Every once in a while there is a motorcyclist who gives all bikers a bad name.This one today was showing off for his female passenger, and he's lucky he didn't dump his bike and injure them both. At the red light on westbound Lake Avenue at Kilkenny Court/Catalpa Lane, he pulled up alongside me. He didn't "jump" the light but, when he took off, he nearly did "take off". He might have been trying for a wheelie, because the front tire was close to leaving the ground.
I estimated his speed at 60-65MPH westbound, and it's a 40MPH zone there. His passenger looked like she was enjoyed the ride, while the bike was stopped at the red light. After that I never saw her face.
Their destination? The Red Mill. Maybe for a couple of brews to warm them up. The bike is a red Kawasaki with a small black windscreen.
13 comments:
Wonder if they had helmets on? Bet there would not have been a smile on her face after he crahsed.
Your never to young to die and your never to old to be reckless.
No, no helmets. The pavement would have made a mess out of both faces.
I recognize the bike. He lived on Kimball Ave. this summer- I haven't heard the bike in some time, so I think he moved. He drove like that all the time. I assumed he was a cop, or related to one, since he's still driving like that and still has possession of the bike. Now that I now he frequents the Red Mill, maybe he is a cop or cop wannabe, or a relative.
Thanks, John. I thought about siccing the Woodstock cops on him. I don't know if Illinois has a "speed exhibition" statute.
I was pretty sure he passed at least one car illegally, because he was not in sight when I topped the hill by the west entrance to Walmart. But I didn't see it, because he was far ahead of me. By the time I got to the Red Mill, the bike was parked and they were walking in.
I betcha the brews were poured and on the bar counter waiting for those guys. They didn't want their beer to get warm, so what's wrong wit dat? DOH!
There are two things that bug the heck outta me when I'm driving the rustbucket:
1. CrotchRockets that squeeze between lanes zip'n around cars.
2. People who flick their cigarette butt out the window and it hit the front of my wagon.
I bet they would'nt appreciate it if I started throwing my empty beer cans out the window. DOH.
Just scoop up that butt and toss it back at the next light, with "Here, I think you dropped something."
You'd love California, where bikers split lanes all the time, often at 60-70 MPH. You can hear the thump-thump-thump of their tires on the lane-divider bumps. It's against the law, but the CHiP officers tolerate it.
From the CHP website:
"...Can motorcycle riders "split" lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner..."
NO it is legal in California. Motorcycles are permitted to split lanes and do it all the time.
Legal and "permitted" are two different things.
When I lived in California in 1989, it was illegal to lane-split, but it was tolerated.
Sort of like 72MPH in a 55MPH zone on the Illinois Tollway, isn't it? Illegal, but tolerated. Or "permitted"; especially since the Illinois State Police troopers regularly disobey speed limit laws themselves.
One way to curb the lane splitting- open your door. DOH!
Gus,call the CHP and you'll find it is not just permitted, but legal.
Gus, maybe YOU should start listening. Lane splitting is not TOLERATED by CHP, it's LEGAL. I experienced a couple of crotch rockets flying past me this past summer while out in Kalifornicate and was truly amazed that they were doing it. What really got me wondering was when they did it and a CHP squad was running two lanes to the right of them and he took no action. I just happened to be visiting with a long-time friend who also happens to be a long-time lieutenant with the San Diego SO and asked him about it over beers. He told me that it's the law - lane splitting is legal. Now we have Lucky Ned and John telling us that even the CHP website says it's legal. What part about "Gus Philpott is NOT THE LAW" don't you understand? Also, in your post make a lot of assumptions and accusations. If that was my bike that you took a picture of and then held me out to ridicule because you don't like something you think I did that didn't conform to your ideas of what's proper, I might just show you another law, e.g for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Perhaps somebody might start dumping on you. Not too hard since you proudly display your home address and vehicle description. Got insurance?
Called WPD on the driver? For what? The only thing known for sure from this post is that the driver accelerated quicker than you did and that it happened in one of your favorite "traps". I would think that was a common experience by now.
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