Passing Pirates feedback

[Grumbler]

Got this from my bud who sometimes rides with the ALR post in Apache Jct, AZ.

Hey! Thanks for the link to the article. Prolly make some waves when I ask around
and then show this article (about pirates not letting faster bikes by).

My regular ridin buds usually let the faster ones pass, but most of the others are clueless
or down right rude - don't know why.
 
When I'm way ahead of those HD assholes in the twisties, I'd let the sportsbike pass when
they're nipping on my ass. When we have a break or at a spot to meet afterwards those
asshole HD riders would comment on how the sportsbikes were behind them for a long
period of time and then roar pass them flipping them off.

Told them just give them room to pass and all of us riders be on our merry way. Wink
 
It's embarrassing when I sit in a same room with the sportsriders and the assholes (myself)
when the episode happened prior to our stop. All of us eyeing each other.

At times I just go outside, alone, look for a nice spot to smoke some weed and  mellow out
for the rest of the day.

[atadaskew]

He had me at weed.

 

[atypical1]

He had me at weed.

 

 

Seriously, that's the only part of the post that I really understood...

james

[Gsam]

 

[Grumbler]

I think my friend might have been stoned when he wrote that.  

[atadaskew]

I think my friend might have been stoned when he wrote that.  

He's not really helping his case!

[XLR8]

Seriously, and nothing against the OP (Grumbler) but I just never get the endless drama surrounding this BS. Is it really that hard to ride down the road and get around a few bikes? Sure, when there's a huge line of anything in front of you it can be difficult at times but eventually it works out.  

[Rude_Rydah]

I always ride high, it helps me focus more than when I'm drunk.

And when I'm drunk, I have a bad habit of throwing empties at Harley riders when I pass them on the inside of a corner.

I never give feedback to people I pass.

[bubba zanetti]

When I come up behind a slow line of Pirates, I rejoice. As the slow speed allows me to do a few lines of Bolivian Marching Powder right off the tank bag. The subsequent rush allows me to pass under any circumstance and then mellow out for the rest of my ride.

[XLR8]

When I come up behind a slow line of Pirates, I rejoice. As the slow speed allows me to do a few lines of Bolivian Marching Powder right off the tank bag. The subsequent rush allows me to pass under any circumstance and then mellow out for the rest of my ride.

 

[Grumbler]

Is it really that hard to ride down the road and get around a few bikes?

I personally haven't had any issues with pirates myself. It would definitely depend on where we live and the type of roads we do.

During one episode, was northbound on US-95 out of New Meadows, and we had to leapfrog a 18 GoldWings with some pulling trailers, a couple with sidehacks, and a handful of trike conversions.

They were moving along at a good clip, but were an eyesore so we absolutely had to pass them all.

While in Cali in August of 2006, was behind a cage tailgating a slow red fullsize 4x4 Dodge pickup on Hwy 152 btw Gilroy and Watsonville.
Due to oncoming traffic, blind curves, and no space btw cage and truck, it wasn't until we hit a short downhill straight when I passed the cage only to see the woman in the slow truck stomp on the gas - she didn't want me to pass her.

We were coming upon a blind left curve, and I barely had enough room to get by that truck.

It goes without saying that there's plenty of motorists and motorcyclists out there that simply hate being passed. They'll even go as far as to put us into mortal danger regardless of how slow they are with a bunch of other vehicles queued-up behind them.

Then there's those RVs hogging the far left of their lane which makes it more difficult to see oncoming traffic while trying to pass them.

[Brad1445]

You should be embarrassed, but not because your not with the "cool kids"

[crashtech]

Do it all the time....pass harley's that is. I love it when they TRY to not let me pass. There is NO way a 1000 pound bike that does not handle well is going to not let me by. I am coming around after 2 minutes, on his left of right does not matter. I will still never forget the time one thought he would "ride my ass" after I passed him. He over shot a turn (not hard to do on a turd) and ran off into the grass, Damn I still ROTFLMAO on that one. For goodness sake we are much better handling bikes so just be nice and let us by. We will get around, you do not have the machinery to give a challenge.

