Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Stupid ^%%@$@%@*^ Cager !!!!!

I just have to vent. We were blessed with a lovely sunny afternoon, so I take the bike out to enjoy the day.
I'm on the interstate (I-405 South) and in the HOV lane. It's close to 5:30 PM. I pass the last big bottleneck, where traffic is getting off to Hwy 167. I want to get off Exit 1 and cruise on home on the surface streets.

So I signal my change and look over my right shoulder and it's clear, all 3 lanes. I start to veer over to the far tight lane. I look in my right rear view mirror and I suddenly see a car flying up my ass. I lean left and all I see is car in my mirror and start to expect getting rear-ended.

Next thing I know the car is on my right hand side. It's so close I felt something spinning and hitting the outside of my right boot. At first, I was thinking the left front tire lug nuts, but that's not possible. In retrospect and checking my boot at home, it had to be the tire itself.

By this time I'm screaming some words my mother never taught me at this idiot, who had veered to the right and started to slow down. He gestures to me like he's sorry. With the other traffic behind me and my desire to get away from this @$$hole, I just gave him a mean ass look of death (from behind my visor), along with a continuous flurry of "fine sailor talk", and kept moving.

I don't know why it happened, it was just that fast, but I'm still fuming about it. Maybe he didn't see me, as we were heading west. Or maybe he was texting/yakking on his phone. I was just wishing I had one of those riding crops, that I've seen some riders carry to whack his car with.

you need some of those Ben Hur chariot hub spikes

Maybe anything you might have done, like trying to whack his car would have been the difference between the hair-raising near miss you had and disaster for you.

But I feel your anger and frustration. I can't think of anything you could do that wouldn't probably escalate the situation. My devious mind goes to taking his plate number and/or following him home and leaving your mark someway. Four flat tires springs to mind.

Very glad you survived the cage conflict, but when you mentioned "riding crops", I thought of a riding outfit that would get cage drivers' attention and intimidate.

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-...945-everett.jpg

Thats freaking close dude, I'm glad your able to actually tell us about it. I mean thats actual TOUCHING at highway speeds! Holy Crap Batman! I'd for sure be one pi$$ed off SOB. I kinda like Richard's idea.

Sorry to hear about your close call. I've had drivers zoom up out of nowhere as well. It's tough to keep your cool!

Just my 2 cents, but the Interstate at 5:30 PM is not the best place to be riding from a safety or enjoyment perspective.

Your experience reinforces why we avoid the slab at all costs and stick to secondary roads whenever possible.

RIDE SAFE!

That is a close one. Would have been the end of me. My bars are wider than than my pegs. He would have hit me.

You got lucky! I check my mirrors when I change lanes, and then I turn my head to double check. When I change multiple lanes, even if I don't see any cars in my mirror, I still turn my head when I change each lane because there might be someone speeding faster than I am, and they can sneak up on you quick.

You were in the far left lane and only looked over your shoulder once to change 3 lanes? You are partly responsible for the surprise, sorry.

First and most importantly, I'm glad you're okay!

However, (you knew this was coming), I've been known to kick it up a notch when traffic permits and the last thing I'd expect would be a 3 lane change. Sounds like the cager was giving you 2 lanes berth and you used it up and then some.

Your story may save somebody else though.

I stand corrected. Still glad you're okay, but now I agree; he was an ass!

Getting a little off track now, incidents like this are why I refuse to ride over in Thailand, even though motorcycles (or what they normally consider a motorcycle) are everywhere. I've got a good ex-pat friend who rides a lot over there.

We have some stupid drivers here in the USA. There are a lot more crazy, road hogging drivers over there. I don't like some of the road surfaces over there as well. And forget about things like emergency services like ambulances. If you go down, they'll just wave down some guy in a pick-up truck, stick you in the back and eventually you might end up at the hospital.

I'll stay in my nice comfy a/c cooled cage over there. The odds are more in my favor that way.

Steve, glad to learn you are okay for sure! The contact you had with that cager could have resulted in serious injury/death and you have every right to vent!

Back in the day I used to carry a couple of old sparkplugs or dead "D" cell batteries in my vest pocket to aid in deterring an offending cager. Typically, one would get tossed over the shoulder as I rode past....

Better than a riding crop/ baseball bat as it would "alert" the cager to his/her offensive driving without risking one's proximity.

Highway speeds and cage traffic are formidable threats to the motorcycling enthusiasts regardless of where one may be. Something I definately need to keep in mind for my road trip to CA & the SWTF this May/June.

Thanks Karl very much.

He was in my proximity to fast that there would have been no time to toss anything at him. Like I said I veered left he veered right and I got a nice rub mark on the outside edge of my right boot from whatever it was that touched it there (I think it was his tire as he turned). I'm tempted to see if I can show it in a pic. I keep looking at it and shaking my head as to how damn lucky I was.

Although, I suppose afterwards, when he was slowing down and acting sorry, I would have loved to toss a big old 9V battery at the idiot, even old spark plugs, brake fluid, hydrochloric acid, used oil, anything and everything !!

I did get out and ride yesterday. i didn't want that event to shake my confidence. I may not be the fastest, hardest leaning rider out there. But I do enjoy riding my TBA, even if it was windy and in the upper 40's.

I for one, celebrate the fact that not only do you have a foot to insert into a mussed up boot, you are alive to tell the tale.

You don't really believe that they recommend steel toed boots in case someone runs over your foot do you? They are for kicking in doors.

steel reinforced toes or for that matter any major or minor MC boot will provide only so much protection in the event of a cataclysmic high en energy event. Way back in the day Jan 2, 2009 the paramedics upon fidning me conscious did actually ask my permission to cut the steel toed MC boot from my right foot/ankle. The major fracture they found (Pilon Fracture could not have been improved upon by any boot made by man. If you still have a foot to put in boot when all is said and done then that is a good thing.

Spoken by one who has some experience with feet and ankles and those missing thereof. After my PIlon fracture I underwent exactly 16 major and minor surgeries including the first emergency reconstruction effort and all subsequent efforts (fusion) , infections secondary reconstructs and fianlly an Ertl reconstuct amputation of the right lower leg. High energy trauma, if it does not kill you outright can do some meaningful long term injury to your musculoskeletal frame.