There is a fine ethical balance between enjoying some serious curve surfing and

[Longpath]

I have kept my stock pipes for this very reason.

[06ST1300A]

My friends and I have this little talk with anyone riding with us the first few times. The gist of it is that everyone is an adult and they ride their bike how they want.

But we all agree that we will not pass unless we feel it is safe to do so and we will signal the car that we are passing  and wave as we pass. So far we have never had any close calls and if there are several cars, we just wait. It is not worth risking our lives or anyone else.

Most people that don't ride think we are crazy and wild anyways so you are wasting your time trying to change any minds.

[RickC1957]

Most will laugh...but I really try to obey the traffic laws around civilization, I really do   Out on the backroads...I apply my version of common sense....which has nothing to do with the traffic laws. I do ride safe....and I try not to piss off cagers....because every Tom, Dick and Harry has a cell phone and will report your antics to the local LEOs. On Vivid's Flat 4 Run, there was a ride leader (who will remain nameless) who always managed to attract every LEO in a 4 county area to our presences, why because he would lead "the fast group" 7 to 10 bikes, past cagers on a Sunday drive at Mach 10 speeds, just annoys the crap out of cagers.....I always told my group...."pass one at a time....wave to the cager when you have gone by" Funny my group has never had the local LEOs waiting to talk to us at Rockton

[falcofred]

In town I try to behave and show a positive motorcycling image. Out in the countryside I ride more aggressively . I'll pass cagers or other motorcyclists (especially Harley's) only after following them for enough time for them
1. Realize that I'm in back of them and want to ride faster then they are traveling.
2. Give them the opportunity to pull over or wave me by.
Then I pass when and where I feel that I can execute a clean safe pass.
When leading or riding with a group I exercise extra caution, and make sure the others in my group only pass when it's safe for them as individuals to pass, and not to make a pass just because the rider in front of them passes.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Behave yourself around civilization. Have some safe fun out in the boonies but don't be an asshat. I will pass anytime I feel it's safe (good sight lines, no/few driveways or intersections, especially on the left) out in the boonies if it's a good road. If the road doesn't warrant making an illegal pass, I'll just cool my jets, look at the scenery, and wait for a legal passing zone. If the pace is much less than the speed limit, I'm likely to pass at the first safe opportunity.

This is very good.

[ST-DocLizard1]

I believe that 10-15 mph over can certainly be safe under the right conditions. I also have developed a sixth sense with respect to a "Righteous Pass" on a double yellow with a judicious "Twist of the Wrist." I do a lot of group riding especially up on the point and I can execute a safe pass at the right moment for not only myself, but for the group as well. It has taken 29 years to develop this feeling, but it has been worth the wait.

Doc

[Sameraz]

This is a good thread!  Lots of good takes on this issue!

I'm sort of with Bluepoof.  I really like what Gary wrote.

But honestly, its probably mostly my little bike.  Sure I can get it up near 100, and on most of the highways I tool along 5-10 over.  I've passed a couple times on DY, but those dealt with cars doing about 12 in something like a 35 with clear sight lines.  I just don't have the instant acceleration to take a pass that is at all iffy above about 65 MPH.  I have to plan it, see through it and really dedicate myself to it.

I might be going all out on some highway and not be keeping up with some of your grandmas.  But hey, I ride my ride, I has my fun!  I also know if I screw up I could get killed with my little bike at 70 mph just as easily as riding some supersport bike at 70 mph...physics has no favorites with brand, model or displacement.

I guess I don't have to worry about the draconian speed laws Oregon has for speeding over 100MPH...'cause I am 2slo4U Mr. LEO.

Hell, even out in the outback I tend to be a little careful, would not be too fun to be tooling at near max speeds and get taken out by a suicidal stealth antelope.  In some spots you'd be lucky to have a car pass in a few hours.

[Nny]

Funny thing, once I started riding I had a group of 3 sport bikers pass me while I was driving my car on a medium blind right hand turn out of nowhere and before I started riding I never had a bike pass me on a DY.  Guy was right outside my window.  I was driving at about 6/10ths and to me that was just plain stupid.  What happens if I hadn't noticed him and went to fiddle with the radio or something mid turn and unconsciously drifted left?  

Calamari!  That's what.  

I don't care what the lines say personally, but there were a lot of things that could have gone wrong in that situation that would have meant dead squids.  The situation trumps the lines.  If it's safe go, if it's not, don't.  That said, I find the line painters around here not too bad at figuring out safe visual distances and not being DY Nazis...