Riding a Bit Over the Limit

[SacramentoMike]

I'm taking off in the morning on a pretty long trip with someone I haven't ridden with before. So today we were discussing general riding strategies, following distances, rest stops, signals, etc., and the question of "how fast" came up. We agreed that up to ten over is usually ok, but I pointed out that when I'm doing eight or ten over and somebody blows by me, I'll speed up with him, or almost with him, at least till he disappears. I figure he can sweep the area for LEOs for me for a while.

So then he tells me this one: when he's riding alone, especially at night, he'll come up behind somebody and then drop back. Then do it again a couple more times. Then maybe get ahead but not pull away, making the other guy slow a little, then pull ahead and repeat as needed. Kind of be a pain in the ***, if you will, but not really bad. Not enough to really provoke somebody, but enough to get the reaction he's looking for. Eventually, the guy's had enough. He'll finally pass and go like hell. Presto! He's created his own road-sweeper. He swears he's done this many times and it usually works. I think I've gotta give this a try.

By the way, my Vetter/Iggy Buttboard is all stowed and ready to test. I'll let you know how that goes.

 

[puppychow]

I'm taking off in the morning on a pretty long trip with someone I haven't ridden with before. So today we were discussing general riding strategies, following distances, rest stops, signals, etc., and the question of "how fast" came up. We agreed that up to ten over is usually ok, but I pointed out that when I'm doing eight or ten over and somebody blows by me, I'll speed up with him, or almost with him, at least till he disappears. I figure he can sweep the area for LEOs for me for a while.
So then he tells me this one: when he's riding alone, especially at night, he'll come up behind somebody and then drop back. Then do it again a couple more times. Then maybe get ahead but not pull away, making the other guy slow a little, then pull ahead and repeat as needed. Kind of be a pain in the ***, if you will, but not really bad. Not enough to really provoke somebody, but enough to get the reaction he's looking for. Eventually, the guy's had enough. He'll finally pass and go like hell. Presto! He's created his own road-sweeper. He swears he's done this many times and it usually works. I think I've gotta give this a try.

By the way, my Vetter/Iggy Buttboard is all stowed and ready to test. I'll let you know how that goes.

Hope that strategy works for you. As for me, I wouldn't do it. Not worth the risk of getting run over or shot at by some ticked off driver. One never really knows how much is enough to really provoke somebody - that somebody could have been having a long bad day and you just gave him enough reason to take it out on you! Stay safe!!

 

[Ignacio]

So then he tells me this one: when he's riding alone, especially at night, he'll come up behind somebody and then drop back. Then do it again a couple more times. Then maybe get ahead but not pull away, making the other guy slow a little, then pull ahead and repeat as needed. Kind of be a pain in the ***, if you will, but not really bad. Not enough to really provoke somebody, but enough to get the reaction he's looking for.

Why do it at all? I don't get it.

You either pass or you don't. Seems like a recipe to annoy the other driver have them castigate yet another motorcycle rider into the "Those damn motorcyclists!" category the way you describe it.

In the 135,000 miles or so I've never once had this urge to linger and and hang out anywhere in the a passed cages stopping distance after passing. If their trajectory is so constant and similar to mine as to cause formation flying....I deliberately bump up my speed by 5 mph or so for a few miles. The risk of attracting popo attention in 5 minutes of riding is still fairly low. And it breaks that emotional tether that seems to plague some other traffic.

Catch, pass, continue on riding solo is my recipe.

 

[airboss]

Sounds like a plan, especially it night, with my luck I would try that on some sh* t faced drunk on his way to the next bar, and he'd just run my a$$ over.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Please tell me you're not serious.........

 

[kolonial72]

I haven't heard an idea that I hate this much since W announced that we were going to Iraq.

Seems to me that it is generally safer to stay away from others as much as possible. The tactic described above is pretty much the opposite of stay away from others. Either drop back to a respectable following distance or go the f*#^ by. When someone does the sort of thing to me that your new riding buddy suggests, I feel like running that person the hell over. But then again, I have anger issues.

Actually, my only real problem with this is that it seems a bit time consuming and with my ADD....

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

 

[FJRBluesman]

Hope that strategy works for you. As for me, I wouldn't do it. Not worth the risk of getting run over or shot at by some ticked off driver. One never really knows how much is enough to really provoke somebody - that somebody could have been having a long bad day and you just gave him enough reason to take it out on you! Stay safe!!

