Anyone else?

Mr Lefty · 06-07-2009, 09:54 PM

Notice they have a bias AGAINST sportbikers? kinda odd as I ride one... but if I'm stopped at a gas station... 90% of the time I'll just not "what's up" and go on about my way.

but throw any tourer or Dual Sport... and I'll sit for an hour shooting the shit...

I wanna say it's just cause I'm interested in their type of riding more... and not a bias against them... but I'd be lie'n. I guess it's just that most of the time that I have kicked up a conversation... it's squid this and pose that.

Mississippi is really getting on my nerves because of that. Though I don't kick up conversation... THEY do... I'm polite and just give them the... "cause it was built to be ridden" response (when they ask why it's so dirty) But I cut it short and move along. It's gotten to the point I hate riding my bike anywhere near town unless I'm just going to or from work, because I get annoyed with seeing them... riding around with no shirts, shorts, brain buckets... cruising... looking for attention.

I'm not saying I'm the end all be all of motorcycles... or that I even have half a clue how to ride one to it's potential... but I guess it comes down to viewing my motorcycle... and motorcycles in general as more than just a tool to get attention... but a way of life... and other motorcyclist... are more than just someone who share's a hobby... but a friend I've not met yet.

and before I'm called a hypocrite for that last line... not everyone who owns a motorcycle... is a motorcyclist. they're just an owner of a motorcycle.

maybe I'm just stuck on myself... but I just tire of all the ignorant attention they bring to motorcycling...

but there I go stereotyping...

take it for what it's worth... just something I've been thinking about lately...

Trip · 06-07-2009, 10:11 PM

No, but I live in an area that has just as many capable riders as there are squids.

CrazyKell · 06-07-2009, 10:15 PM

I wouldn't say I have a bias like you do.....but I'm very particular about who I'll talk to.

Part of that is because I'm ridiculously shy. The other part of that is that I've tried to be the nice guy but all I get is squids....and it gets on my nerves.

t-homo · 06-07-2009, 10:19 PM

Yes, all of the time. It was funny down in Birmingham yesterday when we would talk to other cyclists when we said we were doing an Iron Butt from MO. They would see the Connie 14 and Bandit, then see my bike and be like "You rode that all the way from Missouri?" with a confused look on their face.

Also, probably 90% of the people here just cruise around town looking for attention, which, I will admit, is fun every once in a while, cruising through downtown on a Friday or Saturday night. The other 10% though are true riders who are a blast to talk to.

Fleck750 · 06-07-2009, 10:28 PM

"not everyone who owns a motorcycle... is a motorcyclist. they're just an owner of a motorcycle."

I'm stealing this.

Never a true phrase has ever been uttered. Thank you.

Amber Lamps · 06-08-2009, 01:39 AM

Well I've never been a fan of the "only people who ride as I do are motorcyclists" attitude but I definitely avoid other riders. For the most part they totally irritate me. Seriously. They give me their numbers and I throw them away. I really don't feel like babysitting or getting run into, thank you! I definitely don't feel like answering a million inane questions about bikes all afternoon. I don't know, I'll do a couple rallies a year and I think that will about do it for me and group riding...

Archren · 06-08-2009, 04:39 AM

I love the ones that ask me how fast I've gotten my bike. As though that's some sort of indicator of a bike or rider's ultimate potential.

But yeah, I totally get where you're coming from.. and a couple of my coworkers are the stereotypical squid/posers. They've asked me if I wanted to "ride" with them ("oh, you mean buzz down I-35 as fast as you can go, weaving in and out of cars? sweet!"), or go to bike night at Twin Peaks.. inside my soul is throwing up, but I smile and say I have other plans.

Mr Lefty · 06-08-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIGGER

Well I've never been a fan of the "only people who ride as I do are motorcyclists" attitude but I definitely avoid other riders. For the most part they totally irritate me. Seriously. They give me their numbers and I throw them away. I really don't feel like babysitting or getting run into, thank you! I definitely don't feel like answering a million inane questions about bikes all afternoon. I don't know, I'll do a couple rallies a year and I think that will about do it for me and group riding...

it's not that... I can deal with others doing things different than me... it's the negitive aspect they bring. I honestly don't think it's the "ride like I do or else" mentality... as I really have no interest in ever riding a trike or gold wing... but they're some of the most entertaining to talk to.

I'm extremely cautious about riding with other sportbikers... especially when I don't know them... so I've done it twice... both times ended with me taking the next exit while they wheelied/cut people off attracting the wrong kind of attention. I've ridden on about 5 occasions with a group of bikes that contained anything from cruisers to dual sports to big ass tourers. never had a hint of feeling nervous among them...

I guess I'm just stereotyping again here... but it just feel like the vast majority of the sportbikers I run into are just attention whores.

