I say tap his back bumper with your front tire.

But seriously, if you really need help on this subject, here is a wikihow link. it involves an automobile, but the skills and principles are transferable to a motorcycle.

http://www.wikihow.com/Pass-Safely-on-a-Two-Lane-Road

 

I don't agree with that article. It tells you to pass quickly, but not exceed the speed limit. That's impossible. I am usually passing a car going the speed limit or a little over. I like cruising at 8 over, cops around here usually give you a 11-15 mph cushion.

I sometimes get a running start, sometimes get close then floor it, but I always get over the speed limit. I prefer the running start to avoid a passhole brake checking me. The shorter the passing zone, the faster I'll go. After passing I'll brake and hit resume and go back to 8 over. I got a ticket passing over 25 years ago, but since I started braking after passing, I haven't been stopped.

One thing I like is the reminder to check your mirrors before passing.

 

It tells you to pass quickly, but not exceed the speed limit .... Yep! FWIW, I got a "speeding while passing" ticket ( many years ago ) and tried to rationalize it with the officer. His response was "The sign doesn't say speed limit except when passing"

 

well that explains a lot. when I am the 5th vehicle behind a slow mover, the four in front of me are going through the steps to take to pass said vehicle before running out of passing lane over and over.
did not know you could not exceed the speed limit to pass, that explains why many are running side by side with the vehicle being passed (who speeds up) until they move back behind when the passing lane ends.

 

This may help the OP understand why people downshift. You can see in the powerband on this dyno sheet that higher rpm generates more power. UP to a limit of course.

THis is why folks will downshift. You raise the rpm to generate more power to more quickly get around a vehicle. Many do this to try and squeeze past someone quickly in tight traffic. Some just don't like to be out to the side of another vehicle. There are blind spots to consider when you are beside a cage as they are all different.

 

RCW 46.61.120 Limitations on overtaking on the left.

No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing other traffic proceeding in the same direction unless authorized by the provisions of RCW 46.61.100 through 46.61.160 and 46.61.212 and unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the operation of any traffic approaching from the opposite direction or any traffic overtaken. In every event the overtaking vehicle must return to an authorized lane of travel as soon as practicable and in the event the passing movement involves the use of a lane authorized for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, before coming within two hundred feet of any approaching traffic.

RCW 46.61.425 Minimum speed regulation—Passing slow moving vehicle.

(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law: PROVIDED, That a person following a vehicle driving at less than the legal maximum speed and desiring to pass such vehicle may exceed the speed limit, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.120 on highways having only one lane of traffic in each direction, at only such a speed and for only such a distance as is necessary to complete the pass with a reasonable margin of safety.