• Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to register so that you can join the community and use the numerous features on the site. After registering, don't forget to post up an introduction!

Passing protocol for slower group riders on two lane

Forums New posts
B

Buellboy

0
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
1,240
Reaction score
2
Location
Moontgomery, Tx
First Name
Scott
Last Name
Craig
This morning on my ride through the Forrest I encountered
multiple groups of HD riders on a curvy two lane (FM149).
The smaller groups (10 or less) are easy to pass, the larger
groups (20 or more) seem to be at least 10mph less than
the posted speed limit (55mph) and almost impossible to
pass without breaking "into their group" which appears to
upset them greatly. Anyone have an idea that does not
require a sport bike rider to become "part of their parade"?
These groups do not seem concerned that they are blocking
the normal flow of traffic on these curvy 2 lane roads for miles.
 
Slice em and Dice em has always worked for me:trust:

I hate to dive into them but its a double edged sword, I respect their desire to cruise and smell the roses, but they should in turn respect my desire to run the speed limit .

I have little respect for people who try to enforce their idea of how we should proceed on public roads, the exception is of course those paid to do so with badges and flashing lights
 
Well, that is what I did but it did not seem appreciated by
the riders in the the group, especially the group leader who
held his position next to the yellow line requiring me to go
into the oncoming lane to pass him when moving to the
middle or right of his lane would be safer for everyone.
It is as if they are "The keepers of the Speed" or "King of the
Road". Their lane positioning seems "passively aggressive".
 
Last edited:
budzrex said:
Slice em and Dice em has always worked for me:trust:
Click to expand...

I've always treated them like rolling orange cones. Slalom anyone?? :rider:

Actually, I tend to wait a minute or two hoping that most of them see me at the back before I try to pass(It's very, very rare but sometimes I've had groups wave me past). Hesitating also gives me a chance to see which riders are the most erratic. Rocketing up beside someone in their lane when they're having trouble just riding can have bad results. Make it quick and move on.

And keep in mind that if you stop at the next gas station they might catch up also and want to "talk" about your aggressive passing.
 
Been there with two different groups. One in Colorado east of Cloudcroft and one south of Alpine TX heading into Big Bend. In both cases the lead riders in the parade objected to me passing the bunch by opening their throttles and challenging me on the straight where I was passing. I had the dashed line in my favor, and was proceeding legally right up until they opened their big V-twins up and made lots of noise. Then I downshifted twice and acquired a head of steam that might not have exactly been legal. Immature on my part??? Yup. In Colorado I was on my FJR1300, so I was briefly "twice as legal". the Big Bend encounter was on a Verses 650, but the result was the same. the 60 horse twin was more than a match for whatever the big V-twins had. I made my pass and proceeded to carve the curves at my pace and really didn't see much of the pack after that.

The morning after the Big Bend incident I was at Kathy's having breakfast and a group of vest clad folks were talking about the big Beemer that dusted them the day before. I realized they were talking about my 650 Kawi, but since I was in the Jeep I just left them to their tall tales. Funny how a Verses 650 morphs into a Beemer 1200 when the 1500cc plus crowd feels insulted or shown up.
 
We're dualsporting yesterday. We met at the Ranger station and I mentioned how many Harley groups were coming by. Was there some kind of benefit? there was way more than normal. Funny, where we ride I don't have to deal with them. But I'm sure it's very irritating. I guess it's the male hormones but not sure why they seem to "own" the road in their mind.
 
I hate large groups of slow rolling pirates.

I'll hang back a while, like dutchinterceptor mentioned.

But I can only take so much. I will slice & dice them if I have to, I'm not part of their loud *** parade.

Anyone on a modern fuel injected bike should be able to pass / outrun them easy.

I just don't get the whole pirate / cruiser "lifestyle". But as long as they ain't in my way for long, I don't care.
 
My KTM loves passing groups but it's kinda sad when you have to do it in the truck . SEYA
 
I don't need to wear a monkey suit to prove I am a man , nor does anyone else. They are type casting themselves & proud of it. And YES they do think they own the road , that's why they ride Road Kings. I follow slowly until I've had enough & then I go around them , I am on a XR-650L & they freak when a Thumper passes by them. Its funny, but its not funny because you don't know which line they are going to take/stay on , This is the double edge part of the sword. Be CAREFUL because they don't like you if your not on a Charlie-Ferguson motorcycle. I used to own one, that's how I know - MR :pirate:
 
I don't know why groups cant run the posted speed limit or stay within 5-10mph of it either direction. If you cant keep proper spacing, and run the speed limit, and ride the roads, you shouldn't be in a group ride. You need to ride more and gain more experience, being a slow or wobbly in a group is dangerous for everyone.
 
Buellboy said:
Well, that is what I did but it did not seem appreciated by
the riders in the the group, especially the group leader who
held his position next to the yellow line requiring me to go
into the oncoming lane to pass him when moving to the
middle or right of his lane would be safer for everyone.
It is as if they are "The keepers of the Speed" or "King of the
Road". Their lane positioning seems "passively aggressive".
Click to expand...

So your saying you pass folks in the same lane? Not smart, not safe for either of the bikes. I don't even pass bicycles in the same lane.
 