Cruzergirl · 06-08-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eBBs15

Notice they have a bias AGAINST sportbikers? kinda odd as I ride one... but if I'm stopped at a gas station... 90% of the time I'll just not "what's up" and go on about my way....

Usually I only completely ignore them if the rider isn't wearing any gear. Well, that's not entirely true... I ignore them if they are not wearing a helmet, shirt, shoes or gloves... which happens way too much in this area.

Yamerhaw · 06-08-2009, 02:06 PM

around here "most" sportbike riders are good riders, there's a few young guys that just tool around town but not that many, i completely avoid talking to anybody on a cruiser, most clueless people about bikes i've ever met unless you're talking about drag pipes or some kind of handlebars

06-07-2009, 09:54 PM	#1
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	Anyone else? Notice they have a bias AGAINST sportbikers? kinda odd as I ride one... but if I'm stopped at a gas station... 90% of the time I'll just not "what's up" and go on about my way. but throw any tourer or Dual Sport... and I'll sit for an hour shooting the shit... I wanna say it's just cause I'm interested in their type of riding more... and not a bias against them... but I'd be lie'n. I guess it's just that most of the time that I have kicked up a conversation... it's squid this and pose that. Mississippi is really getting on my nerves because of that. Though I don't kick up conversation... THEY do... I'm polite and just give them the... "cause it was built to be ridden" response (when they ask why it's so dirty) But I cut it short and move along. It's gotten to the point I hate riding my bike anywhere near town unless I'm just going to or from work, because I get annoyed with seeing them... riding around with no shirts, shorts, brain buckets... cruising... looking for attention. I'm not saying I'm the end all be all of motorcycles... or that I even have half a clue how to ride one to it's potential... but I guess it comes down to viewing my motorcycle... and motorcycles in general as more than just a tool to get attention... but a way of life... and other motorcyclist... are more than just someone who share's a hobby... but a friend I've not met yet. and before I'm called a hypocrite for that last line... not everyone who owns a motorcycle... is a motorcyclist. they're just an owner of a motorcycle. maybe I'm just stuck on myself... but I just tire of all the ignorant attention they bring to motorcycling... but there I go stereotyping... take it for what it's worth... just something I've been thinking about lately...

06-08-2009, 04:39 AM	#7
Archren Sham WOW Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATX Moto: 2007 Ducati 1098 Posts: 2,741	I love the ones that ask me how fast I've gotten my bike. As though that's some sort of indicator of a bike or rider's ultimate potential. But yeah, I totally get where you're coming from.. and a couple of my coworkers are the stereotypical squid/posers. They've asked me if I wanted to "ride" with them ("oh, you mean buzz down I-35 as fast as you can go, weaving in and out of cars? sweet!"), or go to bike night at Twin Peaks.. inside my soul is throwing up, but I smile and say I have other plans. __________________ Photography "The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time. It was impossible." - Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

06-08-2009, 02:06 PM	#10
Yamerhaw Country Boy Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hicktown in NC Moto: 07 R1 Posts: 797	around here "most" sportbike riders are good riders, there's a few young guys that just tool around town but not that many, i completely avoid talking to anybody on a cruiser, most clueless people about bikes i've ever met unless you're talking about drag pipes or some kind of handlebars __________________ “If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.” It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

06-07-2009, 10:15 PM	#3
CrazyKell Vrooom Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: 06 ZX6R Posts: 4,427	I wouldn't say I have a bias like you do.....but I'm very particular about who I'll talk to. Part of that is because I'm ridiculously shy. The other part of that is that I've tried to be the nice guy but all I get is squids....and it gets on my nerves.

06-07-2009, 10:19 PM	#4
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	Yes, all of the time. It was funny down in Birmingham yesterday when we would talk to other cyclists when we said we were doing an Iron Butt from MO. They would see the Connie 14 and Bandit, then see my bike and be like "You rode that all the way from Missouri?" with a confused look on their face. Also, probably 90% of the people here just cruise around town looking for attention, which, I will admit, is fun every once in a while, cruising through downtown on a Friday or Saturday night. The other 10% though are true riders who are a blast to talk to.

06-07-2009, 10:28 PM	#5
Fleck750 Spiker bike Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: KCK Moto: KZ750 Posts: 1,629	"not everyone who owns a motorcycle... is a motorcyclist. they're just an owner of a motorcycle." I'm stealing this. Never a true phrase has ever been uttered. Thank you.

06-08-2009, 01:39 AM	#6
Amber Lamps Moto GP Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,556	Well I've never been a fan of the "only people who ride as I do are motorcyclists" attitude but I definitely avoid other riders. For the most part they totally irritate me. Seriously. They give me their numbers and I throw them away. I really don't feel like babysitting or getting run into, thank you! I definitely don't feel like answering a million inane questions about bikes all afternoon. I don't know, I'll do a couple rallies a year and I think that will about do it for me and group riding...