K11 Owners Group

owrstrich · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject: R A N T

here is my rant...

we encountered lifestyle riders all week... i know they were doing the same thing that we were doing... an intimate moto to see what mother earth has for us to see... lotts were fine riders and had a firm handle on their motos and had their heads in the ride...

but this stretch was double yellow for miles... the speed limit was 65 mph... they were doing 40 mph... there were about 10 cars stacked up behind them... i picked them off 1 at a time... then followed them for miles... they had to know i and we were back there... wouldnt even pull to the fog line and wave us by...

you see... many times we slow to even 20 mph to see the sights... but we always ride the fog line and wave everyone by...

the thing is... often these lifestyle riders are over the double yellow and dang close to cart wheeling off the road...

i came upon these two on three separate occasions many miles ago... the man was in front... the woman was following... i even pulled off once on beartooth because i didnt want to watch both of them drive off the road...

the second time we came around a curve and the lady was 3 feet across the center line riding in the wrong lane... i put my lights directly in her mirror... i watched her waiting for her to bring it back into her lane... she had the death grip on the bars and was stiff as a board... she never looked in her mirrors... i passed her on the left... in the left lane... while she was still 3 feet into the left lane... i swear she was scared to death because there was a sheer drop off the right with no guardrail... it was truly freaky... she was lucky there was no opposing traffic at this point...

i know... all skills... all motos... all roads... all places... equal to all... but come on... get you ch1t together or get off the road...

thats it...

j o
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

hirschhs · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject:

absolutely Jo.. a very reasonable rant if I may say so! You want to look at the scenery? Good - stop and look!
I don't know if we use the term 'lifestyle rider' over here but if we don't, we should! I reckon that lady was under pressure from her old man to ride. I sometimes get worried that my wife feels she should enjoy riding because I do, so I check with her.. she's happy I think - evidence being that her riding is getting better all the time (she's only been riding for 18 months or so) and it won't get better if you don't enjoy it, right?
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K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'

ljjohns · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject:

For whatever it's worth:

Just got back two hours ago from five days in the Rockies (plus two up and two back from El Paso).

Met a group of friends/experienced riders in Durango and did a bunch of loops that covered most of the major passes. I rode trail so that I could ride my own ride--I'm old, insecure and a fraidy-cat. My goal--largely achieved--was to ride the curves 10 mph above the yellow warning signs.L

Last year, I wound up about 15 minutes behind the rest of our group coming off of Beartooth (riding two up); this year I was only about 7 minutes behind the group on Uray, Independence, and Rocky Mountain National Park riding one-up. But I did chicken out going up to Mount Evans.

I'm a college professor and so have an appreciation for those folks who are trying to learn something. Perhaps these folks are like them--and me.

As I said, for whatever it's worth...

Larry Johnson
Moved down from a K11 to a K12LT

Don Sproule · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:33 pm Post subject:

I've had some similarly frustrating experiences trying to ride the Spearfish Canyon road near Sturgis during Bike Week. I once passed about 80+ bikes in one swoop after following the turtles for at least 15 minutes at 10 under the posted limit.
Last year, when I was passing a similar, smaller group, my throttle stuck wide open on my LT (in 3rd gear) and I had to use my kill switch to get back under control. It was a real "puckering" experience. I tracked my problem down to a loose throttle cable sheath the the plastic bend near the grip.
I have learned to avoid any interesting roads near the Black Hills during the Rally. Way too many rookies and idiots on the highways. In my opinion, a whole lot of people are riding for the wrong reasons.

