speaking of wierdos....

Sometimes I just have to shake my head.....I hope this guy isn't a member here, but I somehow feel he probably isn't.

I saw a guy riding one of those little Japanese V-Twins this morning on I-25, one of those "it's almost just like a real Harley, but not quite, and smaller" bikes. No big deal, lot of those around. The fact he was wearing shorts and sneakers, and no helmet....also not out of the ordinary.

But this bike had a windshield on it, and this wingnut had placed large black vinyl stick-on letters on the inside of this windshield, facing himself, GO FASTER OR GET OUT OF THE WAY! Placed this way, the words would be readable by anyone in front of him looking in their mirror.

This, of course, made me wonder about his mental stability. The way he was whipping his throttle and jerking his head around, looking for every little space between cars he could dart into and around to gain a few milliseconds of time, only reinforced that opinion.

As I was shaking my head, I realized that this yahoo was also open carrying a sidearm! We all know this is legal in Colorado, but a cheeseburger would also know it's NOT legal in Denver! Which is where this guy was riding, and heading straight into downtown. He certainly didn't look like any kind of LEO or Security Guard either.

I got the feeling that the cheese had slipped off of that feller's burger. Some people's kids.....

Aside from the stupid riding...wasn't really "open carry" since he was on a private means of conveyance. Basically just like carrying in a car. Now, when it's time to get off the bike, things change.

If it makes you feel better, he'll probably get himself killed some day. [Coffee]

Hey, different strokes for different folks.[Tooth]

I've wanted to "complain" about this for a long time, finally a suitable thread to derail into:

How do motorcyclists here stand not being able to split lanes? (when safe, of course) As being another state's native, and having ridden bikes there for 3+ years (until I sold my bike to save up some $$$), it just boggles my mind that I have never seen a single person split a lane. I know it's illegal, but still.

Everyone magically obeys the law not to split lanes here! Harleys, Standards, Squids (ie the t-shirt/shorts/sandals/sunglasses guy on the hayabusa), I have not seen one of them go between cars.

I've thought about getting a bike here, but I don't have a garage (and having had a bike stolen before, it's a real kick in the ass to come find your bike gone) and I just can't imagine sitting in bumber-to-bumper traffic while the bike overheats and there's nothing you can do about it. At least where I come from, you could legally, slowly, prudently coast between lanes of cars and get to where you needed to go. Without that, there's almost zero traffic motivation to own a bike. (and much of the denver highways being 55mph don't help, either).

Easy, I don't split lanes because of the other lunatics on the road, the way people switch lanes around here you're just asking to eat bumper. At least that's why I don't do it. People will try and change lanes in standstill traffic all the time and I just choose a different route that's less congested since it's normally a more enjoyable ride than the superslab anyway.

Lane splitting in a state where the 99.9% of people in cars aren't looking for motorcycles splitting lanes = disaster.

best of luck to him, riding like that and not wearing the proper gear is recipe for disaster.

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Originally Posted by sniper7

best of luck to him, riding like that and not wearing the proper gear is recipe for disaster.

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Or meat waffles

I would think that splitting lanes here would as has been said would be very short. Very common for many to open there door for a spit while stopped in traffic. Along with that there are many looking for a payday or for someone to buy their car.

I would give a lane splitter a week here.

On Sat I was driving from Deckers to Pine Junction on Hwy 126. As I passed the parking area for Cheesman there was a dude on a sport bike, in full racing gear, sitting at the parking entrance facing out. I told my wife "That guy is waiting for some open road."

Sure enough, when we were near the Kelsey campground (5 or 6 miles away) he came up behind us and was past before I could blink. I guess he was doing 110+. He was taking the corners at full speed and I could smell the rubber he was leaving behind. Dude obviously had skill but damn, what a bad place to race your bike. There are always cars pulling out from blind corners, deer, elk, gravel...

