Please don't run over guys on motorcycles.

[cpreefguy]

Good to hear! Im glad they found it in your favor. Now buy more sweet stuff

[Bill S]

Hey, Mike, GLAD to hear the bad guys lost. I hope they prosecute them for Hit and Run.

[z28pwr]

Glad to hear that Mike.

I hate to say it but I think it may be time for you to consider a cage (car). With the way motorists are now a days it is very risky to ride a bike, specially in Austin.

[brewercm]

Good to hear this worked it's way out for you.
I love riding bikes myself (cruisers for me) but don't own one at the moment. I have to say that Jose is absolutely right on the other drivers out there. Probably a number well above 90% of motorcycle accidents are caused by the other drivers not paying attention. Then you have that one butthead motorcyclist that has to do like the one yesterday to me. Driving up Nacagdoches and switching lanes from the right to the left (fairly close to Fin Addict) so I could turn left eventually. This guy on a crotch rocket had to slam on his brakes then swerve around and between me and the car that I was behind to keep from dieing. He had to be going at least a good 60 to 70 mph just gunning it at that point. This part of the road I believe has a 45 mph speed limit. Wasn't even so much the speed he was going, it was that he had come from a red light a little further back and I guess felt the need to pass everyone even from the red light up the road.
Those are the idiots that give the bike riders a bad name and reputation. Once day I'm sure I'll see him laying on the corner of a street with his bike looking like a crushed aluminum can, and hoping that he survived the ordeal. Let's all hope he learns before it comes to that though.
Sorry for jumping on the soap box, I used to teach the Motorcycle Safety course on base back in the late 80's. Best thing you can do for yourself is take this course, and retake it everytime you buy a new bike. Really lets you get to know your new friend and some of it's limitations.

[jap1]

I'm so glad to hear it worked out for you. I hate jerky people. I don't know why it is that many people either a) don't see bikes even when they're yellow and have their brights on, or b) just have it out for bikers. I was so ecstatic when Texas passed the law allowing lane splitting during slow traffic conditions. I told all my biker friends, and then other people (non-riders) who were listening to the conversations would say horrible things like, "If saw a biker doing that, I'd open my door on them." That always made me mad. I did lots of lane splitting. It's safe if you follow the law's guidelines. But I knew that if any fool ever opened their door on me and I actually ran into it, I'd just have to beat them with my helmet and my armor plated gloves. Thankfully that never happened, but many people did try swerving over to the side as to not let me pass. It's like they were mad they were stuck in traffic with their suv's automatic transmission, A/C, and radio, not knowing how much it sucks to be in stand still traffic with a bike, with the constant shifting and overheating that goes along with not moving in 110 degree weather while wearing leather gear and a helmet. I don't know why it is, but it always seemed like drivers in trucks and SUVs were the worst about not seeing me and almost running me over. Maybe they have a bad blindspot.

[txyaloo]

Lane splitting is not legal in Texas. That bill was proposed in 2005, but it has not left committee yet which basically means it's dead. Lane splitting is one reason why people in cars often get mad at bike riders.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillL...p;Bill=HB01522

[Bill S]

I just shake my head when I see people on bikes. I drive the city every day, and while I'm very cautious, bikes are just plain hard to see. That is the reason why so many accidents are not the biker's fault. If you ride one, you just plain need to assume that no one sees you. 'Cause you are going to lose (physically) in every accident.

[jap1]

Lane splitting is not legal in Texas. That bill was proposed in 2005, but it has not left committee yet which basically means it's dead. Lane splitting is one reason why people in cars often get mad at bike riders.

Woops. Good thing I don't ride anymore. But on the other hand, plenty of cops did see me do it, and never seemed to mind. Once I found out about the bill, I did it all the time. I guess I jumped the gun with the house bill, though. Drats. The proposed bill was a great one, though. It was very safe IMO, because you weren't allowed to go more than 5 mph more than the flow of traffic, which had to be going 20 or less for you to do it. It wasn't like I was barreling through cars...I was really creeping along through them. It was so sweet.

[caferacermike]

Brewer I've been riding for 8 years now as my ONLY source of transportation. I took the course probably 6 years back, then went right back in and took the advanced course. I went back the next year and took it again. Then the next year I took it once again. Then.... I signed my girlfriend up for the course and tok it with her. The next year we both went back and tookt he advanced course again. Basically I take it each year as a refresher. Let's just say that I have 7 motorcyles insured for $114 a year total for everything. Some of those bikes haven't seent he light of day in years but it's cheaper to keep them on then to remove them...LOL...

Yes I will continue to ride. I prefer it. It makes me feel all good inside knowing that I'm doing my little part to save some energy by being out in the rain on my bike then inside a cushy Excursion by myself. That will never change. I like to think I offset my 2,000kilowatt an hour addiction by saving some gasoline.



Jap1, I'd never ever split lanes no matter how nasty it was outside. I've pushed my 76 Triumph a mile down a highway before do to an accident ahead. I was afraid of burning the clutch so I killed it, got off, and pushed. Sure I coulda ran it down the shoulder irritating every single car driver out there. However you never know when you are going to meet THAT ONE GUY, you know THAT GUY, the one that decides to swerve at you and cut you off on the shoulder. Just because he has to be there so do you. People actually moved out of my way, honked and waved as they saw me coasting by. When I got up front to the accident a cop shook my hand and thanked me for not creating another accident back int he pack that they wouldn't be able to reach. I started the bike and the car that was next in line to go around the accident actually yielded and waved me in.

It's all in how you do things.

[txyaloo]

I was afraid of burning the clutch so I killed it, got off, and pushed. Sure I coulda ran it down the shoulder irritating every single car driver out there.[sic] I started the bike and the car that was next in line to go around the accident actually yielded and waved me in.

8) That's a good way to make everyone happy about the situation. I think most people in their car would respect a bike rider for that. I mostly get irritated by the idiots on sport bikes that just go crazy on the roads. From time to time, I may drop the throttle and let it all air out in my car, but never when there is traffic around on a busy highway, school zone, etc. IMO, these guys give all riders a bad rep.