How Police see Motorcyclist's

[creg-ny-baa]

Haha...AND, that's what I was getting at. If you choose to ride faster, that's cool, but there is no study that bikes riding faster than other traffic makes them safer. That has been a MC claim for as long as I can remember. How the heck would one even "study" that? That's one of those deals where the proctor could come to any conclusion he wants.

Appears I took the bait, eh?

 

[erixun]

hppants I am in the same arena as zilla on this one. I ride, so I am more apt to give breaks to riders who are wearing safety gear, properly licensed, insured, bike in decent working order, etc. If they do not have the mc endorsement that is an instant one for me, I have no patience for someone not knowing what they are doing tearing down the road, and endangering others for their own stupidity or self righteousness.

With an endorsement I know they have at least some common base knowledge on how a motorcycle is different from a car and shown an effort to learn. A squid riding like an idiot wins a driving award (press hard, five copies)... But in the end, it also comes down to the 'base' factor for any ticket, just like a cage driver, treat me nicely, don't lie to me about the obvious, own your actions, and you will most likely just get a 'slow down and drive safely' from me.

 

[teerex51]

A few years back, an American riding buddy and I got pulled over by a state trooper in NC for speeding and not stopping at a stop sign. The officer was very courteous and professional, checked our licenses and registrations and eventually let us off with a warning.

I've never gotten pulled over in Europe when riding a motorcycle, except this past spring, about 50 kms from Milan, where I live. It was a random checkpoint operated by two young motorcycle cops on BMW R1200RT's. My buddy and I had been through a sudden rainstorm and our clothes were just drying off. As we dismounted from our bikes, it became obvious that the crotch of our riding pants was still wet. The first LEO, the one closer to me, pointed to my wet cotton-and-kevlar pants and asked "What happened to you?". I replied deadpan "I saw the cops and pissed myself". Both officers burst out laughing. We eventually spent half an hour shooting the breeze with them before riding on home. That was the highlight of our Saturday ride.

 

[hppants]

Teerex - that was hilarious!

 

[JamesW]

One sort of commonality may be motorcyclists are not risk adverse and neither are LEOs. Years ago I made contact with a Montana state trooper a few years after the speed limit was installed and asked about tolerances and he grinned and said it depended on whether it was an old troop or a young troop.

 

[VTGuy]

About 25 years ago, I stopped riding bikes. Along the way, I moved to NY and failed to transfer my motorcycle endorsement. Three years ago, I took the basic MSF course to re qualify for NY motorcycle endorsement. Last spring, I was returning home on a 800 cc class naked bike when I met a NY trooper in the middle of a curve. When i spotted the cop, i instantly remembered the speed limit was 45 mph, and knew i was just passing through about 60 mph. Stupidly, I chopped the throttle, and the front end took a drive as predicted. Looking in the mirror, i saw the cop pull over and attempt to pull a u-turn. I immediately hauled the bike down, and pulled it over to wait for him. I pulled off my helmet and sat there waiting for bad news. The officer walked up and apparently got a surprise when he realized this was no kid he was puling over. He then said, "sir---my guess is that you were doing about 60, then you saw me, and YOU locked IT UP" I said in response "that sounds about right officer" Did not counter his assertion that i LOCKED it up.. He said,, let me check your license and i will get you going very soon. When he returned, he said.. "i know how hard it is to keep the speed down on these things,, i have one myself. So.. just take it easy and have a good day." I would say he made my day. i could not wait to get home to tell my wife. But i DID took it easy..

So.. I think this all boils down to: Without incriminating yourself too much-- do not insult the intelligence of any cop. If you were in the wrong at least try to imply that you know you were wrong. As others have said.. be mature ,honest, and friendly. I also, think it helps to be dressed appropriately I think cops may tend to respect bikers who act like they take safety seriously, even if they don't always abide by the speed limit to the letter.