If they have a police escort they they are a group.

If there is no escort then they are just a bunch of individuals in the same place - passing them as individuals (I assume that's the 'slice and dice') is fine.

As a courtesy to fellow motorists, I will give them the chance to single-file right and then I will pass on the left - all safe, all courteous, all civil.

Otherwise, passing as available is appropriate.
 
I try not to make judgments, just as I prefer others don't put labels on me because I'm faster or slower, or on more or fewer wheels than they are. I get among the big groups occasionally. Sometimes it's hard to drop into the pack, but I take that less as deliberate blocking, and more as just not really being situation-aware.

Last month, KP & I did our share of passing, including having to pass a Harley club of about 20 riders on Coal Bank Pass between Durango & Silverton. This was particularly troublesome because the slowest riders were clearly scared out of their wits; the last thing we wanted to do was ambush them, scare them, or tick them off. Once the leader was aware, he waved his people over & helped us quickly by.

My technique for these things - I flash my lights, move over & give them just as much clearance as I would a car, and I wave a lot. In general, most wave back and are even helpful as long as I try to use "riding posture", so to speak, to indicate that I'm a friendly.

Besides, sometimes the shoe is on the other foot. As KP & I were coming down Molas Pass into Silverton, a group of sport tourers moved up on us & I was suddenly the unwilling leader. I crowded the right and gave them very opportunity to get by, but I guess they were content to let me set the pace. On the edge of Silverton, we pulled into the gas station and let them clear us.
 
I am amused at how quickly this turned into a bashfest.
 
Personally I will hang back and wait to see if they notice me, or hopefully are turning off at the next turn. After a minute or two of waiting I will slowly make my way around them little bits at a time. I will never pass in the same lane or pull in next to a rider. Basically I will treat them just as I would a car on the roadway. I am entitled to the full lane to use as I see fit, and so are they.
 
DFW_Warrior said:
Personally I will hang back and wait to see if they notice me, or hopefully are turning off at the next turn. After a minute or two of waiting I will slowly make my way around them little bits at a time. I will never pass in the same lane or pull in next to a rider. Basically I will treat them just as I would a car on the roadway. I am entitled to the full lane to use as I see fit, and so are they.
Click to expand...

Well said, Warrior. :clap:
 
I was also headed north on FM149 yesterday morning (in my truck) and was stuck behind a group of 4 for several miles. 40 to bursts of 50 mph. A sport rider passed all of us and he received the one finger wave. I didn't look back when I passed them to see if I got the same.
About 30 minutes later I saw another big bike in the ditch just past the Union Grove Church, 3rd one in 2 weeks! Maybe I should buy a tow truck. RH
 
Buellboy said:
Well, that is what I did but it did not seem appreciated by
the riders in the the group, especially the group leader who
held his position next to the yellow line requiring me to go
into the oncoming lane to pass him when moving to the
middle or right of his lane would be safer for everyone.
It is as if they are "The keepers of the Speed" or "King of the
Road". Their lane positioning seems "passively aggressive".
Click to expand...

You expected otherwise? Please don't pass me in my lane.
 
I missed that part about the yellow line on my first read through and agree with the responders. While passing whether it is one or fifteen other bikes I would not try to do it in the same lane. Even if they are all the way right I will be passing left of the center line or I will be tucked in behind awaiting a safe passing zone.
 
Last time I passed a wagon train I tried to pass the whole group rather than trying to fit in. But, to finish the complete pass I was up to over 100 mph in order to get back into my lane before the double yellow for a hill. I was not happy with that so next time I will watch for a gap in the train and then with my blinker on for passing, I will merge into the group at the best gap. Then finish when safe.
 
Rick, I got myself caught in a similar situation on 281 last year. I was passing a group of HDs. They were in close stagger formation and, when I needed to get in, I realized there really wasn't any place for me to go without getting a bit pushy. The guy I was moving by noticed, like I did, that I needed space; he tapped his horn, throttled down just slightly, and waved me in front of him.

I kick myself for situations like that. Normally, my goal is to move through traffic smoothly and not leave somebody ticked at me and possibly taking it out on the next rider who goes by. That goes for whether I'm running among cars, 18-wheelers, or other bikes.
 
You should treat every vehicle - bike, car, truck or rig - the same. Pass in the opposing lane. Treat groups of bikes just like you would any long vehicle. Wait for your space, then go.

That's what I do, anyway. Regardless of how many miles I have to wait. Sometimes it just sucks.
 
If the pack speeds up after I start my pass, that I had plenty of room to do, I will drop in if needed and I've noticed the sidecar gets me noticed. I try not to have to do this. If I see others wanting to go faster, I will take the shoulder, as that is the way I was taught by other drivers in this state, even if you don't see it as much now days.
 
Not to open another can of worms, but technically, are these packs legal? or do leo's just look the other way. Besides impeding traffic, there is not enough gap between riders, as in tailgating. Just asking.
 
From a legal standpoint, passing more than one vehicle at a time is illegal. From a realistic standpoint, I try not to surprise anyone and make the pass in the safest manner possible. Most of the time everyone cooperates and waves me through. The methods vary with the circumstances, but I really don't care if someone gets their feelings hurt in the process.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top