to all Motorcyclists here

[elite_hunter_sh3]

as me owing a zxr250 1993 motorcycle, i found a poem that us riders can relate to

But, You Didn't See Me
I saw you,
hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me,
put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you,
pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me,
playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you,
change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me,
attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you,
roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by.
But, you didn't see me,
driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you,
frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me,
when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you,
stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me,
and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you,
roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But, you didn't see me,
and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you,
look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me,
cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you,
change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me,
going home to be with my family.

I saw you,
complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me,
when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you,
yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me,
pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you,
reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But, you didn't see me,
squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you,
race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me,
get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you,
run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me,
trying to turn right.

I saw you,
cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But, you didn't see me,
leave the road.

I saw you,
waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But, you didn't see me.
I wasn't there.

I saw you,
go home to your family.
But, you didn't see me.
Because, I died that day you cut me off.
I was just a biker,.....
A person with friends and a family.

BUT, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME

ride safe this season,

[Letum]

That's not the best of poems to be honest.

But as a biker (NC30 atm) who has had more than one car driver pull out in-front of me, I agree with the message!

[elite_hunter_sh3]

just posting to all riders here to ride safe this season.

[Hitman]

Yup, no-brainer car drivers are really a danger for any biker I have been lucky until now with my Cagiva Mito 125, but I mainly ride in the city at slower speeds and with cars almost always standing stopped as I advance in the dense traffic. But just exiting to the highway for anything turns sometimes into a nightmarish experience...many people do not care about other car drivers....less about bikers.

[Ishmael]

Back in the day, I had an old H-D 45 cubic incher with the suicide foot clutch on the left for about a year. You know, the ones where you had to carry newspapers on the sissy bar & stop every 50 miles to tighten up nuts & bolts. Among the cognoscenti, however, there is only one motorcycle in the world. One biker friend even named his son after them. Richard Thompson wrote this song about them that's one of my favorites. It is, of course, The 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.

I did make a slight modification to the bike. I installed an electric pump & air horns. Nothing stops the unseeing driver from fading into your lane quite like the vision of a semi in his head.

[Sailor Steve]

1982 Kawasaki KZ750; hopefully soon to be running again.

All these songs and poems remind me of one from my very young days:
Black Denim Trousers

Words and Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller -as sung on "The Diamonds Collection" -- Stardust CD-1010 -charted by The Cheers at # 6 in 1955



He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101

Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair
He had axle grease imbedded underneath his fingernails
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you"

He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest
And everybody pitied her and everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best


He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101


Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave
She said "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve."
But her tears were shed in vain and her every word was lost
In the rumble of his engine and the smoke from his exhaust


Then he took off like the Devil and there was fire in his eyes!!
He said "I'll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise."
But he hit a screamin' diesel that was California-bound
And when they cleared the wreckage, all they found

Was his black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
But they couldn't find the 'cicle that took off like a gun
And they never found the terror of Highway 1 oh 1

Sorry I didn't find a place you could listen to it.