Ducati Monster Forum

After hearing a story from my coworker about some guys in truck on the highway who stuck a 2x4 out a window to try and clothesline him, I was thinking maybe I need some uh.. defenses.

any ideas how to mount a traffic cop?

for those unfamiliar, not the left side of this picture:
(http://www.choppersinc.com/include/getimage.asp?file=%5Cbikes%5CLG_2855808_29_2005.jpg)

I was thinking some kind of ring set up attached to the frame somehow...

How 'bout you evade, the cage (easy to do), Remember the plate.... and call the cops


Much safer.....




 1%'ers have been booked for having  impact weapons on their bikes...

There's Case Law which i believe was set in Ventura County (for certain items described as Impact weapons).... and I don't think you'd like jail or prison


Just my .02$

So, a ball peen hammer is not the official Harley tool kit :P

i disagree

If I were that paranoid about asshats (for the record, I'm not) I'd just mount a go-pro and keep it on anytime I rode.

That way if some idiot thinks it's funny to make the beast with two backs with me, I take the footage down to my local LEO and/or lawyer.

It's not illegal to posses.

However, say you do end up smashing someones face in with it. Your going to be questioned on why you possessed it. If you had intent to use it as a weapon, such as mouting it to your bike, then you can get trouble or at least your credibility if using it as self defense.

Some wise advice there IMHO (even if it is a little incongruous coming as it does from lawbreaker [laugh]).

Dont pussyfoot around with that.  This is the way to go, Deathrace style.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/speedknot/it-motorcycle-mg.jpg)

I do have one of these mounted to my frame.

 http://www.awma.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/9575.htm (http://www.awma.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/9575.htm)

 Just a few zip ties on the carrying case and you are good to go.  I do realize that i did smash someone with it I better have a REAL good reason.  Self-defense plea will only work as long as you do not "escalate" the situation.  It is really more for looks and intimidation factor.

Also, as long as it is not concealed you should be okay to carry it as well.  At least here in PA.  Technically you can carry a firearm without a "concealed weapon" permit as long as, of course, it is in plane sight.  But, good luck being allowed in any stores etc.

yeah i understand what you guys are saying and agree to a point, but my experience is not consistent with that solution.

When exactly is this to be used?   You can't use self defense argument when on a moving vehicle that you either chased down another vehicle on, or pulled over and stopped when the other vehicle did.


I'm not saying be a pansy, and I'm one of the most conservative people here on being able to defend oneself and one's family... I just don't see any legit and legally defensible things to have on a bike (on your person is different, and that's for when not riding/moving).

If you do carry something, make it something that could legitimately have fallen off your bike and still shred a tire/dent a car. (ie: not marbles).

I checked with a friend who does a ton of criminal law in the area and she's seen two cases (not hers) in Court where someone was prosecuted for throwing something out a window on the highway in front of another vehicle.  Both served some jail time (one got a weekend and the other got a week... that one caused injuries to driver)

Spark plugs.

or got rat900's route and get a old british bike?  at that point, you can basically toss a half pound of screw/bolts/nuts at just about anything and point at the bike and explain to the officer the peter egan theory on masochism.

that being said... i dont like the idea of casually carrying around weapons.  for me, i dont have issues with the violence, it's the sudden escalation of the level of violence that weapons entail that's dangerous.  fists, you're getting a beating, knives, someone will be stabbed, guns... someone will probably die.  and carrying around weapons allows that escalation to happen a lot more easily and a lot more spur of the moment aka, doing something when you're angry and not focused on the consequences.

Frozen turkey.  Make sure to have a grocery bag too.

Roll of nickels in your pocket are a lot easier to explain than ball bearings.

Just sayin.

the problem with that approach is that you never know what the other guy is carrying.  some people respond to fists with a knife or a gun. 

