Failing In My Quest To Slow Down

[so1102]

I find lately since upgrading my exhaust I am going faster just because I love the noise! Way too easy even on side streets to look down and -- oops! -- I'm 20mph over the limit

[captainmay]

As someone else mentioned above, I'd start doing track days, or at least do one. It'll get any unrealistic sense of how fast you are on the street out of your system real quick. Its a much safer outlet as well.
 
Also, regarding helmets and helmet laws, I wear all my gear every time I ride. I don't like to see a rider without a helmet. However, I do not believe it is my place or anyone else, including an overbearing and completely intrusive government, whether you MUST wear a helmet or not. No one has ever killed anyone but themselves by not wearing a helmet

[pineappleunderthesea]

As someone else mentioned above, I'd start doing track days, or at least do one. It'll get any unrealistic sense of how fast you are on the street out of your system real quick. Its a much safer outlet as well. 
Also, regarding helmets and helmet laws, I wear all my gear every time I ride. I don't like to see a rider without a helmet. However, I do not believe it is my place or anyone else, including an overbearing and completely intrusive government, whether you MUST wear a helmet or not. No one has ever killed anyone but themselves by not wearing a helmet

Track days are definitely something I need to do as well, but I keep saying that...never seem to find the time to do it. 
As for the helmet thing, you would think that insurance companies would be all over that:  chances of getting seriously hurt or dying are likely higher without wearing a helmet, which means higher claims are paid out (hospital, recovery, etc).  Unless they already factor that in with higher rates.

[gregjet]

From an insurance point of view, surely the fact that people are more likely to die will reduce the insurance payouts. I don't know how widspread life insurance is in the US but it has severly wained here. That would be a factor for them overall but specialist motor cover companies would reduce the payouts if the riders are deceased and don't have to payout for fixing bikes and in motorcycle collisions there is considerably less third party payouts anyway.
 

[ornery]

I'm having a relapse. Is there a pill I can take before leaving work? No, not on my bike, it's been tarped for the last couple weeks due to rain & cold. Nope, in my car, though not really speeding (much), my blood pressure is going through the roof! We're aloud to turn right on red here, and I got behind an SUV that would only make that turn when traffic wasn't visible for a quarter mile in all directions. When she FINALLY turned, I passed her briskly, and she looked at me with an expression of, "What's your problem?" I'm thinking, "Your slow ass, you ditz!"
 
Of course I just barely caught the light shown in the video at the beginning, thanks to "the ditz". At the next light, about a mile up the road, I stayed in the left lane, so anybody wanting to turn right at that light would be able to do so. When the light turned green, the pickup tuck in front of me didn't move, then turned on his left turn signal. Sonofabitch! I'm livid! Fortunately, I didn't squeeze my car against his ass end, so I was able to swing into the right lane after waiting for it to clear. Guess who I had to fall in behind? Yep, "the ditz", who turned right while I honked and flipped off the inconsiderate, coc@#&cking, muther@#& in the truck as I passed him. I even thought of pulling in front of him, stopping my car, getting out and yelling what I thought of him, but that wouldn't be fair to the other folks stuck behind him at that point.
 
Needless to say, this is going to take a LONG time to work out...

[hobbs]

Do you realize you're being as big an ass as these people you complain about? And that you contribute greatly to the lack of consideration, respect and patience on the road if that's how you act?
 
This is almost humorous. So many things that could be said, but I'll just shake my head and walk away. It is your thread after all.

[pattonme]

geez man maybe a stiff drink an hour before you leave? (kidding) a hard 3 mile run? have your neighbor beat you with a 2x4 before you leave for work?
Why not leave at o-dark thirty in the morning and snooze in your vehicle once you get to the site? Listen to some Enya or sound of lapping waves on the stereo?

[ornery]

Therapy maybe?
 
So, for reference, tell me how a normal, mentally stable person would deal with the truck driver? I would have been stuck waiting through another light if I hadn't been able to go around. So, you would just take that in stride, eh? I swear to God, if it wasn't for others waiting, I would have stopped in front of him and unloaded my thoughts. Is that against the law? I think he deserved it, but maybe that's just my current demented mental state...

[pattonme]

it's simple, chill the F out. It's one cycle. What is that 75 seconds? If you're leg's been shot off and you're going to die from blood loss then sure, seconds count. Don't be so sure there isn't an "assault" ordinance in your area defined as exiting your vehicle to accost someone, even if just verbally. If your mannerisms are sufficiently threatening as perceived by the other driver, you could get some hot lead sent your way and you wouldn't have much of a defense.

