Explain this to me.....

[jwhughes3]

That would turn into the OK corral with this bunch

That is pretty much how I ride in Texas...everyone assumes I am packing and I do the same so we can all be friendly. As Robert A. Heinlein once said "An armed society is a polite society."


John

[ViperRon]

Originally Posted by ViperRon
so if you pull one of them bump a domino and go tricks make sure you are gone.

Once again........in freakin' english.
__________________
Greg

Bump a domino and go

Basically when bikes are parked in a line not staggered they can be like dominos bump one and the whole line can fall it often becomes a mangled mess and takes time to get them back up and it often provides opportunities to buy more replacement parts. Due to the nature of many unfriendly motorcycle groups its become common enough act to even appear in movies.

[Shacknasty]

Too freakin' funny.

Those guys are gonna be jackasses no matter what they ride or drive. The Harley has absolutely nothing to do with it.

My Harleys get along just fine with my Jap bikes. They not only share garage space, they hafta share me! I'm the exact same blowhole no matter which bike I'm riding.

Life is short. Ride hard, mofos.

[BA80]

understand probably more than one carries a gun and looks for a reason to use it

That would turn into the OK corral with this bunch.

so if you pull one of them bump a domino and go tricks make sure you are gone.

Once again........in freakin' english.

[ViperRon]

Humpty dumpty groupers

I understand the thought process that you should be able to enjoy the road just as much as the other guy. I also hate to putter behind groups like that but understand the advice to just let them go their way and avoid conflict is the best advice. You know usually when I am behind people going 10 to 15 miles under the speed limit I do just what cops do. I associate the speed to being so dopped up life is passing you bye. Truth is normally a good cop could probably write a few tickets there but if you do anything to disturb their ride you gain the wrath of the entire group. Anyone who hangs from APE hangers probably has the same mentality. The best thing to do is just follow along behind. They will stop at some point and line them all up in a big tilted row to show off their group. Then you can pass them by and go on your way, but understand probably more than one carries a gun and looks for a reason to use it so if you pull one of them bump a domino and go tricks make sure you are gone.

[old_chopper]

I've rode the same route several times, on a HD. I've been stuck behind and passed by bikes from both sides of the ocean. I try to let the racers pass and have had the same type of fools cross over into my lane as you had. I've not noticed it being just the HD crowd that can't ride though, I see the same crap on the metric bikes too.

[DGXSER]

For some reason, being passed pisses them off to no end and they think everyone should be subjected to their personal opinion of riding pace. That apparent arrogance is what I find baffling. The term "Share the road" apparently only applies to a Harley riders and cages in their minds, not for THEM to actually have to share the road with anyone else.

I COMPLETELY understand being baffled and insulted by that behavior.

And yes, when we were there getting the insurance info for the clipped muffler, the other morons were making comments about the "Chinese buffet" they were looking at.

This is not an opinion of Harley riders that has been based on one or two instances. This type of behavior is seen time and time again over the years and many many thousands of road miles.

I have never had them do it quite that openly or in my face. I would have started walking around their bike counting out loud, when they ask what I was doing tell them "Counting the made in Japan or Hong Kong parts on your bike. This may take quite a while"

[trbig]

I understand Don's reasoning and agree that they don't HAVE to pull over and wave anyone by, though that would be the most courteous thing to do. What I don't understand, and it's happened on the last two rides I've been on, (And again on many many others) was when we would come up behind a group of Harleys, they of course would not move over and couldn't seem to make the curves even at the warning speeds that are posted for loaded semi trucks, so at a long straight-away in a passing zone, we would pass to leave them to ride at their pace and try to enjoy the ride at our pace. For some reason, being passed pisses them off to no end and they think everyone should be subjected to their personal opinion of riding pace. That apparent arrogance is what I find baffling. The term "Share the road" apparently only applies to a Harley riders and cages in their minds, not for THEM to actually have to share the road with anyone else.

And yes, when we were there getting the insurance info for the clipped muffler, the other morons were making comments about the "Chinese buffet" they were looking at.

This is not an opinion of Harley riders that has been based on one or two instances. This type of behavior is seen time and time again over the years and many many thousands of road miles.

