Passing 1%ers

[Jeff Higgins]

By way of a little background, a "1%er" is a member of a motorcycle "club" (the rest of us call them motorcycle "gangs") such as the Hells Angels, Bandidos, Outlaws, Pagans, etc. Notoriously violent schit-head ass holes who live in their own childish little world, complete with their own rules. Rules that, apparently, under some circumstances, they expect the rest of us to know...

One of their "rules" concerns passing a group of them when they are out riding. Apparently doing so is an act of "disrespect". If we would like to pass one of these groups, I'm told that we are to pull up behind the last guy in line and await his "approval" to do so. If we do not know that (how in the hell would we?), and pass them without "permission", we could find ourselves in a bit of hot water with their "club".

This is almost a non-issue in my area, owing to our lack of such "clubs". Oh, they are here alright, but in my 47 years of plying our local backroads I can honestly say that this has never come up for me.

This only comes up because I was out driving with some local R Gruppers this morning. One of them, like me, also rides. He apparently had the audacity to pass (on his motorcycle) a group of "club" members out for a ride. They first tried to swerve into him, kicking at him, trying to run him off the road. Being on a bike of vastly superior performance, he soon outran them (they gave chase, giving it their best, but had nothing for him). Not long after had to stop for gas.

These ass holes saw him as they rode by, did a u-turn, and surrounded him at the pump. They were very threatening, reading him the riot act about "respect" and all of that. Fortunately, there were plenty of other people at that mini-mart, or who knows what they would have done.

When I was much younger, I put a toe in their waters, but I guess I never paid enough attention. I still run into these guys at local bike gatherings, but do my level best to avoid them. I've always known they have their own "rules". I never thought they expected an unwitting public to know them and heed them, though. And this one just screams "insecurity". I've never looked at passing someone as "disrespecting" them.

Yeah, I've been honked at, lights flashed at me, flipped off, etc. when someone feels I did so inappropriately, but my buddy says this was a perfectly legal, safe, in a passing zone pass on a small group (four guys) just plodding along. And these erstwhile "tough guys" got all butt hurt about it.

I know some of you live in areas that have much larger populations of this sort. Have any of you ever encountered anything like this?

[Baz]

I passed one in my Silverado once and got a dirty look so I shot him a bird.

Rather enjoyed that and would do it again, if afforded the opportunity.

[look 171]

In moderate LA traffic, that means going about 45-50 on the fwy. A rider stuck out his foot out on the next lane over right in front of me as I went pass him, So he flipped me the bird. Now how the Fk am I suppose what that means? For all I know, he had to move his balls around because it was being crushed for an extended period of time in that position. He should have used his hands like a normal person. Maybe he couldn't read, it says right there in the CA driver's handbook but then again, its LA, not too many people can read or know simple traffic rules

[pwd72s]

No direct experience...but I did hear about a group of 1%ers who broke a logger's rule...back when Cascadia, Oregon had a tavern...1960's. Half dozen 1%ers went in, told the loggers there to clear out because they wanted to party. Bad move on their part... They didn't come back for revenge, either. Must have believed it when they were told not to come back and that it was easy to hide bodies in the area.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

No direct experience...but I did hear about a group of 1%ers who broke a logger's rule...back when Cascadia, Oregon had a tavern...1960's. Half dozen 1%ers went in, told the loggers there to clear out because they wanted to party. Bad move on their part... They didn't come back for revenge, either. Must have believed it when they were told not to come back and that it was easy to hide bodies in the area.

Love it...

My own favorite loggers vs bikers story:

When I was but a young man, I found myself up north in the logging town of Darrington, WA during their annual "logging days" or some other such festival. I was in the tavern (underage, but I "blended"), having arrived on my Sportster (the one I still own). No problem, a bunch of young guys drinking beer and playing pool.

Then it got kind of loud - a whole bunch of bikers, gang members from one of the area's "clubs" rolled in. Tried to take over the place. It didn't take long before a bunch of the young loggers had their lead schithead pinned down on a pool table, giving him a "haircut", cutting off his long hair. The bikers left with their tails between their legs, but swearing "revenge".

The next morning (I was still there, having drank too much to ride home the night before, with the friendly bartender offering me a place to sleep) I wandered on down to the fairgrounds. Lots of loggers with their families parking up, getting ready to enjoy their day at the fair. Someone noticed the sound of approaching motorcycles. All of the security people suddenly disappeared, along with every county Deputy in the parking lot. The loggers retrieved their chain saws, axes, mauls, and other items from their trucks.

The bikers pulled into the parking lot, looking as menacing as they could. Dozens of chainsaws started, and loggers started to circle. It was over before it even started. Demonstrating remarkable good sense, the bikers decided to leave. Must have heard their mothers calling...

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Baz

I passed one in my Silverado once and got a dirty look so I shot him a bird.

Rather enjoyed that and would do it again, if afforded the opportunity.

