Cops and us

[Hoghead]

The start of Jesse's Halloween post got me thinking. We've all probably got some experience of the Police.

On Sunday close to 10,000 bikes in the UK will be ridden on a ride of respect for a young police officer killed whilst attempting to stop thieves from stealing a quad bike.

PC Andrew Harper was 28 years old , married two weeks before his murder and was well respected as a member and servant of this community. He also rode.

Some of my friends won't be at this ride, regardless of their sympathy for the wife and family of the deceased. Past treatment and historic differences with the Police won't bridge the gap. To attend this event in their view shows a wider support for the police they find intolerable. The traditional 'outlaw' view of the Police extends worldwide, too...

I'm curious -what's the view in your neck of the woods of the Police's relationship with the motorcycle community?

[WillSCB]

To me, it's kinda like anything. You get some officers who got in for the right reason, and are good, honest, respectful individuals. Of course, you almost never run into them unless you are a piece of shit who is constantly in trouble. Then you get the guys who got beat up and stuffed into their locker in high school who got a gun and a badge to get even with the world. To me it's kind of ironic that the club guys who are the loudest about not being judged because of their attire and affiliations, are some of the first to do that very thing to someone who has a badge. Might not be a popular opinion, but that's my $.02.

[AlbertaFarmer]

A.c.a.b.

[hillcat]

When I was a young man living in the Boston area I battled cops.
Now that I'm old(er) I live in the sticks and rarely see cops and that's OK with me.

[Nanonevol]

Cops make me nervous. One minute they're talking calmy to you, the next their slamming you on the hood.

[farmall]

In the southern US cops used to hassle us through the 1980s but now everyone and their kid sister own a Harley cops don't seem to give a shit unless you're flying a patch. Of course today the average Harley owner is pushing Social Security age and many cops own bikes. Owning a motorcycle is as rebellious as being a preacher.

I might be a freak of nature because I never got rousted once nor pulled over without cause (speeding, loud pipes even I thought were loud) since I started riding in '78, not even when I had long hair and a beard, not in the NYC metro area, not in the South, not anywhere else.

[Dragstews]

.

[Hoghead]

^^^Damn! Not the first time I understand , on your side of the pond. Cops seem real jumpy in these situations, but then, they anticipate those they deal with to be armed in the U.S.
Even given the risk , there seems to be a number of vids where those shot seemed to be doing all they could to keep it cool.

[AlbertaFarmer]

I've got two completely stock, old man bikes and one wacky attention grabber. The police in Canada don't look twice at me on the stock ones, as the vast majority of riders here are old, law abiding weekend warriors. It's like driving a minivan or something, your completely invisible to them. They do stare hard at the wacky one, but so do most people. So far, I haven't been pulled over on it. I haven't got all the legal requirements, so I watch very closely and avoid them as much as possible.

Riding with Alberta plates and being young in America, I have received a few less than welcome escorts out of small towns. Probably due to how I look, how I was dressed and who I was with. Haven't been pulled over South of the border, just got the clear impression they would prefer if we weren't around. Even had a regular Easy Rider scene unfold down in Livingston, Montana.

A good friend of mine started riding this year, on a Husky factory supermoto. That thing is a police magnet. But, to be fair, there is a very rowdy supermoto scene in the nearest city. Most times if you see somebody doing something illegal and dangerous, it's on a supermoto.

[Hatchet54]

I might be a freak of nature because I never got rousted once nor pulled over without cause (speeding, loud pipes even I thought were loud) since I started riding in '78, not even when I had long hair and a beard, not in the NYC metro area, not in the South, not anywhere else.

That makes two of us. I've ridden in the midwest, the parks, Seattle and California. Never had turn signals, never had mirrors, never had baffles, never had trouble.

[farmall]

Most times if you see somebody doing something illegal and dangerous, it's on a supermoto.

That's evolution! Sumos look like serious fun. I'd like to sumo a DRZ 400 but have too many motorcycles. Maybe I can trade an Evo Sporty for one. My MT 250 Elsinore was perfect for urban/suburban commuting when I was a lad.

[AlbertaFarmer]

The supermotos are about the perfect machine in the city, but an absolute killer for highway riding. Something about the riding position, just takes all the fun out of it. Makes a poorly set up Sportster look like a Goldwing. They certainly have their place in a stable of multiple bikes.

Up here, they got really hot this summer. With Canadian trends, that almost invariably means they were hip in Southern California 4-6 years ago. Every kid that throws a set of street tires and a decal kit on wants just a little more than they cost new.

[farmall]

I'm well used to dirt bike riding positions and they're little different back wise from the back-friendly ape hangers I put on my HDs. If I were into the adventure rider thing I'd fit a small bug deflector wind screen but I've FXRs for highway work.

Plenty of KLRs travel the globe with the same riding position, but what fits different backs is individual.

[datadavid]

I never really hated cops, even when selling drugs was my main income. Swedish cops are mostly alright. Nowadays i support the police force, they are having the shittiest work ever with this sandnigger mass invasion we have going on up here.
Gang rape, full auto shootings, officers homes shot to Pieces in drive bys, bombings almost daily. I'd be an idiot not to support the police given what they have to work with here thanks to a socialist/green party government.

[Hoghead]

I never really hated cops, even when selling drugs was my main income. Swedish cops are mostly alright. Nowadays i support the police force, they are having the shittiest work ever with this sandnigger mass invasion we have going on up here.
Gang rape, full auto shootings, officers homes shot to Pieces in drive bys, bombings almost daily. I'd be an idiot not to support the police given what they have to work with here thanks to a socialist/green party government.

It's gotten mental up there. I saw reports of three explosions in one day in Malmo. Your press blandly report these as 'explosions' like a gas leak, and your Government remains quiet. All three were immigrant gang related, and now grenade attacks aren't uncommon. The arson attacks of 13th August in 2018 in Gothenburg were unbelievable. My father worked for Volvo for years and said he'd never seen events like these in the past.