Spyders passing HDs

[RayBJ]

On two separate occasions I have had HD riders attempt to block me from passing with the Spyder. The rest of my group was on 2 wheels and passed without incident. I typically sweep and the 1st time this happened was when going around 2 HDs out to smell the roses. After the others passed, the 2nd HD attempted to stop my pass by pulling into the oncoming lane. I had to wait a few moments to get the A-hole in a curve. The 2nd incident was on a 4 lane highway. Again passing 6 HDs in no rush. As I passed, the lead HD decided to speed up and try to keep up with our pace. He couldn't but caught up to us at a light and was waving his arms at me like I just killed his dog. Couldn't hear his rant (earplugs are your friend) and just rode off on the green light.

Has anyone had similar incidents or am I the only lucky one?

[ARtraveler]

So far, I think you are the "lucky" one.

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Mostly pickup trucks do this where we ride. Not sure what the big deal is about being passed.

Personally, I don't like holding up faster riders on my butt (whether I am in my car, truck or Spyder) so I quickly pull to the side of my lane as soon as I see them in my mirrors.

I had a guy on a BMW S1000RR with a pillion come up on me one time on the dragon and I slowed down and waved him by but I dropped in behind him to see if I could match his pace - nope.

[missouriboy]

In my 136+K Spyder myles I've passed numerous Harleys, but I don't recall anyone trying to block me. But one time I was side-by-side with a burly tattooed specimen on a 4-lane suburban 55mph street. At a stoplight I tried to acknowledge him but he ignored me. When he took off in a show of hot thunder, I suppressed my normal takeoff so as to keep my front wheels no farther than his rear wheel. It was an unusually boring, slow takeoff for me, but I didn't want any trouble.

(By "my normal takeoff" I don't mean top performance at all; just normal runup to 6th gear to get back into cruise control so I can rest my arthritic hand. I could have easily been a block ahead of him when I hit 2nd gear if I wanted to.)

[UtahPete]

Oh, yeah. Typical behavior from many H-D riders, in my experience. But it's not just Spyders; they feel honor-bound to best anything but sport bikes.

[FrogmanDave]

We all know some HD riders can be real a**holes! They don't wave back to anything but a Harley. I have owned just about every type of motorcycle there is but never a Harley. Mostly because they are overpriced and underpowered and because of the type of thing you just described. I don't hold anything against Harley's. They are beautiful motorcycles full of American pride! They are just not for me. My personal feeling is 'run what you brung'. Just be happy to associate with anyone on 2 or 3 wheels. It's all good as long as the wind is in your face. Not all Harley guys are like this, but there are a fair amount that are.

[Plarimer]

On two separate occasions I have had HD riders attempt to block me from passing with the Spyder. The rest of my group was on 2 wheels and passed without incident. I typically sweep and the 1st time this happened was when going around 2 HDs out to smell the roses. After the others passed, the 2nd HD attempted to stop my pass by pulling into the oncoming lane. I had to wait a few moments to get the A-hole in a curve. The 2nd incident was on a 4 lane highway. Again passing 6 HDs in no rush. As I passed, the lead HD decided to speed up and try to keep up with our pace. He couldn't but caught up to us at a light and was waving his arms at me like I just killed his dog. Couldn't hear his rant (earplugs are your friend) and just rode off on the green light.

Has anyone had similar incidents or am I the only lucky one?

A lot of Harley riders don’t even wave at each other. Last summer I was on my on my Indian and rode up alongside two Harley riders and waved. One rider gave me the finger. So I just cozied up real close to him and gave a wave of what the Hells up. He gave me the finger again and tried force me over, so I pulled up next to him until he had to ride on the side of the road. I waited for both of them at the next stoplight but they turned right and just kept on going. Very unusual for A Harley rider. About two weeks ago I was riding my spider down to one of the main streets here in Lincoln and I pulled up next to a guy With a do rag and an old beat up white pick up. He looked down at me and just shook his head like it was in discussed, so I pointed out his truck and shook my head in disgust. He decided that it was just best to look straightahead. These are the only two “incidents” that I have had in several years. I find most bikers very friendly and most wave. Sometimes they’ll come up and ask me about my bike and I’ll tell them this is what old Harley riders with one leg ride after their prime. They seemed kind of enjoyed that comment. I think most realize that we’re all on the same boat riding with the wind and out to have a good time.

[Lew L]

.

My poor, old, slow V-Max is still a mystery to some HD owners and the outcome is truly embarrassing for them. The Spyder easily outruns them on the curves. BUT---- I can't recall a 2 wheeler ever attempting to block my path.

Lew L

[redrazor]

I used to get looks and reactions like those when I bought my V-rod way back in 2003! I even smoked the back tire away from them a couple of times! Now, I wave to everyone on (any) 2-wheels, and they most often wave back.

[Knizar]

This thread is going nowhere, going to create hard feelings sooner or later, don't become a "Heavens Devil", Give PEACE a chance!........Bill

[RayBJ]

The thread was about some HD riders trying to prevent the Spyder from passing. It's not about HD bashing. Chill.

I've passed hundreds of bikes on the Spyder and was curious why only HD pilots cause grief. I ride with all brands including HDs with no issues but those 2 events stood out and I was wondering if others had similar incidents.