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Originally Posted by KestrelBike

I've wanted to "complain" about this for a long time, finally a suitable thread to derail into:

How do motorcyclists here stand not being able to split lanes? (when safe, of course) As being another state's native, and having ridden bikes there for 3+ years (until I sold my bike to save up some $$$), it just boggles my mind that I have never seen a single person split a lane. I know it's illegal, but still.

Everyone magically obeys the law not to split lanes here! Harleys, Standards, Squids (ie the t-shirt/shorts/sandals/sunglasses guy on the hayabusa), I have not seen one of them go between cars.

I've thought about getting a bike here, but I don't have a garage (and having had a bike stolen before, it's a real kick in the ass to come find your bike gone) and I just can't imagine sitting in bumber-to-bumper traffic while the bike overheats and there's nothing you can do about it. At least where I come from, you could legally, slowly, prudently coast between lanes of cars and get to where you needed to go. Without that, there's almost zero traffic motivation to own a bike. (and much of the denver highways being 55mph don't help, either).

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Come to the springs and watch all the stupid joes and their new crotch rockets. They'll split a few.

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Originally Posted by Scanker19

Come to the springs and watch all the stupid joes and their new crotch rockets. They'll split a few.

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One of those guys just hit an in-law of mine in CS. He came up an on-ramp at full speed, cut across to the left and smacked into the side of said in-law's vehicle who was a lane or two over. He hit the fender, the windshield and flew across the hood. His insurance was expired.

One reason i like Cali: split lanes all you want......[Beer]

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Originally Posted by KestrelBike

Squids (ie the t-shirt/shorts/sandals/sunglasses guy on the hayabusa)

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Just FYI- among the guys I used to ride with- I too am a victim of motorcycle theft and have yet to get a new one- we consider anyone who rides without PPE a squid... and that includes the Hardly Dangerous crowd.

The OP... that guy's stupidity will eventually catch up to him. [Beer]

I always have to laugh when I see the squids. I'll bet they think they're really cool...right up until they biff it and turn part of their body into hamburger, or worse if they also passed on the helmet. Even when it's hot out, I'll wear my gear. Lots more painful if you don't, and you dump it.

Someone riding like Rondog described won't make it too long without having an "unintended consequence".

Relax, they are just interviewing for the "Organ Donor" position that is advertised on their drivers license.

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Originally Posted by Troublco

Even when it's hot out, I'll wear my gear. Lots more painful if you don't, and you dump it.

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Sweat washes off a lot easier than road rash.

I've been known to split lanes in a complete standstill on I-70, but at 4-5 MPH. Lane sharing is illegal in 49 of 50 states, so most US drivers don't look for it, or understand how it helps them(by reducing congestion), so it just makes them mad. Then they try to deliberately block it.

Re: Potential skin graft recipient:

Open carry is legal until he steps off the bike, and is in a public area. If he is on private property when he gets off the bike(such as a private driveway, or a parking lot "under a business' control), he can carry openly in Denver. That doesn't mean he won't be contacted by friendly officers asking polite questions, though.

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18-12-105. Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons



(1) A person commits a class 2 misdemeanor if such person knowingly and unlawfully:

(a) Carries a knife concealed on or about his or her person; or

(b) Carries a firearm concealed on or about his or her person; or

(c) Without legal authority, carries, brings, or has in such person's possession a firearm or any explosive, incendiary, or other dangerous device on the property of or within any building in which the chambers, galleries, or offices of the general assembly, or either house thereof, are located, or in which a legislative hearing or meeting is being or is to be conducted, or in which the official office of any member, officer, or employee of the general assembly is located.

(d) (Deleted by amendment, L. 93, p. 964, § 1, effective July 1, 1993.)

(2) It shall not be an offense if the defendant was:

(a) A person in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under his or her control at the time of the act of carrying; or

(b) A person in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance who carries a weapon for lawful protection of such person's or another's person or property while traveling; or

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the one time I crashed my bike was lane splitting in SC. some douche opened his door to teach me a lesson. I spent 3 weeks in a hospital and got a $100 ticket...he got a charge of ABDW. he was forces to pay restitution (his insurance company did) got fined, lost his license and forced to go to anger management