The Little Things That Make You Proud

[Rickster]

Personally, I could care less if non riders want to hang a label on me, but I got to tell you that it does bother me when I see my fellow riders doing the same.
It's one thing to be uninformed, but it's something entirely different, and very wrong when we do it to each other based only on what gear/bike/hairstyle we chose.

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

Having personally experienced brain trauma, I highly recommend something a bit more substantial than a baseball cap.

No one here is judging you, but the rest of the non-riding world will make desisions about you based purely on your appearance.

Who is to say what he has stuffed in his bags. A buddie of mine has a similar bike and the first thing he puts in the bags are helmet and leathers. Maybe there is a helmet and leathers in there or maybe not. Sorry that you have had brain trauma ext1jdh, was it motorcycle crash related? Personally I ride with gear, I like me the way I am. I have been down once and made it with only minimal bruising with no gear. I have seen just as many sport riders wearing no gear with Bambi's pert behind in short shorts staring me in the face and wearing sandals. I think it's stupid but I have to admit that I enjoy the view, Bambi's pert behind that is. I love my college town!!

The rest of the world may make judgements based on appearance and that's just the way it will always be. Many bikers judge me because I do wear gear, nobody is perfect. From my experience there are a lot more gangsters wearing suits than leathers. Go to D.C. once, they have hundreds of um.

[diamond_jim]

General perceptions from non-riders that I've seen:

A squid is someone that does inappropriate things on a motorcycle.

A biker is someone who does inappropriate things when not on a motorcycle.

A motorcyclists is someone who appears, by their dress and riding style, to take safety seriously and appear to ride respectfully.

Originally Posted by Rickster

I agree with you Mike.

Squid is a label usually hung on someone doing something that would earn them a careless, or reckless driving ticket. Wheelies, stoppies, standing on there seat, passing on the shoulder, etc.

Around here we call them organ donors.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by diamond_jim

General perceptions from non-riders that I've seen:

A squid is someone that does inappropriate things on a motorcycle.

A biker is someone who does inappropriate things when not on a motorcycle.

A motorcyclists is someone who appears, by their dress and riding style, to take safety seriously and appear to ride respectfully.

These non-riders that you've seen sound like a Petty narrow minded group of people.

Number two would include everyone in the world, with the possible exception of the Pope.

[Ext1jdh]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

A buddie of mine has a similar bike and the first thing he puts in the bags are helmet and leathers.

Where it's doing his head and skin a whole lot of good...whats the point of buying them if he's not gonna use them?

Originally Posted by diamond_jim

A biker is someone who does inappropriate things when not on a motorcycle.

hear hear.

Originally Posted by frostbitevinne

Sorry that you have had brain trauma ext1jdh, was it motorcycle crash related?

Nope, but the cure is still going on, and it's meant 6 months of pain, so far.

Originally Posted by diamond_jim

General perceptions from non-riders that I've seen:

A squid is someone that does inappropriate things on a motorcycle.

A biker is someone who does inappropriate things when not on a motorcycle.

A motorcyclists is someone who appears, by their dress and riding style, to take safety seriously and appear to ride respectfully.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion weather or not it is based on fact.

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

Who is to say what he has stuffed in his bags. A buddie of mine has a similar bike and the first thing he puts in the bags are helmet and leathers. Maybe there is a helmet and leathers in there or maybe not. Sorry that you have had brain trauma ext1jdh, was it motorcycle crash related? Personally I ride with gear, I like me the way I am. I have been down once and made it with only minimal bruising with no gear. I have seen just as many sport riders wearing no gear with Bambi's pert behind in short shorts staring me in the face and wearing sandals. I think it's stupid but I have to admit that I enjoy the view, Bambi's pert behind that is. I love my college town!!

The rest of the world may make judgements based on appearance and that's just the way it will always be. Many bikers judge me because I do wear gear, nobody is perfect. From my experience there are a lot more gangsters wearing suits than leathers. Go to D.C. once, they have hundreds of um.

The ones in D.C. could give lessons to all the scarfaces in the world.

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

Where it's doing his head and skin a whole lot of good...whats the point of buying them if he's not gonna use them?

He does use them but as soon as he is off the bike the gear is stowed. Everybody knows I have gear as it is always on my mirror.

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by nateW

Again. Your choice of views. You assume that if one isn't wearing all the atire you deem correct for riding then they are irresponsible.

If you want to wear that helmet go for it. If I"m not in a state that requires me to wear a helmet I don't wear one. If not. I wear leather. bibs and a jacket.
Nothing more is needed. And depending on the time of year. I won't wear that much. I want to arrive alive. Not well done cooked and dead because I passed out on the road.

Oh and just a heads up. until the recent past. There was nothing more than leather.

I make a choice. You make a choice. Don't judge me because I didn't make your choice. .

It is irresponsible. I've done it, and I will probably do it again. But I'm not going to pretend.

Originally Posted by nateW

Are we more careful. Could be. We ride cruisers. Not sport race bikes.
We ride at a normal speed and take care to be careful. Unlike some in the sport community whom don't seem to care how they ride.

search on youtube and the first link i get:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This media file is hosted outside Motorcycle-Journal forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

third link:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This media file is hosted outside Motorcycle-Journal forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

[nateW]

Originally Posted by JmalB

It is irresponsible. I've done it, and I will probably do it again. But I'm not going to pretend.



search on youtube and the first link i get:


third link:

Now. I agree there are idiots. Now how about you posting up 10 or the 1000 or more videos of sport bikes doing stupid stuff. The numbers can't lie. The vast, number of sport bike videos and accidents speak for them selves.