[CloverHillCrawler]

Couple of months ago going through downtown Frederick on Market Street on the way home from work and not wanting to slow my pace through an already slow one way street (25 mph).

Come up on 2 HD's moving really slow past outdoor diners at the outdoor tables and they are rev bombing the diners.

I move past them at the speed limit (not rev bombing) and this takes them by surprise as they were too busy looking at the diners they were irritating.

I have one of them start chasing me down and trying to scream at me over his overly loud exhaust but I just turn up my sena and drown him out as I kick it up a gear and leave him behind having a full fit.

Never seen someone so upset with me just trying to make my way home.

[Knizar]

The thread was about some HD riders trying to prevent the Spyder from passing. It's not about HD bashing. Chill.

I've passed hundreds of bikes on the Spyder and was curious why only HD pilots cause grief. I ride with all brands including HDs with no issues but those 2 events stood out and I was wondering if others had similar incidents.

That part here "why only HD pilots cause grief", Maybe they dislike NJ or his gal ran off with Spyder Man, but you can not group HD owners as bad guys, There are some very crude & rude other operators out there on every type of bike, trike, car, etc. Sorry, had 2 vent, .....Bill

[Jetfixer]

Sounds like a bad experience with a couple of losers. As for me right now, I find that most HD's are fully winterized and I have the road and parking spaces to myself. I know who they are though. I get the typical HD scowl from their pickup truck windows now!! Just remember, there's a very good reason that HD doesn't make a snowmobile!!

[RICZ]

Must be a New Jersey thing. The left coast may be known for a lot of crazy folks, but so far, I have had nothing but waves, thumbs up and courtesy from HD riders here.

[ARtraveler]

I think the advice given above is very good. The OP talks about some riders on HD trying to block him from passing them on the road.

Now, we seem to be into bashing all that ride HD. How about we don't go there?

Tell about your experiences if you have had them. As I mentioned above, I have never been blocked by another motorcycle, any brand, from passing. This covers 60 years of motorcycling, and many states lived in and traveled through. I have had a couple pickup trucks try to run me off the road though.

I am one to pull over and let the offenders go as far away as possible. I don't want to fuel any road rage with anyone about anything. Someone usually gets hurt or worse in those situations.

[Pirate]

I have now started riding with a pack of club affiliated HD's so I haven't run across that yet...

[RayBJ]

1st incident was in southern Virginia. 2nd was in West Virginia. I've ridden 18 k mi on the Spyder in 43 of the eastern states with only 2 encounters.
Most of the cagers in the NE aren't aggressive, just clueless and don't move over for bikes. Also in National/State Parks.

[PaladinLV]

Never had this happen by any Rider on any bike type. But often had a two-wheeler make room for me to pass or pull-in.
Maybe it's my "vest", maybe it's my Spyder, maybe it's because I've run into bikers that WERE bikers, but have never had a problem with any two or three wheelers.
Now cagers! Well, I could write 55 years' worth of pages on that one!

[ThreeWheels]

I'm with the "never happened to me" group. The worst response I've experienced from any riders is they didn't return a wave.

[Wahrsuul]

Yeah, I can't say I've ever had anyone block me other than clueless/inattentive cagers. We've got one of those "eliteist" HD riders here - refuses to park his bike in the designated motorcycle parking, won't make rooim for anyone else to park in the same spot when the bike parking is full...

When I lived in Daytona, you'd run into all kinds. But for the most part they were all pretty friendly, even to the young kids on the "rice burners".

I've had some here not wave back, but I can never be sure if it's intentional or they didn't see me in time, or...

[Pooch]

Only time we have ever been intentionally blocked on the road was by an older fellow on a bicycle.
There were 3 of us and 4 of the bicycles. It was a narrow country backroad. We slowly approached the group and the first 3 bicyclists moved over to single line to let us pass. The lead bicyclist moved into the center of the road such that we could not pass on either side… and just stayed there. He had on his rearview mirror and all his equipment. But just in case he didn’t hear or see us us our lead man revved his pipes at him after following behind him for a bit.. the guy just stayed in the middle of the road. Finally he thought it was time to let us pass and moved over. We calmly and slowly passed him in case he decided to jerk back over in front of one of us.. As I got next to him I could see him laughing like crazy and even though I had to really fight the urge to stick my tongue out at him I just waved and went on down the road.

[Saluda]

Lately more and more people hate getting passed (car or bike). Don't understand it !

[milryder]

I ride in mostly rural areas on my bicycle when not on the RT and often wave at motorcycle riders and cagers. I think they are surprised and usually wave back. Now some familiar cars in the area wave first and give me plenty of room. Its about showing goodwill to those who've never been on two or three wheels. It seems next time they just care a little more and look out for a fellow traveler. Somehow I've become more human to them. In 6500 mi. on the RT I've encountered few issues and wave whenever possible.

[Scotts8826]

I've never had anything of this scale happen to me in the eight years I've ridden a Spyder. I've had only one HD rider give me a rather negative hand signal when I waved at him, otherwise, a decent number wave and others don't. I've found that if there is a group of HD riders, the front riders are more inclined to NOT wave while those in the rear will.