[biggaudi]

Most of the time I just tell myself "It is not worth it." It just is not worth getting myself upset over some other moron on the street or anywhere else. People pull out in front of me I might give them a honk, but they might still be too stupid to even realize why I'm honking. They probably don't think they did anything wrong. So yeah, best to keep your cool and try to pass idiot drivers when possible and safe. And if you can't well you can't. But 9 times out of 10 people the people who get upset and emotional, and then make decisions, tend to make poor decisions.

[ornery]

I was doing well on my slowing down quest. But, this seems like a setback. Maybe not if I can learn from it. Did some thinking and realize my short temper is triggered by anything getting between me and completion of a task. Doing chores around the house, I have a pretty good idea how long each should take, and any snags that pop up piss me off. Doesn't matter how much sleep I've had or what mood I'm in when I start. If I'm in a good mood, start a task, and something goes wrong, I blow up.
 
For me, driving is getting from point A to point B. From commuting to and from work, to taking a trip, same thing. I don't "enjoy the drive" or relax and listen to tunes. I don't smoke or chit chat on the phone. It's just one more task that needs completed effortlessly and with as few errors and delays as possible.
 
Now, knowing this, perhaps I can make some changes. I've successfully slowed down, so anything is possible. I did that by keeping the consequences foremost in my mind. The consequences of getting my blood pressure up too much is poor health, or so I hear. It certainly isn't worth it, especially when things get broken as a result. Yeah, if I can pull this off, it will effect more than my driving & riding.
 
One last question. Do you keep yourself from getting pissed in the first place, or if somebody or something pisses you off, do you manage to shrug it off? For me, once the anger kicks in, it's a miserable downward spiral, that nothing short of blowing off steam seems to help.

[Mr.Puss]

Do you realize you're being as big an ass as these people you complain about? And that you contribute greatly to the lack of consideration, respect and patience on the road if that's how you act? 
This is almost humorous. So many things that could be said, but I'll just shake my head and walk away. It is your thread after all.

+10 ^ 

[pattonme]

well Ornery, that you can admit to it and can at least do some analysis is a good, first step. I've got an idea for you if "venting" is still your go-to coping mechanism. Put a nice big bean/rice-filled bag in the passenger seat (doesn't help on the bike) and when something gets you all worked up. Just pull over, turn to the bean bag and curse and beat the shet out of it. Walk around to the other side of the car so you can put your weight behind the punches. When you're good and "angered out" talk to yourself out loud, and tell yourself, "Alright you've had your hissy fit, now settle down and put it out of your mind."
 
And DO put it out of your mind. *Actively* think of something else.
 
On the bike, you can at least pull over, kick the ground, punch a light pole or otherwise just scream and yell into your helmet. You know kinda like those guys shouting about the end of the world from atop their milk crates. You're already goofy looking in your gear, what's a little gesticulation to go with it? Or whip out a cleaning cloth and detail your bike for 5 minutes.
 
I don't have a degree in pop psychology but I did stay at a Motel 6.
 

[i28]

I don't have a degree in pop psychology but I did stay at a Motel 6.

 
This is great! (rofl)
 
Anger is a bit like mental target fixation to me and that's no good on a motorcycle.
I'm trying to get better at laughing things off or brushing them off instead of getting angry and stressing myself out because, chances are, the other person you're angry at is probably not aware of the situation they caused.

[duenan]

I dunno, the older you get, you start to mellow out when you lose the testosterone.

[ornery]

Well, I was able to slow down and take it easy... For about a week!  But, I've become more judicious in going over the speed limit, and I'm finding ways to keep inconsiderate drivers from getting to me:
 
     [video src=https://youtu.be/kN23PqnB1Q4]
 
Who would have thunk the FZ07 could be such a calming influence?
 

[ssdawood]

I am sorry to say that if you have no control on speed maybe you should sell the bike.
 
Then if you feel like speeding in a car and have no control sell the car and take public transportation.
 
Luke others said you can goto jail, die or kill some one innocent on road.
 
I wouldnt want that to happen to me or my family.
 
We are adults and part of it is assume responsibility and take control of desires.
 
You wouldn't like it if someone who couldn't control speeding killed your wife or kid.

[ornery]

I've thought about it, but I've decided to split the difference, and keep speeding to a minimum. Besides, we're only talking 50MPH or so on a 35MPH boulevard. Maybe 70MPH in a short burst. I go about the same in my car (as do MANY fellow motorists), minus the short bursts, because it isn't capable. My driving record from 20 years old on, includes one fender bender 12 years ago, one red light violation 7 years ago... And, that's it! I chalk it up to driving conservative cars, because I deserve a LOT more tickets I never got. Cops won't cut me any breaks with this bike, I'm sure. But, I ain't selling it!

