How likely are Gang encounters on the road?

[CassND]

Wife and I are looking at 2 2024 RTL’s. I have ridden some and wife has not. We’re in our 60’s.

We live a pretty sheltered life in ND and are wondering if we would ever come across a group of hells angels or something like them... Do they bother 2 riders that would not be in their group, or will they just ignore us?

I assume road-ragers would be more of an issue?

Our plan would be to turn off if possible and continue our adventure.

Obviously not concerned in ND but, we would like to eventually do some exploring in other States.

Thank you

 

[Paddy4810]

Have never had any issues with anything like you mentioned. Even in Sturgis during the rally. I usually ride with a wide variety of bikes. A Harley, a Indian, and a Kawasaki. Only time we had problems was in Browning Montana with the drunk local residents.
Paddy

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome:

A very interesting question.

I have been riding motorcycles since 1965. Also owned seven Spyders since 2008. See signature line.

Spouse and I have over 200,000 miles just on Spyders. We have never had a hostile encounter with a "motorcycle gang" on the road. They are usually into their formation and noise thing. Just let them go by, they don't usually mess with or try to intimidate the general public. That impression came from some of the 1950's B grade motorcycle movies. Never seen it in real life.

We did encounter an actual Hell's Angels group in Alaska. They had a large group in the Anchorage area. We were on one of our rides. Stopped in to one of our favorite lunch places. We did notice the 10 or so HD's parked in the lot. We were on our Spyders that day. Walked into the restaurant, and sitting at the bar, there was a dozen or so Hells Angels dressed spiffily in their colors and leathers. They of course gave us the once over.

We acknowledged them and took one of our usual tables. While there, a couple of the Angels went out to the parking lot to check our Spyders out. That was back in the days when Spyders were new to the general public and very new to Alaska. We got the first ones sold to customers in Alaska. The dealer promptly snarfed the first two for him and his spouse. We ended up having a kind of a contest with each other as to who would have the spiffiest Spyders. The dealer won. He put the Corbin saddle bags on as well as custom paint jobs for both his Spyders. We opted for the Givi bags and no paint jobs. On that one, it was all about the money.

Back to the HA gang story: After checking the bikes out, they came back in, gave us a nod, and we both continued on with our business.

Bottom line, I would say ride more, and worry less. And...we have driven in North Dakota. :yes:

 

[BajaRon]

It's no more of an issue on a motorcycle than it is in a car. Stay away from bad parts of town in a big city as most would do anyway and you'll be fine.

The only time I felt a bit nervous on a motorcycle is when I turned off the freeway in New Jersey to get gas. There was no easy way to get back to the freeway. I made a few wrong turns and ended up on surface streets where there were stripped cars sitting up on cinder blocks along the roadway and several porches full of grown men in tightly packed, run down housing in the middle of the work day. I was definitely the center of attention as I rode by and felt that if I were to break down, I'd be happy to get out with my life. Pure speculation and self inflicted, of course. But a genuine, heart felt assessment at the time.

Other than this. After thousands of miles from one end of this country to the other. Zero issues.

Just another 'Ride More - Worry Less' moment.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I would not be concerned about " motorcycle gangs " ...... Just ordinary criminals, today more than ever you need to be aware of where you are. Some area's are relatively safe and other's arn't. JMHO .....Mike :thumbup:

 

[JayBros]

BlueKnight is right in the bulls-eye. You should be much more worried about drunk and distracted drivers.

 

[slhanks004]

No, they aren't going to hassle you. They don't care as long you're not wearing a 3 piece patch. They leave us regular folks alone, and for the most part they are okay people. The biggest threat is drivers on their cell phones.

 

[Lew L]

.

There are many more things on the road that deserve your concern. Pot holes, lumber, deer, distracted drivers, poor drivers, etc. Patched bikers are much more concerned about themselves than you and your wife putting about on your Spyder.
Lew L

 

[RayBJ]

I've been riding since 1963 and have traversed the USA a couple times. All told, ~250k miles and have never had an encounter with 'gangs' or or threats (beyond the obvious morons that sit in cages and read texts).

I live in NJ and know not to travel thru certain cities.

 

[VitoNam]

* Why start off buying TWO RT's?

* I suggest buying ONE RT, learn the machine riding SOLO then graduate to riding TWO UP.

* IF that doesn't work for you, then purchase a second RT.

* ONE RT though, will be able to move the TWO of you comfortably for long distances.

 

[2dogs]

Do Not antagonize, I've seen it happen and the response is generally twofold. Stay to yourselves be courteous and polite and you will pretty much go unnoticed. If you're in distress, broken down, or need help, they may stop and assist. All bikers, in-law out-law big or small, grubby or clean all have a common thread that runs through us all however, if you see several groups coming together wearing different colors (3 patches), your best option is to vacate the area post haste.

 

[pegasus1300]

I've been riding since 1964 and put hundreds of thousands of miles on 2 wheels and I don't think I ever encountered any outlaw groups on the road. I have met a few at the gas pump but I am just kind and polite to them as I would be to anybody else. I don't go to bars and lead a pretty quiet life, if you are somewhat the same, I doubt you will encounter any.

 

[CassND]

All great responses. Thank you everyone. I used to drive semi truck over the road and never even saw any of those types but, you have put me at ease.

Thank you again !!!

 

[Two2Three]

Never a bad encounter in 25 years. Only good, really. I lived in Dallas a long time and interacted with one of the 1% support clubs quite a bit because they went to the same biker bar I liked. Always super friendly. Give respect, get respect. Once when I had a mechanical problem on the highway, a couple 1%'ers even stopped and helped me out. By and large they're all decent people just doing their thing. There are always exceptions, but if you don't disrespect them, you're fine. i.e., if they blow past and don't wave, don't flip them off. LOL

Seriously, they don't want to cause trouble because it will just bring heat down on their club.

 

[RapidSpyder]

Young Women on cellphones are my biggest worry on the road.

 

[CassND]

Young Women on cellphones are my biggest worry on the road.

I drive locally now, trucking grain. I can glance over and see into their cars when they pass me on the interstate. It’s surprising how many people have a phone in their hand. Not just young women, it’s both men and women; young and old.

 

[TroubledJuan]

After traveling the last 30yrs on two wheels, (Goldwing's) solo, 48 states, and most of Canada, I have to say I have never been bothered by any motorcycle group.
I think the scariest thing I ever encountered was in Texarkana AR, where my cheapness got in the way of common sense, and I ended up in a motel where they were running girls and drugs all night...

 

[RiderDuke]

I would be more worried about staying in a Hotel/Motel or getting gas in a bad part of town then meeting a 1%'er on the road... I'm not affiliated with any MC group, and I don't wear a vest with a "back patch", so that keeps me under their radar...

 

[fatboy]

i would take the spyder riding class both of you

 

[Gwolf]

Don't wear a 3 piece patch and they will not even see you. They will often stop to offer help if you break down, or offer to bring you parts or help you get your bike towed to a dealer. Rode with plenty of them in charity events, and Christmas toy rides. None I ever met are anything like the Hollywood Biker Movie version. You have nothing to worry about from motorcycle clubs.

Worry about what is dangerous, like people on cell phones, mattresses tied to the top of cars, and rubber alligators coming out from under the 18 wheeler in front of you.