[Paintman]

In a few weeks here the rally crowd will hit and all the fav spots will have traffic moving at 40 mph . when i ride if we run into a group we take a break let them get way ahead then we ride. i have had people try and do the Nascar block LOL and would try and use as much of the rd as they can. But to no avail if i get annoyed i will be by them before they can realize what has happened and its always get the same dumb look . I always try to be courteous when i ride Im 50 now LOl i can still hold my own with the Sport bike kids mainly by Virtue of experience.My opinion is that is they want to Push thier non handling bikes past thier limits then its thier call i know what i can do and im not worried. so for a few weeks out of the yr i can play nice . all i wana do is enjoy my ride and thats easy as they fade in my mirror.

[BrookR1]

On a trip through the OC there were a couple of HD riders that tried to keep up with me while I split the carpool lane. After two miles, a lady pillion on one of the Harleys got skeered and they fell back. A saw her signaling to her gorilla to slow down.

I wasn't even on my Duc...I was on a lowly Honda Shadow.  

[Bogie]

When I come up behind a slow line of Pirates, I rejoice. As the slow speed allows me to do a few lines of Bolivian Marching Powder right off the tank bag. The subsequent rush allows me to pass under any circumstance and then mellow out for the rest of my ride.

 

We wanna be free to ride our machines without being hasseled by the man...and we wanna get loaded!

[Baz]

I almost always, add extra throttle while passing.

[county]

I think the Cocaine references are ok as long as we are talking moderation while riding.

[Rude_Rydah]

Hey!  What's moderate to me might be an 8 Ball to you!

Back on topic, the Tour De France has started and I don't see any Harley escort bikes, wanna know why?  Because they can't keep up and they can't be expected to finish the course within -10% of the leader's time.

[highside]

Seriously, and nothing against the OP (Grumbler) but I just never get the endless drama surrounding this BS. Is it really that hard to ride down the road and get around a few bikes? Sure, when there's a huge line of anything in front of you it can be difficult at times but eventually it works out.  

I have had the occiassional slow-moving (and I mean SLOW, like holding up cages slow) actively attempt to prevent me from passing. in the end it still isn't too difficult to get around, but its still pretty immature and aggravating. For the most part the local riders, be they pirate or otherwise, tend to make every allowance to allow faster riders pass.

Now, out local contingent of ball-less he-bitches who drive mini-vans and Subarus, that's an entirely different story, and i could be persuaded to vote in favor of making those people into soap for the homeless.

[JoeRider]

I say, a group of stner's get some patches and bandanas or pirate harts and plastic sword, and then we pass a group, by maybe 3-6mph and peace sign em, then rocket away

Arghh


btw, I have seen them smoking sigs and cigars and talkking on the phone- that why they have to go so slow, but how the heck could he hear??/?:

[arkansawyer]

The worst I've seen was a pack of pirates followed by a Hummer with its cautions flashing.  Maybe 35 in a 55.  I pulled out to pass on a long straight where it's legal.  The Hummer pulled left into the oncoming lane to block me.  
I was a dickhead and swerved right back into my lane, then shot around the pack of idiots.
These people think they own the road because the have a Harley.  Everyone must ride as slowly as they do.
I just don't get it.  I do everything to make it easy for faster traffic to pass me on a 2 lane, including pulling over.  I'm not the fastest thing on the road.  2 lane etiquette is a thing of the past.  

[dm_gsxr]

Could it have been a funeral? (Trying to give 'em the benefit of the doubt.)

Carl

[Flashmo]

... and i could be persuaded to vote in favor of making those people into soap for the homeless.

That is going to quickly become a classic...in my book.

[SpitfireTriple]

Could it have been a funeral? (Trying to give 'em the benefit of the doubt.)

Carl

Valid question. Though a hearse would surely have been at the head of the line, not the rear.

