[Doc]

Someone brought up a point in another thread about how the cop mentioned when he pulled them over that they were in full leathers and looked like racers.

My point is that there should be an education process for the general public that looking like a racer when riding a bike should be the norm not the exception.

What do you think?

[KillBill]

+1

Especially POLICE OFFICERS! I am really surprised that officers are not required to learn how to ride a motorcycle or atleast take the written portion of the MSF course.

[selltekk]

:+1

I would think that a LEO would go easier on you because you took int consideration that motorcycling is inherently dangerous and took proper precautions by wearing full protective gear. That makes you a responsible rider.

BTW, I got my helibars on and got the bike out for 1/2 hr on Saturday before the snow came.

[JohnnyV]

LEO's don't give a fuck.... they think if you're wearing leathers you're going to be riding aggressively, hence needing the race suit. Just look at the way they dress when they're cruising on their police bikes.... nice example they're setting.

[l3uddha]

yea, unfortunatly wearing full gear on the street is seen my most as being a "racer" or "trouble maker".

that same majority of people are the ones that learn the hard way that grinding one's bare flesh into the ground doesnt feel so nice as one might imagine.

it is suprising that even some police officers see full gear as "speed racer", rather than responsible.

It's just the ignorance of society towards motorcycling that never seems to go away. Cops are regular people. They too can be just as ignorant as the next guy. Which is pretty rediculous when they're given a gun and told to enforce the rules.

When I was living out in Albuquerque, New Mexico; things seemed somewhat better, but there was still this massive, overwhelming ignorance of the real consequences from the general public.

The police out there were much better towards bikes. I actually felt somewhat "protected" which was a good feeling. Then one day I got pulled over by some punk-ass rookie cop the same age as me who gave me three tickets with a smile. I had been pulled over before by older officers & they offered advice to a new rider, rather than the book.

I'd say the general pulbic out there were a bit more educated towards motorcycles because they're around almost all year, they're friggin everywhere, and there is no helmet law. The last one is pretty bitter-sweet. The public is more educated about the consequences, because it seemed like almost a daily occurrence that someone on a bike smashed their head open. Albuquerque has one of the largest drunk-driving rates as well. Factor that in, and it seemed that everyone I met who rode a bike knew someone that was killed in one way or another.

There's still that ignorance though. A lot of those drunk drivers are out on bikes, and I'd say from my experience out there, more than 75% of the people who ride STILL dont wear a helmet.

The "freedom" excuse for not wearing a helmet is suprisingly small. It's just plain-old ignorance on all sides.

[dhuze]

Originally Posted by l3uddha

...............
that same majority of people are the ones that learn the hard way that grinding one's bare flesh into the ground doesnt feel so nice as one might imagine.............

I thought it would kinda tickle. Are you saying it doesn't?

[l3uddha]

Originally Posted by dhuze

I thought it would kinda tickle. Are you saying it doesn't?

well... do you like Indian burns??

[tonyd]

Wear a nice 2 cordura suit and everyone thinks your an old fart and will leave you alone. If more riders suit up in leathers everytime they rode the "racer" impression would go away. Personally I DO dress for the ride. My everyday gear is cordura, if I know I'm going for a more spirited ride I'll strap on the leathers.

My favorite site at bike week are the guys in 1 peice leathers riding around with no helmet or gloves. WTF?

[KillBill]

Look at the irony

Safety First Racing - Safety First Suzuki AMA Pro Racing

[virtualbong]

I completely agree.

I can't believe Cops would actually look down upon people who are riding in full leathers.

I guess we should start wearing tank tops, shorts and flip flops...then when we're going 150 mph, they'll think we're just out for a leisurely ride.

[l3uddha]

Originally Posted by tonyd

Wear a nice 2 cordura suit and everyone thinks your an old fart and will leave you alone. If more riders suit up in leathers everytime they rode the "racer" impression would go away. Personally I DO dress for the ride. My everyday gear is cordura, if I know I'm going for a more spirited ride I'll strap on the leathers.