Don Sproule

Klinker · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject:

owrstrich · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

you trying to get me started...

i saw that klinker... i was trying to keep up... but one hand was adding nos to the tank while the other was buzzing... guess i should have used both hands... this midwest motobrick has lotts more buzz than the bug...

on i90 there were many lifestyle riders... most were in the right lane cruising at about 60... the speed limit is 75... no big deal... they were riding their rides enjoying the scenery...

but there were multiple packs of 4 to 8 or more in places in the left lane cruising in formation at about 60... thats when its dangerous... you know the distracted driver doing 80 in the right lane pulling into the left lane to pass a combine... that 20 mph difference dosent seem like much... but even the big rigs were doing 80 on the i 90...

i gotts numerous spottings of lifstyle riders crossing the center line... i would follow some and point out to micki that an early turn in will get you on or over the center line...

so there you go... im done ranting... just found it disturbing...

j o
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

drmalacarne · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject:

The road is for everyone.
If you like to ride slow, do it, but try to not hinder other riders.
Usualy, the lowest speed that you should mantain is half the top speed indicated.
And commonly when womens dedide to pilot, they make better then mens....
Only when womens try a bike to satisfy her company, the whole thing starts wrong and usualy ends worst.
Be wary and a little of respect (fear) of the road and the bike can help you to avoid dangerous situations, and rarely you can solve a imminent fall. It's better avoid it!!
Gui
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1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject:

Especially when we are 2-up I always keep a watch in the mirrors. If anyone is stacked up behind me I'll pull over to the white line, reduce speed and give those behind a big wave to come by me.

If only everyone treated those behind like they would want to be treated if they were behind....

But I have seen auto drivers travel dozens of miles in the left lane of a deserted interstate- having to pass them on the right.
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
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Off the grid · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject:

ljjohns · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

After forty years of University teaching, I'm accepting of oblivious stupidity, whether its on the road or in the classroom. Every time I go through a national park, I encounter folks parked on the road (in the middle of no passing zones) so that they can take a picture of something that interests them.

There is the "bell curve" that describes the range of human behaviors; you've got to come to terms with the fact that the second and third standard deviations below the norm embraces a large number of folks.

Can't change that reality--only your response to it.

drmalacarne · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

Klinker · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:46 am Post subject:

Milton · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

I know from where you speak oh great JO. This has happened to me several times. Just 3 weeks ago some unnamed V-Twin rider was just lazily cruising on some nice curvy road when I came up behind in fourth position. 3 cars were stacked up behind this motard with me in 4th. One car let me past and I passed the other 2 then this completely oblivious motard. I gave him the dirty look as I went by, but what can you see under full coverage and sunglasses, anyway my outgoing vibes were bad.

Last year on another nice bending road me and a buddy came up behind a gaggle (6- Cool

of unnamed V-Twin riders. Same thing, completely oblivious to anyone else on the road. Instead of pulling over to the side and waving us through, as obviously we were riding faster than they, they held their ground forcing us to pass when and where we could and then they seemed very reluctant to let us in their formation when we couldn't get them all at once. Jerks.

Off the bikes they are usually pretty nice people but once on the unnamed V-Twin their attitude changes and they become selfish road hogs. I know they are not all like that but it seems that that style of riding attracts that personality type.

I do have a thing for unnamed V-Twin riders. As an old friend of mine used to say "any idiot can twist a grip".
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Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

Mystic Red · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject:

tooslow · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject:

My favorites are the ones that twist it open in the straights and brake hard in the curves. That way they get to feel the power but don't have to know how to ride. Followed a group of 'em off the Beartooth, brakes lights never went out.

John Clauss · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:19 am Post subject:

Last week while riding to the MOA rally in TN we decided to take the Skyline Drive, because its a nice road. Slow, yes at times incredibly slow. We got caught up behind a group of 3 BMW riders who were doing everything decribed in the first post. They were riding like Harley riders. Fine, they want to go slow. The real problem occured when there was a VW microbus parked in the lane around a blind curve, taking pictures. (There was an overlook parking spot in sight) There were the three slow BMW riders, two cars, then myself and my buddy. Two guys darted to left lane, stupid move because you could not see around the bus and curve. The other guy dove to the right, and grazed a boulder, not bad just a bent foot peg. The cars stopped ok, as did my buddy and I. But there were lots of squeling brakes and much verbal abuse flung towards the VW Microbus owner. (Yes, a real vintage microbus)
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