Odd Sight. Any Explanation
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
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From: Coastal Carolina
Odd Sight. Any Explanation?
Last night I was riding home from work on the Dulles Toll Road, a highway in Northern Virginia. It is a two lane entry ramp and I saw in the other entry lane behind me two Fairfax County motorcycle officers on their Harleys. So even though I was ahead of them in line I knew they were there so I (uncharacteristically) stayed near the speed limit. So they overtook me.
When they passed me, I saw a couple strange things. First, they were riding EXACTLY next to each other with no stagger (which isn't unusual), but also incredibly close together--no more than an inch or two between their handlebars. Their reason for doing so may be the same as the reason why dogs lick their *****--because they can. But although I was impressed with their riding skills (they kept this up for the length of the Toll Road, about 15 miles--I sped up to about 70 mph to keep pace with them), it seemed like a pointless risk to me if they hit a bump or hole and their handlebars met.
The second weird thing was that they had no headlights or taillights on. I haven't seen a motorcycle with no lights in a long time. I thought on all modern bikes the headlight comes on with the ignition switch. Do they make police bikes with the ability to run with no lights?
Just curious.
When they passed me, I saw a couple strange things. First, they were riding EXACTLY next to each other with no stagger (which isn't unusual), but also incredibly close together--no more than an inch or two between their handlebars. Their reason for doing so may be the same as the reason why dogs lick their *****--because they can. But although I was impressed with their riding skills (they kept this up for the length of the Toll Road, about 15 miles--I sped up to about 70 mph to keep pace with them), it seemed like a pointless risk to me if they hit a bump or hole and their handlebars met.
The second weird thing was that they had no headlights or taillights on. I haven't seen a motorcycle with no lights in a long time. I thought on all modern bikes the headlight comes on with the ignition switch. Do they make police bikes with the ability to run with no lights?
Just curious.
Last edited by TKDKurt; Aug 17, 2013 at 07:24 AM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I remember seeing two bike cops years ago, riding like they were the Blue Angels. They changed lanes at the same time and leaning a lot. They had to have been communicating to do it. While it looked really cool, it looked dangerous as hell.
As for the lights, we had one bike cop here but that was years ago. In my trips to the big city, I haven't seen any.
As for the lights, we had one bike cop here but that was years ago. In my trips to the big city, I haven't seen any.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,809
Likes: 38,649
From: Post Falls, ID
Cop bikes are equipped with headlight kill switches. HD provides a warning light on the FLHP dash that the headlight is off.
Tandem,side by side, tight formation riding is part of motor officer training. One of the officers was a motor rookie and being trained by a vet.
Tandem,side by side, tight formation riding is part of motor officer training. One of the officers was a motor rookie and being trained by a vet.
Last edited by upflying; Aug 17, 2013 at 10:00 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
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From: Honah Lee
Interesting. You would think they would have communication in their helmets. Sure the light thing was a police only option. Oblivious like blue lights only used when necessary and obviously forgotten by them. (like most anybody else if we had that option)
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
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From: Out west
Its funny when your a cop no rules to the road apply.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: USA
Back in the day I rode with a close knit circle of friends and we practiced riding close, bar to bar and wheel to wheel, we rode like we were chained together. We got pretty good as a group. We could pass funny cigarettes back and forth, even share a beer at 55 mph. Some one mentioned in another thread, "pegging". Riding old iron that was pretty common, hooking belts got us home sometimes. Riding your buddies lights happened a lot on the old trumps. Its all about trusting your riding partner.