Don't really get this anti-passing attitude from other bikes in Blighty, not so many Harley ^TM riders round here. I have, on occasion, had cars try to prevent me passing. Not often. I usually give them a wide berth; two tons of steel steered by an idiot is, after all, a dangerous thing. I don't get annoyed. I'm soon past, and its their problem not mine.

Bikes and cars that let me past always get a small wave of thanks. Blockers just get a slow shake of the head.

[Orson]

Blockers just get a slow shake of the head.

There was a column in CAR magazine a couple years ago about motorcyclists doling out the dreaded "slow head shake" to sleepy drivers  

[Roaddog]

P. Egan wrote a column about passing a phalanx of traffic jamming Harleys on HIS Harley. He overheard two of them talking at the local Harley shop next day, grumbling about "no lane discipline" so he related to them he himself had passed a "similar group" of riders that very day and said he remembered thinking if he ever slows down traffic while riding a motorcycle, he hoped his friends would shoot him in the head.

[falcofred]

In passing the skull and crossbone pirate parades I've noticed that if they have their "old ladys" on the back the tend to allow me to pass unchallenged. If they are riding solo, you know on a real one percenter manly pirate run, they tend to try and keep me from passing.
Their attempts usually consist of speeding up on the straights where it would be safe to pass, forcing me to pass them in the corners . We refer to them as speed bumps  

[thatguy]

Move to West Virgina where you get passed by a '72 Chevy pickup in the twisties.

A couple weeks ago I was riding Route 50 and came up on a dresser Harley.I usually give them some time to figure out I want to pass.This guy wasn't paying attention.So I thought.When I went to pass he swerved to block me.No choice,oncoming traffic.Ok fine.I waited and passed him (real close) when he was committed.As a parting gesture I reached over hit the kill switch.He attempted to chase me but a dresser vs a Tuono (ridden by a Harley owner no less) is no competition.Don't be an asshole or you'll get treated like one.Flame away safety freaks.

[sagerat]

When riding with my buddy who has a Gear Up, we don't have any problems with other traffic.

I partially attribute it to the non-operable Russian machine gun with belt-fed ammo he has mounted on the hack as a decorative element.  

[Grumbler]

If they are riding solo, you know on a real one percenter manly pirate run, they tend to try and keep me from passing.

If *I* was behind a group of *real* one percenters on a 2-lane road, I'd definitely
keep my distance at least until it was safe to pass without pissing them off. There
is a big difference in the riding skillsets btw outlaw bikers and your average weekend
warrior. Might depend on which patchholdera and where, but I've heard about some
sportbiker being killed in the PNW by a well known 1%er m/c after passing them like
an asshole. They caught him, and beat him to death. Don't know the details.

Then there's those LEMCs (Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club). Have no clue whether
they'd cite you or shoot you for passing them.  

[falcofred]

If *I* was behind a group of *real* one percenters on a 2-lane road, I'd definitely
keep my distance at least until it was safe to pass without pissing them off. There
is a big difference in the riding skillsets btw outlaw bikers and your average weekend
warrior. Might depend on which patchholdera and where, but I've heard about some
sportbiker being killed in the PNW by a well known 1%er m/c after passing them like
an asshole. They caught him, and beat him to death. Don't know the details.

Then there's those LEMCs (Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club). Have no clue whether
they'd cite you or shoot you for passing them.  

I said "real 1%" in jest, the pirates around here are just dressing up like Pirates on weekends.

Thatguy,
I know what you mean about the locals, I've been behind some that really know the road and aren't afraid to keep the pedal to the metal, even if you can pass them, you dang sure don't want them behind you.

[mugwump58]

The intelligence of a group, any group, is inverserly proportional to its size. Small groups usually aren't a problem and I think a polite wave as you go by helps. Now the herds that feel it's there God given right to block roads and ride in big tight packs so that polite and legal passing is impossible....grrrrrrrrrr. Pull over and smoke or find another road lest I too become pig headed and well stupid. I've got issues....

Of late I've made a point of telling them they have pretty bikes whenever we meet at a gas station or where ever. It's psy ops don't you know.