My favorite site at bike week are the guys in 1 peice leathers riding around with no helmet or gloves. WTF?

yea that's a really good point!

the "general public's" impression of sportbikes is taken directly from what they see. The general public usually sticks around town and to the highways when driving. The majority of bikers that do the same are just posing or cruising around with minimal or no gear. There's a lot of blipping the throttle for no reason, launching from stoplights, and all that other stupid crap.

Cops fall into the general public as well.

On any given day, most of the people wearing full gear are out riding twisty roads and trying to stay way the hell away from the general public!


another thing that gets me is something as simple as a leather jacket. Before I got my mesh, I used to wear my black JR leather jacket around everywhere. Even if it were 90 degrees out. People used to always fucking comment about it & it pissed me off so much, saying stuff like: "isn't it a little hot for all that gear?". I think by wearing gear on hot days gave people the impression that I was an "inexperienced" or "paranoid" rider. fuckin ghey! & I ride a GS500 so I've already got and inverse penis to bike ratio so it's not going too well for the boys!

lol j/k.

It wasn't what they said or though that pissed me off; I know my abilities so fark 'em. What bothered me was that it seemed THE ENTIRE SOUTH SHORE OF MA IS A BUNCH OF IGNORANT SOBs. give or take a handful maybe... I'm working on the north shore now & so far I've still got my hopes up on society...

anyone who rides on the south shore & has been down to plymouth harbor on a hot weekend day will know. 10 minutes away from some of the best roads in the area, & the friggin harley guys are wearing more gear than the sportbikes.

sorry, I'm venting!

[richw]

That was my assumption

I have a full Vanson racing suit
But its all black and does not have knee pad velcro

One of my motto's has always been
They can't hit what they don't see

PSST to a cop EVERYONE on the board is a maniac and yes everyone who springs for good leathers is an aggressive driver<-<- Fact

[Kham]

Originally Posted by tonyd

Personally I DO dress for the ride. My everyday gear is cordura, if I know I'm going for a more spirited ride I'll strap on the leathers.

there's the answer. face it, you're all guilty when you're on sportbike even in shorts.

[Kham]

Originally Posted by richw

That was my assumption

I have a full Vanson racing suit
But its all black and does not have knee pad velcro

One of my motto's has always been
They can't hit what they don't see

PSST to a cop EVERYONE on the board is a maniac and yes everyone who springs for good leathers is an aggressive driver<-<- Fact

exactly!

[a13x]

Originally Posted by l3uddha

I'm working on the north shore now & so far I've still got my hopes up on society...

bwahahah! good luck!!

[l3uddha]

Originally Posted by a13x

bwahahah! good luck!!

[KB]

This ought to be in Controversial Topics.

Where's the LEO'S on here that are members. Let's hear what they have to say.

I think your "look like a racer" is a bunch of BS. A cops not just going to pull you over for "looking like a racer". If you get pulled over you were probably doing something that warranted it.

[Wishbone]

Originally Posted by rmbbikes

I think your "look like a racer" is a bunch of BS. A cops not just going to pull you over for "looking like a racer". If you get pulled over you were probably doing something that warranted it.

totally not true

cops stereo type, i know it may be hard for some of you to believe, but its true

wanna do your own experiment?

what you will need is one honda civic with tinted windows clear tail lights a huge wing ground effects and rims driven by your choice of minority.
have said car driven around by said minority for one month, a lot of night driving will help.make sure that ALL traffic laws are followed. see how many times said car is stopped

next you will need one 7 series bmw and one white male 40 or older. have this said car and driver do the same as test subject one

i GUARANTY that this will work

[VinceF2]

Originally Posted by KillBill

+1

Especially POLICE OFFICERS! I am really surprised that officers are not required to learn how to ride a motorcycle or atleast take the written portion of the MSF course.

Hi folks... your neighborhood stereotyping, only out to write you all a ticket cop here...

just want to start by letting Bill know that we are required to take a 40 hour course wich is similar in many aspects to the MSF course in order to be certified as a motorcycle officer in MA...

With that said... I guess I'm not the best to answer a lot of the "concerns" that have been voiced in this thread since I by far am not the stereotypical cop when it comes to bikes etc...





even when it comes to the job...



