Just A Biker

[Kapture1]

JUST A BIKER

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.
I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my bike parked out front. But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.
I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.
I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.
I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.
I saw you roll your eyes at our Leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.
I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my children where born or have their name written over my heart.
I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see me going home to be with my family.
I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.
I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my child's hands knowing she was safe behind me.
I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.
I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.
I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn't see me trying to turn right.
I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you didn't see me leave the road.
I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me. I wasn't there.
I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died that day you cut me off.
I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But you didn't see me .

-By Anonymous

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE WE ARE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY

[Taffi Abernathy]

I thought this was wonderful, Matt! Very touching. Did you write this?

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by Taffi Abernathy

I thought this was wonderful, Matt! Very touching. Did you write this?

No, I wish I could take credit for it tho

[Idle Swede]

Love it Matt.

I used to have it printed in my saddlebags and handed it out to people.

[Autobot]

Agreed, hits home to those of us who ride, that for sure.

[Mockingbird]

I don't ride, but I thought that was great!

[figbo]

Nice!

[Dilemma]

If there is ONE single thing that scares the living crap outta me these days is people sending text messages while driving. I think I would rather deal with the drunks,,,,,,,,,,

[Lion]

Matt, I do not ride a motorcycle but I do ride a bicycle and I have the same problems. Thanx for posting those statements.....

[erwin]

Dude! You made me.............!!!

[Lol-x]

Nice story, now get your bike out of my way, my R6 is coming through
R6.jpg

[Dilemma]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Nice story, now get your bike out of my way, my R6 is coming through
Attachment 134911

Those things are mental fast,,

[mailman]

That always makes me smile Matt Thank you

[Kapture1]

Everything turned out ok, but this is the danger for a 16 year old kid digging in his Arbys bag...

[Lol-x]

That is an R6 like the one I want to get. The problem is they have reputably poor low end torque.
My R6 is a 2003 model which I think at this stage I will be keeping for a while.....not much I can do about that.
Check this kid out, he also was riding an R6:

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

That is an R6 like the one I want to get. The problem is they have reputably poor low end torque.
My R6 is a 2003 model which I think at this stage I will be keeping for a while.....not much I can do about that.
Check this kid out, he also was riding an R6:

Thats a shame to watch, painful too. I blame that on the kid who was on the R6. People check the blind mirrors AT BEST every 8 seconds. Responsible riders take that kind of riding to the track (or late at night with no cars). When Im in traffic, its the speed limit.... ok maybe more, but I dont split lanes. Trust me Stevo, you wont notice the difference on a newer R6, and you can do just a few mods to boost that torque. I trust you wont ride it like that.

[ratmotortom]

[Kokyuryoku]

That's a great poem Matt

Stevo, nice bike It's a beauty

Man, I want a bike. I haven't ridden since I was at university. The closet I've come is a scooter, while it was fun, it just isn't the same. Alas, the wife says no but don't worry I'll try again at a later date armed with some LV, Chanel and Prada

[AWATCH]

Thats a great poem, but the guy on the R6 is just one of the reasons that bikers do not get any respect. He was a lucky guy to have survived that spill, I do not want to see anyone hurt, maybe that spill will teach him some respect for all the other people he put in harms way by driving like a total idiot...

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by AWATCH

Thats a great poem, but the guy on the R6 is just one of the reasons that bikers do not get any respect. He was a lucky guy to have survived that spill, I do not want to see anyone hurt, maybe that spill will teach him some respect for all the other people he put in harms way by driving like a total idiot...

+1. The few like that give us all bad names

[R1@160@alltimes]

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

Love it Matt.

I used to have it printed in my saddlebags and handed it out to people.

Sometimes I wish I had saddlebags.

To the OP...oldie but a goodie

[R1@160@alltimes]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Nice story, now get your bike out of my way, my R6 is coming through
Attachment 134911

Canyon carver

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by R1@160@alltimes

Canyon carver

Gus, I wish, Michigan (at least for 200 miles in any direction) straight grid roads, no hills, no twisties

Im just happy to ride tho, nothing quite like it

[cjcar631]

Originally Posted by AWATCH

Thats a great poem, but the guy on the R6 is just one of the reasons that bikers do not get any respect. He was a lucky guy to have survived that spill, I do not want to see anyone hurt, maybe that spill will teach him some respect for all the other people he put in harms way by driving like a total idiot...

