I have to get this off my chest....... we just did the Remember 9-11 ride to ground zreo over the holiday weekend here in Mass. The weather was perfect and everything seemed in line. The organizers of this ride must work tirelessly to make everything go according to thier plan. Logisticaly, it must be a night mare, but they make it look easy.
We head out and we all try to find our place in line and after several miles the 175+ bikes smooth out into some kind of order. Little did we know that less than a mile after the start a terrible accident occured with several bikes going down on the highway sending two to the hospital via helicopters and one by ground who later expired. All in thier 30's and 40's. We didnot hear of the accident until our first stop, for obvious reasons, we were shaken at best.
Rides like this seem to bring out the best and the worst in riders. Simpke rules are there for a reason. Why do peaple attend these rides and have thier own agenda, not maintaining a safe speed, passing other riders, riding to close to the bike in front, riding next to each other, i just don't get it.
Somewhere between here and there we a goup of about ten bikes joined us, they were the huge tire bikes, i have no idea what bike brand they were but one thing is for sure, they were loud, and they had to make sure everyone at ground zreo heard them. A Motor Officer had to get off his bike and tell them to stop. I just don't get it. How much more disrespectful could we have been at the site where more than 3000 people were murdered. People talk about Harleys and thier loudness, these bikes were just plain foolesh. Why do people just have to go through life not living by the rules and why do we, as the larger group allow them to do it.
So, to the organizers, the motor officers and the bystanders that had to listen to these fools, i am sorry.
And my thoughts and prayers to the families if the accident victems. We need to do better, as riders.
Just my thoughts.

 

I like the reason for the ride, a great cause, no doubt. And the loud riders you mentioned were probably there just to show off. But......... I'm wondering if the orgainzers broke the 175 +/- riders into groups, of say 8-10, or was it a free-for-all. Free-for-alls with that many riders are just asking for trouble. Unfortunately. imo.

 

I refuse to do organized rides anymore. The non riders scare the crap out of me.

9-11-01 We Will Never Forget

 

Idiots like that are out there. I went on a memorial ride this summer that had about 300 bikes. We rode into town quietly and lined up at the location for the memorial. As we were riding in, I remember on guy in particular standing on the sidewalk. During the service when the guest speakers were talking, our bikes were silent, and everyone was standing there with their hats in their hands, this joker comes riding up on his Kawasaki Harley-look-alike reving the crap outta his drag pipes and parks right behind the speaker. I guess 300 sets of eyes glaring at him sent out a message, because he got on his bike and idled away.

 

You can only make anything so idiot proof. All the planning in the world will not stop a darwin canidate. That said I will not jump to conclusions on your ride as I don't have all the details. I hope it wasn't just a tragic accident caused by who knows what. My thoughts and prayers to the families.
And as was stated before, may we never forget those lost on 9/11.
My old backrest insert...

 

I have ridden in four Rolling Tunders and the last was by far the worst. Had a goupd of bikes that did not want to stay in the two lines and head up the middle. One almost clipped my left grip!! I really do not like riding in large groups for the reason that you will always most certainly find an idiot....

 

******** are drawn to public events like a moth to a flame. It can't be helped. Any public forum so that they can prove to everyone just how big and ******* they are.

 

I've done rides with 400 bikes or more. No problem if everyone is on their own schedule.
Problem arises when the ride is escorted. Riders speed up and slow down unpredictably, trying to maintain some sort of continuous group. I've seen accidents happen in this scenario almost every time I've done them.
No more police escorted rides for me. Seems like such a cool idea but it ends up being the free-for-all described above. Too many a-holes and show-offs and inexperienced riders trying to occupy the same section of road at the same time.

 

Same here. Did my first (and last) ride earlier this spring. Had always wanted to do one, so I did. Unbelievable how many idiots come out during one of those. Never again. I'll just donate and bag out of the ride next time.

 

I ride in allot of group rides and not had any problems....but i can see where it could get ugly. Just need to be safe....you cant stop all idiots...

God bless and be safe.

God bless the family's of the accident victims.