A tad d*ckish there, Victory rider

[bobhamlin]

Riding yesterday and something happened that impressed me as bad protocol, so I'm appealing to you, the dispassionate, always-reasoned, fellow Nomad riders.

As I was leaving a small town, I noticed another cruiser had fallen in behind me. The 10 miles to the next town is a 2 lane, 55mph stretch with no lights/stop signs. Most of the time, the practical limit is right around 65. Yesterday must have been "adhere to the posted limit" day.

As soon as I had seen the following cruiser, I moved into a staggered, lead position, and he took the offer and staggered to the right. Yesterday was such a great riding day that following cars at the posted limit was, well, frustrating, so I passed at every opportunity. The cruiser behind kept pace very well, and I was impressed.

As we got to the next town, we eventually hit a red light. I pulled well to the left in my lane, offering room if he wanted to pull up and talk. He did. His was a Victory something or other, and he was decked out in Victory emblems. I flipped up my Skorpion visor. He said something about the weather, so we did innocuous chat. I nodded to his bike and asked if he was going to the Victory shop on the east side of town. He said yes, and I asked if he was just shopping or ... and the light began to change. I didn't get to tell him that I have a Victory Touring Cruiser deluxe in my garage that I'll eventually restore.

The light turned green and, I began pulling out in a normal pace. We were in-town now, speeding up to 40 is pointless. He took off as if we were somehow engaged in a drag race. I followed him for a bit, feeling that he had violated unwritten etiquette. So, I used my commuting smarts to pick lanes and moved ahead of him--solely for the purpose of giving a glance intended to imply, "That was kind of rude there, slick." He wouldn't have been able to tell anything with my visor down, so it was just me yielding to a little alpha-ish call-of-the-wild.

What say ye? Is there such an etiquette?

[ringadingh]

I never see it that way when it happens to me. As long as they don't pull in front and then slow down to hold me back I don't care who is leading. When we are travelling a little quicker I like it when someone else leads.

[timebandit]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

I never see it that way when it happens to me. As long as they don't pull in front and then slow down to hold me back I don't care who is leading. When we are travelling a little quicker I like it when someone else leads.

[Idaho]

While he followed on the two lane I would say that once you hit town with the red light all bets were off. No etiquette, no code. Go your own way. I am usually amazed that some of those guys don't get pasted by a cage because they drive too fast in town.

[scott2007nomad]

In town is the last place to get in a hurry. Too much happens too fast.
As far as the Victory guy, I would let it go, to each their own.
If he was trying to prove something, oh well, as long as it doesn't endanger me.
Whether motorcycles or cages, I have gotten caught up in tit-for-tat posturing through traffic but in the end it's not worth the risks.

[cactusjack]

No harm, no foul. He was not your buddy, just some random rider that fate put behind you at a light. He owes you nothing, you owe him nothing. He was free to break away at any time, as were you.

I've done it myself when some weirdo has pulled up alongside me at a light and just gave me a weird vibe. Eat my dust, sucker!

[billmac]

I try to be respectful to other bikers and I have rode bikes for nearly 50 years. But, biker etiquette is not some thing I know much about. (Several years ago, I was stunned to read on this forum that having my rear running boards down without a passenger somehow meant something).

Anyway, maybe the Victory rider doesn't have a clue either and did not mean to screw it up. I am wondering now when I have made the same mistake.

[Bull Durham]

Wow, wait a minute.

BillMac, what are you saying "(Several years ago, I was stunned to read on this forum that having my rear running boards down without a passenger somehow meant something)"

I must be in the dark, as you were. I'm inferring by your statement that leaving the riders foot pegs down, means I'm from California or something?

Who comes up with this stuff? I must be out of the loop, never heard anything about that.

[caddman11]

Untwist your undies!

[sonny]

30+ years ago an old 'Real Biker' told me "if you have to prove it runs, it probably doesn't". I always giggle at folks riding a 'Lead Sled', like I do, or a mo-ped sized bike that take off like their in a drag race. They make a lot of noise and I can watch them make it for a very very looong time. Some how I think they are trying to prove their manhood or that they are really bad and dangerous. This is the opinion of a fella that pulls off a stop like an old man on a very comfortable bike, which in all honesty, I am. I bought comfort and dependable, and ride like that most of the time. I think, SOME TIMES, rider etiquette shows a lot of a riders self image. And some times a fella is just having a little extra fun. A little sidewalk psyc for free :-0.
Thanks for your time

[glwilson]

I don't see what he did as being a problem.

If you gave him the opportunity to pull-up next to you at a light... you also gave him "permission" to move out ahead of you at the green light. It is common courtesy if you feel the other rider would like to get ahead of you. Just my opinion and how I have seen it occur plenty of times.

Next time park in the middle of the lane... that says "I am not letting you around me at this light". If they pass you off the starting-line then... they are the ass... ;)

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by glwilson

I don't see what he did as being a problem.

If you gave him the opportunity to pull-up next to you at a light... you also gave him "permission" to move out ahead of you at the green light. It is common courtesy if you feel the other rider would like to get ahead of you. Just my opinion and how I have seen it occur plenty of times.

Next time park in the middle of the lane... that says "I am not letting you around me at this light". If they pass you off the starting-line then... they are the ass... ;)

This is the way I was raised too. ;)

[macmac]

If you see me riding with the rear boards down it means the B itch fell off!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

No harm, no foul. He was not your buddy, just some random rider that fate put behind you at a light. He owes you nothing, you owe him nothing. He was free to break away at any time, as were you.

I've done it myself when some weirdo has pulled up alongside me at a light and just gave me a weird vibe. Eat my dust, sucker!

Unless of course they have a quicker bike.

[billmac]

Originally Posted by Bull Durham

Wow, wait a minute.

BillMac, what are you saying "(Several years ago, I was stunned to read on this forum that having my rear running boards down without a passenger somehow meant something)"

I must be in the dark, as you were. I'm inferring by your statement that leaving the riders foot pegs down, means I'm from California or something?

Who comes up with this stuff? I must be out of the loop, never heard anything about that.

I remember reading that, having your rear running boards down was somehow paying respects to a fallen rider. I had never heard of it, so my wife and I discussed the post. I told her that I was not going to worry about those rear running boards and who notices them anyway.

Maybe some other riders have heard of the supposed tradition or remember the discussion. I tried to run a search without any luck.

Now if I see macmac with rear running boards down and no rider, I will know.