:P
(http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/136039.jpg)

LOL

I particularly like how this topic is in "accessories and mods"

what does anyone do with nickels these days?  i mean.. a roll of them?

at least with quarters you could say you were going to the laundry or parking.. and chicks would dig you... that's about it..

yeah, but i'm more of a live and let live kind of outlook... so most of the time, i'll just walk away.  what put it into perspective for me is this one occasion that a friend of mine got slugged in the face randomly at a bar right in front of everyone.  turns out that the person that punched him was someone he bullied a lot in high school... and that kid carried that grudge for around 10 years before seeing him again and punching him.  but then what happened wasnt a fight... my friend backed down and just pressed assault charges.  long story short, the guy endangered his job (worked as a ibanker), and almost got a criminal record (my friend eventually dropped the charges after a payout) just for a dumb moment.

the way i see it, after a certain point in life, you've spent too much money and time getting to where you are now to lose it all with a random bit of violence.  and carrying around weapons makes getting to a level of violence that you cant fix way too easy.  the best option is to just gopro it and let the judicial system deal with it.  because watching them deal with the courts is way more satisfying than just hitting them imo.

i think your pov is excellent as long as it never gets past the fists.  it's better to be armed and walk away than not be.  it's been repeatedly shown that licensed armed folks don't instigate fights or violence, so there is a lot to say for that.

my point is, i agree with your outlook, i just don't want to be in the situation where the guy wants more than to smack me in the face...

a good dojo.  a good shooting range.  a law degree.  a healthy dose of attitude.  

You gotta cover the playground rules for the idiots who act like kids, and the adult rules for the idiots who, well, act like kids.

And artful, I knew that was a roll of quarters in your pants all along.


/logoff net toughguy/


 ;D

This.

Not to mention that there's no way to actually use a weapon while on your motorcycle that doesn't drastically increase your chances of getting killed in a collision.

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UPwTJf2ZX7k/TDNPuPJnnzI/AAAAAAAAAC0/i1bzXSpFnyU/motorcycle%2Bjousting.jpg)

ATGATT!

More like a roll of dimes...

I never get paid in gum... *sad trombone*

my favorite

http://www.sadtrombone.com/ (http://www.sadtrombone.com/)

I've been meaning to ask you where you got that Sean.  Thanks!  In case I run out of .38s, I can always grab that thing...

Tim, I actually got it from the site posted. Let me know I can get them wholesale!

Tell the LEO you're on your way to a first date, and needed to . . . uh . . .  build up your resume.

OP, just punch a mirror off and GTFO.  And then pray that the dude doesn't have a gun or isn't in a giant metal box capable of doing triple digit speeds that could kill you with just a tap. 

Quick question: Doesn't living in constant fear that someone is out to get you suck the joy out of riding? Being aware of traffic is one thing. But having both the paranoid delusion that it is likely you will have to defend yourself with a weapon while on a motorcycle and having the audacity to believe that this defense will be so expertly executed it will actually produce the safest possible outcome just sounds like an exhausting way to go through life.

sac

Strawman argument.

No one said they are going around in fear.

The point is, to be as ready as you can be.

Would you leave the house to ride without your cel phone?  Why not?  Surely you can walk 2-3 miles to find a payphone.

On the other hand, I don't carry a full surgical kit with me.  There is a limit to what I can put on my body or bike for a ride.  I don't even carry my wallet, just my DL, some cash, my health ins card, and a credit card in a business card case.  No keys either, I have a separate keychain with just the bike key and a single house key.

No fear, just ready for what may come, to the extent I deem reasonable.

What SacDuc deems reasonable is a lot more reasonable than what you deem reasonable. ;)

I think you missed the point.  What's reasonable (in this matter) is a personal choice.

And since Sac based his comments on a faulty assumption (that someone is constantly in fear), I don't consider the conclusion to be as convincing..

I think you missed my point, which is that your personal choice is unreasonable. ;)

Is there any way to make that winky icon bigger?

 [roll]

I wasn't really trying to set up a strawman. I did make an assumption though. Perhaps you can tell me a logical motivation that someone would have to mount a weapon to a motorcycle that isn't fear based. I can't think of one. I mean, I carry a cell phone for convenience so I can let my wife know I'm okay and out of fear that I'll crash and it will be my only means to summon help. And so I can play Angry Birds if I stop to poop.

sac

This is exactly what I had in mind, but I hit like a girl so I was augmenting the response with a utensil.

Ever punched a mirror?  They come loose pretty easily.  Or so I've read.  IMO, for a mirorectomy, a fist/forearm is more easily wielded and more effective than a weapon.

