Do you get challenged in your bike?

My favorite one was years ago riding my '83 Interceptor. A 5.0L Fox Body Mustang pulls up next to me at a stop light, gives my bike a look over and then starts shooting me revs. I knew the Interceptor could leave him for dead but across the intersection was an overpass to the freeway below and you can't see over it from the light. Never the less I leaned far forward on the bike, shot him a few revs back and then held the RPMs at about 4000, when the cross traffic light turned yellow. On the green he dropped the clutch hard and made a rather impressive "leave" with well controlled wheel spin and this was before TCS. At the green I calmly let the revs back down to idle, calmly shifted into 1st and pulled away from the stop in a leisurely manner as the Mustang disappeared over the top of the overpass. When I reached that point myself, I could see the flashing blue and red lights pursuing the Mustang!

Back shortly after I'd bought my ST1300, I filtered through a line of cars to the front. When the light turned green it was apparent that the woman in the minivan to my right took issue with my filtering. The van wasn't really moving out that quickly but the right front wheel was burning rubber. Not so much wanting to race as to get away from this crazy lady, I laid on the throttle pretty hard after starting to move out myself. That's when I discovered the ST1300 would wheelie pretty easily compared to my previous ABS-TCS equipped ST1100 - oops!

These days my Super Tenere doesn't seem to attract challenges much, either that or I'm just not noticing. My Mustang GT on the other hand seems to be a magnet for them, especially if I'm out on a weekend evening. Riced out Civics and Dodge Chargers (but not Dodge Challengers oddly) seem to be the most frequent attempts to challenge. As my car is painted "arrest me red" and has aftermarket exhaust, I've resisted becoming engaged so far.
 
Whisperquiet said:
No one challenges me with this sticker on my trunk.
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GF got this on:

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mind that she's even less patient then I, passes left right, leaning on the horn, etc... :laugh:
 
I like open roads in front of me, with a view only obscured by the bending curves or hills ahead.

Topically on winding roads I'll pass when I have a sight picture and time to pass. With slower vehicles, if I can pass safely and cleanly, I will. Oh, was that a double yellow? Oops.

On the freeways, I'm watching the traffic flow everywhere I will be and have been. Scanning the mirrors for Ricky Racer (2 wheels or more), watching upcoming on ramps, the exits, cars left and right off me, and anyone weaving or not maintaining their speed.

Typically I'm 5 over the speed limit unless it's super crowded and on- again / off- again, then I'll just park in the right lane at 60 - 65 and let (or make) drivers pass me. On the long and straight highways, I want to just settle into a steady speed. Jockeying for position just wears me out.

When the hair-on-fire folks come up behind me, I'll get out of their way if I safely can. I never wanted to be a good ornament, or a slick spot on the road.
 
70 years old now and 50 years on two wheels nothing to prove anymore. Still the go fast crowd are soft and if you really want to bust their bubble ask them what's the farthest they have ridden non stop on two wheels. To me thats a better way to prove your manhood lol.
 
I try not to use the Interstate instead I try to use state roads (I remember when the interstate system was being built). Taking state roads at a leisurely 5-10 mph over I enjoy seeing americana past, old motels, drive in restaurants, truck stops, small towns with lovely old homes and some interesting restaurants. All the afore mentioned sights some repurposed some abandoned and rarely some still in use. The most pleasant use of the interstate is towing a camping trailer in right lane at 60-65 mph. Stay on cruise control because almost no one is going to slow you down!
 
Was sitting at a light in Seattle next to a Vega, I left in a hurry. I heard a couple of pops and he went by me like a rocket sip. Had a built 350 in it and all I had was a stock 289 with a 2 barrel. Saw the car several months later on its roof with the motor mounts and exhaust cut off and the engine missing.
Did get into it twice with a 2 different Subarus, hit the rev limiter in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. lost them both. Those little things are gawd awful quick. Also they never want to race my Concours 14 or my ZRX.

