Stupid questions people ask you when stopped

[veriest1]

Got off work last week after it had been raining and it looked like I'd be heading into more. As I geared up a coworker comes out and as she's getting in her truck says, "terrible day to ride to work." I respond by asking why she said such a thing (with a bewildered look on my face) and she gestures towards the dark clouds. At this point I ask, "What kind of motorcycles have you been riding?" she then pretends like we didn't have that conversation and drives off. I guess she hasn't been riding much of anything.


Sent from my Pocket Parrot using Tapatalk.

[rocker59]

Originally Posted by Benesesso

...don't know what Hamilton did.

Diesel locomotives. For a few years.

from the web:

In 1947, the firm merged with General Machinery Corporation of Hamilton, Ohio, to form Lima-Hamilton.

Lima's last steam locomotive was Nickel Plate Road No. 779, a 2-8-4 "Berkshire", which left the erecting halls in 1949. That same year Lima promoted a new wheel arrangement, the 4-8-6. This would have allowed an even larger firebox than the 4-8-4. No example of the type was built, however.

From 1949 to 1951 Lima-Hamilton produced a total of 174 Diesel Locomotives, in 6 different models.

In 1951, Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works to form Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH). The Lima-Hamilton line of Diesels was discontinued, in favor of Baldwin's existing line. Though Lima and Baldwin had been known for high-quality steam locomotives, their line of diesel-electric locomotives was unable to compete with EMD, Alco, and GE. BLH left the locomotive business in 1956.

[Phlemdog]

Originally Posted by 42

I remember playing a game when I was slightly younger, on the PS2, called Speed Kings. Really fun, had three extra challenges in the races that you could do to unlock other things (bikes, tracks, etc) . One of the unique things that I thought was batsh!t crazy was the "Power-down". You literally lay your bike on it's side, and slide underneath stuff to gain an advantage (you didn't lose speed for the first little bit).

[eepeqez]

Originally Posted by Mr_Gone

...“My brother was killed on a bike fifteen years ago. Some guy didn’t see him and changed lanes and ran him off the road. I miss him every day,” she says. [A statement. Not a question.]
“I’m sorry to hear that. It makes you look for bikes when you’re driving, doesn’t it?” I ask her. [And that, folks, THAT is apparently the stupid question!!!]
Because she thinks for a few seconds, then shrugs, and says, “Not really.”
Not really?
Frack me!!!

Now, I’ve thought of about a million responses since then — some smartass responses, some dumbass responses, some noncommittal ones, a few brutal ones, one or two admonishing ones. I’ve thought of nearly everything I could of and/or should of said...

I think you came very close to giving the only possible correct response under the circumstances. Unfortunately that response was correct, so you didn't.


"I'm speechless."

[eepeqez]

Originally Posted by RidingDonkeys

Dumbass: "You have to have a quick release so you can drop the sidecar and lay her down if you get in a jam."

I'd never encountered this concept that I should crash my motorcycle to avoid a crash until I read about it in this forum; it seems to be a uniquely American thing, just as the non riding American public seems to think that motorcycles come in not more than 3 flavours and sometimes less:
Harleys (proper motorcycles for proper Americans)
Crotchrockets (racing bikes for young hooligans)
Trail bikes (minibikes which got bigger, for playing in the woods, but never for transport)

Which makes me wonder about it's origins. (ALERT My tongue is firmly in my cheek) I wonder if it is part of the same phenomenon, that it is simply because in the eyes of the American public, motorcycles are Harleys and Harleys are prone to falling over if the rider attempts to stop or change course abruptly?

[Tuna Helper]

Originally Posted by eepeqez

I'd never encountered this concept that I should crash my motorcycle to avoid a crash until I read about it in this forum; it seems to be a uniquely American thing, just as the non riding American public seems to think that motorcycles come in not more than 3 flavours and sometimes less:
Harleys (proper motorcycles for proper Americans)
Crotchrockets (racing bikes for young hooligans)
Trail bikes (minibikes which got bigger, for playing in the woods, but never for transport)

Which makes me wonder about it's origins. (ALERT My tongue is firmly in my cheek) I wonder if it is part of the same phenomenon, that it is simply because in the eyes of the American public, motorcycles are Harleys and Harleys are prone to falling over if the rider attempts to stop or change course abruptly?

According to some in this forum, yes.

[PSYCHO II]

Originally Posted by eepeqez

I'd never encountered this concept that I should crash my motorcycle to avoid a crash until I read about it in this forum; it seems to be a uniquely American thing, just as the non riding American public seems to think that motorcycles come in not more than 3 flavours and sometimes less:
Harleys (proper motorcycles for proper Americans)
Crotchrockets (racing bikes for young hooligans)
Trail bikes (minibikes which got bigger, for playing in the woods, but never for transport)

Which makes me wonder about it's origins. (ALERT My tongue is firmly in my cheek) I wonder if it is part of the same phenomenon, that it is simply because in the eyes of the American public, motorcycles are Harleys and Harleys are prone to falling over if the rider attempts to stop or change course abruptly?

