Squiddly Behaviour-Stop the Stupidity

[1967 R50/2]

So I'm riding down Interstate 80 here in NJ on Sat. For those of you who don't know NJ...the traffic is VERY dense, even on a weekend.

3 squids get on the highway just ahead of me and proceed to split lanes, dodging in and out of traffic, playing games with passengers in cars and popping wheelies...lots of wheelies. Basically, things that could get you killed in no time. Maybe they were vying for a spot in the Darwin Awards. Seriously, I was waiting for them to DIE. In addition to the thick traffic, the road is strewn with retreads, debris, and road repairs ...and how are you going to brake or swerve effectively in a wheelie? Naturally, they had no real gear on other than their helmets. They would've been SPAM.

All of this was at about 80mph....which is how fast I was going. And yes, it is speeding, but not that unusual for normal traffic in NJ. It went on for about 20 miles. The traffic was so dense that I could not get around these unsafe sphincters, so I was reduced to following and watching.

Where are the cops when you need 'em? Watching these squids had me at a boil. This kind of shi-ite is what give motorcyclists a bad rap. If a cop had appeared on the scene I would have pulled over and insisted that they have their licenses pulled. If they had dumped, they probably would have made a manslaughter-er out of some cage driver...not that it would have been their fault at all. It's these kind of very public, very stupid antics which enhances people's perception of motorcycles as unsafe and stupid, and motorcycle riders as...well, unsafe and stupid.

Picture this if you will: A car swerves suddenly to avoid lane splitting, wheelie-ing jackass. Car dodges into ME. Could happen. Thankfully it did not. But another possible very bad outcome.

The highways are dangerous enough without some juvenile types... of ages unknown... causing more chaos.

Stop the Stupidity!

[Trevor Rossack]

We may not like this behavior and cringe at the consequences but we sure would like to do it (in our dreams)

Chers
TREVOR

[Rattus]

I'm jealous I dont have ability the skills to do cunning stunts at will, like wheelies.

[steve R1100S]

Perhaps a nice warm bath and a glass of cocoa before bed . . . . .

[Jim Karns]

A thought...
It just might be nature's way of "thinning out the heard" you know, the weak, the stupid, the senseless, people who's family tree doesn't fork...

[DCooper]

Yea - but they can propigate long before we allow them to ride a bike....

[motoyoyo]

I am new to this forum by way of my recent purchase of one very nice 1999 S on eBay recently. I am the one that bought the nice blue one a couple weeks ago for $6900. Not only did getting a good deal make me jazzed, but on my first outing I had a similar experience with a major squid. I had been cruising around my local back roads just checking out the great performance and handling of the new bike, when I came up on another sportbike that was behind a car, waiting to pass. This guy was on some hyped up Jap bike and the usual protective gear...sleeveless shirt, tennies and jeans, oh and a helmet of course. When he realized I was there he got real pumped and rocketed around the car and proceeded to attempt multiple power wheelies. Even though he was not too good at it he still managed to get the front wheel several feet off the ground, over and over again at about 60 mph. Well about now we were heading towards another car and the twisty road section just beyond that. I thought this would be a good time to see what this Beemer was able to do, and put this guy behind me. I had seen enough and wasn't impressed. As this douchebag was in the middle of another wheelie I motored on around him and casually waved as I went by at about 80-90 mph. As I checked my rearview mirror I could see he was only inches from me. The first series of corners came up fast and the S whipped through with ease. I had already left the guy by several hundred feet. By now I was more impressed with the way the bike was handling that I barely even paid any attention to the squid behind me anymore. He was quickly becoming just a flickering headlight in the distance, and then just a memory. Wow, I'm impressed with this new bike I can't wait to get to know it even better. By the way, I think I saw that kid down at the Harley shop the next week.

[Rattus]

Well done motoyoyo, thats the kind of story we love to hear. And congrats on your purchase... gotta be happy with that!

[Trevor Rossack]

Re - Squids

We were all young and reckless once. Remember that youthful bravado you once had. IT WAS TERRIFIC!!!

I do cringe at some of the antics we got up to and wonder how we survived with so few injuries.

It is those same antics we all have good laugh at now when we are intoxicated and telling stories to our mates.

Like the old saying goes about old riders and bold riders - since most of us have survived well into middle age we would have had to tone down our enthusiasm and be much more aware of the repercussions and ride accordingly.

Cheers
TREVOR

[trublue]

Motoyoyo , reckon that blue paintjob adds extra horsepower. Well done and welcome . Nothing erks wanabe squids more than being out-squidded by a BM . Keep up the good work .

Mick .

[motoyoyo]

Ya, the blue adds a bit of pizazz, but only a Beemerphile would know the difference. It's not really any better or worse than any others, just different. Different is good when it comes to adding a personal touch to a bike like this. I have a 1988 K75s that is real sweet and a 1995 Duc 900SS that is setup just right for me too. Now with this bike in the garage it is going to be a harder choice which bike to swing a leg over. Any one of these bikes makes for good Squid mobbin, and of course always feels good doing it on a bike that isn't supposed to be a threat. Of course, right now the S is the obvious favorite. The bike is all stock, so I've been checking this site out for whats up with addons. There's a bunch I've seen so far from the variuos input here. I'm still sorting it all out, but for right now it's just great as it is. Lots of good info around here, thanks.

[ikester]

I agree. Someone has to stop this stupidity.
My friends and I (three R11S's and two CBR's) were riding around Maryland this weekend when this guy in a Suzuki GSX-R just joins us. He splits lanes, passes everyone, while we're up 144 near Frederick, MD and pushes the lead bike. I wound up spending the whole Saturday afternoon with my friend in Baltimore Shock/Trauma because of an accident caused by this guy. Luckily, my buddy just got a fractured shoulder blade and a bruised knee (not to mention his ego). I can't say much about his bike. I don't know what I'd do if I saw this guy again. He disappeared as soon as the cops arrived.

[MarkC]

What's worse are those squidly BMW 'RS' riders. They can get down right naughty at times.

Burnouts! "Oh no!"


Doing wheelies! "Oh my!"


And knee draging on the street! "Oh dear!"


And you thought those Gixxer riders were bad?!

MarkC
non-SBX

[shoemakj]

Originally posted by ikester
My friends and I (three R11S's and two CBR's) were riding around Maryland this weekend...[snip]

Ike,

Were you riding with Wes Hsu, et al. yesterday? Wes added me to his ride list last week but I'm working this weekend and coudn't make it. Looking forward to meeting some other S owners in the area.

--Jim

[Raven]

Interesting comments!

Lane splitting, speeding, and wheeling?

All those together are bad?

Each of them are independently are bad?

Pushed the lead rider?

Does that mean, hit the rider or provoked his ego to ride over his head?

Clear answers would sure define this topic!

[Jim Karns]

Hey MarkC,
No way this guy's a squid...

There's no shorts....

There's no sandels...

There's no "wife beater" t-shirt...

AND

Where's the girlfriend (equaly "protected") hanging on the back??

Not squidly enough (LOL)

[Trevor Rossack]

What is the difference between a jerk and an idiot?

A jerk is someone who rides slower than you and an idiot is someone who rides faster!!!

Cheers
TREVOR

[Rattus]

http://www.bikemovies.com/ for examples of what we shouldn't do