So, how do we start fighting back.....

[Bmarchant]

Hi Guys,
Been reading on this site and the V-twin forum site about all the bikes getting hit by cars. We had a police officer from Plastow NH while off duty, get cut off on his bike and end up in ICU. Just in the last five days, I've been cut off seven times, one so bad, that I had the bike sliding (on a chopper), and ended up in the breakdown lane, going around the guy. The guy wouldn't pull over, so we discussed it at the next set of lights.


One mini van passed me while in the right turn only lane (for the mall), then changed lanes into me. The horn did nothing, but when I gunned it, he looked over and I was two feet from his window screaming at him. I tried to get him to pull over but he dropped back and got out of there. The bark from the Big Dog saved me.

This past week, in Rochester NH, one of our motorcycle cops was cut off by a driver (I was a few hundred feet behind him). He was not happy at all. He pulled him over, and I could hear him screaming at the driver as I went by.

So what do you guys do when you've had enough of this crap! I can't get them to pull over, so I now keep pennies in my jacket pocket to toss behind me on to there windshield and paint to get there attention. I also keep a bandanna with a padlock tied to it to swing at the car since I was hurting my left hand from back fisting the side window.

The laws dont protect us, in fact, most are making it so one of the only things that saves us, the loud pipes are being taken away by lowering the decibel limit. Riding in pairs seem to help a little. I've also learned to avoid certain roads that seem to have a lot more issues. I've been riding since I was 12, thank god! Riding in the dirt as a kid has saved my life a few times while on the street. Most people don't have that experiance.

Bmarchant

 

[PROFLYER]

I just shoot back.


Kidding, but I'd like to. I carry one of the leather whips with the ceramic heads on the fray ends. I've taken out 3 windows so far. I figure if they wanna chase me down, come get some cuz once I'm off the bike out comes the .45

 

[BIKERDAD61]

I've had several close calls but the worst one, there were 8 of us riding stagger on a two lane road. And some guy goes to pass us all, the fucking idiot see's he can't make it past, so he veers back into the driving lane right beside me, so I'm hugging the edge of the road and this guy is driving along like it's no big deal and he's 2 ft from my left side at 45 mph!!!!!!! :angry:
He's lucky he kicked it in the ass and passed at the next opportunity cause if there would have been a traffic light or stop sign I would have busted his side window and then his fucking nose!!!!!
I'm just waiting for the time when it's an idiot on a cell phone that pulls a stupid stunt, I'm going to chase them down and stomp the damn phone in the pavement. Please come visit me in jail

 

[Staffy]

Totally off but relative in ways - After reading a couple of disturbing post these last couple of weeks (wish all, my prayers, thoughts and a quick recovery) I got myself a DOT helmet.
Not here to stir up a debate or hijack the thread but I feel its starts by taking personal responsibility, next on to other steps...
....don't carry a gun - never will, but even if I did would still need to stay alive to use it - :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Ride safe - Staffy

 

[N8KAM]

I had a close call last year while in Laconia... Our place is just off RT11 and i had been watching this guy behind me Talking on his phone for a little over a mile or two...i wanted to put some space between him and me before i turn. I sped up and the bike gives a good bark so i figures he had to know i was there ...... turn signal on left arm up slow down and chk my mirror just before i turn ..... CRAP this guy is still on the phone and oblivious to me making a RIGHT turn..:angry: :angry: :angry: so at the last minute i swing to the oncoming lane "thankfully no traffic" and stop just as he passes me on the RIGHT side, I Rev the 117 and YELL at him you should have seen the look on his face Like "where did he come from"... MORONS. on the road.....
I like the penny idea.. :2thumbs:

 

[txchopperguy]

Marbles wook good instead of pennies...they bounce and roll better.

 

[woodbutcher]

gravel doesn't leave fingerprints and it could have come from anywhere.

 

[drummin777]

I have a buddy that uses fishing weights.

Another story, a true story, I was 15 and in the truck with my buddy who was 16. We were cruising town, checking out chicks, you know, young and turned loose. So we were cruizing town and my buddy checked his mirrors, then switched lanes. Well he didnt see the guy on his harley that was right next to us. He cuts the guy off, and runs him into on coming traffic, almost killing him. Keep in mind this was an honest mistake, no horseplay or cell phone. Anyway, the guy swerves back over and gets on our ass. My buddy is freaking out, and pulls over into the next parking lot because he is scared half to death. Well and so pulls over this 350lb. biker who is mad as hell and about to whip some ass. It was dark, but I could see him getting off his bike ready to kill whoever was in that truck. So this big Mother of a man gets up to the truck and jerks the door open, I turn to him and realize I am now looking my father eye to eye. He stopped, and started pacing trying to calm his self back down. I started crying thinking about the fact we almost killed him. I tried to explain we didnt see him, but at the time he couldnt even speak, he got back on his bike and left. Horrible, horrible feeling to think what if we had killed my dad. He came home hours later, after he cooled down, and told me to call Michael (my buddy), and get him over. Then he had a long talk with us about watching for motorcyclist on the road and such. Man I hate that story, horrible feeling.

 

[Bmarchant]

Drummin77,
I feel for you. Thank god you didnt' have to live with having done that.

