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Passing Etiquette

It was taught to me in the basic MSF course. I think it was to not ride in groups larger than 6 and to be cognizant of traffic. That, along with hand signals.

Additionally, though I guess it varies state by state, you are supposed to pull over in a turnout if you are holding up traffic.
 
I had this situation with a twist on a recent solo ride from Las Vegas to SoCal. Just past Baker I came upon a group of 30 or so Harley riders taking both lanes of I-15. I had been riding at 85-90 mph and came on them pretty quickly --- then I noticed the Bandido MC patches with Rockers. No way was I going to "pick them off one by one" and they were taking both lanes riding 2 and 3 abreast in each lane. I tucked in a good 30-40 yards back figuring I was there until they decided to exit, perhaps at Barstow. Within a couple of miles one of the rear echelon riders noticed me and waved me up signaling to pass on his left. Six to eight rows of pretty scary looking dudes signaled me on past as friendly as could be and waved as I went by. They may (do) have a bad rep, but for whatever reason (they respect a BMW?) they treated me right.
 
^ this is the caution I've been advised of around here (Central NE) due to several different affiliated clubs. There was a letter to the editor in the ON a few months back where some HOG members came to a BMW club meeting to remind the BMW riders that the entirety of the ride group was somehow sovereign blah blah blah.

Good call on observing the patches and waiting for the invitation.:lurk
 
There is no such thing as a large group of bikes that will not yield, at that point they are a caravan or bus, so treat them as such.
 
Am I the only one that thinks motorcycles are just another vehicle when it comes to passing?

What do you do when you come up on a line of cars? Should be the same except I DO try to get the riders attention by flashing them to let them know I intend to pass.

One at a time or ten at a time - depends on the situation.
 
SteveAikens said:
Am I the only one that thinks motorcycles are just another vehicle when it comes to passing?
Click to expand...

No, I look at it this way.

However, this morning on the way to work at 0500, on 83 south in Baltimore, I got buzzed on the right by some kind of Ducati. Didn't even know he was there until I Heard the low roar of the Duc's motor. (If you are on this forum and reading this...F@#K You! :thumb)

This guy came out of nowhere and scared the crap out of me. Certainly this is not proper passing etiquette, and would have been as annoying if it were a car. Maybe.
 
Hexkopf said:
However, this morning on the way to work at 0500, on 83 south in Baltimore, I got buzzed on the right by some kind of Ducati. Didn't even know he was there until I Heard the low roar of the Duc's motor. (If you are on this forum and reading this...F@#K You! :thumb)

This guy came out of nowhere and scared the crap out of me. Certainly this is not proper passing etiquette, and would have been as annoying if it were a car. Maybe.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you weren't doing this, being a good BMW rider and all. But every day I see cages "parked" in the left lane with no one in the lane to their right on I-270 (3+ lanes each direction). As I'm approaching from behind, I flash the lights to let them know I want to pass... and nothing. Some folks are oblivious, but I can tell many simply feel entitled to use the left lane all the way, apparently unaware that it is against the law in Missouri and most states to stay there when others want to pass. I try to be polite, but I admit to buzzing around them on the right on occasion. If I scare the crap out of anyone doing that, good. Maybe they will wise up.
 
First I get their attention with a flash of the lights, then I blast past the whole group, if possible, with a friendly wave.
 
Some states have a Slower traffic stay right signage that some take to mean if I am doing the posted speed no one should be faster than me and I'll ride the left lane. :banghead

Others have a Left Lane for Passing only
That one seems clearer:thumb
 
MarkM said:
I'm sure you weren't doing this, being a good BMW rider and all. But every day I see cages "parked" in the left lane with no one in the lane to their right on I-270 (3+ lanes each direction). As I'm approaching from behind, I flash the lights to let them know I want to pass... and nothing. Some folks are oblivious, but I can tell many simply feel entitled to use the left lane all the way, apparently unaware that it is against the law in Missouri and most states to stay there when others want to pass. I try to be polite, but I admit to buzzing around them on the right on occasion. If I scare the crap out of anyone doing that, good. Maybe they will wise up.
Click to expand...

I was in the middle lane about to get over to the right for my exit. Also it was 5 a.m. so I wasn't all the way awake. I will buzz a cager hogging up the left lane on occasion, so I know what you mean. This guy on the Duc was riding "el culo grande" was my point.

As you pointed out, I am a good BMW rider and would never hog the left lane.
 
I was always under the believe that you can pass on the right if it is a divided highway. And now that the right lane is the only lane open I can make some time over there. I have noticed it can scare the scat out of the distracted drivers, more so when they get buzzed by my 2500 Ram crew cab. From the land of Mass. holes
 
I recently had a visitor from Holland here for 2 weeks. She commented on how many people just toodle along in the left lane, wouldn't move, and forced me to pass on the right. This bothered her a lot, and, me too.

It's one thing to be clueless, which is bad, but another to not move because you are obstinate. The left lane is for faster traffic. If that's not you, move.

And, I treat my motorcycle passing differently than a car. My motorcycles can pass far, FAR more quickly than my Subaru Outback can. Passing is a completely different event with a bike than a car.
 
RoboRider said:
I recently had a visitor from Holland here for 2 weeks. She commented on how many people just toodle along in the left lane, wouldn't move, and forced me to pass on the right. This bothered her a lot, and, me too.

It's one thing to be clueless, which is bad, but another to not move because you are obstinate. The left lane is for faster traffic. If that's not you, move.

And, I treat my motorcycle passing differently than a car. My motorcycles can pass far, FAR more quickly than my Subaru Outback can. Passing is a completely different event with a bike than a car.
Click to expand...

I always thought Subaru should make a Hemi.
 
20774 said:
What's the proper thing to do in this situation?
Click to expand...

The proper thing to do was for those bozos to spread out so that other traffic can pass.

I've come across clowns like that and I was amazed how upset they got.


20774 said:
I got no indication from tail-end-Charlie to pass...not sure if he could see me anyway...
Click to expand...

And neither do you have to. Its not a parade where they are riding in formation.


Now, can we start a thread titled, "stay out of the passing lane unless you are passing etiquette"? What a difficult concept that is for many to understand...at least on this continent.
 
Hexkopf said:
This guy came out of nowhere and scared the crap out of me.
Click to expand...

Somewhere on a Ducati thread I can envision a guy complaining about some half-awake dude on a BMW who almost changed lanes into him without bothering to check his mirrors.

If there's 3 lanes or more and someone is not "keeping right except to pass" I will indeed pass on the right.

On the topic of slow groups of Made-In-The-USA bikes:

Twice this year I have been passing Harleys on the Blue Ridge Parkway who were doing 10 or even 20 UNDER the limit (and the limit's only 45 to begin with) when the lead bike pinned his throttle in a last-second effort to prevent me from completing my pass. Three bikes the first time and four the second time (passed as a group each time).

What the Hell is THAT all about? I mean, I just laughed and rolled on more throttle to blow by them but what thought process makes someone going 25 or 30 in a 45 suddenly try and stop someone from passing?
 
JoeyBones said:
............... but what thought process makes someone going 25 or 30 in a 45 suddenly try and stop someone from passing?
Click to expand...


The small genitalia syndrome. When my wife passes this type, she yells "sorry about your pe..is"
 
When I took my drivers test for my drivers license they were more concerned with parallel parking than anything else.

I think a lot of it is a lack of driver training
 
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