[BA80]

I suppose your right but it seems the negative is far more prominent than the positive. Very unfortunate that a brand will sell an attitude like that and people will buy into it.

[haywardguy929]

Yeah I quit paying attention to the jap crap comments a long time ago.
Go to any home in America and see where the TV electornics/clothes and thousands of other things came from. If your going to be a purest your going to throw 3/4th of your stuff away including some of the parts on the Harley. So the comments don't mean much. As American workers we been sold out a long time ago. I think free trade ment a little more at one time. But like I said one or two jerks don't speak for any group and I think most riders started on something other then a Harley and they know it. Funny, the one guy I know thats ridden Harleys since he was a kid said he wouldn't hesitate to drive mine to Oregon when he saw it. Sorry you had a bad experience either way, riding is a brotherhood to me no matter if your rich or poor and treating folks like you want to be treated. Hopefully it never happens again and I do think theres a lot more good people riding then a- holes.

[BA80]

We did catch up with the guy and he said he would pay for the damage amidst thinly cloaked jabs towards bikes not assumed to be made in the US. I wonder if they really know where Harleys are built?

There probably would not have been any problem if they hadn't tried to blame it on us. That was total arrogance.

When I came around that curve ahead of Ivan it looked like a bunch of children riding tricycles with bent wheels. I had to hog the white line at the edge of the road to avoid an accident. Ivan was just unlucky to encounter them at the apex of the turn.

Then the a$$hole who flipped us off sealed the deal for me.

This is not the first act of arrogance we have recieved from Harley posers. They don't seem to have the balls to back it up or the riding skill to keep up though and they have been given the opportunity for both.

[haywardguy929]

You have every right to go at whatever speed you choose. Just have to follow the laws and use common sense to do it safely. I guess I feel like your stereo typing Harley riders and the fact is an ******* can be on any kind of bike. That same group may have stopped to help you if you were on the side of the road.Some anyway. It only takes a couple to give everyone a bad name and getting clipped there's no excuse for and I think I might have called the cops and made the prick pay. I guess it depends on if he did it on purpose or was not paying attention. I don't take kindly to rudeness and don't care who or where it is. Plate numbers are easy to take down and I doubt many in his party would do something that stupid. I wasn't there so I can't say.
I'm no Harley owner but I know my share and never heard a negative word from anyone about what I ride. Glad no one was hurt.

[BA80]

Some things in life are more surprising than others, this one, not so much.

What I am saying is that the guy riding slower has just as much right to ride slow on that road as you have to ride fast on it. While it might be courteous to see a stackup behind and pull over, the slower rider has no obligation to do so. Kind of like George Carlin stated, you see him as an "Idiot", and when you pass him and take off at your speed, he will see you as a "Maniac". The folks that paved that road did so for the use of the public, fast or slow. They did not disciminate. So your optoins are to ride slow along with him, find another road, or stop and let him get far enough ahead of you not to effect your ride.

So, safely passing isn't an option in your opinion? And, obscene gestures for my use of a "public" road as I see fit within the law are acceptable?

However unsuprising to you I still don't understand your reasoning. If the speed limit is maniacal then yes, I am a maniac.

BTW, I paid those "folks" to pave that "public" road also. That Hardley rider didn't build it.

[DGXSER]

I'm sorry Don, I don't understand your reasoning.

Some things in life are more surprising than others, this one, not so much.

What I am saying is that the guy riding slower has just as much right to ride slow on that road as you have to ride fast on it. While it might be courteous to see a stackup behind and pull over, the slower rider has no obligation to do so. Kind of like George Carlin stated, you see him as an "Idiot", and when you pass him and take off at your speed, he will see you as a "Maniac". The folks that paved that road did so for the use of the public, fast or slow. They did not disciminate. So your optoins are to ride slow along with him, find another road, or stop and let him get far enough ahead of you not to effect your ride.

[BA80]

If it is botheirng you that badly, pull over and wait ten or fifteen minutes to let them get ahead of you enough you can travel at your speed.

Obviously, there is not excuse for the one that clipped Ivan.

So, your saying my tax payments mean nothing and just pulling off to the side and waving faster riders past would be more trouble than the faster riders to stop and allow stupidity (per George) to prevail?

I'm sorry Don, I don't understand your reasoning.