[LCA_koolaid37]

I heard somewhere, and this is just hearsay you understand, but motorcycles, sportbikes and cruisers, don't run themselves.

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by nateW

Now. I agree there are idiots. Now how about you posting up 10 or the 1000 or more videos of sport bikes doing stupid stuff. The numbers can't lie. The vast, number of sport bike videos and accidents speak for them selves.

That's not the point when you try to insinuate that it's a sportbike only problem.

Originally Posted by LCA_koolaid37

I heard somewhere, and this is just hearsay you understand, but motorcycles, sportbikes and cruisers, don't run themselves.

That's the point.

[AZRyder]

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

Again, note the subtle differences.

One is ready to ride a motorcycle, the other is wearing no body protection other than "fashion" chaps. His helmet looks totally Snell rated as well.

I don't wear a lot of body protection, mainly a helmet and a jacket when it's cold. It's an armored jacket but when it's 115 out, I'll go in shirtsleeves. Not necessarily safe but better than dying of heat prostration. And if I could grow my hair long lol, like I used to, I probably would. And I wear chaps in the winter. Does that make me inferior?

And a lot of my friends look like picture number 1. And I've noticed that most of the people that do stop if I'm having a problem look like picture one whereas the superior "Motorcyclists" on their BMW's and 1000 bucks worth of gear tend to buzz right by..

Sorry, but if I were to use "Labels" I tend to think of myself as a "Biker" as I've ridden every day for 30 years. Doesn't make me any better than a "Motorcyclist" but it doesn't make me any worse either.

[kay]

I personally don't care if anybody has long or short hair...but gear I do.
I know I don't have any right to walk and start nagging the guy, I can't help thinking....he'll be in big trouble if he had a nasty fall when I see anybody riding with no protective gear.

Over here, helmets are a must. It's the law. But still some will only wear something that might blow off their head with a gust of wind even.

Yes, it's their own choice, but if they had someone they wanted to protect and be with.....I still think no gear is irresponsible.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by kay

I personally don't care if anybody has long or short hair...but gear I do.
I know I don't have any right to walk and start nagging the guy, I can't help thinking....he'll be in big trouble if he had a nasty fall when I see anybody riding with no protective gear.

Over here, helmets are a must. It's the law. But still some will only wear something that might blow off their head with a gust of wind even.

Yes, it's their own choice, but if they had someone they wanted to protect and be with.....I still think no gear is irresponsible.

Everything you say about "gear" is true, but when you get right down to it, how much gear is enough if you have a nasty fall?

Did you ever stop to think that most of the people riding in there big safe cars, are saying the same thing about you. They are right too, you would be safer if you didn't ride a motorcycle at all.

Gear is good, riding safely is better, riding safely with gear is better yet, driving to work in a tank is best.

[Ext1jdh]

Telecommute. Don't even leave the house. Order groceries online.


















































there's weirdo's out there...

[busa-boy33]

Ok.. lets be fair then.. Sportsbike/crotchrocket guy here.. I don't stunt nor am I a squid and never have been. IF I exceed the speed limit its no worse then someone who does the same every morning on their way to work in the truck/car.

Bottom line.. their are bad apples in both sport bikes and cruisers.. and if a judgment is needed to be made then make it on the individual and not the whole. Gear or lack of doesn't make you an irresponsible rider.. I wear a mesh jacket due to the weather and humid conditions here. I also figure to get a due amount of road rash if the time comes I am off the bike and on the pavement.. but down here I don't see any cruisers hardly wearing any gear beyond the helmet. Road rash hurts at 55 mph as does at 80 mph.
The biker image comes from media and movie portals.. and really does come down to the person and not the group as a whole.

(Tosses 2 pennies on the table and does a wheelie out of the room.. weeeeeee)

[kay]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Everything you say about "gear" is true, but when you get right down to it, how much gear is enough if you have a nasty fall?

Did you ever stop to think that most of the people riding in there big safe cars, are saying the same thing about you. They are right too, you would be safer if you didn't ride a motorcycle at all.

Gear is good, riding safely is better, riding safely with gear is better yet, driving to work in a tank is best.

Yeah but it's the degree of nastiness. You may go up to nasty level 5 and be ok with gear whereas you may be pretty muched cooked at nasty level 2 with no gear. If it's nasty level 10, you done anyway even if you wore a tank on your head.

Shouts at Scott who's wheeling down the road....

"Wheelie safey home, Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[AZRyder]

Originally Posted by kay

Yeah but it's the degree of nastiness. You may go up to nasty level 5 and be ok with gear whereas you may be pretty muched cooked at nasty level 2 with no gear. If it's nasty level 10, you done anyway even if you wore a tank on your head.

Shouts at Scott who's wheeling down the road....

"Wheelie safey home, Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!"

But then again, it's a choice, not a measure of responsibility. For me, responsibility is more toward my responsibility toward other drivers, and theirs to me.