What I have learned and still learning is I won't go rocket in traffic ( those cars come up too fast) and racing is OK when the road is empty. Trying to keep up with some one who is better equipped is spooky, I try to hard. So my ego is easier to handle with saying I didn't lose than did and lost. Besides I was never as good as I think I used to be.
The center lane, to me also as said by someone else is scary to me, rapid avoidance means going into other vehicles lanes, hitting shoulder and then a ditch sounds better to me, also easier to use one mirror to see what is coming along side and behind
 
At least in Ohio (and I believe in Kentucky) it's against the law to hang in the left lane. We are "keep right except to pass" states.

A guy got caught near Dayton, Ohio today on I-75 going 129 mph in a 65.

They also report writing nearly 3000 tickets as of October this year for speeds in excess of 100 mph.

On Aug 30 alone, 38 drivers in Ohio were stopped for going over 100 mph

In Ohio driving more than 30 mph over on the freeway is a felony.

OSHP reported over 1000 speed related crashes on Ohio roadways in October.
 
the Ferret said:
At least in Ohio (and I believe in Kentucky) it's against the law to hang in the left lane. We are "keep right except to pass" states.
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Yeah, right... in theory, practically anything is possible...

In reality folks behave like use of the first lane is stickily verboten, its for HGV's only...

And then you have those "head teachers", who live to give everyone out there a lesson... a high percentage of those among the EV crowd...

Recently, 2-lane motorway near my residence, 100kph limit, littered with speed cameras (the authorities are so concerned about our safety...), like half a dozen vehicles stretched along the first lane, me clocking along with 110kph in the second on "Shamu" (the '94 ST)...
With no apparent reason (no car in front of him for at least half a mile) this IONIQ pops out right in front of me to do 90kph... dafuq?!!!
Without even slowing I swerved around his right, back into the 2nd lane and responded to his annoying, flashing LED brights with a genuine, gracious Italian "salve Caesar" wave...
 
Exceptional conditions aside, I ride near the speed limits except when conditions prohibit that, then 'don't bend the bike' decision making takes over.....I return to normal habits as soon as that situation has passed. My only other decision maker is 'don't be the speed bump'. Otherwise, near-conformity prevails.
Over the last two years or so, I've seen irrational local traffic behavior near daily......more total events than over my previous 52 years of riding combined. Post crash fires from some LCD's decision making are becoming a frequent occurrence locally (Dallas/Ft Worth area.....basically one large city, look at the size of this place on Google Maps or similar). I avoid freeways unless there's no reasonable alternative.
 
I tell my wife when she drives that you really don't want to be the last person on the road that somebody wants to pass before taking exit
 
I've only been challenged really only once, and I didn't even know it. I had stopped at a red light that is notorious for making everyone stop quickly. It even has the flashy yellow warning sign go off to tell you it's gonna change red because there's a red light camera at it. I, of course, had to semi-hard stop because though I anticipated it, it still was going fast enough to make me reel it in quick.

Well it was dark and I was waiting there and heard a HD pull up in the next lane. I glanced at him when he revved it, but decided "not tonight" in my head after it took a moment to register. Not sure why, it had been a long day I think and just wanted to relax and get home. The light finally changes to green and he took off in a loud tear. I didn't take the bait and let him go. I hear him upshift, then miss a shift with a loud crunch from hundreds of yards away, then continue on.

Well, guess who was watching this? Yep, Mr Unmarked PoPo who was a few cars behind, unbeknownst to me. He raced by and caught the guy right at the intersection I usually turn off at. I gave him a nice horn beep and wave as I turned. Karma does indeed exist.
 
being in a M/C club this talk comes up often. my reply is that most Harley guys genarlly won't keep an 85mph pace for long and while the sport bike guys are faster they don't hold enough gas to go anywhere. the club has a breakout ride every year, i'm one of the last to leave and the first to arrive
 
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