And I knew better!!

Post by **Valueman** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:46 pm

A couple of weekends ago I committed a major riding transgression, and the burden of my sin weighs heavy. I knew better. I swore I would always just say Ã¢â‚¬Å“noÃ¢â‚¬Â, and never give in to the peer pressure. Alas, when put to the test, I failed.

A group from the local BMW club rode from Nashville over to Memphis to see the Ã¢â‚¬Å“Art of the MotorcycleÃ¢â‚¬Â exhibit. The original plan was to ride in multiple small groups, but there were only seven motorcycles, so we decided to ride as one group.

It all started innocently enough, but the speed kept inching gradually upward. Club rides are notorious for out of control speed, and before I left home I swore to myself that I would ride my own pace and not be pressured into riding too fast. By the time we hit the flat land in West Tennessee I was riding with the group at speeds I would never have ridden on my own.

We were on flat, boring stretches of road. Still, the danger of driving so fast, in a group, on two lane roads with lots of homes and farms is undeniable. It was plain old stupid.

With arrived without incident, and enjoyed the exhibit. Later, while enjoying an after dinner cigar just off Beale Street a few of us were talking about the pace of the ride. As it turns out most of us were very uncomfortable with the pace, and if just one of us had slowed down the others would have followed suit, resulting in a much more pleasant and safe ride.

I chuckle to think about explaining to some West Tennessee Sheriff just why a group of BMW riders just flew through town at two to three times the posted speed limit.

The good news is that among the group I was talking with after dinner I have found some new riding partners who enjoy a saner pace. I shared a great ride back to Nashville the next day with one of them. And I promise, it will never happen again. I plan on doing an ERC, an oil change, and a valve adjustment for penance. Oh yeah, here are a few pics from the exhibit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01525.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01522.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01519.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01518.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01512.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/ ... C01509.jpg

Post by **new2BMW** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:32 pm

Valueman,
Nice story. I'm glad there were no accidents. Sane speed is a good thing when riding with new people in not-so-familiar places.

I love that Britton. In fact, the man was a genius and I'm sorry that the world lost such a brilliant guy before he could accomplish his potential.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:55 pm

Nice pics...thanks...I like that classic Easyrider bike.

DJ

Post by **Ed K** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:10 pm

Hey Value...thanks...

....Pic 1522....

Captain America would be proud...

I remember watching on the big screen "Captain America" (Peter Fonda) of "Easy Rider" who was riding that cool looking (but I understand horrible to ride) chopper together with Dennis Hopper riding a flaming Harley...geez guess it was 36 years ago. Oh, and don't forget Jack Nicholson's debut...

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1330/6 ... 276&seq=17

When is this exhibit coming to San Fran?

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 8:37 pm

Great shots.

Post by **arkline** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 9:44 pm

Great story. Peer pressure...what can you do?

When I saw that show in Las Vegas, taking photos was "streng verboten". You lucky dog...

Post by **Valueman** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:14 am

Arkline,

The show in Memphis included one of my pet peeves - you could take photos IF you bought the photo permit. This is, of course, separate from the ticket.

Interesting side note, the last time I bought a photo permit was at the Kremlin last December

VM

Post by **Pat** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:27 am

I long to see that exhibit someday, and to ride a bike to it.

I think it's a great story you tell of riding at a pace faster than a majority of the guys would have ridden on their own. That damn manly peer pressure thang...... I wonder if sissy men live longer?

Easy Rider
It was only a few weekends ago that I watched it again. I have difficulty watching things I've already sat through once before. Mighta been better this second time around; gotta love Jack Nicholson.

Post by **gelbe Kulter** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:35 am

Hyperbole alert!!!

I chuckle to think about explaining to some West Tennessee Sheriff just why a group of BMW riders just flew through town at two to three times the posted speed limit.

Let's not get carried away. 105 in a 35 zone? That would be "go to jail" time.

I agree that when I find myself thinking "I don't want to be going this fast" I am not enjoying the ride as much as I'd like. It helps to know where the group is going, so that separation is not so bad. The people I generally ride with wait when they change roads. Everyone catches up. In a group of strangers there might not be the trust that people would stop to regroup.

I remember once riding through a small town behind two guys who were obviously in a hurry. I really didn't want to get caught speeding in that town, because I had dated a girl in college whose previous boyfriend was a cop in that town, and he was the jealous type and somewhat unhindered by conscience!

Post by **Valueman** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:39 am

gelbe,

I don't know if you have ever ridden through the western part of Tennessee along Hwy 70. There are several small "towns" where the speed limit drops to 30 or less well before you get to the lone traffic light. Riding 60 to 90 (2 to 3 times the limit) on the outskirts of these "towns" is not hyperbole.

Furthermore, when the speedo hits triple digits you are almost assured of being double the speed limit on any two land road.

One of our riders was on a R1200C and he said theer were long stretches when he just held the throttle wide open just to keep with the pack.

I am confident that if we had encountered LEO at certain points of the trip we would have gone to jail. As I have already said, it was just STUPID.

VM

Post by **gelbe Kulter** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:35 pm

Sounds like your group was gambling with a big ticket. I hope your ride leader knew the area well. I hate those sudden speed limit changes.

saguaro777 · Post by **saguaro777** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:05 am

Yeah, peer pressure to keep up. I think about some of the stupid stuff Ive pulled because of the people I was riding with. We had a cop chasing us for miles on one occassion until we cut off the road and onto a trail thru a swamp, of course this was in the 70's and we were all on enduro type bikes. Not a one of them licensed. I guess we were lucky that sheriff wasnt some vigilante cop.

Thanks for sharing those photo's, what was the old motorcycle with the wooden wheels and what looked like a saddle on it. Yr? Make?