Jeff Higgins |
07-14-2014 06:58 PM |
I Can Be So Juvenile at Times...
Especially when I'm riding my Honda XR650L. Something about it just brings out the hooligan in me...
So here I was, southbound on I-5 on my way home today. Traffic is pretty darn heavy, but moving anywhere from 65-75 mph. The carpool lane is pretty wide open and, on a bike, we get to ride in it. I'm passing cars, just riding along, when I notice a youngish 30-something in his shiny new BMW 3 series; he's got the GQ look going, white rimmed sunglasses - and his i phone glued to his left ear.
I don't know what got into me, but I suddenly decided he was going at just about the speed that looked right for me as well and, well, since there was no one behind me, I should just slow down a wee little bit. And while I was at it, move to the right hand third of the lane a wee little bit as well.
As luck would have it, the outlet of my Al Baker's XRs Only pipe is right about exactly head level for anyone in a car. "Loud" does not even begin to describe the din emanating from that thing at freeway speeds. With my right hip just about even with his rear view mirror, that outlet was lined up pretty darn good - with his ear.
Of course, he noticed this right away and sped up to close the gap between himself and the car in front of him. Darn it, though, that ol' XR gets even louder when I roll on the gas. He soon regretted his decision, and tried slowing down to get behind me. But, darn it again, I immediately noticed that I may have been riding too fast, so, in the interest of safety, I slowed down, too.
Traffic was just heavy enough to where this poor guy was boxed in and completely at my mercy for well over five miles before my exit came up. I'm not sure he ever caught on that I was messing with him - I never looked at him, never acknowledged his presence in any way, other than to keep that pipe lined up on his head. I was still chuckling when I pulled into my driveway, shut her down, pulled my helmet off and pulled the earplugs out.
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