Quote from: pintsizejesus on October 11, 2008, 07:43:58 PM
Do you guys pass other people on motorcycles if they are going slow or are all over the place?  Just curious because if someone is riding behind me and they are close I let them pass but if I pull up behind someone and I'm going faster then them very few have pulled off to the side a little and let me pass. 

Yes.  If you're on a bike and you don't get out of the way for another bike -- LATER! 

Adam

Great topic! I do pass on double yellow if it is safe to do so. It seems to be the only straight stretches that people don`t speed up in. I don`t know if it`s just my perspective or if others have noticed, but it seems like everyone thinks that passing lanes and unstriped straights are for trying to keep people from passing you. You follow someone through curves and they go 10 mph below the posted speed , but give them a straight stretch or come to a passing lane and that same person will do 15-20 mph over the speed limit.  Burns my butt!  [evil]So yes I do pass  anytime it is safe to do so, damn the double yellows.    Ok, of my soapbox now All vented out.

Quote from: pintsizejesus on October 11, 2008, 07:43:58 PM
Do you guys pass other people on motorcycles if they are going slow or are all over the place?  Just curious because if someone is riding behind me and they are close I let them pass but if I pull up behind someone and I'm going faster then them very few have pulled off to the side a little and let me pass. 

I'm much more respectful to other motorcyclists.  The consequences of scaring them or upsetting them are potentially much more severe than if a cage is in front of you.  I try to make them aware that I'm there and only pass when it's really, really clear.  Preferably on a straight.  So, as much as I get annoyed when motorcylists don't check their six in the twisties (I expect it from cagers but not from motos), I give them a benefit of the doubt.  You're right, though.  Many aren't even aware that you're there, which I find mindboggling consider how loud Ducs are.  I also don't pass people in my own group unless I know them well.  FWIW, I try to give bicylcists more room too. 

I've been in group rides where motorcyclists  come through way too fast and with too little patience.  It really pisses me off.  They have no idea if I'm a douchebag, a complete make the beast with two backstard newbie or a racer, and no idea how I'm going to react to a Gixxer six inches from my elbow.  I've even chased people down and lectured them before for coming through a group in what I thought was an unsafe manner.  Needless to say, they rarely appreciate the lecture, but <shrug>.

Quote from: Spidey on October 11, 2008, 08:56:35 PM
I'm much more respectful to other motorcyclists.  The consequences of scaring them or upsetting them are potentially much more severe than if a cage is in front of you.  I try to make them aware that I'm there and only pass when it's really, really clear.  Preferably on a straight.  So, as much as I get annoyed when motorcylists don't check their six in the twisties (I expect it from cagers but not from motos), I give them a benefit of the doubt.  You're right, though.  Many aren't even aware that you're there, which I find mindboggling consider how loud Ducs are.  I also don't pass people in my own group unless I know them well.  FWIW, I try to give bicylcists more room too. 

I've been in group rides where motorcyclists  come through way too fast and with too little patience.  It really pisses me off.  They have no idea if I'm a douchebag, a complete make the beast with two backstard newbie or a racer, and no idea how I'm going to react to a Gixxer six inches from my elbow.  I've even chased people down and lectured them before for coming through a group in what I thought was an unsafe manner.  Needless to say, they rarely appreciate the lecture, but <shrug>.

+1, I was referring to the "F.U. I'm riding here, 10 MPH below the speed limit" Cruiser Brigade in my earlier post.

Adam

I'll pass if i think it is safe to do so and that it won't scare the living shit out of the driver in front who is being distracted by his/her phone or direction etc. I usually get their attention before hand by using the high beam flasher. When I ride at night I use high beam all the time so I'll toggle the high and low beam. If they pull over a little to let me by I'll give them a thank you wave.

Disclaimer: Just dont flash anyone who is signaling trying to move into your lane as most will take your two flash means you are letting them move over in front of you. On a side note, I notice truckers are very motorist friendly, both towards riders and drivers.

I'll pass bikes or cars or trucks or Amish buggys...whatever if they are going slower than I want to go, without respect to the color or style of the line dividing the lanes.

My only rule is that I have to be able to see where the pass will end prior to starting to pass.

Briefly the reason for the rule. I started passing a car once and there was a dip in the road ahead so I really couldn't see the actual raod and where I would end the pass. Long story short: As I was along side the car I was passing a car appeared in the other lane. Braking, locking, off brake, beginning of a wobble, scary...anyway as the oncomming car went past, we were all three sharing the road in one place for a brief moment with me riding the line. Thus "my rule".

