How would you react to people in your group doing stand-up wheelies down the freeway?

Question

I was on my way out to bike night in valley view the other day, and I met up with a bunch of riders at a local gas station...

we were all riding together heading out to willoughby to meet up with more riders...

when we took off from willoughby, there was probably 40 or 50 of us riding, and probably 10 bikes made their way to the front of the pack, and were doing stand-up wheelies down 271...

personally, I don't think it was prudent timing, but it didn't bother me enough to ditch them. I just dropped anchor and left them enough room that I could stop in case they crashed out

How would you react?

Answer 1

There's a time and a place for that kind of riding. I can appreciate the skills involved, and have done a bit of showing off myself, but anytime it risks distracting another motorist and jeopardizing public safety really pisses me off. There is no place for that, and people should lose their license if caught doing so.  Not only does it give us a further bad reputation, but innocent people can, and do get hurt.  If I had the opportunity to tell them how stupid they were, I would have taken it.

South county St. Louis, about 2 years ago, 3 or 4 jacka$$es go weaving and wheelying thru a bunch of traffic and cause a bad accident.  Innocent kids were killed in that wreck.  I hope those guys spend the rest of their life in jail.

Answer 2

Probably the same.

Answer 3

I slow down and get well behind them for two reasons.

1. So I can stop in time so I won't run over their rag-dolling bodies when they crash and burn.

2. So I can get a good view of the wreck and be able to give a good statement to the cops.

People who do that sort of thing are complete and total idiots. They should have their bikes confiscated and their driver's license suspended. It is no different that drag racing in the dangers it presents to the individual and to the public.

Next time you are asked to join that group, ask if those idiots will be joining. If they are, don't go. Don't associated yourself with those morons. They give all of us a bad name.

And they usually have an uncanny ability to get those around them into trouble (law enforcement interest, injury or death) as well. Steer clear of the people you know are reckless. It's enough to be looking out for the ones we don't know about.

Answer 4

I would steer clear and pray he/she wouldnt get hurt.

Answer 5

I would do the same thing.  If he wants to stunt, give 'em room.

Answer 6

bunch of dumb kids... Id have told them off... and gone another way... I keep clear of kids on sport bikes, 99.99% of them are idiots

Answer 7

I would just ignore them. Most children will mature sooner or later, although it sounds like your crowd might fall under "later".

Answer 8

I would have done the same thing you did.

We just had a crash here where 7 bikes went down and one woman died:(

You have to allow enough room for others error in group riding!

Answer 9

Tinker is right. But its an xtreme sport like skydiving and adrenelyn junkies will always be around

Answer 10

Doing wheelies on a freeway brings law enforcement like chumming water brings sharks. In a perfect world, they'll only hit the guys popping wheelies, but realistically...well, I won't be there when the cops show up, because you never know how things will go.

Answer 11

There's a guy in my town who does this with a woman on back. At 80MPH on the freeway. He has no insurance, registration or tags or endorsement. Him or his dumb girl wear protection.

It bothers me. I want to slap him everytime I see him. Everywhere you go he taggs along. It's like you might have to plan secret meetings and rides just to avoid him.

Answer 12

Probably the same as you, I have done a few stupid things in my time also.

Answer 13

Much the same as you, I expect. Give them the space to have their own accident without involving me in it.

There was a guy in our group who was unsafe, but he'd zip up and down the pack from back to front and get in everyone's way. We banned him in the end because none of us wanted to ride with him.

Answer 14

Find another group or phase these idiots out of the pack.

They create ill will  and endanger all who take it seriously.

Answer 15

ya know what I have been wearing h***s Angels colors for 22 tears and we dont do stupid **** like that. We ride in formation at about 100 M.P.H. we keep it tight and right. Somebody wants to do a wheelie or burnout they do it once we are where we are going. But not in formation.

Answer 16

I'd immediately find some other place to ride. Behaviour like that genarally draws police.

Answer 17

Magz, I hate surprises. If the "new bunch' is capable of attracting attention in this manner what other tricks have they up their sleeve? I would most likely have moved on.

Answer 18

Power wheelies on the highway is the MARK OF A SQUID