That said, I'm lookin' through my archives to try to find that pic of a rat-monster from Laguna Seca (maybe 2006) that had a giant knife (or sumptin' like that) mounted on it.  If I find it, I'll post up.

having seen a big burley harley rider take off a pick-ups metal side view mirror with a forearm and also seen 2 people shot to death proceeded by no discernible instigation (not motorcycle related) i can say that if you think a little billy club on your frame is gonna keep you safe that's just laughable.  i had some guy try to run me off the 101 the other day cuz he didn't like that i was splitting lanes.  now, he could have VERY easily killed me and, realistically, almost did.  what am i to do?  chase him down with a baton and whack his hood?  you're on the most nimble and (if modded properly  ;D) swift vehicle on the road . . . keep going and part ways.  if they can keep up with and follow you - take a riding course cuz you're doing something wrong.  if not, why have you stopped?  like others have said, that's gonna be a TOUGH sale in court.  i'm not an anti-weapon guy either, when i lived on the east coast i had a conceal carry permit for YEARS and used to carry a compact .45 'just in case'.  but like others here have also stated there is too much to lose by engaging people that see violence as a viable resolution to a problem.  should you chose (or REALLY have no choice) to do so i would think you'd be hard pressed to get to safety or subdue a would be attacker with a wooden spatula or a wand.  but i'm a self-professed idiot and find this thread pretty funny - especially since it's in accessories and mods. 

my front left pocket of my jacket is usually full of pennies.  [evil]

I veered off track with this thread -- I was thinking more of a concealed carry weapon, such as a pistol.  And I would never imagine using it while actually mounted and riding.  Perhaps I took your comments to include that as well.  I don't know about mounting a weapon to a bike, it seems kind of Mad Max'ish to me. 

I do have my "wand", according to uglyduckly ;D mounted to my bike. But, having years of training and knowing the damage that it could cause I would more than likely not use it.  Too much risk involved. As soon as one weapon is introduce things could escalate out of control in a hurry.  Plus, I like sleeping in my own warm bed next to my loving wife and have no desire to spoon with some dude named bubba who is making wine in the prison toilet! [wine] 

 "Well, then why have it?", you ask. No good reason other than I can. It really is just for kicks and giggles.

But if I ever had to.... [evil]

points well taken all around, thank you.

Not sure if I deserved the insults, but whatever.


have a good weekend.

in all seriousness, if what i said offended you in any way i do apologize.  i was just messing around but have seen violence do its worst and for no reason whatsoever.  be safe . . .

...So you've practiced deploying your "wand" while riding your motorcycle?



JEDI [thumbsup]

Honestly can't say I have. Maybe I'll set up an obstacle course and give it a whirl. That will be fun for the neighbors to watch!

IMHO, the only defensive "weapon" that you have on a moving motorcycle is your alertness and the acceleration and manuverability of your motorcycle in relation to most other vehicles on the road.  Using a hammer on a vehicle after the fact, instead of getting out of the way of the situation, is not self defense and will probably be frowned upon by the storm troopers.  If the person driving the offending vehicle continues to escalate the situation after you have tried to evade, leave the scene, is another matter.  At that point, you get to a defensible position and when the requirements of  Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy are met, defend yourself.  

Sometimes the old saying "Ride like everyone on the road is trying to kill you" is truer than others.  I hope I never encounter that situation.  

  If a motorcyclist where trying to pull next to me to damage my vehicle or injure myself with a weapon, I would use my 5800lb truck to smash the motorcycle to bits. "Officer, he tried to kill me so I had no choice to run him over and kill him to protect myself".
 I am a new rider and twice I have been purposely cut off while slowly and carefully lane splitting. The last time it happened I became so furious, that I chased down the lady who cut me off for a half mile, the whole time she swerved wildly left and right to keep me from pulling next to her. In the state of mind I was in, I would have beat her if I would have caught her. I'm a professional firefighter on my way to work. Imagine the headlines!
 After I calmed down, I realized she could have easily killed me with her car. People are to crazy in the mornings and I decided to no longer commute with my bike.
 

I just ride with my dick out.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
ahahahahha
hahahahhahahahaha . . . . . breathe . . . .
ahaahahahahhahahahahah

my f@#kin hero.   [moto] [thumbsup] ;D

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]  and your pockets pulled out too?

