Catfood

Debated whether or not to post this here for awhile.

Not a lot of street encounters on this forum, but this one kinda freaked me out so I figured I would post it up.

On my way home I roll up to a stoplight next to a guy on a harley or whatever loud streetbike those guys ride. I have not idea what was growling from under his gas tank, but he had the brain bucket and shades on and was checking my car out at the light.

The light turns green and I accelerate normally, and he goes wide open immediately. Not surprised I guess, but I lay into and my car shifts back to first and I'm in the game! Im rolling out first and I look at him prob two bike lengths ahead and this guy is staring back at me not even looking ahead. He's wringing his bike out and shifting up gears without looking ahead or even looking at the tach.

Granted the road is straight, but there are business' and stoplights ahead! I have an automatic so Im watching ahead and praying I start to gain trying to fight the winning urge vs safety.

As I gain on him and pull even at about 80, he finally looks ahead and starts focusing on shifting, but I've had enough my heart is racing and I let off and he speeds off away from me.

I def had the edge at the end, and I feel good about that, but this guy scared the crap out of me. I was pulling and catching up as he stared at me. I want to be the bigger man, but my competitive side wouldn't let me stop.

WallyP

In Georgia, if he had died, you would be up for a murder charge...

jbrob007

Your car is just "getting her legs" at 80 mph... while he's nearing top end at 100 mph. This "race" is like comparing apples & oranges. He's on a 0 to 60 bike & your in a 60 to 160 car Glad you backed off cause he was obviously going to win at ALL costs... including his life... over bragging rights.

linderpat

not smart. Let Darwin sort out the dopes like that rider, not you. Nothing wrong with a good drag race, but make sure you feel comfortable with the one you are running against - anything weird at all, and I'm off.

tv

the hacks in the georgia legislature


Lot of crap laws passed in the last 30 years. Lot of crap choices made by voters also. I don't race people but I believe the germans have it closest to what is right as far as cars/driving. They have resisted the dumbing down of their roadway.

jpowers

Sounds like you need some track time.

Imo000

Harleys or any other Harley imitation is anything but a 0-60 bike. They are super slow in the bike world and slow even in the car world.

polecat702

You don't know what you're talking about.

Harleys are road bikes, not stop light rockets. I've got a 88 CI 1929 JDH, twin cam, half overhead/side valve exhaust, I'll run any street Porsche aginist. BTW it's bone stock, tank shift/rocker clutch. It'll blow the doors off any modern Harley including my V-Rod. It's doesn't start to breath till it hits a 100 MPH. These bikes were built to run. They were rare in the 30's, not many around today.

FWIW, Harley built the original 4 cyl inline, but sold the design to Honda, cause it didn't look like a Hog, and didn't sound like a Hog. The prototype is in the Harley Museum in York, Pa.

rgs944

You can usually judge who is next to you and get an idea on who is going to floor it. Which is about 50% of the driving public when they get next to a Porsche. I try to avoid it by timing lights or turning off. I did have a idiot kid in a pickup a while back. He thought is was cool to get by me by driving 50mph or more in a busy 35mph zone. I was patient and waited untill we were well away from traffic. Then I passed him on the 4 lane like he was standing still. Then I would brake hard and let him catch up. Then go 1/2 throttle again and walk away. Well you get the point, I am sure he did too.

depami

I love to race!

But I only do when there are no other vehicles in sight.

FREAKINHEAT

If your bragging that you beat a Harley bike, please stop. Thats like saying I won a fight with a 5 year old.

jbrob007

The point was... our cars are not drag racers... never were & never will be without significant mods. And, idiots with $$ and/or fast cars & bikes abound - be very careful who you are next to when having any kind of spirited driving... especially if they are watching YOU and not the road. They will win the Darwin Award sooner or later and you dont want to be next to 'em

Ya'all have a Happy & SAFE Christmas!!!

Ducman82

^^^^ well said Joel.

Imo000

I'm having a very hard time beliving the story about this 30's Harley but let's say it's true. There is an exception to every rule so let this be the one for HD. I've ridden pretty much every kind of bike there is and this includes a couple of Harleys too. They are painfully slow at any speed. When my 928 was stock, a ZX6 wasn't able to pull on me on the highway. When the SC went on, a buddy of mine wanted to see how it would do against his R1. With the Yamaha, we went from a rolling start (25mph) and he was next to me, with his front wheel up, him leaning on the tank to keep the front wheel down, and he didn't start to pull till he shifted into 3rd.

And for the comment that 928 are not built to drag race, only slow owners say that. I've pulled a dozen high 13 sec runs when the car was 100%stock....right down to the spare tire and stock rims.

tv

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/v-...mi-0-60-a.html

interesting. the v-rod has better numbers than I thought, anywho the bike that I rode back in June is the boss hogg so to speak --- 0-60 2.67, 1/4 mile 9.6 -- the S1000RR

I too am amazed by the mention of the 1929 JDH - http://www.motorarchive.com/images/H...8_28-JDH_1.jpg