inexperienced Bonehead riders

I'm not going to flame you...actually its nice of you to try and help the young morons.

You do touch on something that does irritate me. When a state makes it mandatory, but then turns around and offers very few classes, of they are booked up immeadiately. If this keeps happening year after year spend the damn tax monies for additional classes and a facility to do them at!

BZ

 

Wow.

I can remember when I first started riding at the ripe old age of 16. Yes, I'm sure I looked a lot like the "newbies" of today. I also did stupid things, such as not wearing all of the appropriate gear all of the time, riding too fast, etc. I'll bet you have too, at one time or another. Good for Neverlost, for trying to help educate.

I took a 15 year break from bikes. I just purchased a VFR in January, refused to ride until I was legal, 2 months I sat there and only was able to pet my bike) I then took the MSF class, bought all of the safety gear as part of the purchase price of the bike, and am now having a ball again. I shudder when I see the shorts, t-shirts and tank tops out there. Yet, who am I to judge? I've done it. There but for the grace of God.....

I try to educate people. Try to talk to them. The gal that likes to shout names out of the window is either going to get hurt someday, or her husband is. A lot of people don't take that kind of stuff anymore. It's called road rage, and people get shot for a lot less.

So I think I'll just try to lead by example. Wear my gear, try to be safe. And have fun. The people that want to listen will, the ones that don't, well we have taken away Nature's natural selection process, and they will either die from something stupid on a bike, or something stupid elsewhere. Not a lot you can do, except lead by example.

 

Thanks Derstuka,

I hear you are heading north in the next few weeks? I live in Portland, OR, and would enjoy meeting you. I left San Diego, LA, as a kid and love it up here! No country has the country we have. One hour to the beach, mountains, high desert, you just can't beat it!

I'm planning on saving the date for dinner!

Have a good one! Sure love my little bike!!

Theresa

 

They are literally everywhere in Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg. With virtually the entire 82d Airborne Division home "safe", lots of young kids have been saving thier pennies for the last 15 months while deployed. They are coming home to thier pre-ordered GSX-R 1Ks, Hayabusas, R1s, and CBR 1Ks. You know the rest of the story because they are on the front page of any hometown paper.... and Fayetteville is no different even being a "military town"

"Paratrooper Dies in Sportbike Crash One Week After Returning from a year in Afghanistan"

I see squiddish behavior multiple times a day. Lane splitting with me (at high speed) or cars, no protective gear, flip-flops, same with thier hottie passengers....she looks great now, but no chick is hot with skin grafts down half of her torso and legs. It makes me sad and sick at the same time. Every time I see them, I want to get off my bike, take off my helmet, and smash it over thier heads to get the point across: "You are going to come home alive from the most dangerouos place on earth, and die on a motorcycle due to your ignorance?? Are you really this hopelessly stupid??"

My major command (Army Special Operations Command) just lost a kid the other day when he drove his 'Busa into a guard rail (while intoxicated). This guardrail was a speed bump before he fell off a 50 foot embankment next to a bridge. No gear other than a helmet. Hope it was worth it.

Every fiber in my soul sceams for these guys to get with the program and do the right thing.

 

:thumbsup:

I started riding at 15 in Colorado, no helmet law. I can't say I didn't have my squidly moments back then. When you're that young you're invincible :bounce:
It took me until a friend died from head injuries in a bike crash to realize the folly of my ways...

One thing I don't think was mentioned, is people tend to do the opposite of what you tell them. IE shouting at someone telling them to wear gear might make some smartass want to wear less gear not more.

All you can really do is teach by example, and be nice when people make fun of you for wearing full leathers in 90 degree weather :fish:

 

Stuka & Teresa:

I am not a party to what Jeff's wife says to people. Jeff just told me a story one day about something she did so I asked her about it and she had a few more to add. I just think its funnier than hell. She says what we all think.
When I see the type she has siad stuff to I ignore them. I am not a shout it from the window type person.

However, I have had dealings with clowns like this when I get questioned at gas stations, bike shops, etc, with "Arn't you hot in all that gear?" Now I'll try and engage them in a serious conversation, but if I get any attitude or mockery I promptly point out what morons they are and walk away. I am not a fighter nor am I looking for confrontations. But I refuse to back down to some turd who thinks they'll intimidate me with their "fraternity" attitude. Its not about winning anything...its about standing up for what you believe and live by.

And as far as passing judgement??? Hell, most of us on VFRW have the right to pass all the judgement we can. Why? beacause we did some of the very things these newbies have done. We have the bad experiances so thats why we pass judgement on them and try to enlighten them. Who are we to judge? I ask who are we NOT to judge!

KC-10FE is right, if we don;t police our own ranks. Then threads like this will just continue on and on and on...