[Mr.Black]

Passed a few of 'em today. Once theyre behind me ferkem! They like to "putt" I dont like to "putt".

Im lucky though since I work weekends and it would seem theres some sort of law or something that says they can only ride on sunny weekend days.

I swear I rarely see any Mon- Thurs.

[Grumbler]

I said "real 1%" in jest, the pirates around here are just dressing up like Pirates on weekends.

I know you were which is why I said *real* as there's a dramatic difference btw
wanna-be outlaws and patchholders. Didn't know I was being a little obtuse in
my reply though. It's all good.

[Grumbler]

Of late I've made a point of telling them they have pretty bikes whenever we meet at a gas station or where ever. It's psy ops don't you know.

If it's a pretty bike, I always ask whether it belongs to their wife or GF.  

[wolf46]

If *I* was behind a group of *real* one percenters on a 2-lane road, I'd definitely
keep my distance at least until it was safe to pass without pissing them off. There
is a big difference in the riding skillsets btw outlaw bikers and your average weekend
warrior. Might depend on which patchholdera and where, but I've heard about some
sportbiker being killed in the PNW by a well known 1%er m/c after passing them like
an asshole. They caught him, and beat him to death. Don't know the details.

Then there's those LEMCs (Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club). Have no clue whether
they'd cite you or shoot you for passing them.  

I ride with Blue Knights (an LEMC) and unless it's a charity thing don't have a problem with being passed. If it is an organized charity run where there's local PD's helping to block intersections and all then not a good idea to pass. Go find a turnoff or stop for a few minutes if ya didn't want to pony up and help whatever the cause might be, just rude to pass in that situation.
As for true 1%'ers, I wouldn't piss them off, some are actually smarter than they look and if got your plate or a good description of you, you may find trouble and not on that day, you may have even forgotten why you and/or your bike is getting messed up.  

[Grumbler]

I ride with Blue Knights (an LEMC) and unless it's a charity thing don't have a problem with being passed. <...>

As for true 1%'ers, I wouldn't piss them off, some are actually smarter than they look and if got your plate or a good description of you <...>

The Blue Knights have a solid reputation. There are some other hardcore 3-patch LEMCs
which have dubious reps.

Agreed about true 1%ers - they have long memories like an elephant, and do have their
share of well educated and intelligent personnel.

Unfortunately, we have all too many people out on the roads with little or no common
sense in real world situations.

[Kat-Rider]

I ride with Blue Knights (an LEMC) and unless it's a charity thing don't have a problem with being passed. If it is an organized charity run where there's local PD's helping to block intersections and all then not a good idea to pass. Go find a turnoff or stop for a few minutes if ya didn't want to pony up and help whatever the cause might be, just rude to pass in that situation.
As for true 1%'ers, I wouldn't piss them off, some are actually smarter than they look and if got your plate or a good description of you, you may find trouble and not on that day, you may have even forgotten why you and/or your bike is getting messed up.  

I have no problem with charity rides if done correctly.  If they have a police escort in front and back and have cops blocking intersections I geuss that is OK.  (annoying but ok)  The ones where they just have a couple jerks on bikes that stop and block the intersections so their unescorted train going 15-20 below the speed limit is what I get frustrated at.
Generally I avoid charity rides.  Around here they are most often full of people who ride only at charity rides, they are not experienced riders and tend to ride way to close to me for comfort.  The last 2 charity rides I was a part of there were mulit bike accidents.

[wolf46]

I'm not a big fan of group riding myself and only go on couple a year, mostly ride alone with no destination like today's 3 or so hour ride.

[Grumbler]

Generally I avoid charity rides.

Haven't done any charity rides since the one for the Special Olympics which
had a police escort. The low speeds had me shifting btw 1st and 2nd all the
way from Applebee's in Boise to Krispy Kreme in Meridian. It was for a good
cause, but am pretty much done with large group rides.

[rgbeard]

I see the word "Charity Ride" and it makes me a little queasy.

I remember a time, years ago, when I didn't think that way.