pull up or not?

I know this thread is about pulling up next to someone at a stop but, just last weekend, I caught up to a rider on an ST1300 on one of my favorite back roads. He pulled into the convenience store I always stop at and so we mutually admired each others bikes and struck up a pretty long conversation over bottled water. It was nice and relaxing.

I can usually ride the VFR through the world with complete anonymity, never generating a second glance When I ride the Norton people always want to talk. This is fun, or not, depending on my mood. Everyone over a certain age it seems "used to have one of those" and they all have a story of fast rides and narrow death escapes. I was on a charity group ride once and had a motor cop shadow me. He pulled up and began to ride parallel to me for several miles. He never said a word and then turned to me, while we were riding, and said "Nice. You don't see many of those." and then he was gone.

 

Chasing can mean trouble. The dude ahead may be the fastest guy in town and you may keep up with him on the straights where a fast guy will "rest", get ya sucked into a corner you can't handle and down you go.

Pulling up on some other rider is about as smart as riding two abreast. Some guys will take this as a challenge to go for it, some will know you are a noob for doing it when staggering is the smart way to ride with a group or he or she will just blow you off as being an asshole. If you ride a Harley forget what I just wrote. SOP for them. Another is if you are out of Grey Poupon.

Taking one's hand off the handlebar in a curve sort of depends on which hand it is among 3-4 other things.

 

Occasionally, someone riding up alongside has some critical info you need. Brake light out, dripping fluid, your socks don't match, etc.:tongue:

 

it was a big slow curve and perfectly in control or i wouldnt have done it, 2 months ago i wasn't taking my hand off going straight over 45 mph, don't fret the curve waving.

btw rode this evening, maybe it's just ohio but harley guys dont wave to me at all, when i started it was maybe 1:5 waved, now its 0:10, maybe cause i have a helmet and jacket on, i don't know, know who always waves, guys on can-ams.

 

If anyone goes out riding with mismatched sox or dirty underwear they should have paid more attention to their moms.This does not apply to harleydoods who do both on purpose as an image thing. If one is dripping fluid best see the doc for a shot and stop hanging out with harleydoodchicas.

 

I hate to tell you but there is a Midwest CanAm club for gay dudes.

 

I always stagger- but if someone pulls next to me I have no issue sharing the lane while stopped.

 

What if the dude is in a Kenworth semi?

 

what is the dude is wearing a assless chaps on a can-am?

I hate to tell you but there is a Midwest CanAm club for gay dudes.

 

Yes, that is but one indicator. If there are two dudes onboard wearing them, stay clear, they can be bitchy.

 

Another solution is to ride with another rider with more experience than you. Talk about riding protocol (staggered riding, what order to leave a light, hand signals, etc...), analyze their lines, have those discussions about how to leave something in reserve traction wise mid-corner so you can make line adjustments. Practice emergency stops so you know how to apply brakes smoothly and firmly so as to stop quickly and smoothly. Talk about what to focus on when riding and how to be a defensive rider.

The goal is to ride with others, not against others (save that for the track). Stupid antics on the street kill riders. Lost a rider one a month ago today, so I apologize for being preachy.

So give people distance, wave, ride smart and live to ride more. Save revving that soulful V4 for the track or "emergency" situations, not stop lights.

If you die, you can't ride anymore.

 

" If you die, you can't ride anymore".

If we had a contest for the best "no shit" saying of the month, that would be the winner..

Good stuff..