I'm starting to get the anti-HD vibe

If someone passes me on the 89A, in my lane, in a corner--then if I see them later we will have words. Most likely not nice words either. Think less Ride Reports, more Jo Momma.

Of course, if they do that they are riding at more than double the "suggested" speed anyway. Because barring interference from LE that's my pace. 20mph up to the ton, depending on where I'm at.

Depending on potholes, gravel, etc. I am using the entire lane when going round a corner. Not the entire lane the entire time but parts of it depending where I am in relation to the apex. I don't stay in just one half of the lane unless I've waved somebody by. At that point, the throttle is closed and I'm hugging the fog line as close as I can.

I don't do parades or charity runs. Can't even if I wanted to anyway, they are held on weekends during the day when I am asleep.

Ok so 10x is an exaggeration... unless you take into account the buckets of chrome polish, tassled jackets, HD dog bowls and assorted "accessories" :huh

Following pictures that seem familiar I get 2,700,000 and I bet that's not out the door. What's that, US$35,000 these days?
http://www.harley-davidson.co.jp/lineup/detail.php?model=D140
Yes we do pay a premium (especially on parts!) for non-J bikes...

I'm still riding kiddie bikes - mine cost 800,000 yen to get me on the road. But then, I don't need flashing blue lights and stereo systems to enjoy my rides

There must have been some blue haired oldies ridden them wings.. everybody knows that the goldwing is the motorcycle equvialnt of a motor-home

must be a lot of import duties charged. That bike in the states is 20 to 22 thousand usd

I ride a very HEAVY and WEAK KLR650....there's nothing more frustrating than catching a group of fat/slow bikes that have no consideration. When a faster bike catches me, I'll get the heck out of the way...watch and learn as long as they're in sight.

Really? Not when I was living in Flagstaff. No one would ever pull over on 89 to Sedona. 17 to PHX if you passed someone they'd zip past you and slam on their brakes. That was a few years ago but at that time no traffic ever used pullouts for me.

I noticed that too. Usually I just do the 89A from PV to Jerome over and over--the pavement on the Sedona-Flag leg is really rough. Plus, Flag is too expensive and the traffic is worse than Phoenix.

Odd how the behavior is so different on 2 stretches of the same highway. I do see a lot more rentals and out-of-state plates on the Sedona-Flag leg.

If y'all in AZ let people by at home, you forget how to whenever you cross over the border and drive in CA.

Just one example: a few years back I was motorcycle camping in Yosemite, and did a fair bit of riding in the park. I found that I could predict, with near 100% accuracy, when or whether someone would pull over and let faster traffic pass, simply by where the license plate was from. AZ = never. CA = when about 5 vehicles are stacked up behind. NV = when about 3 vehicles are stacked up behind. Mexico = as soon as they could, even if it was only me behind them.

PhilB

Sorry, I wouldn't know--CA does not approve of my lifestyle choices so it's off limits to me.

Well, I'm very happy to have finally escaped the state myself. But a lot of "zonies" do go there, and apparently forget how to drive in the process. The times I've driven in AZ, the drivers have seemed OK, so I don't know if it's a border thing, or if it's just that all the AZ people who know how to drive go somewhere else for vacation, and CA only gets the bad ones.

PhilB

...or their brains have cooled back off cause they're out of the desert



M

Hey, the guy rides a Ulysses - a Buell Ulysses - an orphan! He has the right to rant on anything he wants since even the maker of his bike dumped it (talking HD, not Erik). Besides, it IS the ADVrider forum, isn't it?




I agree with one post, it's the rider/driver. We had people in WV pull over on the back roads to let us by. One waitress said so many there run ATVs on those back roads they know what it's like to be stuck behind some slow mover, so they are courteous when they are the slow mover. I keep that in mind. Besides, it's not my job to try to "police" those who want to pass me and go faster. It is their choice and they pay the penalties if caught - as I have done before, myself. A couple speeding tickets and one passing on double yellow, none really in any sort of risky situation, but still a violation. Pass me and do 160, I don't care, I'm not your babysitter.

Guys,

If the road blockers are going that slowly, then a DY pass is easy to perform.

I think nothing of doing this and probably do so several times at each outing at nice recreational roads. No, I am not a boy racer trying for real speed. I just wish to ride my own ride but cannot with a bunch of flat landers doing 20 mph on a mild winding road.

Just about all the Harley riders that I have met while on the road for a long trip have been super cool - in fact most of the bikes I see while far from home are Harleys and they nearly fall off their bikes trying to wave.

Now, a completely different breed of Harley rider is the weekend warrior. Most of them are too cool for school for sure. Having lived in the capital city of Wanna-Be's for 10 years I have some experience with this....

One day I was having a blast riding down Hwy 33 north of Ojai (if any of you have ridden this bit, you know how amazing it is). The road was totally clear until I came across a long line of cars and I immediately thought RV at the front. I slowly made my way toward the front and I started to hear the rumble.
About 20 HD riders going (and Im not joking here) about 20 mph.
I was responsible, polite - overly polite I think and waited till a nice long, a legal spot to pass. Just as I pulled out to pass them all i noticed the guy at the back watching me in his mirror. Just as I move to pass him he makes a violent move toward me and essentially tried to take me out. I was just able to flick under him and in not letting him take me out, I almost took out one of the riders in his group.
I passed the entire land-mass of inconsiderate buffoonery in one go - thank god.

I have no idea what would possess someone to try to take out another biker simply because they don't desire the need to move at a glacial pace.


One day I actually got stuck in the perfect storm. This is completely true - I got stuck behind a car following 15 Harleys, stuck behind a cop and a schoolbus!

I can't understand it either but I am pissed off and I have never even seen anything like that. Lucky I guess. Where I live most of the riders usually travel 10-20 kph faster than the speed limit. Although for the big 'poker runs' they usually are slower. None the less, trying to take out another rider seems to be a kamakazi move to me. Crazy.

"Got stuck"?
It's one thing to pass a road hog or 2, but why fight a lost battle? Perfect time to stop for a snack and a drink, maybe snap a few pictures.
If you cant beat them, join them? I've never seen a road that is fun at a brisk pace that isn't also scenic enough to enjoy at a slower pace.

Always a better answer than beating your head against a wall.

agree. I try to travel this way as much as I can. The trip is going to take YOU no matter how hard you try....

unfortunately, it's not always possible.

I've always been baffled by pirates and squids, they turn riding into an act of frustration by trying to maintain a parade formation or fast pace at times and in places that are beyond reason, without consideration for the rest of the world..

A faking men. well said.

yeah my dad always used to say that when we were traveling and it always annoyed me as a kid (as good advice usually does) until the lightbulb goes on and you realize the old man was (always) right.

It's especially true if you've ever been anywhere in Asia.