BZ

 

OK so I just got caught up on this.... Been absent from the forums a little bit lately...(Happens when I actually have to work for a change)

I'm a relatively new rider...(4 years now) I take all criticism and also take all pointers... I'll never forget my first long ride with a very good friend of mine and during a break he asked how I was doing and I said "Well I'm nowhere near as good as you guys and I'm not even going to try and corner like you guys so I'll catch up with you guys on the straights don't worry about me...

I was told that I have a nice attitude but before he turned away he said (Oh and this was when I was riding my 85 VF700F) "You know, 20 years of development have gone into those tires and a major world cup was won on that bike with tires that are not nearly as good as the ones you have on. Trust yourself and your bike and you will get there..."

Now that I am on the 02 I have had to relearn the trust... To be honest VTECH makes it a little bit harder to trust my bike in the corners as I have to pay attention more to what gear I am in... I'm now starting my second season with my current steed and I find I'm lagging behind my group much like I was when I first got my VF700F... My Buddy asked on a recent ride how was I doing and I told him I was having trust issues....

I went on a tangent here a little bit but I would like to point out that sometimes a new bike forces someone even an experienced rider to relearn a few things I mean because it's sometimes just is a different ride all together and a new learning curve must be applied. My trust level with my bike is slowly coming up... Perhaps some behaviors you are seeing are stupid people but also perhaps in some cases they are people on new bikes for them and are trying to learn their new nuances and different capabilities?

BTW I took the MSF course... Took it all three days in the rain.... If nothing else it made me comfortable riding in the rain... But I learned all the basics......

As far as feet dragging...... Sigh...... I must confess there is a stretch in Amherst NH on my way to work..... 4 traffic lights in less than a 1/4 mile... When they are all out of sync and you hit each red (Almost every day.) you will find yourself dragging your feet..... Ok.... Maybe it's just me.....

I will be building my "Trust" in my VFR a bit each day... Although I must say I found myself doing an up-shift in mid turn... Kind of a stupid thing to do I will admit yes as my tire slid a few inches out.. I kind of just shrugged it off... So perhaps my "Trust" issue is not so much in my bike anymore but in my abilities? hmmmm Food for thought...

 

Stuka:

Your first couple quotes are funny.

I am a pretty mellow person, so your "witty" suggestions are more in line with what I say. But I have had people instigate and on those occasions I'll be smart with them.

I am going to ahve to remember the don't be queer, wear your gear. Sounds like something elf800 would say.

However, I do beilieve there are riders that should receive nothing but hostility. And you know the ones too. They have no regard for anybodys safety, think they are cool, etc. Its not about bringing them around to enlightenment. Its about completely shunning their butts. Letting them know they are not welcome in the riding community until they straighten up.

Its a great day when the squid is tired of squiding and he comes up to you and wants to ride with someone who takes it seriously since his friends don't want to do anything but "ride fast, pop wheelies, then sit in the Dairy Queen parking lot the rest of the night".

BZ

 

I think the main point here is we all are entitled to our opinion. And we are all different. Nobody is right or wrong, we just handle different things in a different way.

As far Jeff's wife, I'm only concerned from the safety aspect. People really do get shot, beat up, whatever, has happened in Portland many times, from stuff like that. I got into the middle of a fight between 2 guys from an idiot yelling out of a window, just like her. I won't do again.

Hostility only breeds hostility.

So Bubba, nobody meant any offense. You do things your way, I'll do em mine. I'm probably a little older than you, and maybe have seen a thing or two you haven't yet (God, I sound like my parents!!!) I was a hothead as a kid, not saying you are - just what I was. I'm not any longer, it's just not worth it. Life is too short to argue or fight.

Ride safe.

 

I was going to add my two cents worth, but inflation has given it a value of slightly less than nothing...

 

I've found it very effective in getting my point across!:tongue:

BZ

 

I really like his Avatar too - and the never argue with an idiot! Think I'll make a bumper sticker out of that!!

I also like animals!!

 

A friend of mine gave me that quote when I was having a particularly hard day at work with morons (the non-riding kind:smile

I have another Mad Max picture I need to post up soon as my new avatar.

BZ

 

I may not be the sharpest knife in the block but I do know for 100% certain that Bubba & myself are correct in this matter. All of us, meaning all riders on all types of bikes, need to start policing & mentoring all of us.

When I teach my MSF classes, I make it quite clear that I support responsible riding at all times & will not tolerate the squid or hog mentality one bit.

If you see a retard on 2 wheels doing something retarded, you need to talk to them. I don't care if they invite you to have sex with yourself, you at least need to make the attempt to enlighten them.

If we as riders don't help ourselves, the "Man" or "Big Brother" will be more than willing to do it for us & that will suck for everyone.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

First time I fell off it really hit home how you need to respect the machine and the roads your riding on. Unfortunately not all new riders have their first get off go as easily as mine did.

 

Who came up with the term squid?

Just curious!