Motorcycle Etiquette....

[YSWMN]

I need a little input here. I was stopped at a Chevron station to fill up and get a quick bite to eat. I was standing at the window watching my bike and all of the folks looking, pointing and taking pictures. Then a family pulls up and starts taking pictures and one of the young ladies gets out of the car and gets on my bike while someone was taking pictures of her. Yikes! :yikes: I went out and asked her to please get off my bike. I said it wasn't a very good idea to get on someones bike without asking permission. She got off saying she just wanted one picture.

I was always taught never to touch anyone's motorcycle without permission. And I have told people it's okay to sit on my bike after they have asked in some situations. The Spyder is an easy motorcycle to get on since it's not on a kick stand and won't fall over. Very tempting. I don't want to leave my helmet on the seat - I don't want it to fall off or someone take it.

Any suggestions of how to stop folks from getting on my Spyder? Or am I just being too uptight?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Liz

 

[ataDude]

Very politely, go sit in their car and ask to have a picture taken. :dontknow:

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I need a little input here. I was stopped at a Chevron station to fill up and get a quick bite to eat. I was standing at the window watching my bike and all of the folks looking, pointing and taking pictures. Then a family pulls up and starts taking pictures and one of the young ladies gets out of the car and gets on my bike while someone was taking pictures of her. Yikes! :yikes: I went out and asked her to please get off my bike. I said it wasn't a very good idea to get on someones bike without asking permission. She got off saying she just wanted one picture.

I was always taught never to touch anyone's motorcycle without permission. And I have told people it's okay to sit on my bike after they have asked in some situations. The Spyder is an easy motorcycle to get on since it's not on a kick stand and won't fall over. Very tempting. I don't want to leave my helmet on the seat - I don't want it to fall off or someone take it.

Any suggestions of how to stop folks from getting on my Spyder? Or am I just being too uptight?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Liz

 

[retread]

To my way of thinking, the etiquette for bikes parallels the etiquette for any other vehicle, you don't TOUCH without asking. I've had too many problems with people playing with my toys to be patient about it. Playing, scratching, breaking all costs me money, if I don't get asked, it's vandalism. They don't want us in their cars uninvited, why should our rydes be any different?

 

[YSWMN]

Very politely, go sit in their car and ask to have a picture taken. :dontknow:

.

Actually, I thought of that, but they left too quickly.

 

[jimcrom]

After I got my Spyder, I noticed a scratch on the tank that I could not figure out how it got there since I was very careful when I got on and off it. Then one of the guys who works with me mentioned that he noticed a bunch of people sitting on it getting their picture taken. That explained it. GRRR. I told everyone else who works with me unless she is wearing a bikini no one else should be sitting on my Spyder. On the other end of the spectrum I have all sorts of people ask if they can take pictures of it and I said no problem taking a picture.

 

[sleepman]

I probably wouldn't have been polite when I asked them to get off the Spyder. Even my best friends ask before they've sat on it. Went to a bike nite last weekend and had a fellow walk up to me introduce himself and ask if his wife could sit on it. I told him that would be fine and proceeded to answer questions for them why she sat on the :spyder:. Now if someone had just sat on it, that would have been a different story.

 

[shunkmanitu]

Keep OFF?

I need to order the CoolAss seat cover so been thinking maybe they should carry a warning about such transgressions. Maybe it could be done with a marker and lettering guide. Maybe just sewing on a NRA "Armed Citizen" patch on the parking cover might work.

Years ago when I was younger, tougher, and much more agile I ask a family to remove their spawn (boy and girl) from my bike seat. The gentelman explained that they only wanted a photo so I jumped onto the hood of his Ford and told him to "Photograph this". I got down as he was yelling and mentioned his camera and one of his dark places so they grabbed their kids and left.

 

[baldev]

Maaaaaaaaan Shunky that's nasty but I can understand.

 

[spydeebike]

Take a chill pill guys, its not like they took it for a spin, the spyder if its 1 thing! that is it is an ATTENTION GETTER so the response to that is normal. if we had lamborghinis we would be feeling the same. I fyou cant handle that type of attn, get a 10 speed......................just some constructive criticism not trying to offend anyone

 

[Greg H.]

Certainly not really logical when you happen into a quick shop for a couple of minutes ... But, the outside cover is an option when you park your Spyder for longer periods. :thumbup:

 

[Magic Man]

You are 100% right to be upset! That's just being "stupid" to touch another persons anything without asking!

I have come to blows with such stupid people in the past! Let's just say it was all bad for them from that point on!

I have also seen people almost get shot at the big rallies for such things. :shocked:

Stupidity is free! That's why there is so much of it going around! :dontknow:

People say "Oh it's free to be stupid, than give we a whold bunch if it's for free! That way I can be real stupid!'

That's why when people do stupid things to me, I make sure they "pay for it" one way or another!

Than next time they'll remember just how much "being stupid" really costs! :thumbup:

MM

 

[kentompkins]

Don't want to sound like a lawyer (I'm not one) but I've wondered about MY responsibility when someone does this.

Consider this scenario: Someone gets on your bike when you are not nearby for a picture and as she gets off, she misplaces her foot and scratches her leg on the foot peg. She needs six stitches. Am I, the owner of the bike, in ANY way negligent??

I left the bike unattended (it's not as if I can lock it like a car), I didn't put a sign on it saying "Stay Off", I didn't "fix" the foot peg so it doesn't scratch anyone, etc. etc.