Plus no matter who or what I am passing I get it done quickly. I don't care what the other people think, I just want to have the least amount of time possible beside the other vehicle. Exception: The Amish buggys...I pass slowly so as to not have the loud pipes scare the horse...but then again, ya really don't have to be going too fast to pass a horse drawn buggy. BTW I think the Amish kids love it.

Quote from: DrDesmosedici on October 11, 2008, 07:17:27 PM
What kind did you get? Not that there's a huge difference between them I'm sure  [moto]

Adam

pathblazer (kisantech).. i am happy as a clam with it.

I'm from the mountains and if you don't pass on the double yellow .... you don't pass.  Observe all the rules of the road otherwise though.

LA

Quote from: He Man on October 11, 2008, 03:46:13 PM
Who cares if someone thinks your an asshole. You think their an asshole for driving like a slug.
makes no difference just dont be a dumbass about passing and be safe.  ride safe

+1.
Not enough passing zones on most of the country roads I ride so it's either pass on double yellow or fall asleep riding SLOW.

I live in the land of curvy roads and slow moving leaf lookers, tractors, flat-landers etc.  I don't like to pass on the double, but I'd never get anywhere on the bike if I didn't.  I just choose carefully and try not to just blast past and startle them ~

JM

double yellows alone...pass.

lots of places and driveways for the car you're passing to turn left...don't pass.

It's all about the environment and conditions, not the paint on the road.

I'm the same as most people here it seems. I pass on double yellow, irrespective of the type of vehicle, as long as I know the road well and(/or) can see that the pass is safe. In most cases it's due to the person in front going 10+ mph under the speed limit but I'd like to echo the comment made about double yellows being designed for the lowest common denominator, not motorcycles. That's not to say that it's always safe to pass - often I don't - but that the space required for a relatively quick bike to pass with an aware and competent rider is much shorter than most cars. I always err on the side of caution though because it can be risky. Often, on road I know, if there's a passing lane coming up I'll just deal until we get there & then pass. I also only do this in areas that aren't built up. In more built up areas I'll just slow down a lot to give myself room to have fun in the approaching twisties. Sucks when you make a gap & someone pulls into it though.   

Quote from: Dirteagle on October 11, 2008, 08:37:27 PM
Great topic! I do pass on double yellow if it is safe to do so. It seems to be the only straight stretches that people don`t speed up in. I don`t know if it`s just my perspective or if others have noticed, but it seems like everyone thinks that passing lanes and unstriped straights are for trying to keep people from passing you. You follow someone through curves and they go 10 mph below the posted speed , but give them a straight stretch or come to a passing lane and that same person will do 15-20 mph over the speed limit.  Burns my butt!  [evil]So yes I do pass  anytime it is safe to do so, damn the double yellows.    Ok, of my soapbox now All vented out.

Yeah this happened a lot to me and my wife on our 2000 mile summer trip.  We'd come up on someone in the twisties and then when the road straightened they would punch it!  Very annoying... still passed them. Even our lil 620's out accelerate most cars.

As for the original poster, I do pass on Double yellow, though normally I wait and give them a fair chance to pull over for me first... but once they pass a turn out or two.. I'm done and I pass them at the next safe section of road.

Quote from: cynic13th on October 14, 2008, 09:55:01 AM
Yeah this happened a lot to me and my wife on our 2000 mile summer trip.  We'd come up on someone in the twisties and then when the road straightened they would punch it!  Very annoying...

My fiancée and I were in a group ride in WV.  We were the slowest in the group (only bike 2-up) and on the least powerful bike on the trip (62HP M750) the closest bike power-wise was the 900SS so we had our work cut out to keep up to begin with.  We get behind in a really technical section and a F-250 or 350 pulled out between the 2nd to last rider and us.  In the straights, I was indicating 80-85 to stay up with the truck.  In the twisty sections, it was crawling.  So...  On a deserted stretch of WV (no sideroads/driveways to worry about) we came out of a twisty section I could the the about 1/4 mile straight and finally was able to pass.  Funny thing was, the dude throttle the truck to try to keep me from getting around him.  Jealous drivers suck ~

JM

Quote from: the_Journeyman on October 14, 2008, 10:24:20 AM
.  Funny thing was, the dude throttle the truck to try to keep me from getting around him.  Jealous drivers suck ~

JM

I don't think they are jealous...of course they are idiots but what I really think the motivation is, is that you insulted their manhood by passing them! How dare you!?

Lamebrained nitwits...I loooove passing them and just chuckling in my helmet!