But what I can say is when I'm working I see more jackass punks on sportbikes then I see responsible riders... I can distinguish between them... but those who are not in the sportbike community can easily be soured... Heck I've given a lecture or two out there to sportbikers... but I also try to even it out and check DOT stickers etc on those chrome death buckets...

The biggest thing I've learned in my short career is that if I do my job there are some people who are going to think I'm an useless ass and if I don't then there are other people that will think I'm a useless ass... the majority of the time it's a thankless job because the majority of the public only meet us on a traffic stop... warranted or not... what r ya gonna do....

I will say that it is too bad that since the vast majority of cops ride Harleys they could be considered bias towards others who ride Harleys... this of course being my speculation and nothing more... it happens anywhere... humans are bias to things we know and like etc... I know I get razed wherever I go with the Police BMW... "When are you getting a real bike?" "Too bad it's not a Harley"... whatever... I just answer with "As long as I can ride I don't care what it is..." that usually is all it takes to quiet them... I also got crap when I tried to introduce gear to the few of us that ride the bikes in my department... again what r ya gonna do...

So when I ride on the job its in my polyester uniform, a leather jacket, leather gloves and a 3/4 helmet... I've accepted this although I would love to see more gear become mainstream in the LE bike world... When I ride on my own it's in either codura or perf'd leather.... full face and gloves...

So stereotypes may suck... but most in this thread have stereotyped cops as much as they claim to have been stereotyped... it's part of our society I guess... and with the influx of punkass street stunters that we most frequently see on the road... I can understand why the stereotype exists...

[Degsy]

Can I just say that any remarks I make about jackass cops are NOT directed in any way at Mike (VinceF2).

[l3uddha]

thanks for posting Vince. I think everyone will agree we need more officers to be PROPERLY educated about motorcycles, as you are. Something that possibly can only come from experience unfortunatly.

I took the BRC & I dont remember gear really being hammered into peoples' heads. Likely because 90% of the people & instructors there were harley or cruiser riders.

I dont really blame police for the misinterpretation of full gear. Like tonyd said, if more sportbike riders & cruiser riders rode proper gear at all times, there would be no confusion.

[Billy]

Another cool expirement would be to interview a bunch of LEO's and ask them if they saw someone ride by on a sportbike fully geared up, and someone with no gear, which one would cause more attention to them

[Wishbone]

yes not all cops fall into that stereo type

there was 3 wicked cool bike cops 2? years ago down town at the summer nationals/burn outs in worcester. they came riding in (on there hd's ) to where every one does burn outs behind the mariot/old voke of course every one thought they were there to break it up but instead they all lined up and "TRYED" to do burn outs it was by far the coolest thing i have ever seen a cop do EVER

also when i went for my class m license the cop showed up to me on my M620 and two other kids on crotch rockets and the first thing he said was "my bike would smoke all your bikes" now thats pretty cool to btw he said he had a zx12r

so no not all cops are jerks but the majority out there that act the part makes it hard for us all to think other wise

btw mike what town has a bmw bikes?

[Doc]

Vince,
Just wanted to publicly thank you for the thankless job you do.

When I have been pulled over I have ALWAYS been in the wrong and acted accordingly (Polite and apologetic). This, I am sure has gone a LONG way to me seeing less tickets then I have deserved.
I have even been known to make on the spot corrections with the officers permission (removing a neon plate surround on my car during the stop when told it was illegal).

I wave to bike cops when on my bike (they seem surprised!) and try to make eye contact and nod or wave when I see one sitting and watching traffic, kinda my way to say "Hi officer, SEE I AM behaving".

I think it helps that I know alot of my local officers and had intentions of being a police officer at one time, I kinda know the mindset.

I have certainly done stupid, illegal stuff in the past (Speeding, Tricks, etc) I have always looked at doing things to make it more difficult for the officer to do his job very wrong or "unfare" (I.E. the license plate thing)

If you do the crime, be mature and do the time, pay the fine.

If the officer is wrong it will come out in court. (you hope)

[KillBill]

+1