What would you have done (R1 wanted a piece of me today)

I did my normal early morning riding this morning. About a 150 mile run out to some neat country roads, stop for a peaceful cup of coffee and back home. I live in the SE suburbs of Houston about halfway between Houston and Galveston.

I'm heading for home and have to do about a five mile stretch of freeway. It was about 10:15 (Sunday morning) and there was a fair amount of traffic but all traveling 65-70 mph or so. Suddenly a brand new - paper plates and all (as does mine still) R1 Yamaha goes by me.

I'm not a squid and don't want anyone thinking I'm a squid so I just wave and let him go. He winds though some traffic, but about a mile or two up the road I find myself coming back up on him without even trying.

About that time, there is a clearing in front of us probably 1/8 mile or so with almost no traffic, and it's a four lane freeway in each direction. He starts signaling me to come up next to him in the next lane over. Again, without trying I wind up next to him and it's pretty obvious he is signalling to race. btw, we are probably running 65-70 mph.

So I need to know what I should have done....

1) downshift to 3rd and trash him
2) put it in "wet mode" and make it a fair race
3) ignore him as he is an obvious squid

As ya'll know, I'm all new to the Ducati and I need to know what the proper etiquette is. I'll tell ya'll what I did after I get some replies to see if I'm going to get kicked off the forum

BTW, I do know that "Kill stories" are not allowed on some forums - I don't know about this one. Trust me when I tell you that this is not meant to be a kill story, just having a little fun and seeing what others think of this sort of thing.

I vote 1, and don't post it on the internet. I'm sure you killed him. A buddy of mine with an 1198S gets smoked every time.

Downshift to 2nd and trash him even harder. 3rd is too high at that pace trust me, it is a night and day difference between how fast you will leave him in 2nd. keep your weight forward so you don't wheelie and be quick on the shifter, he'll be many bike lengths behind you in a matter of seconds! Enjoy! I like to race here and there. Long as you aren't being an ....... and traffic weaving, have a clear line of sight, etc. Good way to show them how a REAL bike puts down power

jjsC6 said:

About that time, there is a clearing in front of us probably 1/8 mile or so with almost no traffic, and it's a four lane freeway in each direction. He starts signaling me to come up next to him in the next lane over. Again, without trying I wind up next to him and it's pretty obvious he is signalling to race. btw, we are probably running 65-70 mph.

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how did you "wind up next to him" without trying?

to answer your question, i would have done nothing.

be well,

elitesoldier357 said:

Downshift to 2nd and trash him even harder. 3rd is too high at that pace trust me, it is a night and day difference between how fast you will leave him in 2nd. keep your weight forward so you don't wheelie and be quick on the shifter, he'll be many bike lengths behind you in a matter of seconds! Enjoy! I like to race here and there. Long as you aren't being an ....... and traffic weaving, have a clear line of sight, etc. Good way to show them how a REAL bike puts down power

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No don't put your weight forward, just stay neutral... it would be that much better to hover away from him in 2nd and 3rd lol

Caveat: I own a s1000rr not a Panigale. But I think it applies.

I always ignore them. Too much like kicking a kindergartner: where's the challenge? And if there's no challenge, then there's no point. Especially if I have to watch them kill themselves in my rear view.

Only time I've tucked down and cracked her open was when the guy next to me was on another s1000rr. And after a mile I flashed my high beams and took my hands off the bars. He was simply better than me

save it for the track

Thanks for the replies so far. Tomorrow morning I will tell ya'll what I did.

George Villar said:

save it for the track

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+1

i say do whatever you want, just be prepared to accept the outcome wether its good or bad.

jjsC6 said:

Thanks for the replies so far. Tomorrow morning I will tell ya'll what I did.

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I'll get no sleep!

Ha, and I got roasted for the .... I post?

had this happen to me with a 600. i couldnt believe it. he flew by me and when he relized what i was he was actually trying to taunt me. i had a huge smile under my lid. i was like is this guy kidding me right now. even funnier when i wouldnt engage him he kept looking back admiring the bike. eventually he got off on the next exit.
I didnt do anything cause i couldnt. i was way under 600 miles. couldnt go over 6000 rpms. i would have loved to smoke him.

I will tell you this I have an r1 that is tuned (my track bike) and I know for a fact that it can't even pull with my Pani. The HP and torque is bumped up quite a bit but It's too heavy to compete with the 1199. A stock R1 You would have smoked him, not worth the gas you would have or have burned. Straight on races aren't fun with these bikes get a busa or zx14 for that. R1 and 1199 shines on a twisted track. ( r1's are sneaky fast coming out of a corner though). My suggestion would be save it for the track.

Id do nothing. I know, he doesn't; so let him live in fantasyland if he chooses.

Ignore

Ignore him. He's on an R1 and you're on a Panigale. You've already won.

Ignore him. He obviously has no clue what he is getting into.

George Villar said:

save it for the track

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Yup. You have nothing to prove. Ride at your own pace and enjoy.

Sadly this happens a lot with this bike (and some cars), just ignore them. You also have no idea how psychotic the other rider may be and what they might do to "win".

Ignore this entire post and its OP.