They're Back!

[St0nkingByte]

Well today was the day. Sunny all day on a Sunday the day before spring and a bunch of the bikes that have been sitting since last September hit the road. Oh and their owners were on them too. Everywhere I went while running errands in the car I saw them, bikes on the road. The riders, the toughest of the fair weather crowd with their largely improvised motorcycle gear, regular jackets flapping in the wind, jeans, sneakers, loafers, with a smattering of boots. The last vestiges of winter clinging as a slight chill filtered those on the road mainly down to ones with full face helmets, gloves, full fairing dressers or Goldwings to hide behind. Yup this is it, the roads are no longer the sole domain of us ATGATT guys who rode all fall and winter.

As the day wore on, errands done, the sun still shining I just know I need to ride. I need to hit the road, even if for only and hour and show these part timers how its done. Finally I sneak out with my son riding pillion and hit the road. Once the bike I can observe my fellow rider much closer, I can even stick with them if I'd like. What I see isn't pretty. Riders meandering all over the road, multi bike groups not in staggered formation but moving together more like a pack of dogs. I'm used to the winter riders, with their tight lines, lane discipline and crisp maneuvers. I try falling in behind a few bikes and riding staggered but they are all over the place, most too fast for my tastes, especially with a passenger. A quick run out towards the mountains gets me out of town and I stop seeing other bikes. It's almost a relief really.

Time is running short so we turn around to head home. On the way a group of seven sport bikes pass us. A classic group of cookie cutter squids. Arai and Shoei helmets, leather racing jackets, jeans, sneakers. They ride with their left hand on their hip, except for the ones riding with their left hand on the seat behind them. A couple riding basically side saddle. They're all over the lanes. Two seem to ride most of the time on the dotted white line and for a while some seem to be running three abreast in a state where riding two side by side is technically illegal, though I suppose you could say the one running on the dotted white might technically be in the next lane over.

Entering the suburbs on the interstate the gaggle of bikes is obviously bored, one guy starts dragging his feet, at 70mph+. This scares all the soccer moms in their SUVs, actually it scares me a bit too. I don't want to be anywhere near some squid taking a dump and the resulting cars trying not to run him over. I slow down and get in the right lane. The rolling circus pulls away from us and after just a few minutes they're a distant memory.

The rest of the ride home is uneventful but I realize how rusty I am at riding with a pillion, its stressing me out about as much as maybe riding in pouring rain does, no the pouring rain at night. I can do it but I'm not 100% confident something bad isn't going to happen. I'm trying to decide if I want to work on that or stick with solo riding. At home we put the bike in the garage and put our gear away. Now I'm sitting here thinking about the return of the casual riders making mental notes for the good weather to come. Don't follow their corner lines like you might have done when tailing a full time rider in January, don't get sucked into their high speed antics, ride your own ride, do your own thing, smile, wave and let em by. After all, in six months they'll go back into hibernation.

[MagnumForce]

Even the poseurs... uh, I mean fair weather riders need their time in the sun too. I do my best to avoid them so that I won't get sucked in to whatever mishaps they may get themselves into. Glad the ride ended safely for you and your son.

[Fishpart]

Got to love those fair weather riders with there maybe 800 miles a year of riding they do, but hey they've been doing it for 10 years ( awhole 8,000 miles) I'll steer clear of these riders! Jan-Dec I'm riding.

[Rickster]

I think it was Jessie James that said "If we don't hang together, than we will hang separately" There's safety, and power in numbers. I don't have to agree with everything they do, to know that they may be helpful to me some day.

[GIXXER-Mike]

Originally Posted by St0nkingByte

...the roads are no longer the sole domain of us ATGATT guys who rode all fall and winter.

Unless you got a sign hung on it that says "PRIVATE PROPERTY" get ready to make room, my friend.

[dichotomous]

"ATGATT"?
please explain for a n00b

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by dichotomous

"ATGATT"?
please explain for a n00b

All the gear all the time

[dichotomous]

oh ok, yeah I am one of those. in the 20's and 30's (farenheight) all that gear is really helpfull too. at the moment I am not comfortable when there is snow on the ground, or much rain. Though I have ridden through both in my short career with a motor between my legs.

[Nanuk]

LOL, come to North Dakota and ride all winter...... And I dont live in town. The 20 mile commute on ice with -60 wind chills (-30 or -40 and a 40 mph wind) would slow you down.

[GIXXER-Mike]

Memories of Camp Grafton & Devil's Lake come to mind.

[wookie]

Yesterday, the temperature was about 50ish. I saw a fat dude with one of them WWII German army-style helmet, leather jacket, jeans, and tennis shoes riding an 04-05 Gixxer 750, sitting on the back seat was a small woman with a full-face helmet, leather jacket, and again jeans and tennis shoes. Later on, over my favorite stretch of twisties in the hills, I saw a dude riding an 01-03 Gixxer (not sure of model), full-face helmet, leather jacket, jeans, tennis shoes, AND NO GLOVES !!!

