Passing 1%ers

[VINMAN]

The passing issue is not just a respect thing, its mostly about safety. ( although a lot of Dbags take it to the next level.) Most 1% clubs ride in a tight "motorman" formation, that is 2x2 side by side. Pretty much a foot apart, which leads little room for error. One slip up by a guy in the front can bring the whole group down.

The guy in the back is the tailgunner or sometimes road captain. Even with a outlaw MC most of the time they will give you the go ahead to pass when you let them know your intention.

Like Higgins, I have a lot of experience with this stuff. I ride with a traditional MC ( non 1%ers) Firefighters and military club. There is a shyteload of protocol BS in the club world that the average rider is clueless about.

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[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

To further elaborate on the whole "patch" thing, there are combinations that non-diamond clubs are "allowed" to wear. They can display a center patch with the club logo. They can display a top rocker with their club name. What they absolutely cannot do, without "permission" from the local dominant diamond club, is wear that bottom rocker.

Back when I was president of our local HOG chapter (Harley's "PCA"), they actually flew me to Reno for "Primary Officers Training". It was mostly three days of how not to get Harley Davidson in trouble, but they did spend time explaining their whole "club" thing. And how to stay out of trouble with them. It was a big enough deal to actually set aside training time to explain everything. The big thing with HOG is no bottom rockers. Although, interestingly, I saw some guys wearing them. They claimed they had "permission".

You'll see riders with all kinds of patches and combinations of patches. It can be difficult to differentiate the "real deal" from the weekend RUBS, especially just passing them on the road. Many try to toe the line towards full diamond club regalia. Why on earth they would do that is beyond me, but they do. I guess there are "10%" clubs, who are only a little bit bad. Maybe just on weekends.

There has been a lot of that in SoCal. I think it really hit a crescendo in the 90's. BION, it's a lot more crowded now. It was a traffic nightmare then, but now it's just not the place to be on a bike. I think a lot of the weekenders sold their rides.

[varmint]

late 90s me and a friend are on a sunday ride up to tehachapi. 100+ all the way. at one point we were stuck behind a group of H.O.G. riders. took forever to pass. while later we saw another pack of cruisers ahead. gunned and got around them before realizing it was mongols.

hour later gassing up saw the gang pulling into the matching gas station on the far side of the clover leaf. they were pointing at us and talking amongst themselves. we got the **** out of there.

[Dan J]

I had some association with Angels in the 70's. They did not partake in any of this asshat behavior
But if you actually dissed them you would wish you hadn't. Back then they were all recently back from Viet Nam with a load of PSTD 'cept they didn't call it that yet. They were well versed in killing
Todays version is a different critter

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I heard the miscreant on that Harley tried to kick you into the ditch every time you tried to pass him...

One of the highlights of my summer. Good times.

Ha! What's funny about that is the incredible switchbacks in the mountains, forget about passing you, it was damn hard to keep up! You are a master hustling that bike through the canyons, I bow before you sir!. It was amazing to watch, wish I could have filmed it for everyone here to see.

Yeah, and as I said, you set the tone for that trip, it wouldn't have been the same without you. Best of the year for me.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

They knew that the mismatched wheels were punishment enough. How much shame must one man endure?

LOL! will be getting a new tire for a black wheel soon. Been very cold and rainy here. But into the 70s this week and then back down to 40s and 50s.

[serene911]

This is a short clip from another 46 minute videoo of the same run in.

[911boost]

I have seen more about this passing stuff in the past couple weeks than I have in the 20+ years of riding.

One of the ladies I used to work alongside’s father is a HA, I will have to ask her about this topic.

I love to ride, be on the road. I have no time for the whole 1%er crap, but it is good to know so I can avoid creating any drama for myself.

A long time riding buddy is a retired Chief of Police from Deadwood and he always wears his Knights of Columbus colors. I joke and say if I get shot because of him wearing them he’s going to taste some .45 lol,

[flatbutt]

When I was riding with the Patriot Guard we were advised to not wear our vests when traveling to a funeral IF we were passing through any Club territory. Even though the vest only showed our logo AND most Clubs would respect our purpose we didn't want to take any risks.

