Called out by a 12-year-old!

I'm taking my MB to work this week (first time in 5 years). I get off at 430pm instead of 6pm. That should be enough daylight to reach home before dark. Sunset's getting later.

So I do a dry run to work today, about 12 miles round trip. Past the homeless old man with his 4 pitbulls on the bike path. Past 4 kids on their bicycles in the middle of the single-lane road in the ghetto.

I reach my workplace and double back, past the 4 kids. They're waiting for me in the middle of the road. One jumps onto his goped with friction-drive and Chinese engine(maybe Chi-tsu, not 460). I hear the high-rpm clutch screaming. He follows me but turns back, never catches up at 25mph.

I guess they wanted me to turn around and race.

I kept going at 25mph.

Then I pass the jail and have an interesting conversation with some prisoners on work furlough. But that's another story.

So, has anyone gotten "called out" while riding their motorized bicycle?

Yeah, or a stoning or a confrontation.
So I'll change my route and use another side street.

bairdco said:

Nope. Lived near it, but never went.

When I moved to my current place a little more inland, after building my race bike, my harley riding landlord said, "that's awesome! You'll be the envy of every 12 year old on the block..."

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Lol. So true.

KCvale said:

Every time we ride, which is often just for testing in an area with abundant $350 MB's, there is always somebody that wants to race, how fun is that!

I don't build anything that can only go 25mph these days and some can do near twice that, but the kids that slap a cheap E-bay engine kit on a Cranbrook wanting to race me on anything I have built and testing at the time is always a fun ass kicking experience ;-}

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I live in an urban/suburban metropolis. I've been challenged by a young teen on a fast moped at night in a congested neighborhood. The bottom line is that you can't win, even if you win. Going 50mph on a MB in my town, much less a narrow road is foolhardy. It's just not worth it. One wrong move and someone will pay for it, maybe an innocent bystander. I KNOW the judge would throw the book at me. Of course I should know better. I'll end up spending tens of thousands in legal fees to prove my case.

Riding 25mph on my motorized bicycle in my town is perfect. On my ride home today, I might've hit 32mph on an incline.

That's all I need. My bike is perfect for my needs. Dependable. No breakdowns. My tires last forever.

I could easily go for more power/more speed and swap in a 460. However, I'd have to deal with an undependable clutch and breakdowns.

Maybe I'll have my spare Tanaka engine ported. More power, same reliability, no breakdowns.

Riding to and from work today, I did not motor down the road where the 12-year-olds hang out.