MinnesotaGuy
Registered
Okay, so I'm doing my best to get my new bike out of the "break-in" zone by tooling around some nice country roads in western Wisconsin that are lightly traveled so I don't have to deal with too many other vehicles as I learn about my new ride. Just today I ran into what I can only think of as a couple of idiots - both driving pickup trucks. Here's my story: After I go through some twisties, I decide to turn around to go back through them - there is a pickup truck pretty far down the road, which is all straight highway at this point (which is why I'm turning around); I'd say about a half mile away coming toward me. Naturally I make my U turn and head back, pickup behind me but now we're going in the same direction. I'm not pushing the bike at all at this time, but I am doing the curves about 15 - 20 over the posted speed - just getting a feel for the bike.
Now that the stage is set - here comes the fun. This guy in his pickup obviously thinks he's piloting the amazing space shuttle because in a matter of about two minutes he is on my ass like a horny dog on aunt Betty's leg at the family picnic. I can tell he's just angry about something - I could tell by his aggressive driving, but there was really nothing around to make anyone angry about anything. "Okay" I think, "I'll let him pass so I can focus on my ride". I actually pull over and let him go - there was a white van about a half-mile ahead anyway and I wanted to make some room for me to zip along without worrying about pulling behind anyone. I wait a couple of minutes on the side of the road and re-engage my journey. About a mile later, this sugar in the pickup has pulled over, so I zip by and don't think anything of it until a few minutes later when he's coming up on my ass at crazy pace - again. Hmmm... Seems like he wants to play. For the first time, I roll on the throttle a bit quicker than usual and find fifth gear (up to that moment, I haven't had to use that gear). Then I see some nice curves ahead and decided to really see how much fun this thing is (within my limits) - I slow it down a bit and hit the curves and come out with more throttle than I thought I should - just as I come into a small town, so now I have to slow it down - at this point I look back and I see pickup-boy about a mile back and coming in fast and hot. I didn't care, I made my point. I'm heading home. He must not have seen which way I turned when I got into town, so he didn't follow.
Within five minutes, I have a different pickup truck tailgating me. WTF is going on? Do these bikes attract morons in pickup trucks or what? I didn't even play with this guy, I give it some gas (within the break-in rules of course) and I can hear his pipes and see the black smoke from his diesel engine belch out his stacks in my rearview mirror - Jesus, that truck actually has some snot (once it gets passed the hesitation you get from a diesel), anyway, he backed off pretty quickly as I gently rolled on the gas and was able to move away from him with obvious ease.
I mean, I run into morons on the highway all the time - but this was a different experience for me. Does this happen a lot? I was challenged by these clowns even when I wasn't interested in playing tag with them. The bike handled them fine, with remarkably little effort, but it was strange enough to me to present this story to you guys. Was it just a freak thing or do I need to expect this when I go riding?
Now that the stage is set - here comes the fun. This guy in his pickup obviously thinks he's piloting the amazing space shuttle because in a matter of about two minutes he is on my ass like a horny dog on aunt Betty's leg at the family picnic. I can tell he's just angry about something - I could tell by his aggressive driving, but there was really nothing around to make anyone angry about anything. "Okay" I think, "I'll let him pass so I can focus on my ride". I actually pull over and let him go - there was a white van about a half-mile ahead anyway and I wanted to make some room for me to zip along without worrying about pulling behind anyone. I wait a couple of minutes on the side of the road and re-engage my journey. About a mile later, this sugar in the pickup has pulled over, so I zip by and don't think anything of it until a few minutes later when he's coming up on my ass at crazy pace - again. Hmmm... Seems like he wants to play. For the first time, I roll on the throttle a bit quicker than usual and find fifth gear (up to that moment, I haven't had to use that gear). Then I see some nice curves ahead and decided to really see how much fun this thing is (within my limits) - I slow it down a bit and hit the curves and come out with more throttle than I thought I should - just as I come into a small town, so now I have to slow it down - at this point I look back and I see pickup-boy about a mile back and coming in fast and hot. I didn't care, I made my point. I'm heading home. He must not have seen which way I turned when I got into town, so he didn't follow.
Within five minutes, I have a different pickup truck tailgating me. WTF is going on? Do these bikes attract morons in pickup trucks or what? I didn't even play with this guy, I give it some gas (within the break-in rules of course) and I can hear his pipes and see the black smoke from his diesel engine belch out his stacks in my rearview mirror - Jesus, that truck actually has some snot (once it gets passed the hesitation you get from a diesel), anyway, he backed off pretty quickly as I gently rolled on the gas and was able to move away from him with obvious ease.
I mean, I run into morons on the highway all the time - but this was a different experience for me. Does this happen a lot? I was challenged by these clowns even when I wasn't interested in playing tag with them. The bike handled them fine, with remarkably little effort, but it was strange enough to me to present this story to you guys. Was it just a freak thing or do I need to expect this when I go riding?
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puts a smile on my face every time.
