I think that there a lot more people who agree with me than dissagree.
So that makes Douchey-ness acceptable?
I think that there a lot more people who agree with me than dissagree.
I think that there a lot more people who agree with me than dissagree.
There are simply a lot of uptight riders in this forum, and my experience on the street in Toronto is that is simply not reflective of the forum. To top it off the other day I was riding behind 2 cop riders on those big mother Harleys of theirs. They had open face helmets, button up police issued t-shirts and rode the whoooooooole time side by side in the lane!!!!
These were cops cruising around, SIDE BY SIDE!!!! There is plenty of room in the damn lane. Some of you guys are way too uptight. Now I wouldn't advocate riding with a stranger in the same lane, but pulling up to the red light slowly in the same lane? Come on, get off your high bikes!
It is no big deal, not unsafe, and even if the dude "passes" you by accelerating hard and taking the lead, what's the problem??? They got out of your way! If you think you pace is quicker, change lanes and pass, like you would any car (like the hundreds of passes you make every day). I can't believe passing another bike, who passed you earlier keeps half of you up at night.
This is such a non-issue of a stuck up rider who thinks he knows better and looks down on other riders. Instead he could have been kind and "instructed" them, rather than pulling attitude. This holier than thow attitude doesn't help. Soften up.
Maybe you should invest in a trike and properly take up the whole lane, pretending you're a rider....cause you have already lost some of that rider spirit.
That being said, I am way more cautious of you types on the road now...not because of the safety factor, but because of your precious egos. I for one don't care if you pull up to me at every light in my lane, and either lead for a time or drop back. I actually enjoy the biker banter and comradery. I like the break from monotony in traffic. I like the odd conversation. If I'm not in the mood, feeling sluggish, or even too aggressive for such a rider, I'll either pull away or drop back. There have been umpteen times I have met bored out of their mind riders on their commutes, but once we pull up to the lights, we energize each other and go for a spirited ride to our respective destinations. We have often taken turns leading, and cutting up traffic. I have never once had an incident ever with either less experienced riders, or more experienced. If I run out of things to say at the next light, I merely indicate I have my music on, and we get back to some riding.
The antisocialism, aside from the parking lot pose down variety, is stifling and surprising in this forum. It truly is in extreme contrast to my riding experience in other parts of the world. Seriously, you guys need MORE experience in a few other areas if you're this hung up over a rider pulling up to you in your lane at a light! It is both legal and safe, hands down. If you can't handle it, most likely you're the lacking rider who needs to be "instructed".
I've known a biker who kicked over a clown who rode up next to him in his lane. Respect people, it's not your lane to share unless you are signalled to do so by the rider in front. Maybe the next time I see a Yamaha dual purpose bike I'll squeeze my car alongside him and say hello.
Funny thing: Many of us "stuck up" riders have been on the street for decades (plural) and have learnt, the hard way, what is safe and what is not. We don't like it when someone else, who generally has a fraction of our years and Kilometres or experience, presumes to act in a way that impacts our perception of what is safe. It isn't being antisocial.
Funny thing: Many of us "stuck up" riders have been on the street for decades (plural) and have learnt, the hard way, what is safe and what is not. We don't like it when someone else, who generally has a fraction of our years and Kilometres of experience, presumes to act in a way that impacts our perception of what is safe. It isn't being antisocial.
At one time, in the distant and dusty past, there was a presumption of brotherhood amongst riders. That is largely no more, in no small part because riders have come to expect that any and all foibles exhibited by motorcyclists should be written off, because of "the brotherhood of bikers."
Funny thing: Many of us "stuck up" riders have been on the street for decades (plural) and have learnt, the hard way, what is safe and what is not. We don't like it when someone else, who generally has a fraction of our years and Kilometres of experience, presumes to act in a way that impacts our perception of what is safe. It isn't being antisocial.
There are simply...Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.
Funny thing: Many of us "stuck up" riders have been on the street for decades (plural) and have learnt, the hard way, what is safe and what is not. We don't like it when someone else, who generally has a fraction of our years and Kilometres of experience, presumes to act in a way that impacts our perception of what is safe. It isn't being antisocial.
At one time, in the distant and dusty past, there was a presumption of brotherhood amongst riders. That is largely no more, in no small part because riders have come to expect that any and all foibles exhibited by motorcyclists should be written off, because of "the brotherhood of bikers."
Let me be frank...I have a decade plus experience, in multiple countries, on multiple machines, in multiple social biking cultures. I am aware this biking culture has few veterans and many inexperienced riders...but at the same time I do not share your jaded attitude in the slightest. In fact I am glad my experience allows me to enjoy the benefits of this riding culture and not be scared off by it's short comings. To each their own, and if you don't want anyone in your own lane, try telling them:
"sorry, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't feel confortable riding in the lane with you. It's not you, it's me, sorry. Have a nice ride."