I had my girlfriend on my sportbike in 1990, when a car pulls out right in front of me. I hit both brakes, and slid the ass end like a flat tracker, trying to stop. She was digging her nails into my side, drew blood. I actually missed his car, and didnt' go down. I owe it to screwing around on a dirt bike as a kid, cutting cookies in the dirt for fun. I got the bike under control, came to a stop, and went after him. He tried to hide behind the high school. I go up to his car, and its a 16 year old and he is freaking out and scared. I didn't say a word, and I walked away. Figured he got the message.

Your story wins the award, hands down.


N8KAM,
I live just off rt11. Most of these close calls are happening on that road. Its nuts now, with all the people living on winni, traveling to Ma. Wait till you see what its like this year.

A lady two houses down was just in a bad car accident two months ago on rt 11, she was turning left, and the guy slams into her doing 60 MPH, killing himself, his kid, and the dog in the car, sending her into oncoming traffic. He only had $100,000 insurance, and hers med bills are $130,000 and nothing she can do. She now owes $30,000 and she'll never walk again, she is loosing her house, her harley, and she can't work for at least a year. Just isn't right.

 

[txchopperguy]

She needs to sue his estate...as bad as that sounds.

 

[Finn]

gravel doesn't leave fingerprints and it could have come from anywhere.

My thoughts exactly.:up:

 

[Bmarchant]

TXchopper,
Here is a good one..... The wife is being cared for by the state. As soon as the husband died, the state of NH took the home to pay for her. There is no estate. Even though she had insurance too, she also can't go after her own insurance company, because in NH its double dipping. Her insurance and his insurance were both 100K /300K ..... So she got the max, and thats it. This has made me think about my coverage now.

 

[BLITZKRIEG]

We had a Long Talk recently with Jerry Friedman about Coverage, Jerry is a Long time Motorcycle Advocate and extremely active in the helmet laws of various stats, He's a Lawyer in case you don't recognize the name. He explained that MOST Motorcycle coverage is inadequate meaning that most of us, do not have the maximum which in my particular state is
350k The difference between the minimum and max is less then 150 Dollars for the year, but it could be the difference between you or your family loosing the house if something happens to you. It's also up to you to challenge your insurance carrier, because from his words, THEY DO NOT TELL YOU THIS UNTIL IT's TOO LATE.

He's always Willing to discuss this with anyone who wants to know the ins and outs. Jerry Friedman, Esa. - - The Motorcycle Attorney

The Fact is, that chasing people down and beating the snot out of them, won't change others from making the mistake, I have to believe that in Most cases, it is not intensional, although I've dented a few doors out of anger. truth be told, you probably shake them up so bad they have no business getting behind the wheel and go off and kill someone else.

It's up to you to be Defensive always, don't give them the opportunity to cut you off, stay alert. This of coarse is never an absolute, but it's how I ride.

 

[Bmarchant]

Hi Blitzkrig,
Good post. It has me looking at my coverage now. As far as beating the snot out of them, if we can't change the masses, change them one at a time. You pound one person, and everyone that see's them is gonna ask how they got there jaw broken. " tell two people, and they tell two, and so on, and so on........."

If it wasn't for driving defensively, I wouldn't be here now. Its not always possible to keep them from cutting you off. You can expect them to do it, but you can't always react fast enough in every case.

 

[chaingunner]

Beating the hell out of an ass that is on the phone sound all good, until they happen to be a fellow gun "Nut".... then the tables can turn.... just sayin, careful who you challenge....

 

[Steve]

I can't say from years of street riding but I rode dirt bikes when I was a kid for 10 or 15 years. Personally, I drive offensively. I have been riding street for a few months now and already got cut a few times. I just expect it from everybody. I drive the same way in my truck and only got it a few small fender benders my entire life -- watch my fuckin luck will change! I'll leave it at that.
Steve.

 

[woodbutcher]

what it all boils down to is- a cage hits you, usually you're fucked; if you hit a cage, usually you're fucked. be careful out there, don't want to lose any members or their families/friends.

 

[waykool]

What ever you do don’t try kicking the mirror off of the car as you pass by. Those suckers are bolted on pretty good now days.

 

[Slider]

"The bad-ass biker gets out of the way of the dickhead driver, knowing that each may be well-armed with deadly strength and may kill the other. Avoiding conflict, he saves his own life and that of the dickhead. This is not cowardice. It is the love of riding, for he lives to ride another day"

 

[chacha]

Blitz has it right -- the cagers are not going to learn anytime soon. My strategy is to ride like I'm totally fuck'n invisible and position the ride assuming the asses out there are going to fuck up. Lots of good writing out there on defensive riding "Staying Safe" is a classic. But then again the author was killed by a fucking deer coming out of the forest.

Something to consider is that forums are pretty permanent records these days...so under advice of legal counsel, I have NOT done the following things in the past three years in the Northern Virginia area.

1) Smashed a soccer mom's right side mirror when she pulled out in front with no warning
2) Pulled a guy out of his car when he made a totally illegal passing on the right in front of a left turning bike - slamming on his brakes and skidding into a mail box to avoid the crash. He did not cry like a baby and beg not to have his ass kicked in.
3) Stop in light traffic when being pushed and tailgated by a rushing soccer mom with her kids in the car. I did not put the kickstand down and go back to say, "I will fuck you in the ass right here if you do not get off mine."