Not uniquely an American thing.... many countries have posts where the rider says "put it down" to avoid a crash. Nothing to do with Harley.

[Mr_Gone]

Originally Posted by eepeqez

I think you came very close to giving the only possible correct response under the circumstances. Unfortunately that response was correct, so you didn't.


"I'm speechless."

I believe you are correct, sir.

[Crazy_Dave]

Originally Posted by eepeqez

I'd never encountered this concept that I should crash my motorcycle to avoid a crash until I read about it in this forum; it seems to be a uniquely American thing, just as the non riding American public ?

It’s called taking the lesser of two evils. You can, A) run down the little girl that ran out of the hedgerow or B) ride into the ditch to avoid the kid.
I’m going swimming.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Dave

It’s called taking the lesser of two evils. You can, A) run down the little girl that ran out of the hedgerow or B) ride into the ditch to avoid the kid.
I’m going swimming.

At least then you have control of your bike all the way to the ditch. Layin'er down to me is simply giving up and laying the bike on it's side to use the shiny bits to slow the bike down, at which point you give up all control over the situation and it's in "fate's hands" at that point.

Any back on topic

Imagine I'm riding wherever and I'm geared up
Random person: "Hey aren't you hot in that getup why don't you wear a t-shirt?"
Me: "no."

Then turn around and walk out before they can say anything else.

[Big Red]

Everyday I'm working in the office, if it's been raining at all I'll hear: "Ooooh, you're gonna get a wet bum!" as I'm heading out the door. If I'm on the pushy, I'll say: "Nah, brought some garbage bags with me", if I'm on the Moto, it'll be: "Yep! ...wanna come?"

[pretbek]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Dave

It’s called taking the lesser of two evils. You can, A) run down the little girl that ran out of the hedgerow or B) ride into the ditch to avoid the kid.
I’m going swimming.

Ride? Yer doin' it wrong. You are supposed to lay 'er down, then have both you and the bike slide past the girl into a parked car. There, crash avoided.

The other day Mrs. Pretbek and I were out to dinner with two of her fellow students and their significant others (no, not their motorcycles). During conversation I mentioned that I ride, so Ms. Significant Other asks "oh, what do you ride?".
me: "A Kawasaki Ve..." Ms: "OH! Those are really fast!"
me: "...Versys. No, it is not a sport bike, it is a fairly small upright bike."
Ms:
WTH is an "upright" bike anyway? One that didn't fall over yet? Gotta work on my explanations.

I think the immediate thought process was Kawasaki = Ninja = crotch rocket.

[assquatch20]

Originally Posted by pretbek

Ride? Yer doin' it wrong. You are supposed to lay 'er down, then have both you and the bike slide past the girl into a parked car. There, crash avoided.

The other day Mrs. Pretbek and I were out to dinner with two of her fellow students and their significant others (no, not their motorcycles). During conversation I mentioned that I ride, so Ms. Significant Other asks "oh, what do you ride?".
me: "A Kawasaki Ve..." Ms: "OH! Those are really fast!"
me: "...Versys. No, it is not a sport bike, it is a fairly small upright bike."
Ms:
WTH is an "upright" bike anyway? One that didn't fall over yet? Gotta work on my explanations.

I think the immediate thought process was Kawasaki = Ninja = crotch rocket.

I've quit bothering on the subject of speed. I have to assume that I'm always talking to a non-rider, and thus, it's fast.

[RxZ]

Originally Posted by assquatch20

I've quit bothering on the subject of speed. I have to assume that I'm always talking to a non-rider, and thus, it's fast.

I try explaining to people that my ex500 is quick, not fast. That befuddles most. All they see is a bright green Kawasaki that looks like a sport bike, so it must be capable of 200 MPH! In reality, I don't know if it would do much over 100, and I have never been over about 85 on it.

Here's my completely not dumb and probably super helpful question from a few weeks ago: I was riding home from work, and the bottom was starting to drop out of the clouds. Right before it got really bad (lightening, high wind, etc) I pulled into a gas station to wait out the worst of the storm. While sitting there, this guy who was getting gas looks over from his truck and asks, "Is the bike ok?" My reply was "Yes, I am just waiting out the rain." I think had my bike really had a problem, this guy would have torn it apart to fix it in the rain. He was some kind of mechanic or construction worker by looking at his truck, tools and parts to random stuff everywhere.

[ChevalDeFer]

Originally Posted by RxZ

I try explaining to people that my ex500 is quick, not fast. That befuddles most. All they see is a bright green Kawasaki that looks like a sport bike, so it must be capable of 200 MPH! In reality, I don't know if it would do much over 100, and I have never been over about 85 on it.

I tried (in vain) to explain to a couple of flat-billers one day that my 250 is dog. They weren't having it.