 

[VTGuy]

In so far as the FJR and Law enforcement is concerned. Two months ago, I was riding the FJR along Route 6 outside of Warren PA. As the road turned to four lane divided highway, i began to overtake a group of about 10 bikes. They were riding along at below the speed limit in the driving lane. As I attempted to catch the last member of their group, they all began to accelerate and moved into the passing lane. Seemingly trying to block me. I was saying to myself . something like WTF? Then they all followed their leader and returned to the driving lane. I left wondering what that all meant. But decided to slowly overtake them. I passed them (giving them gentle wave as i passed each one of them) and then it because a curious thing that i was also passing car after car going about the same speed. About four miles of this and everything stopped at a traffic light. I continued to pass the cars to get to the head of the line. THEN it I discovered the problem.. Sitting at the light was a PENN state trooper waiting for the light to change. All of these cars had been piled up behind him. And so i decided to join the sheep herd and slide in behind the cop. What a surprise i got when the light changed to GREEN. The Penn trooper must have floored it--because all hell broke loose. He was burning out.. He tore out of that light with black smoke pouring out of his exhaust..he then. traveled about 200 feet and then made a very abrupt right hand turn into a side street or driveway. I've seen this before when cops were on the wrong end of me and wanted to be behind, so i was watching for him to come blasting up behind me. I was planning on making a very graceful stop to hear what he has to say. But NOTHING happened. As, I was left wondering what that was all about?

 

[rushes]

A buddy of mine is a state trooper.

He sees all motorcyclists as organ donors.... lol

 

[Geezer]

I first bought my FJR in 2005. Starting in 2005, I got one speeding ticket every year until 2014. This year was my first year without an award, though I did have one roadside chat with a trooper. Fortunately, every ticket I got was far from home and my driving record in my home state is clean. Having a clean record makes a difference.

The one roadside chat I had this year was in my home state. The battery in my Senna had run dry and I didn't hear the detector go off. The trooper chatted with us for a while (my son-in-law Tommy was with me on his Super Ten) and we talked about the bikes a little bit. I think he wanted all of the cars we had passed to see that he had us. Just as we were about to leave he noticed my radar detector. He said that he should write me because he didn't know how many times I had gotten away with speeding. I smiled and said something humorous and we parted ways.

 

[VTGuy]

I did not think i would ever say this BUT.. (in most cases) COPS really do "protect and serve." (especially professional cops- i.e. state troopers) I know that each of us believes we have both the skill and self-control to get along without them. But quite frankly, I don't think so. I am temporary assigned to Erie Pa. This summer, I had my FJR down here with me. And every weekend, I rode it over every possible road between Erie and I80. I got to say, this part of PA, sure has a lot of nice sport/touring roads. At any rate, there was an unfortunate incident in eastern PA that apparently pulled troopers away from all areas of the state. For about a month, I80 and I79 were virtual "free for alls" due to lack of state police presence. On one occasion, i was riding at near legal speed going north on I79 near Meadville PA. At one point a group of four cars passed me at high speed. Not being immune to this behavior, I dropped it down a gear or two (although we all know--- i didn't need too) and proceeded to catch up with them. Well lets just say they were all going FASTER than the speed limit.. (Hint.. 147 feet per second (for you math whiz types)) And all because they KNEW their chances of being tagged were near zero. A few weeks later, the cops were all back and people were again driving responsibly.

The duality of this situation is that while I enjoy going fast on occasion, I also enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that i can operate FJR without worrying about becoming a target of law enforcement. (The FJR is a bike that always looks good going the speed limit.) The FJR is the also first bike I've owned that is seen (in most cases) before it is heard. I personally think that hearing a hauling/reeving machine coming down the road just gives cops a chance to align their sensors in that direction and build a bias(case) against it...--assuming they aren't already pointing laser or microwaves down the road. The other thing that may or may not work in my favor is my habit of making quick speed forays(jabs) up and back; but basically always maintaining a speed just barely above the speed limit to limit the cars on my tail. MSF advocates bikes finding open space to operate--and I certainly do do that. And i do it rapidly.. But once there. I’m quickly back to legal speed--until the next time. One more thing: around this part of PA, that while "boys" in their white pickup trucks don't seem to want to pass me, they pass everything I do. I had to give up trying to keep them off my tail. I've seen some close calls with oncoming cars as a result. but it does not seem to bother them? So..lets just say that this is one part of the country where boys can still be boys.. etc etc.