[CManT1914]

I don't see what the big deal is about wearing jeans. Sure they're gonna wear through fast, but some of us don't have riding pants. Even if we do, some of us have uniforms we have to wear to work, and can't wear ATGATT.

That being said, I wear my jacket, gloves and helmet 100% of the time, and my riding boots on the way to and from work, and anywhere else, just not during lunch when it's too much of a hassle to change shoes.

[GIXXER-Mike]

Originally Posted by wookie

Yesterday, the temperature was about 50ish. I saw a fat dude with one of them WWII German army-style helmet, leather jacket, jeans, and tennis shoes riding an 04-05 Gixxer 750, sitting on the back seat was a small woman with a full-face helmet, leather jacket, and again jeans and tennis shoes. Later on, over my favorite stretch of twisties in the hills, I saw a dude riding an 01-03 Gixxer (not sure of model), full-face helmet, leather jacket, jeans, tennis shoes, AND NO GLOVES !!!

Were u just stating what u saw or were you trying to make a point?

[Nanuk]

My best friend rides a S/T bike. He is one of the AGATT croud. I wear a leather jacket (motorcycle...ie; armored), full face, gloves, boots, and jeans(leather chaps unless it is just way too hot). I dont see the big deal because everybody does not wear the lastest aerostitch riding suit. From talking to my bud and a couple people here, it almost looks like the AGATT croud is as arrogant as most of the Harley croud.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by Nanuk

My best friend rides a S/T bike. He is one of the AGATT croud. I wear a leather jacket (motorcycle...ie; armored), full face, gloves, boots, and jeans(leather chaps unless it is just way too hot). I dont see the big deal because everybody does not wear the lastest aerostitch riding suit. From talking to my bud and a couple people here, it almost looks like the AGATT croud is as arrogant as most of the Harley croud.

It has nothing to do with being arrogant. It has to do with protection. Normal bluejeans won't survive more than about 3 feet if you are sliding on pavement. One the denim is gone, your skin goes. The result? A long, painful recovery from road rash.

Cordura textiles will hold up for about 50 feet. Racing-type leathers should hold up more than 80 feet before your skin stars to make contact with pavement. You may get some burns (sliding over the pavement generates A LOT of heat), but this heals pretty fast.

Many people smoke cigarettes, although this is known to be unsafe. They know the risks, and choose to take them. Riding in jeans is the same - if you know the risks, and choose to accept them, fine.

But the rest of us - the AGATT crowd - have the right to shake our heads in disbelief.

[cjjtulsa]

I guess I'm a cruiser squid. I wear a full-face and textile jacket, but ride in jeans and tennis shoes. I wouldn't mind having some pull over pants and maybe some boots, but I'm comfortable like I am. And until I get something more I accept the risk. I look at it like sex; sure you want to be protected because it only takes once to kill you (or mess you up real bad), but if I have to wear a surgical mask, latex gloves two condoms and some kind of anti-viral jelly I'll just spend some personal time alone with a video. Likewise, if it is necessary to dress in a plate armor suit just to be halfway safe riding, I'll sell the bike and buy a convertible. Case in point; there was a young salesman I talked to at the dealership before I bought my bike. His dad owns the place. He was riding home last fall, full gear, and somehow lost it on a curve - at legal speeds. He is no longer with us, and you can bet he probably had the best gear he could get, being he had pick of anything in the store. It's a dangerous activity, and it's only smart to protect yourself. But I won't condescend to those wearing a doo rag and sleeveless shirts. It's their head and their skin. Just so long as I keep mine.

[wookie]

Originally Posted by GIXXER-Mike

Were u just stating what u saw or were you trying to make a point?

Just stating that I saw that and kind of shaking my head thinking why people don't pay more attention to protection.

[M50er]

Correct, my skin and my head.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by M50er

Correct, my skin and my head.

But what about your family who will have to feed you and clean your bedpan for the rest of your life because you were too self-centered to wear basic head protection?

Certain risks can be accepted, others are too high. I could understand someone saying "I'll wear jeans, I'll take the risk". Road rash is nasty, but you'll survive it.

But riding with a do-rag instead of a DOT-approved helmet is far too dangerous. You don't need to be AGATT, but some basic protection should be worn, no matter what you ride.

[bajaraider]

I am the close to AGATT kind of rider. Full face, gloves, and jacket 100%! I usually am in boots. I wear jeans when I can, but riding to work I must wear slacks. Not much worse off than the jeans really. I can't imagine not wearing gloves again. When I wrecked when learning about 4 years ago. The only substantial damage was to my hands. (Helmet saved my life!) I had some road rash. I was a dumb kid in tshirt and jeans and tennis shoes. I have the scars to remind me of my no gloves. I'd rather go with out a jacket before I ride without glvoes again. Hands are much easier to damage that oter parts. Just my 2 cents. again its all calculated risk, but a lot of people don't think about or realize the hand thing. What can you do without hands? Think about it.