Some ICE riders really hate EV bikes

[AbnormalWrench]

I'm just curious if anyone else have had this kind of interaction. Perhaps it is different in other areas, but we don't have very many electric dirt bikes show up in my area. I have only seen 2 other Starks there and maybe 7 Surons. I saw one or two KTM Freerides. I feel most people are curious and ask the usual questions (what is the range? How long does it take to charge?)- some will make somewhat negative comments like "I'll never buy one of those" or ignorant comments like "I hear they catch on fire all the time". Those don't bother me, it just makes me feel bad for them because they are missing out on an amazing riding experience.

But today I had someone get really hostile about it, to the point I was worried he was going to throw punches. That is definitely a first for me. The park was pretty busy today, because it was so nice out. I prefer avoiding the crowds so I was riding some of the more obscure single track trails that are towards the edge of the park, which usually means I won't see anyone else for the entire day. But this time, there were several people on the same trails. I came up on a guy going the same direction as me and he was going considerably slower than me. I'm never sure what the best way to handle this situation, since you can't just hold in the clutch and rap the engine a few times to get their attention. So I tend to ride close to them so they can get a chance of hearing something, and purposely slide the rear and do burn outs out of corners.

This guy did not appreciate my method of getting his attention at all. He heard it, glanced behind to see me and immediately fell over. It was a very minor drop, a narrow section of thick hedges on both sides, the bike was caught on the hedges, trapping his leg, but he wasn't even at a 45 degree angle. I wouldn't have thought anything of it, but he was extremely upset. Immediately started yelling about electric bikes and how they shouldn't be allowed. I asked if he needed help, but he just angrily waved me by, yelling "Go! Go!" The path was very narrow and I wasn't comfortable with it, because I was pretty sure I was going to end up rubbing against him. But he was very insistent and I wasn't really wanting to hang out with this angry guy. So I slowly went by him, but was seriously worried he was going to do something while I passed him. But he didn't.

I mentally played with how I might have done things differently, but I don't see how I could do much other than quietly follow him with more room between us until he noticed me, but that could take forever. I guess it would help if he wasn't so painfully slow. But I don't know. Any one else running into issues like this?

 

[Lost]

If you've got a MX get a horn, if you've got an EX use it. If I see someone on a trail and I'm gaining, a couple of quick beeps to let them know Im coming. Then a more insistent beep if they are holding me up. Never had a problem, but I live in Spain where horns are communication.

From what you've described though it sound's more like a not very confident rider who, like it seems of the rest of the world now has to blame other's for their own shortcomings...

 

[Erwin P]

This sounds like a guy who will always blame others, then his bike, then... and much further down the line himself.
Doesn't matter what you would have ridden, he would be mad at you.

 

[Theo]

Surely there are some electric bike haters and I've met more than one who told me something like

"I'll never buy one of those"

but the same day in which you wrote about that episode, I was at a MX track and, while my Varg was under charge, a kid asked me whether it was a Stark, I said it was and he said it's an awesome bike and that when he'll grow up he will either have it or another brand, I think he said Surron. He also mentioned another EV brand I didn't know about, which is a sign of interest. So far I've only got compliments from young people, who are the future, and IMO this is more important than negative attitudes from adults.

 

[Chaconne]

I try not to ride with other people, I have private land I have permission on and the owners are very happy that I am on electric with no complaining nosy Nancys. I told an owner I ran into last week that I now use an electric chainsaw since to clear trails since the police have been called for trailwork as much as riding.

The police even questioned me about the private land for which I had permission after somebody complained about an ICE chainsaw. And I am betting if I was under 40 they would have been more pressing. I am an old guy and I have paid plenty of taxes and I have a pretty good sense of what crossing the line is. The very sound of 2T kicks off the nosy Nancy suburban noise alarm in these parts. You can probably get a 10 year sentence for using a leaf blower in some jurisdictions.

I have gone to a few public riding areas with my Stark in a bordering state, and every once in a while I run into some angry jackass falling on his paper sword defending the honor of ICE. They usually calm down when I tell them I own ICE bikes too. They usually then start flubbing some comparisons that some friend of a friend of a friend of a friend told them. I try to be honest about the pluses and minuses.

Those angry guys are also often the same wingnuts who were close to psychosis over 2T vs 4T back in the day and also said they would never ride 4Ts either. You should their faces when I tell them I also own a KTM 300 2T and for a lot of things my MX-1 is just as good or better.