Passing Pirates feedback

[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.