Based on Higgins' OP, I'd guess the dirty look was all you got because it was only one guy. Three or more may have decided you needed to be taught a "lesson."

[gumby]

I was out riding my 1974 BMW R90/6 last year and came across a large biker gang riding around 45-50mph, a passing zone came up and I proceded to pass around a 2/3's of the group before the passing zone changed so I signaled by hand (pointed) that I was going to pull back into the lane as well as the groupe....they made room for me... when the passing zone came back up I also signaled by hand that I was pulling out to complete passing the groupe, no one gave me any issue as I believe that I showed some respect...

[LWJ]

^^^RE Higgins. I have family in Darrington. Don’t mess with those people. They are much tougher than other people. Sounds like a fun interaction.

[porsche tech]

Only biker gangs we have around here are tourists on bicycles. They might be more dangerous.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I passed several biker gangs riding across country last summer. I didn't do anything special when I passed them other than pointing down, none of them bothered me, one guy gave me a thumbs up actually, so I'm guessing they were just in awe of my 900 SS/SP.

Who can blame them.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gumby

I was out riding my 1974 BMW R90/6 last year and came across a large biker gang riding around 45-50mph, a passing zone came up and I proceded to pass around a 2/3's of the group before the passing zone changed so I signaled by hand (pointed) that I was going to pull back into the lane as well as the groupe....they made room for me... when the passing zone came back up I also signaled by hand that I was pulling out to complete passing the groupe, no one gave me any issue as I believe that I showed some respect...

Were they a gang like the Hells Angels or Banditos or was it a bunch of rich middle aged guys on bikes out for a ride. That could have been the difference.

[Rusty Heap]

Yeah, gotta watch out for those Spandex Biker Clubs, they can really mess you up.

[gumby]

'Were they a gang like the Hells Angels or Banditos or was it a bunch of rich middle aged guys on bikes out for a ride'

Nope,they were were wearing some sort of 'rockers..patches' I didnt pay too much attenion to but defintely not wanna be posers

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Based on Higgins' OP, I'd guess the dirty look was all you got because it was only one guy. Three or more may have decided you needed to be taught a "lesson."

As I was driving my Silverado......let 'em try........

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I passed several biker gangs riding across country last summer. I didn't do anything special when I passed them other than pointing down, none of them bothered me, one guy gave me a thumbs up actually, so I'm guessing they were just in awe of my 900 SS/SP.

Who can blame them.

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.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I passed several biker gangs riding across country last summer. I didn't do anything special when I passed them other than pointing down, none of them bothered me,

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

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by gumby

'Were they a gang like the Hells Angels or Banditos or was it a bunch of rich middle aged guys on bikes out for a ride'

Nope,they were were wearing some sort of 'rockers..patches' I didnt pay too much attenion to but defintely not wanna be posers

It can be hard to tell who is who in their zoo from the outside looking in. Especially now in the post Sons of Anarchy era, far too many casual riders and riding clubs are starting to wear outlaw club regalia.

I probably know too much about this (maybe I paid more attention than I thought), having flown too close to this flame when I was an angry, misguided kid. This is the one area in which this world definitely has rules. This is the one area where violation of those rules can have some very serious consequences.

The classic outlaw club "patch" has three components. The central patch with the club's insignia (death's head for the HA, fat little frito bandido dude for the Bandidos, a Mongol warrior for the Mongols, etc.), the "top rocker" with the club's name, and the "bottom rocker" with the particular chapter's claimed "territory".

This "three piece" patch is the sole province of the "1%er" clubs, otherwise known as "diamond clubs" owing to a diamond shaped patch that says "1%". Show up with a diamond 1% patch if you are not a member of a diamond club and it will get removed. How forcibly is up to you. Show up with the lower, third rocker on your vest if you are not a member of a diamond club, and the same applies. Guys have gotten severely beaten over this.

Form your own club with a three piece patch and the diamond patch and you will absolutely get to meet representatives of the "dominant" club in your area. Other clubs forming in their area are a major, major affront to them. You can go to the dominant club, hat in hand, and ask "permission" to form your own club, but the answer is almost always "no". Do it anyway, because you are all tough guys and no one tells you what to do, and you'll find out... People have been killed over this. They take it that seriously.

I was kind of surprised, though, that even if you are clearly not a part of their dysfunctional little world, that merely passing them on the road could lead to trouble. That's a bridge too far.

[herr_oberst]

The 1%'s "generally speaking" know how to ride their damn bikes. It's the RUB's who maintain the speed of the slowest rider in a large, tight pack that irk me. 10 or 15 mph slower than the speed limit on a mountain pass behind a bunch of dentists playing dressup will certainly have an effect on my mood.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I was kind of surprised, though, that even if you are clearly not a part of their dysfunctional little world, that merely passing them on the road could lead to trouble. That's a bridge too far.

Which is surprising because they aren't known for poor behavior...

[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.