. After all, I assumed he was beside you when yelling from his window.

Now any normal sane person would and should pull over and let him pass. (a 3000lb+ car is a menacing thing at 65mph) But not me. I flat refuse to give them any room because I have every right to the road. Especially at 20 over the speed limit in the rain.

My stepfather would always take the position that he had the legal right to drive in any lane as long as he maintained the legal speed limit. He went on to state, that a lane change for the purpose of allowing a speeder to pass increased the risk (presumably of crashing while changing lanes) to him and the occupants of his vehicle.

This type of righteous attitude is not necessarily uncommon among drivers and is the route cause of a lot of road rage felt all over North America.

If I miss read your post, I apologize.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Maybe he was trying to tell you you're muffler was about to fall off. 

[HavocTurbo]

Maybe he was trying to tell you you're muffler was about to fall off. 

Wouldn't you roll alongside to tell someone that?

Instead of yelling out your window from behind? Especially in a 4lane?

[sangyo soichiro]

I had a guy tail me through winding roads, stop signs, through town, past my house, yada yada just the other night.  He wanted to tell me my tail light was out.  I redid my rear end and I currently only have a brake light.  I'm still trying to find that perfect LED for the running light.

Anyway, I thanked him and that was that.  But he never endangered my life.  I just thought it was funny that we were headed to the same place and taking the same strange winding route to get there.   

[Duke McDukiedook]

You got the wink part, right?