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6q-f-zD4xPY/SCyPWq4xMmI/AAAAAAAAB8U/Pcm7qvgwpWs/s320/StuffedElephantPenis.jpg)

So far as I know, the legal ramifications of pulling a knife in a fight or a gun are about the same.  Biggest difference being that in most cases your knife will probably be taken from you and used against you.  If it ever comes to that point, shoot him until he stops moving and have done with it.  I think knives are good tools, but as far as self defense, are not a great idea.

yesterday my boyfriend got run over his foot by a stupid car driver  >:(  they were standing on traffic lights
luckily nothing is broken and he didn't fall of the bike.
 I was so pissed off, it cross my mind to have tank bag filled with lead for throwing at stupid drivers  :( (probably won't do anything like that but I'm angry because every time we go for a ride there is a situation where our lives are in danger caused by others )  :(

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

That's a good realization.

That isn't.  Ride and be happy.  It's fun, dammit! :)

Embrace your inner Hooligan and ride as such....  [beer]

Holy crap, some of you people need to take a step back and decide/realize what important in life. You got cut off? Big whoop. Ride on.



And you would go to jail for several years. Protection of property from minor damage, which is all a guy on a bike with a hammer will do, isn't a good enough reason to kill someone. Not legally or morally.


If you become so furious that you chase people down when they cut you off you shouldn't be riding motorcycles. If you really are a professional firefighter you should have more patience and sense (and experience) when dealing with stupid people.

+1  (I'm starting to worry.  This is the second time in as many days I've agreed with you  ;)).

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

i was thinking the same thing.   ;D

[laugh]

I had the same thought - Chuck Norris style:

(http://www.stomptokyo.com/otf/Delta/DzlItem44.jpg)

Several people in this thread mentioned getting cut off while lane splitting... I don't do it much here in Indiana, but almost every time that I have, some d-bag has scooted over to cut me off.  And I'm not clipping through moving traffic to beat the rush - I'm typically heading toward and an exit or turn-off to avoid overheating the air-cooled 2v in traffic... definitely behaving myself.

Does anyone have an explanation for this behavior?  Frustrated cager hating sitting still, so its reasonable to almost wreck the cyclist?  What gives?


Sorry if this is a threadjack, and my apologies if this belongs in "General" or "Riding Technique..."  I'm not currently riding armed, but this type of action by car piilots has made me think of going back to it.  I know carrying a weapon won't avert the accident - but if the driver is a big enough a-hole to swat me with the fender for no reason, they'll probably won't be looking for a reasonable discourse after they've knocked me into the ditch...

i think it's exactly that.  they're stuck and bummed someone else isn't.  i saw a guy in a 3/4 chevy almost run a harley dude (riding 2 up with his lady) off a canyon road.  harley dude pulled up and very nicely explained that half the reason he rides motos is to be able to cruise through slow traffic, feel the breeze, blah blah blah and asked why the truck driver felt the need to put him in danger (harley dude was F@#KING MASSIVE by the way - worth mentioning) and being very cool.  truck driver told him to get f@#ked so harley dude swings his forearm and in one shot took off the huge metal side view mirrors that mount on the top and bottom of the door - clean off, CLEAN off.  then just rode away.  best transaction i've ever seen in my life.  no one got hurt but a very poignant message was successfully delivered.  i loved every minute of it.  made me wanna start a gang.  like a milkshake drinking gang, where we bring our own chocolate syrup to the ice cream parlors and insist they use it kinda gang. 

What is very likely is people are taking it upon themselves to enforce the law. Splitting in only legal in California. So not only do you (being in Indiana) have to watch out for frustrated drivers, you have to watch for vigilantes a well. 

This the one?

(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/drkmojo/Nice%20Bikes/ratmonster3.jpg?t=1304988975)

I seem to remember reading that that was just the knife handle without a blade.  It was mounted there for looks.

Yep. That's the one.

GOD AS MY WITNESS, I THOUGHT TURKEYS COULD FLY!!!

(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfnwBzVSLOgVxbkaEqBv1oG9C5h18sNVU3NPIJYmUuIQD_XKgh&t=1)

I'm in, but I like strawberry syrup better.  Is that OK?

i gotta think about that.  not a deal breaker but when you bring fruit into an ice cream gang the terrain changes a little . . .

Relevant to this thread and post:
Monty Python - Self-Defense Against Fruit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w#normal)