Strange observation after being off a bike for 10 years...

SVsick50

Well-known member
The last time I actually owned a bike was in 2014, but it was a POS, needed a ton of work, and I think I only had it for 4-5 months. That was a Bandit 600 and I only rode it less than handful of times.

We rented a Savage 650 and then a Shadow 750 in Hawaii, and even rented a 50cc scooter in Bermuda.

But I haven't had a bike that I rode regularly since 2008 (maybe 2009). That was a DRZ400SM.

I notice something on the roads that I never felt before - cars are faster in a straight line, and in some case, even in the twisties (although still not faster than a motorcycle most of the time). BITD, 75/80MPH was a great cruising speed on the highway. I find myself getting tailgated, jammed and hurried. So I bump it up to 85/90 and feels just slightly faster than moving traffic, so then I just wiggle around as to avoid getting tailgated, or slow it down in a slower lane (which sucks).

Even when I'm driving, my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is so stable and quiet at 80, it feels like nothing - this is a far cry from cars I had 10-15 years ago.

Maybe you haven't noticed it If you've been riding all this time, but I'm like damn! :ride
 

Aware

Well-known member
Take it back 30 years and cars were even slower. Doing 80 in my old Ford Fiesta was an exercise in bravery as it wobbled and shook its way down the road.

Modern cars seem to float along the road (relatively speaking) and feel completely safe. Plus they are also relatively quite, so all the old sensations of speed are deadened. People feel as relaxed driving at 80 or 90 as they once felt at 50.

I can't agree with you on the twisties, unless you happen to be encountering ricers drifting Mt Hamilton. :cool:
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
For sure cars are way more comfortable at higher speeds.

Those 70's were much more visceral experience. 80's better and some were solid for sure but like Steve said today's stuff is a lot better and safer.

Almost like a good helmet vs a novelty lid.... wonder which works better and is more comfortable cruising at speed?
 

dirtbag

Triumph RAT
Yes it can pretty scary out there . Also the are a larger amount of people that drive here like they did in the last country they lived in . Most my riding these days are south of San Jose toward moss landing coalinga ,paso robles m-f that’s my safety zone . It really has helped me enjoy riding more.
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
That seems like an observation to me.

I sure don't see it as anti immigrant.
 

SFSig

Dookie
How can one know the nationality/immigration status of these poor drivers unless you’re asking them? I’m assuming no one is taking the time to flag down poor drivers to poll them but if I’m mistaken then I apologize.
 

SVsick50

Well-known member
Are you often anti-immigrant?

+1 with budman - this is not anti-immigrant, it's an observation.

My wife and I rented a two-up scooter in Bermuda. They drive on the left side of the road, and the entire island takes 45 min. doing 25-45 MPH from top to bottom.

I was not at all accustomed to the driving there in any way. The other thing, too, was that everybody honked at each other, all the time. It wasn't because they were mad at each other, it's because the people there are so friendly, they were saying "Hi" to each other. It was oddly awesome - but for us, from the States, it was unnerving. We thought everybody was honking at us for poor driving, when in fact they were greeting their neighbors as they passed each other.

We stayed in Times Square when we got stateside after Bermuda. Everybody there honked at each other for a different reason.

I don't think it's anti-immigrant or racist to observe that yes, people get accustomed to driving a certain way and bring it with them. In the agricultural, mainly Hispanic communities surrounding Santa Cruz and Monterey counties - like dirtbag mentioned Paso Robles - they just simply drive slower - I absolutely notice this - and it's not a bad thing, it's just the truth. And as he said, it's his "safety zone", not like San Jose where it's insanity.

BTW... how is that even anti-immigrant? He put a positive gesture in his observation that he feels safer there. :confused
 
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ThinkFast

Live Long
OP - wait'll you find yourself being tailgated by some dude (and it has always been a dude when it's happened to me...) flogging his Ford F-250 duallie BroDozer as he chases you through the twisties.

Last time it happened to me was somewhere up in Oregon. I was on my GS loaded up for camping, and this dude gets on my tail. Wouldn't pass me, wouldn't back off, no matter how fast I went. :wtf

Trucks have gotten faster, too.:rolleyes

(yeah, yeah, yeah - the older I get the faster I was...I know).
 

SVsick50

Well-known member
OP - wait'll you find yourself being tailgated by some dude (and it has always been a dude when it's happened to me...) flogging his Ford F-250 duallie BroDozer as he chases you through the twisties.

Last time it happened to me was somewhere up in Oregon. I was on my GS loaded up for camping, and this dude gets on my tail. Wouldn't pass me, wouldn't back off, no matter how fast I went. :wtf

Trucks have gotten faster, too.:rolleyes

(yeah, yeah, yeah - the older I get the faster I was...I know).

I know this character! Question: but did he have the fake testicles hanging from his hitch? Because damn that’s what all the ladies are head over heels about these days.
 
Are you often anti-immigrant?

Anti-illegal immigrant, and the associated lack of driving skills that often accompanies it. Yes. Anti-immigration? Absolutely not. I'm married to an immigrant, after all.

Are you often a LibTard?
 
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chai rome

Well-known member
I too agree with your observation. I remember when 75-80mph would easily get one ahead of the main flow; now one can barely hang with traffic on a lot of stretches.
 
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