Gunny.
Just be careful period. Night riding is the worst. Ya never know if the headlights lights behind you are a LEO, or if the tail lights in front of you are a LEO.

You best hope the guy you try to provoke into speeding doesn't go pyscho instead. He does have many options most of which are bad for a motorcyclist :dribble:

Don't do it Mike. Get Bust to try it first.

 

[frito1]

Sounds like a bone head move to me. Anbody running up on me repeatedly when I'm cagin', day or night, bike or car, is likely to get an invitation to my rear bumper. I'll then drop to 20 or so below the speed limit and set the cruise. If a driver pulled that and passed, they would never get back behind me unless they pulled off and stopped. If someone is crowding me I'll typically slow and give them every opportunity to pass, if they don't take it they're gonna drive slow for a while.

 

[dcarver]

Don't do that to me if I'm in the big diesel dodge.. I hate that cat n' mouse crap.

And I believe in the lug nut rule.

He with the most lug nuts, rules.

You ain't gone none on that bike Mike..

Please don't play that stupid dangerous game - I kinda like you.

 

[rushes]

I say never ever try to get in someone else s head...

I've taken advantage of sweepers, sure...

But don't try to lure them.....

The good ones will raise their hand....

 

[redtail]

I can't believe anyone would consider this! Here in Cali, it's pretty much your fault if you run in to someone. So it would just be a matter of time before a roadrager slammed on his brakes. You know, just to f$#k with you back!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Seems to me that it is generally safer to stay away from others as much as possible.

There've been motorcycle safety professionals who think the concept of "space cushioning" could be the No.1 bit of safety advice.

As far as the O.P.'s discussion of acquiring a vehicle to 'sweep' ahead -- ordinarily, "rabbits" don't seem to be too hard to come by? And I prefer them in front of me... Sometimes, a good speeder up ahead, just in sight, is a good thing.

 

[petey]

I don't get it...WHY would anyone aggravate a cage on purpose while riding on two wheels??? :glare:

 

[wfooshee]

If someone did that to me while I was driving, I'd pull into a well-lit rest area and reach into the glove box.

Besides, how far up the road would you be if you'd just past and gone, as opposed to waiting for the tantrum?

 

[Bounce]

I've taken advantage of rabbits before but i'd not go baiting anyone when riding. it's not good sense.

 

[rfulcher]

I like nothing about this plan or the selfish reasoning it is based on. Deliberately act like a PIA so someone else will get in trouble when they try to avoid an erratic driver. Just to drive a couple of miles faster? Not someone I would want to trust on the road or anywhere else.

EPIC FAIL

 

[Jo Kremsreiter]

Lets jump off a bridge together! Sounds stupid enough. SacramentoMike you in?

 

[James Burleigh]

So then he tells me this one: when he's riding alone, especially at night, he'll come up behind somebody and then drop back. Then do it again a couple more times. Then maybe get ahead but not pull away, making the other guy slow a little, then pull ahead and repeat as needed. Kind of be a pain in the ***, if you will, but not really bad. Not enough to really provoke somebody, but enough to get the reaction he's looking for.

Why do it at all? I don't get it.

You either pass or you don't. Seems like a recipe to annoy the other driver have them castigate yet another motorcycle rider into the "Those damn motorcyclists!" category the way you describe it.

In the 135,000 miles or so I've never once had this urge to linger and and hang out anywhere in the a passed cages stopping distance after passing. If their trajectory is so constant and similar to mine as to cause formation flying....I deliberately bump up my speed by 5 mph or so for a few miles. The risk of attracting popo attention in 5 minutes of riding is still fairly low. And it breaks that emotional tether that seems to plague some other traffic.

Catch, pass, continue on riding solo is my recipe.

What Iggy said.... And think about how that would make your wife, daughter, sister, girlfriend feel if alone and a bike started messing with her like that. It'd be pretty scary. (But scarier if she spotted Mad Mike's face on the bike. )

 

[MEM]

Eventually, the guy's had enough. He'll finally pass and go like hell. Presto! He's created his own road-sweeper. He swears he's done this many times and it usually works. I think I've gotta give this a try.

SMike - are you on crack ?

Does your friend have any more bonehead great ideas? :blink: