The only one that made me chuckle had more to do with the US Forest Service LEO then the custom Harley rider he was about to assist.
It started when I got pulled over on ZRX1100 going North on FS road 25 just north of Northwood (behind Mt. St. Helens) We were doing all of 44 mph (indicated) in a 45 mph zone. We came up on the LEO who was parked facing the other way and radaring the south bound traffic with a fixed dash radar set up. I had picked him up for about 2 miles on the V1. He pulls out and pulls me over. Goes therough the how fast are you going drill. Then asks for license, reg etc...
I hand over what he asks for, then proceed to take of my helmet, gloves and peel down my 1 piece suit as it was about 85 degrees out. While I am waiting, about 30 harleys and about 20 other motorcycles go by. You could here audible slow down as they see the LEO and then hear them pick up speed after they are out of sight.
After about 30 minutes, he comes back and give me a warning and tells me how lucky I am to only get a warning, as I would have to go to federal court in Vancouver to face a judge. I asked why the warning at all as I was under the speed limit? He couldn't answer. I just wanted to get going too, so I didn't persue. (Did I mention this LEO was all of 5 foot tall with boots on? can you say short man complex?)
Anyway, he leaves and heads towards Randle (North), the same direction as I am heading. The rest of the 35 miles is signed at 35 mph. This is going to suck to go that slow on a beautiful twisty road.
I put all my gear back on and about 10 mintues after he has left I start North. I go about a 1/2 mile, and there he is backing into the corner on the opposite side of the road to get his vehicle out of the way. And along the shoulder are about 10 very nice custom Harleys lined up and parked. No riders to be seen except one who is bleeding mildy from everywhere that he did not have leather, (you know, his ***, arms, hands and head - as the chaps, vest, fingerless gloves and beanie helmet did not provide much protection). There was one single solid 3 inch wide skid mark for about 100 feet long going straight over the edge - what happened was the Harley rider decided he could make the corner (a 180 degree 15 mph uphill on camber turn after a 1/4 mile straight a way). The rest of his crew was just getting his bike up to the road, wouldn't you know it his front disc brake was chromed.
The chuckle for me was the LEO having to investigate this "accident" and givng me hell, when I was the only one he had seen in the last 45 minutes who was actually dressed for the ride. And the Harley rider demonstrated that stupid hurts and the front brake really is needed for more than being another chromed piece.
Wife and I stopped at a roadhouse near the end of a day's ride. Some gleaming Harleys parked in front, too. Inside we go with our textile jackets, helmets in hand, etc. At the bar are the Harley folks with do-rags, leather vests, chaps, etc. One looks us over disdainfully, then remarks to his compadre: "**** man, I'd rather die than be paralyzed from a broken neck. Those helmets will break your neck almost every time."
There isn't really an answer for that, is there? Perhaps suggesting that you have something up there worth protecting?
Make sure they are registered organ donors so they can do something good for someone eventually