[robborboy]

It's funny that you say that.  I find it quite the opposite here in Florida, especially right now during bike week.  So many people riding around without helmets.

I'll attest to that. It also gets so damn hot & humid here you'll shrivel up and die even in the best vented riding jacket on the market which is why so many people don't wear a lot of protective gear around here. The gear will give you heat stroke and kill you all by itself or at least feel like it's going to. God knows I've bought the gear and tried my best to keep it on but you can't enjoy riding when you're profusely sweating, suffocating for air and praying for a freak blizzard. (Lord, please forgive me for not riding with a jacket and boots that don't have extra protection at the ankles.) There, that should take care of that. Now I don't have to worry about anyone putting labels on me for not gearing up 1000%. Not that anyone here did, we're all cool.    

Really sounds like you just need a mesh jacket. Will give you all the impact protection you want, but aside from that feels like you're wearing nothing. You lose some abrasion protection, but you still have a lot more than not.

[Beemer]

robborboy
 
"Really sounds like you just need a mesh jacket. Will give you all the impact protection you want, but aside from that feels like you're wearing nothing. You lose some abrasion protection, but you still have a lot more than not."
 
 
I do have one and I wish you were right because I would've saved myself around $350 in other protective clothes I hoped would be cooler to wear than my mesh jacket. I'm done buying sh*t that claims it'll keep you cool. It just doesn't where I live. I just need to load the truck and move to Beverly ... Hills that is. Mild summers ... movie stars! 
 
 
[attachment id=2235" thumbnail="1]Woot!
 
 
 
BTW, thanks, you tried to help.

[potatochips]

I've thought about it, but I've decided to split the difference, and keep speeding to a minimum. Besides, we're only talking 50MPH or so on a 35MPH boulevard. Maybe 70MPH in a short burst. I go about the same in my car (as do MANY fellow motorists), minus the short bursts, because it isn't capable. My driving record from 20 years old on, includes one fender bender 12 years ago, one red light violation 7 years ago... And, that's it! I chalk it up to driving conservative cars, because I deserve a LOT more tickets I never got. Cops won't cut me any breaks with this bike, I'm sure. But, I ain't selling it!

Sounds fine to me, not likely you'll be mowing down entire families anytime soon.  

[ddog]

I just make sure I'm out on back roads when I'm moving fast.

[robborboy]

robborboy 
"Really sounds like you just need a mesh jacket. Will give you all the impact protection you want, but aside from that feels like you're wearing nothing. You lose some abrasion protection, but you still have a lot more than not."
 
 
I do have one and I wish you were right because I would've saved myself around $350 in other protective clothes I hoped would be cooler to wear than my mesh jacket. I'm done buying sh*t that claims it'll keep you cool. It just doesn't where I live. I just need to load the truck and move to Beverly ... Hills that is. Mild summers ... movie stars! 
 
 
[attachment id=2235" thumbnail="1]Woot!
 
 
 
BTW, thanks, you tried to help.

not trying to sound like an ads, but sound like you night be buying sub par gear. I've lived in FL, Atlantic Beach. Leave in South TN which feels way hotter thanks to living in the river and humidity so high I might as well be under water. In proper mesh gear I legitimately feel no different than if I was squidding.

[Beemer]

robborboy 
"Really sounds like you just need a mesh jacket. Will give you all the impact protection you want, but aside from that feels like you're wearing nothing. You lose some abrasion protection, but you still have a lot more than not."
 
 
I do have one and I wish you were right because I would've saved myself around $350 in other protective clothes I hoped would be cooler to wear than my mesh jacket. I'm done buying sh*t that claims it'll keep you cool. It just doesn't where I live. I just need to load the truck and move to Beverly ... Hills that is. Mild summers ... movie stars! 
 
 
Woot!
 
 
 
BTW, thanks, you tried to help.

not trying to sound like an ads, but sound like you night be buying sub par gear. I've lived in FL, Atlantic Beach. Leave in South TN which feels way hotter thanks to living in the river and humidity so high I might as well be under water. In proper mesh gear I legitimately feel no different than if I was squidding.

Well then, what is proper mesh gear, IYO?

[sane]

 
One last question. Do you keep yourself from getting pissed in the first place, or if somebody or something pisses you off, do you manage to shrug it off? For me, once the anger kicks in, it's a miserable downward spiral, that nothing short of blowing off steam seems to help.

 
The method I use to avoid rage getting the better of me is to observe my anger from a third person perspective.
 
Like I'm looking over my shoulder watching the anger wash by. Being in the third person, I can acknowledge it without getting swept up in it.
 
Its taken years of practice.