+2. I had a Honda 750 Custom back in the day... nice bike for "touring" alone or with a friend on back, and plenty of power to get yourself out of harms way if needed. But I was never really interested in a "road rocket" type bike. IMO they're designed for one thing only... the track. Even if you look at the rider's seated position on the bike... it tells you straight off that this is not a vehicle made for the "casual rider". I drive a Mustang now... and I admit I'm a bit heavy footed, but when ever I see one of those racing bikes coming, (if I get the chance), I stay put and I don't move a muscle. I can tell you first hand... that's your best/only option. And I think if you watched the video it's pretty obvious. At those speeds it's like "a roll of the dice" even if the driver of the car see's you coming. NO ROOM FOR ERROR. Follow the rules of the road and drive "defensively" at all times and at any speed... I tell my kids this ALL the time. Stay safe! Stay alive!

[R1@160@alltimes]

Originally Posted by Kapture1

Gus, I wish, Michigan (at least for 200 miles in any direction) straight grid roads, no hills, no twisties

Im just happy to ride tho, nothing quite like it

I feel your pain Matt. Sometimes I have to ride 60 miles to reach some twisties and hills.

Season is heating up fellas....be safe out there. Keep it on 2.

[Lol-x]

Matt I don't know about the 2008 R6 being good as the old R6 around town. These later model R6's are supposed to be great on the track but lack a bit on the road. I don't know whether changing the sprockets would make much difference. On my bike now there is power all the way from 2-3k rpm but on the new R6 I am led to believe one has to rev the engine to say 5k rpm to let the clutch out Maybe I'm wrong I don't know.....I'm not going back to an R1 they are just too big.......

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by cjcar631

But I was never really interested in a "road rocket" type bike. IMO they're designed for one thing only... the track. Even if you look at the rider's seated position on the bike... it tells you straight off that this is not a vehicle made for the "casual rider".

Their Sportbikes... like sport cars. When will you ever reach top speed in an Aston or Bugatti?

I am a casual rider which stems from my beginings with a crusier. Im not ever out there going 150 weaving inbetween cars. I started on a 750 Shadow and I loved it as a crusing bike... deff a lazy boy compared to the CBR, but Im not uncomfortable on my CBR. Sitting on it feels natural. Ive gone well over 500 miles in a day on it... no problem. When I first got on a sportbike, it was a bit uncomfortable and I couldnt ride more than an hour without cramping up, but theirs a break in period for you body as well and I am used to it. I may not ride the bike at all times the way it was "ment" to. Like I said, I go just over the speed limit and actually, most of the time ride it just as fast as I did my 750cc (minus the 0-60 time).

I sell insurance and it makes me sick when a 17 or 18 year old comes in to my office to buy insurance for his first bike ever... a 600 or 1000cc sportbike. And I have to explain to them why its 5000.00 or more for the year to insure it.

And for sure, to all riders, ride safe.

[joeychitwood]

I ride both a sport-touring bike (a crotch-rocket to most non-bikers) and a large touring Harley. I've noticed that I get much less respect on the road while riding the Ducati than the Harley. I basically look at every four-wheeled vehicle as a threat and devise a plan for evasion with every car I encounter. It becomes automatic after a while.

[Kapture1]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I ride both a sport-touring bike (a crotch-rocket to most non-bikers) and a large touring Harley. I've noticed that I get much less respect on the road while riding the Ducati than the Harley. I basically look at every four-wheeled vehicle as a threat and devise a plan for evasion with every car I encounter. It becomes automatic after a while.

You have to. Definitely a weird experience assuming that every car is going to pull out in front of you, turn in front of you, cut you off, rearend you at a stop light, or change lanes right into you. Every cage is out to KILL you.

[rsg]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Nice story, now get your bike out of my way, my R6 is coming through
Attachment 134911

Very nice. I sold this little beauty about a year ago and have regretted it ever since.