36654
New member
Well, I've never been a fan of group rides, having seen some boorish behavior by the Pirate types, but a local dealership has been trying to coordinate Sunday morning group and demo rides to spur sales. So, to be supportive and help build group participation, I've tried to attend the rides and meet some of the other riders. But, today will be my last.
I arrived at the meeting site just as the departure started so I took a spot at the back. Pulling out on the 4-lane, divided highway, I was getting queasy with the rolling stop / right-hand turn on red, but the herd was going thru. I prefer to interpret "right on red" as "turning right after stopping" not a yield to oncoming traffic. At the next intersection, it was the classic pirate move......the first few guys make their left hand turn with a green light, then the next several riders assume that they've entered the intersection on a green light, regardless of it being red. Well, today, I decided, I wasn't going to perform a moving violation or risk being a minivan hood ornament, so I stopped at the red light. That was great for me, but the following guy on the HD Electro-Glide didn't see it that way and stopped in a heap after hitting the back of my bike. I felt the bump but wasn't knocked over. In the confusion, while other guys were picking up the fallen HD, I flipped up my face shield and asked the guy where he hit my bike. He said he hit something, but getting out of the intersection was the most important thing at the time. Yes, I had to get the bike in gear (i.e., retracting the kickstand allows the starter to engage) and was a bit shaken and concerned relative to any damage. However, my bike seemed to function normally.
Since the lead group continued, I stayed with the ride until the next stop when I could check the rear of my bike for damage. I dismounted, checked the rear of my bike for damage and then asked the HD rider where he hit my bike. IIRC, he said, "I think my fairing hit your rack". He said nothing more and remained mounted on his bike. There was no expression of regret for hitting my bike or any concern about damage to my bike or me. Once again, the crowd was ready move, so there was no chance to ask for names and insurance information, but none was offered.
At the next stop, I chatted with a fellow rider and noticed that the HD guy zoomed up to talk with the leader of the demo ride. And, later at the same stop was summoned to look at the some malfunctioning warning light on a demo bike. Hmm...it's pretty obvious that the HD rider is somehow connected with this whole demo event. At a subsequent stop, a young Ducati rider, who was functioning as a ride tail/sweep, identified the HD rider as a shop mechanic.
Now, what do you think the chances are that I'll go in that BMW shop for service? Think I'll ever consider their service department to be an asset relative to a vehicle purchase at that dealership?
A few simple words..........."I'm sorry I hit your bike. Let's see if everything is OK" That would have changed the outcome, completely.
I arrived at the meeting site just as the departure started so I took a spot at the back. Pulling out on the 4-lane, divided highway, I was getting queasy with the rolling stop / right-hand turn on red, but the herd was going thru. I prefer to interpret "right on red" as "turning right after stopping" not a yield to oncoming traffic. At the next intersection, it was the classic pirate move......the first few guys make their left hand turn with a green light, then the next several riders assume that they've entered the intersection on a green light, regardless of it being red. Well, today, I decided, I wasn't going to perform a moving violation or risk being a minivan hood ornament, so I stopped at the red light. That was great for me, but the following guy on the HD Electro-Glide didn't see it that way and stopped in a heap after hitting the back of my bike. I felt the bump but wasn't knocked over. In the confusion, while other guys were picking up the fallen HD, I flipped up my face shield and asked the guy where he hit my bike. He said he hit something, but getting out of the intersection was the most important thing at the time. Yes, I had to get the bike in gear (i.e., retracting the kickstand allows the starter to engage) and was a bit shaken and concerned relative to any damage. However, my bike seemed to function normally.
Since the lead group continued, I stayed with the ride until the next stop when I could check the rear of my bike for damage. I dismounted, checked the rear of my bike for damage and then asked the HD rider where he hit my bike. IIRC, he said, "I think my fairing hit your rack". He said nothing more and remained mounted on his bike. There was no expression of regret for hitting my bike or any concern about damage to my bike or me. Once again, the crowd was ready move, so there was no chance to ask for names and insurance information, but none was offered.
At the next stop, I chatted with a fellow rider and noticed that the HD guy zoomed up to talk with the leader of the demo ride. And, later at the same stop was summoned to look at the some malfunctioning warning light on a demo bike. Hmm...it's pretty obvious that the HD rider is somehow connected with this whole demo event. At a subsequent stop, a young Ducati rider, who was functioning as a ride tail/sweep, identified the HD rider as a shop mechanic.
Now, what do you think the chances are that I'll go in that BMW shop for service? Think I'll ever consider their service department to be an asset relative to a vehicle purchase at that dealership?
A few simple words..........."I'm sorry I hit your bike. Let's see if everything is OK" That would have changed the outcome, completely.
