In the 90’s -- the 1990’s, that is, I found my way into owning a 1990 Kawasaki ZX11. At the time, it was the fastest production motorcycle. It was hoot but it stayed stock about .75 years until I started modding. I punched it from 1052 to 1206cc and a bunch of other stuff. I’d run Midnight Madness at MIR a few times a month for grins.
I’m headed to work on my 11, stopped at a light when a couple in a 5.0 notchback stage next to me. Dude revs his engine several times, I turned, and shook my head no. He was having none of it and was determined to show me who was boss. I turned again, and noticed, he’s hauling a HUGE television in the trunk. I looked at the dude, then his trunk, then him and then straight forward, folded my arms and waited for the light. I’m standing there patiently, arms still folded as the yellow comes on for the cross street.
dude raises his rpms, I’m still standing there straddling the 11, arms folded. Yellow goes to red the other way and he begins to creep forward. Our light goes green and he is OFF with a holeshot that is really impressive for a manual 5.0. Unfortunately, his television did not come with them and shattered all over the highway as he launched. The woman next to him began an animated discussion at which point I unfolded my arms, clutch in, visor down, and I rolled past at a really slow pace until I got right next to him
then it was WFO for a few hundred yards.