There are more than just personal and property issues on why someone shouldn't be on your bike. As I said, I don't know the law on this but I do know that it's MADE for a sharp lawyer.

Wondering.....

ken tompkins

 

[YSWMN]

Certainly not really logical when you happen into a quick shop for a couple of minutes ... But, the outside cover is an option when you park your Spyder for longer periods. :thumbup:

That I do when staying the night at a hotel or out of town at a friends home. Thanks!

 

[YSWMN]

Take a chill pill guys, its not like they took it for a spin, the spyder if its 1 thing! that is it is an ATTENTION GETTER so the response to that is normal. if we had lamborghinis we would be feeling the same. I fyou cant handle that type of attn, get a 10 speed......................just some constructive criticism not trying to offend anyone

No offense taken. I certainly don't mind the picture taking, asking/answering questions, pointing, asking if someone can sit on it and how about the folks who talk to you when you're driving (ie. "What the hell's that thing?) while in a corner. Been there done that. I know the Spyder get's attention. But I still feel it's just not right for someone to just get on without asking first.

 

[YSWMN]

Don't want to sound like a lawyer (I'm not one) but I've wondered about MY responsibility when someone does this.

Consider this scenario: Someone gets on your bike when you are not nearby for a picture and as she gets off, she misplaces her foot and scratches her leg on the foot peg. She needs six stitches. Am I, the owner of the bike, in ANY way negligent??

I left the bike unattended (it's not as if I can lock it like a car), I didn't put a sign on it saying "Stay Off", I didn't "fix" the foot peg so it doesn't scratch anyone, etc. etc.

There are more than just personal and property issues on why someone shouldn't be on your bike. As I said, I don't know the law on this but I do know that it's MADE for a sharp lawyer.

Wondering.....

ken tompkins

Wow! Hadn't even thought of that. I simply looked at it as a boundary/etiquette issue. Hmmmm....

 

[sleepman]

Take a chill pill guys, its not like they took it for a spin, the spyder if its 1 thing! that is it is an ATTENTION GETTER so the response to that is normal. if we had lamborghinis we would be feeling the same. I fyou cant handle that type of attn, get a 10 speed......................just some constructive criticism not trying to offend anyone

If you're fine with other people putting their hands on your stuff than so be it, but anyone has the right to get upset if someone is sitting on their Spyder. It's the same as coming out of a store and finding someone sitting in your car or how bout you came home from work one day and found someone sitting in your house. Would you be made or just think it's okay cause you have a cool couch and it's alright for folks to check it out.

 

[gregc]

I AGREE

I agree, ask first before you touch. I had one guy grab my rear passengers handle and shake my spyder to so call test the suspension. I have to be honest its nice to have something really different, but no matter where you venture someone always bugs you. It was a good feeling at first, but now I find myself avoiding parking near entrances of stores,getting fuel at 6am instead of prime time. One guy even said why would you buy such a thing, my reply was nothing. I fired up the Micron and fled the scene. Hopefully the market will soon be saturated with spyders so we can ride unnoticed.

 

[boogllasti]

There will always be stupid people that do stupid things. I wouldn't THINK of touching someones bike or car without asking.

I go to quite a few car shows as a spectator - and I'll call people out when I see them doing stupid things.

When I look at cars and bikes - a few simple rules.

Keys in your pocket - they can scratch or be dropped easily if you lean over.

Hands OFF! Actually behind your back isn't a bad idea.


In the case of the parked Spyder - I would have either called them out and said - HEY - get off my bike! or maybe hung back and acted like it wasn't mine and then asked if they had gotten permission from the really badazz looking biker dude I saw pull up on it!

 

[YSWMN]

There will always be stupid people that do stupid things. I wouldn't THINK of touching someones bike or car without asking.

I go to quite a few car shows as a spectator - and I'll call people out when I see them doing stupid things.

When I look at cars and bikes - a few simple rules.

Keys in your pocket - they can scratch or be dropped easily if you lean over.

Hands OFF! Actually behind your back isn't a bad idea.


In the case of the parked Spyder - I would have either called them out and said - HEY - get off my bike! or maybe hung back and acted like it wasn't mine and then asked if they had gotten permission from the really badazz looking biker dude I saw pull up on it!

Good one! Thanks...

 

[shunkmanitu]

They can be a hazzard.

A lady in my previous life (before divorce and remarriage) showed the neighbors a new side on the day she got off the wrong side of the bike and laid a bare calf aginst the chrome pipe. I watched a HD rider snatch up a four year old that was just inches from his dual drag pipes still glowing from a fast trip to the Tom Thumb. Momma was all upset until she figured out what the little turd machine was about to do to its self.

At least the Spyder can't bite like a two wheeler falling over on a kid, or even a stupid adult. Lucky now I have mellowed much from my younger years but I would still be tempted to use daddy's shirt if some kid got foot prints or sticky fingers on Iktome.

I no longer have to worry much about strangers trying to feel my full dark locks of hair or kids grabbing my leather wrapped braids but every once in a while someone will make a grab for my Sacred Pouch (Medicine Bag)! You back away a couple of times but a thumb and forefinger with a little pinch and twist to their hand will stop them on a third try. So far I have never had to take anyone to their knees.

It is NOT just a matter of chillin' out, in this day and age there is just no reason for someone to take such liberties with person or property. Not all dangerous people look like the surplus anti-terriorist handgun targets I use. Many look just like the family next door, it is not uncommon for crooks to use kids to distract while doing a crime.