Riding in full gear and looking like a "Racer"

[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.

[dhuze]

...............
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?

[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.

[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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

+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).

[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

[OreoGaborio]

this one time, i jumped over 15 cars in traffic & did a back-flip over all of em. Vince pulled me over but only gave me a warning, it was pretty sweet.

true story.

[KillBill]

WOw, you got some mad skillz brotha

Cool officer too

[elwood206]

..


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...

Just curios,
Can you wear the full helmet on the job, or do you have to wear the 3/4?

[dhuze]

................ 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..........................

You should tell them it's hard to do your job when your job when you are broken down on the side of the road.

[VinceF2]

Just curios,
Can you wear the full helmet on the job, or do you have to wear the 3/4?

Right now the only "approved" helmet is the 3/4... I started the process of getting a flip up full face approved with my old Chief... he was open to it... then he left... and the new Chief is busy getting settled... in time I will approach him as well... I even designed some "cop like" black and white graphics in photoshop to show possilities... I figure the flip ups would be better then nothing... and would still allow for interaction with the community...

So ya... thank you to all for the positive comments... I don't take much of these threads personal... although sometimes it isn't easy not to ya know...

faster... I work in Ashland... we have the 650 dual sports... we have two large state parks we patrol hence the bike choice by our old Chief... I know Cambridge has the full dress BMWs which I'm told are real nice... Some out there might have seen / met my father in law at the track on one of our bikes... he took it to a BMW track day last year... for "training" he raced one of the Woods old ZX6r's for a bit... another non-typical motorcycle cop...

and ahhhhh Oreo... I will neither confirm or deny your story... ummm ya...