Two Wheels Bad! (In this situation)

"Haimatox" (haimatox)
10/03/2014 at 19:28 • Filed to: None

Let me preface this by saying that I don't have anything against motorcyclists, and this post was not written to insult riders (is that a term?) or fan any flames. I understand their passion for bikes, the same as ours for cars. I appreciate bikes for their functional and mechanical beauty, such as this BMW S1000RR (is it a nice bike? I don't know anything about bikes) I saw tonight.

On the other hand, I hate bikers who ride recklessly and without concern for their fellow motorists. I hold no biases, as I hate drivers who drive unsafely. Earlier today, I was driving in the right lane of 55mph road. Out of nowhere, I saw a glint of sunlight reflecting off of two sport bikes, screaming down the shoulder at roughly 90mph. Really, guys? Doing nearly twice the speed limit less than five feet from other cars? WTF? What if someone pulled into the road and you didn't have time to react?

By no means am I saying that all motorcyclists are reckless and general hooligans. However, those who are create a bad image for the other, more considerate riders. Same thing with people who rice their cars, and how people now assume that all car enthusiasts are young, immature, and have fart cannons on Honda Civics.

DISCUSSION (36)

bob and john > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 19:36

yes, the S1000RR is among the cream of the crop.

And that is actually the biggest issue us bikers have. You tell someone that your a bike and they assume that A: you have a sport bike and are being what we call squids
or B: you have a 20k$ harley with 15K$ of chrome and are are part of the hells angels. The more reasonable of us are trying to get that changed, but idiots will be idiots.

Haimatox > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 19:38

I'm glad that there are so many biker Opponauts, otherwise I'd still hold assumption A or B.

Tohru > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 19:39

Let me preface this by saying that I don't have anything against motorcyclists...

I was ready to take this as the gearhead equivalent of "I'm not racist, but..." - then I read the rest of it.

There is a big difference between motorcyclists and squids*. Just like there's a big difference between motorcyclists and BMW riders, or (insert skin color) people and (insert skin color) trash.

Squids are gonna squid, no matter what any of us say. They're gonna put GoPros on their Monster-stickered bikes and stunt on the street. Then they're gonna take that footage and sell it on homemade DVD's for $10, or put it on their YouTube channel.

* Squid [motorcycling term] - 1. Short for "squirrely kid" ; 2. Acronym for Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, Ignorant and Dangerous ; 3. A (usually) younger rider on a high-powered sportbike that engages in risky behavior on the street without proper riding attire.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 19:39

Who the hell puts 15K of chrome on a Harley? Seriously, most of it's already chrome, especially if you're spending upwards of 20k That's like touring bike money. (My dad and grandfather both ride UltraClassics.)

Haimatox > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 19:43

Sport bike- check. Risky behavior- check. Lack of proper attire- check. Younger- seemed to be.

Yup, found our guy.

bob and john > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
10/03/2014 at 19:48

there are people.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 19:52

Crazy people...

Tohru > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 19:52

You can spot squids in daily conversation - they refer to cars as "cages" and car drivers as "cagers".

Haimatox > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 19:54

Cages... Well it makes sense.

bob and john > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 19:57

you should read some of the posts that I'm doing lately. i'm trying to get more people riding/dis spell the myths. I already have the first one up right here , if you want to give it a quick read

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 19:58

I also like how everybody flips their shit with a sport bike rider only wears a helmet and vest, while 90% of Harley riders only wear half helmets and street clothes.

JEM > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 20:00

"I was ready to take this as the gearhead equivalent of "I'm not racist, but..." - then I read the rest of it."

I started the same way as well.

FYI - to everyone out there - whenever you start a sentence with "I'm not xyz but ..." you are proving that you are xyz. I know we all do it, but we shouldn't.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:00

lol, harley skid-lids. those aren helmets. those are fashion accessories. If you actually lookd over which ones do have a DOT rating on them, you'll fine that at least 25% of harley guys dont ride with a (decent) helmet

Haimatox > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:03

It's certainly intriguing. My parents disapprove of bikes for safety reasons.

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:03

Haha, It's a real rarity to see a Harley rider with an actual helmet on. I also wonder if they can identify bugs by taste?

Plus most Harley bikes weigh approximately 5,000,000 pounds so that's not helping their general case either.