That might serve you better. Maybe even make a little laminated card in big font for those riders with ear phones. It will save all the moaning, to no effect, in the forum.
Fact is, you may have become jaded but the rest of out there have not. You truly are in a minority. This "dusty past" you speak of is just your dusty memory. The brotherhood spirit is alive and well....why else do you figure there are so many rides and meets? I don't see random cars meeting twice a week to go on 8 hour drives in big circles for the hell of it!!!! I still haven't found a GTA car forum. Cars don't pull up to each other, smile and have little chats. People don't randomly stop kia owners to ask them how many ccs they have, or what top speed they got to. Quite simply there IS a social culture around bikes, and quite simply it requires some "experience" and or training to deal with it.
By the way I have ridden with youthful 70 year olds before, who didn't seem to have as dusty a memory as you. I have been approached by 60 year old Pakistanis in Canadian Tire parking lots to have 30 min chats about the 125 they had back in Karachi and all their mountain road riding they have done, and I see the glow their faces as they tour my bike. Funny I don't remember yelling at them to get out of my parking space! I for one feel richer for the experience.
I appreciate your experience, but I see it as you've made those mistakes so I may learn from them, and won't have to commit them too.
And you're indifference is indeed being asocial, and there is a camaraderie. For example, I generally don't interrupt the guys at tims, but one time my bike wouldn't start, and each one was all too eager to push me to push start my bike. Even the guy that was bragging about the stickers he just slapped on that literally said BOSS to make it look "BOSS".
And after all, isn't that why this forum exists? To help us all become better at what we're passionate about?
By the way, that's a super cool ER-6N you got there. My favorite color scheme is the Silver with red frame...
Let me be frank...I have a decade plus experience, in multiple countries, on multiple machines, in multiple social biking cultures. I am aware this biking culture has few veterans and many inexperienced riders...but at the same time I do not share your jaded attitude in the slightest. In fact I am glad my experience allows me to enjoy the benefits of this riding culture and not be scared off by it's short comings. To each their own, and if you don't want anyone in your own lane, try telling them:
"sorry, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't feel confortable riding in the lane with you. It's not you, it's me, sorry. Have a nice ride."
That might serve you better. Maybe even make a little laminated card in big font for those riders with ear phones. It will save all the moaning, to no effect, in the forum.
Fact is, you may have become jaded but the rest of out there have not. You truly are in a minority. This "dusty past" you speak of is just your dusty memory. The brotherhood spirit is alive and well....why else do you figure there are so many rides and meets? I don't see random cars meeting twice a week to go on 8 hour drives in big circles for the hell of it!!!! I still haven't found a GTA car forum. Cars don't pull up to each other, smile and have little chats. People don't randomly stop kia owners to ask them how many ccs they have, or what top speed they got to. Quite simply there IS a social culture around bikes, and quite simply it requires some "experience" and or training to deal with it.
By the way I have ridden with youthful 70 year olds before, who didn't seem to have as dusty a memory as you. I have been approached by 60 year old Pakistanis in Canadian Tire parking lots to have 30 min chats about the 125 they had back in Karachi and all their mountain road riding they have done, and I see the glow their faces as they tour my bike. Funny I don't remember yelling at them to get out of my parking space! I for one feel richer for the experience.
And I was one of the 5 founding members of a riding group that ran for a goodly number of years and reached more than 200 members, before politics caused an implosion. I tried to help organize a protest against outlandishly high insurance premiums, for new riders. You know who showed up? A few guys, who had been riding for years, and who wanted to help out the newbies; not a whole lot of newbies.
What you refer to as 'jaded' is, to me, 'educated.' I still have a goodly number of friends, who ride. I simply don't do the "we're all brothers" thing anymore. To me there are far more who don't get what that 'brotherhood' is a two-way street.
And you'll hear about those mistakes and successes, in person or on one or on the various forums I take part in. I simply don't go out of my way, anymore, as that seems to be a great way to get slapped down. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."
I would have liked either the black with red frame like the Ninja 650 got, one year, or the orange and black to complete the 'fruit salad' with my hi-viz Aerostich, but couldn't find either. I got a fairly good deal on the blue.
You sound like you have been to war or something!
No, I sound like someone who has tried to help people out, who neither want to do any work themselves, nor appreciate the work that others do for them. Now I work for myself, and for select causes
I call BS---you're still a mod on GTAM..