How do you react to idiot cagers?

[00sanchez]

I recently got a Honda 919 and am giving the gs500e to the wife for her to learn on (she's been in love since I took her out). Anyway, I drove the 919 from Wisconsin back home to NW Indiana. Because I'm a tightwad, I took the Dan Ryan/Eden expressway through Chicago instead of the Skyway toll road. This means I had to put up with an hour of idiot drivers that like to squeeze an18ft extended SUV into a 10ft space in front of my in order to get to their final destination one second quicker. Well, I was following a buddy with GPS, so we needed to stay relatively close. Anyway, when people would try to squeeze in, I would give my favorite head shake and finger wag. This would cause most of them to stop trying and allow me to follow my buddy (this is in 1st gear/clutch riding traffic btw).

Last night, I had an SUV pull out in front of me while doing 35mph in town on my way back from a 100 mile day trip. It was dark, but I know they saw me as they crept out form the stop sign and then gunned it to try to slip over to the far lane (they needed to be in my lane for an upcoming turn). I had to slam on the front brakes in order to avoid t-boning them. It was a couple of teenage girls, so I decided not to flip them off as I usually would in that situation. I just looked over and gave the fatherly "disappointed" head shake. They slowed down, got behind me and did about 10mph under the speed limit to avoid having to see me again. I think embarrassing the driver is the best course of action.

I love the finger wag. What do you guys do?

So, what do you guys do to these idiots?

[Paulcet]

I've used both types of finger wag   

As well as the shoulder shrug  as in "whatever you want to do, witch, I'll just wait on you!"

[MVent03]

I have Stebel Nautilus air horn. I hit'em with that usually. Scares most people straight.

If they're trying to just muscle me out of the way, I'll look them in the eye and hold my position. If somebody is just not paying attention and drifting into my lane, I usually just ride very close to their car, to crowd their space. Moves'em over too.

[Toogoofy317]

Gestures, can escalate a situation until it becomes Road Rage. I can almost guarantee once it turns to road rage you are the one that will always lose unless you are CCW then you will be plastered all over national news if you brandish.

I let my 139db horn talk for me and just be as defensive as I can. If I know joe cager is going to pull out I prepare for it (expect them to do it and have other preparations for when it happens) because it will most likely happen.

Getting angry with someone only ruins the rest of your ride!

Mary

[Suzuki Stevo]

.45acp...actually I just ignore them 

[wildcat333]

I got passed on a double-yellow windy twisty back road yesterday (50 MPH posted speed), and the guy driving the SUV almost clipped me. Not cool. All I did in reaction was beep out pathetic little toy-sounding horns.

[00sanchez]

Lol, goofy. I do carry my glock 26 in a shoulder holster when I'm commuting to work, but I'd never take it out for something as stupid as that. I think people that carry for intimidation will end up getting killed. You can generally tell, though, who will and will not get to the rage zone with gestures. If it ever came to that, you can safely outmaneuver virtually any car you will find on a normal road in order to get away from them.

Usually induces shame in most people, but can be rage inducing in an affliction wearing 20 something with more bark than bite.

[slipperymongoose]

Various hand gestures mixed with head shake. But I generally ride clear of cars. But if I do ride beside a car I do it right beside one of the front doors.

[wildcat333]

^ true. the head shake happens.

[applecrew]

It's hard as hell sometimes when the adrenaline starts to flow... but I try to keep a lid on it and just get the hell away from the source of the problem. 

[jestercinti]

I too have tge stebel nautilus. I give it a toot. Scares them.

Been on that stretch of road. Scary for a car let alone a bike. Tollway is like $7 now or something.

[Vo0Do0]

If it was minor, Ill just shake my head for sympathy from other drivers, and if they look they realise they cut me off, a closer call I honk, then head shake and over take agressively to pretty much say "f%$k you Buddha Loves You', if its  real near miss, its, after safely avoiding, a long beep, ride next to them if possible, and regardless of road position give them the most agressive finger  you could imagine, and then speed off.

Please note I'm not always agressive, I just get upset when people do dumb stuff, and like to make sure they realise that they did

[Huff1371]

It's usually a palm up WTF gesture or a showing they're number 1. However I did have a guy riding my ass in his truck so i got over to let him by and he kept following.  I said screw and just pulled over to let him get on down the road and he whips it in behind me. Gets out with a damn bat. I don't know if he thought i was someone else or what.  He said hello to my little friend (Springfield XD-45) before jumping back in the truck and hauling it out of there. Goes to show any situation can turn really bad really fast. I didn't know the guy from Adam but was fully commited to defending myself with deadly force. All over something stupid, his family would be one less. Since then I've avoided any road rage drivers as they really know not what they do and the cost that can come from it.

[Formori]

I do the finger wag too! And it usually gets an embarrassed reaction out of the cager that cut me off, or whatever, but at least now they know I'm there!

I'm seriously considering a horn upgrade to around 100dB, since the stock horn is like a toy and nobody hears it.

[ohgood]

Lift your jacket and expose your holstered hand gun. This is sufficient in 100% of cases.


Generally, I just yield to idiots that can mangle me. I'm older now though.

[SpeedAddict]

I generally give idiot drivers a WTF hand motion, or an evil look. (which probably doesn't translate too well through my tinted visor.) 
the other day I had a guy waiting to pull into my lane, he kept creeping forward. He finally decided he didn't want to cut me off, but shook his head at ME as I went by!

[wesdabest787]

Just yesterday some dumby cager mom came into my lane while we were making the left turn.  I just grabbed brakes and got right behind her, i followed her for about a mile and when she went to turn right into her subdivision i swerved WAY  to the left giving her the idea that she is an awful driver and at any time she could just come over and hit me.  Her kids were in the car laughing so I thought it was pretty good.  They also seemed very scared at the fact that I was following them. 

[SS Adrenaline]

It's usually a palm up WTF gesture or a showing they're number 1. However I did have a guy riding my ass in his truck so i got over to let him by and he kept following.  I said screw and just pulled over to let him get on down the road and he whips it in behind me. Gets out with a damn bat. I don't know if he thought i was someone else or what.  He said hello to my little friend (Springfield XD-45) before jumping back in the truck and hauling it out of there. Goes to show any situation can turn really bad really fast. I didn't know the guy from Adam but was fully commited to defending myself with deadly force. All over something stupid, his family would be one less. Since then I've avoided any road rage drivers as they really know not what they do and the cost that can come from it.

That is awesome...lol.  Good for you to protect yourself.  I bet he will think about doing that again to stangers.

[jestercinti]

I also have a Stebel Nautilis horn.  That's my first line of defense.

If it turns into a heated road-rage, I tend to stand down.  Here's why:  I am in a much worse position than any cager.  Yes, almost all of the time the cager is in the wrong, but I value my life more than some stupid road rage argument.  I find that I am in a much worse position, and it's not worth it.  My life is more valuable than that.

[cbrfxr67]

Last thing for me was black kid threw a rock at me.  Or he pretended to,...which I gave him the 'cmoon!' gesture with a 'I k-eeel you' look.  Luckily no incidents recently riding.  Hopefully I don't get mangled on the way home after work now,...