[Baz]

Got brake checked at the 44 sec mark...lol.....

[cockerpunk]

its been a long time since i did anything other than tooddling on the street in cars. but back when i did dumb **** on the street, the worst was always the bikers. ive had bikers do the most insanely unsafe things in an attempt to stop me from passing them, including weaving into the other lane, in front of me. you can't tell me its for safety, as the amount of unsafe **** done in front of me was wildly worse than the 10-20mph speeding i was doing.

its pure ego.

its pure weak men ego.

i got no time for that, and when you are in a car, esp a coup, get wrecked. summer tires on a sports car will destroy these guys.

[1990C4S]

Sounds like the bottom 1% of the bell curve.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

You should see how people react when the local narco traficante comes down from his rancho in Baja MX. and gets escorted by the crooked state police. Just like Moses parting the Red Sea.

[VINMAN]

I attended a ton of bike events. The outlaw clubs don't bother anyone for the most part.
The ones the start the most shyte are the LEO clubs. They are cops during the week, and play dress up on the weekends, acting like 1%ers. When they face possible consequences, they pull out their Badge Americard, and are let off.

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[Dixie]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

There is a shyteload of protocol BS in the club world that the average rider is clueless about.

Indeed there is. There's even rules for 'old ladies'. Like you can't own your own bike, you need to do what any patched members tell you, and women can't be members. You also have to accept that your SO's allegiance will always be to the club, and not you.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by serene911

This is a short clip from another 46 minute video of the same run in.

Somehow IDT that would have gone down like that 50 years ago.

But 50 years ago IDT they rode baggers. Things seemed to have changed since the Sonny Barger days.

I've been out and about for a good part of my life. I've got a lot of miles in CA and some other places, but mostly CA. I worked at a motorcycle dealer for a short time when I was 19 or so. It was across the street from the local Triumph dealer. I rode. I have never seen a Hell's Angels patch. I've seen a lot of posers.

Funny, I rode a HD suicide clutch tank handled shifter stretch chopper one block and back. I stayed up but that was enough of that. Even though I rode an import bike to college for the parking, once it was stolen I never got back on. I was maybe 25.

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

The passing issue is not just a respect thing, its mostly about safety. ( although a lot of Dbags take it to the next level.) Most 1% clubs ride in a tight "motorman" formation, that is 2x2 side by side. Pretty much a foot apart, which leads little room for error. One slip up by a guy in the front can bring the whole group down.

The guy in the back is the tailgunner or sometimes road captain. Even with a outlaw MC most of the time they will give you the go ahead to pass when you let them know your intention.

Like Higgins, I have a lot of experience with this stuff. I ride with a traditional MC ( non 1%ers) Firefighters and military club. There is a shyteload of protocol BS in the club world that the average rider is clueless about.

.

I'm baffled by the idea of running that formation. Anybody hits a road obstacle or who knows what else and a bunch of guys go down at once. Why not run staggered?

[GH85Carrera]

As a non biker, I had never heard of 1%ers except in reference to the very rich.

In my many miles of driving all over the country, and in California 5 times, I have never come up on a biker gang. I am glad of that. My trip on the Tail of the Dragon I saw a few bikers, and one passed me on the outside of a curve at insane speeds, non were on Harley's, just donor cycles.

[creaturecat]

i rode on the tail end of a (fully patched) HA gang for 10 miles - after leaving the ferry terminal. was riding my thumper. it was like the parting of the Red Sea. Damiano Dipopolo used to my neighbour - i would have name-dropped if i had been hassled. and? ..... Damiano was always a great neighbour - his bro? Rocko? he stood on the corner, once in a while - you didn't want to make eye contact with him. i do believe he shot/killed a guy- in front of the old HD Dealership on Hastings St.
an aside - i knew a postman - Nick - he saved Damiano's dad from death - he cut his artery with a chain saw. Nick (delivering his mail) tied him off - saved his life. Nick gets invited for NewYears each and every year.
fwiw - Damiano just had his president's title removed. they did some ugly **** in Kelowna.

[greglepore]

Lol. When I saw the thread title I though it was about dying aristocrats.