JEM > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 20:03

Part of the attraction of bikes is the danger, the ability to move quickly (laterally or forward), and I think no matter how nice of a rider you are, there are times you are going to weave in and out of traffic because you can. I bought a bike to ride, not to prove anything (other than that I can ride one and be responsible) but I will dart a bit in traffic to gain position. That said, I'm using my indicators, I wear gear, I check all around me etc.. and I'm not doing this in between lanes or the shoulder.

It's like buying a Mustang. Sure, you're going to do a burnout here or there, but you don't want to be the douche who's doing one Every. Goddamn. Light.

Haimatox > JEM
10/03/2014 at 20:05

True. I just figured that riding in the shoulder at such high speeds is ridiculous.

bob and john > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 20:07

well, here is the thing. take out all of the morons riding like the guys you saw. take out the harley people who are "vet riders" from doing 200 miles a year for the past 20 years. Take out the drinkers. And What you are left with is the fact that, riding isnt remotely as dangerous as its made out to be. if you learn properly, take the MFS course, and pay attention to the road, its arguably safe then driving, since you have so much more agility and the ability to sneak between cars if you see someone about to rear end you. no, if you get into a crash, yes, you will get more hurt then in a car. Then again, if you get into a crash in a plane, your definatly going to get more hurt then in a car, but do they forbid you from flying? no.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:08

oh yea. i actually looked up the weight for one (idk what they are called, but i sat on one at the bike show one year) and it was NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS. holy shit. my SV is less then 1/2 of that.

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:12

Jeeezzzzzz, My (Soon to be sold) bike weighs just around 400 pounds.

That thing must handle like an actual elephant, Just another reason why I'll never own a Harley.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:14

I didnt get to ride it, but i WILL say this. I was amazed at how easy it was to lift up into riding position...seriously, the thing weight soo much, but they actually did a 1/2 decent job of mass centralization.

keep in mind that was just the craxy wideglide duluxe FLGX heratige edition (sarcasm)
the v-rod is actually aa harley id own....only because I know porsche designed the motor and not harley :P

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:17

They've got some awesome stuff like the rider courses. I'd ride the V-Rod also, It's too awesome to decline. I just with Buell would come back, but not as EBR 1190.

I just took a look-see at their website, still midlife crisis material just a little less so than usual Haha.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:18

I actually started on a Buell. the Blast. I'm not going to lie, I miss that bike. and they guy I sold it too cant get insurance for it, so its been sitting in an underground parking garage for 3 years now...just sitting...

If I had known it was going to end up like that, i wouldnt have sold it to him.

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:21

Damn, it probably doesn't run anymore I'm guessing :/

But dat Thumper!

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:27

He burnt out the starter motor. would go down and just listen to it and ride it around the underground area.

I miss thumpa.

Kinja'd!!!

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:30

Ach, I love these things so much.

How was the transition from the Buell to the Suzuki?

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 20:31

I ran into a group of motorcyclists as you described in the second paragraph, unfortunately.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 20:35

it was defintaly a jump in HP (30-~75)
The position of the SV was a lot more sportbike, so that took some getting used to, but it was actually easier on my wrists as it didnt vibrate anywhere NEAR as badly as the little buell did.

I always got comments on the blast. Funny story, i went ot a biker meet with a friend of mine who had JUST gotten a brand new R1200GS ADV, 30th anny edition. My little thumper got all of the attention, everyone ignored the big, mean bravarian machine beside it.
My friend didnt speak to me for 2 days after that :P

jkm7680 > bob and john
10/03/2014 at 20:37

Haha, That's the thing about Buell that I really liked. Just how unique they looked, like I can't think of anything with two wheels that looks like the Blast.

Haimatox > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
10/03/2014 at 20:44

Ran into as in met, or ran into as in tire squeal, slam?

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 20:45

Almost the latter as I was on my way home from Seattle.

A group of crazed motorcyclists tore up most of State Route 99 doing wheelies, blowing red lights and blocking traffic.

bob and john > jkm7680
10/03/2014 at 21:03

yea. I really liked that ZTL brake too.

TerminalNinja > Haimatox
10/03/2014 at 21:05

Is it bad that the literal sense doesn't really bother me. I'm a kiwi rider so you know, rules and learner permits and cc restrictions until you can ride. Makes for an infinitely better system and riders. The main problem we get are the asshats in cars that don't look at intersections.

Haimatox > TerminalNinja
10/03/2014 at 21:12

That's true. This issue runs both ways.

Haimatox > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
10/03/2014 at 21:13

Ah. Those guys. Ugh.

JEM > Haimatox
10/04/2014 at 12:51

Oh without a doubt it is!