Well, it didn't quite hit the fan but...

[darsek]

Today was the first day I had an encounter with a toatlly oblivious cager. Me: Great Highway left lane, cruising.
Her: Great Highway right lane, smoking a cig.
Me: Hmmm, they taught me about lane positioning and how not to ride in a cars blind spot in the MSF. I can see this ladies face in her side mirror, now I will accelerate to move past her quickly and safely.
Her: Gosh, this cig is good...I'm hungry...I love this song...Hmmm I seem to be drifting into the left lane.
Anyway, I know you have all had this happen. It's a good reminder for how hyper-aware you need to be on the road. After this I was kind of rattled so I was not "One with the Ninja" and proceeded to get freaked out by the super heavy wind today AND locking up my rear wheel while doing a hard brake at a stop light.
What a ride....can't wait to get in the saddle again tomorrow!!!

Anyone have any tricks for staying zen after scary things happen out there?

[Wrider]

Had that happen the other day to me too... except the lady was older, talking on a cell phone, and apparently trying to adjust her radio all at the same time as needing to swerve (for no apparent reason) into my lane. I was right next to her, I had made eye contact with her, and she still tried to make me a part of the lane! I ended up honking and all that jazz, but to finally get her attention I had to put my pipes next to the drivers side window, pull in the clutch, hit the gas, and beep all at the same time . I got her attention with that maneuver! hehe Oh, and here in Colo Sprgs they tend to like to do emergency braking on a regular basis, apparently to keep everyone's skills sharp, so I've locked up the rear wheel more than once (although I do have to admit that doing it at 50 and leaving a cloud of smoke is both terrifying and exhilerating at the same time). Glad you made it alright though, best of luck out there!
Wrider

[Candy750]

I know exactly how you feel!!
Take a deep breath and tell yourself it wasn't your mistake, and you handled it well. You turned her wrong into a right. Exhale the stress, and keep up your awareness....you are one....

[Ninja Geoff]

The trick of staying zen after, is staying zen before and during. Let it flow around you and don't sweat it.

On that note, I tend to get pissed off and make the cager regret (or try) "procreating" with me. Between the one i scared by starting to get off my bike and the one i made miss their exit on a rotary, I've had my fair share of un-zen moments. I'm working on it.

[MakeCarsStandSTill]

Imo, We Should be able to drive however we want and whatever speed , And we still wouldnt behalf as dangerous as the cagers on the road

[bcarlson]

Imo, We Should be able to drive however we want and whatever speed , And we still wouldnt behalf as dangerous as the cagers on the road

What???!!! You don't do this already? On the highway I pass everything, tickets are cheaper / better than getting trashed by a stupid cage. I had my close encounter on my first long ride on the highway. I try to avoid traffic but when someone gets close, I either let them around quickly or nail it and leave them behind. Dumb? Who cares, I'm still above the dirt.

[qwerty]

Motorcycle horns generally suck. My cure for unaware cagers is a pair of these:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... p?Ntt=horn

Wire through relay. I had an old woman in a brand new cadi pull out in front of me. I hit the horns, she threw it in reverse and backed into a police car. I stopped to give a statement on the officer's behalf because it would have looked like he hit her, and he just laughed when I apologized.

[Sev]

There's one review on there that says those're no louder then the oem horns. Do you agree with this? Seems to me that a horn that's about the same price as an oem one would work about as well.

[qwerty]

Mine were louder than any stock horns I've ever had on any vehicle.

My guess is the reviewer had a high resistance in the circuit. Maybe he didn't have an adequate ground. Maybe he wired them with inadequate capacity wire. I expect Chrysler engineers use just enough wire to get the job done, with no reserve. Heck, the might save half a cent per vehicle that way. I've seen Chryslers with stuck horn buttons melt the wires.

[DieMonkeys]

Today was the first day I had an encounter with a toatlly oblivious cager. Me: Great Highway left lane, cruising.

That sir, is your problem. The left lane is for passing, not cruising. In Germany you would have been ticketed.