Hating on riders - from a rider | GTAMotorcycle.com

Hating on riders - from a rider

estone

estone

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I've had a bike for 6 years. Came back from working in Vancouver the last 3 years, and man, what a different bike culture. You still get morons on bikes out there, but much fewer of them. The bike community is tighter, smaller, and I think polices itself a lot better.

Now back in Toronto, I'm hating on the bikers here. I'm near Lakeshore/Coxwell frequently, and the idiocy I see riding around there is staggering. Sportbikes weaving in and out of traffic, the Thursday night bike meet at Leslie howl fest that is everyone revving their POS 98 R6 as they race down in a tshirt and ICON back protector, cutting cars off on the road.

I see this crap, and honestly I dislike motorcyclists. I totally see why people hate on sportbike riders (leaving Harley guys out of this). Loud, obnoxious exhausts, unpredictable/dangerous riding. Makes ME hate motorcyclists, and I'm a rider!

What's to be done? Nothing I guess. I have no solution. But I don't see this ending well. I'm honestly surprised the Leslie meet is still 'allowed' to happen.
 
it is up to us to educate the other riders and to police our own.
 
I've got no statistics to back this up but maybe it's due in part to the increase in new ridership. Seems like a ton of people are hopping on bikes these last few years, myself included. Inexperience, excitement and a bit of immaturity are to be expected. Those who don't grow up wil probably weed themselves out though, hopefully not at the expense of someone else.
 
AF4iK said:
Those who don't grow up wil probably weed themselves out though, hopefully not at the expense of someone else.
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+1.

Just last night, my riding group was heading home southbound on DVP and I was the sweep. right after the junction at 401, i saw this gsxr screaming down the Go Bus lane cutting in front of the car behind me and squeezed himself into the back of the group. Then proceeded to do a 2-lane change and lane split between right lane and middle lane to pass a few cars. if you are reading this, your riding style nor your white icon vest didn't impress anybody. you rode like an a-hole tailgating my group as well.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
it is up to us to educate the other riders and to police our own.
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Is it?

I stopped giving unsolicited advice a long time ago, and while I consider myself a responsible rider - in that I take responsibility for my actions and my choices - if any other person - "rider" or otherwise - decided to "educate" me, well sir, we'd have an interesting exchange of ideas, I'd expect.

There are idiots everywhere, and to the point that was made already, those that don't grow up will probably weed themselves out.
 
I think the difference is that in Toronto with so many little roads to enjoy the bikers waste more time posing and acting stupid. Most people I've talked to/ride with find meeting up at Leslie & Lakeshore or burrito boys is just a posing thing, the people that ride and enjoy motorcycles on the road are usually riding, out of traffic on twisty roads and those are the ones in a nice tight community.
 
I think it's got a lot to do with kids living with their parents too long, having everything paid for and not growing up.
 
Dumb things I saw on Sunday on the QEW: A guy weaving through traffic at about 140-150 on an open-piped Harley V-Rod, t-shirt flapping in the wind. The thing was so loud it sounded like a jet engine, and I was riding with ear plugs. Then a few minutes later, someone on a Ducati hypermotard zips by...followed by two motor patrol officers. They followed the guy closely for about 2 km before finally throwing on the cherries and pulling him over. Dude--every look in your mirrors?
 
oomis said:
Is it?

I stopped giving unsolicited advice a long time ago, and while I consider myself a responsible rider - in that I take responsibility for my actions and my choices - if any other person - "rider" or otherwise - decided to "educate" me, well sir, we'd have an interesting exchange of ideas, I'd expect.
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The Differance between you and them is that "Maybe" they do not know any better because no one has told them. And the groups and people they are hanging with do not know any better either. I will speak up, if you dont want my opinions or advice fine, easy to say so, I am not going to force myself on anyone or give unwanted advice, but if I show someone there are reasons for what to do or not to do, they also might want to change. I have made a differance in many young riders here in my area. I am not out to change the world.


People who care about no one but themselves, are why we have that kind of stuff going on in the first place. Those with Knowledge, experiance etc. are not sharing that with the newer riders.
 
Totally in your boat! I love motorcycling, but I don't like the crappy stereotype that people live up to. The best for me is to go out in the evenings when traffic is light and be able to cruise around at my own pace where I can enjoy the sights and ride. Sure it IS kinda fun to rev that engine and accelerate hard on the highway, but not really. Riding in a way to get yourself or someone else hurt? Burning off and trying looking cool? No thanks.

I do agree with the thought that due to lack of easily accessible 'riding roads' people find fun in weaving through traffic. I also think though (and know to some extent) that those who are not skilled in taking corners prefer not to learn and thus 'weaving' becomes their way of having fun.
 
jc100 said:
I think it's got a lot to do with kids living with their parents too long, having everything paid for and not growing up.
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Explain please?
 
the clear solution :^).....BAN Icon vests.....those riders thinks their the bomb

once they dress like us ...they will a simulate......no really,,,, they will...
 
It's nothing new..I can remember 20 years ago all the same stupid things that go on now..I remember 20 years ago watching a guy wheelie into a parked transport trailer...
 
I no longer support motorcycle causes as a whole. I'm in it for myself, everyone can do their own thing and I just don't give a crap. More power to you if you live ATGATT but don't lecture me on my non-DOT helmet.
 
Outlaws Justice said:
The Differance between you and them is that "Maybe" they do not know any better because no one has told them. And the groups and people they are hanging with do not know any better either. I will speak up, if you dont want my opinions or advice fine, easy to say so, I am not going to force myself on anyone or give unwanted advice, but if I show someone there are reasons for what to do or not to do, they also might want to change. I have made a differance in many young riders here in my area. I am not out to change the world.


People who care about no one but themselves, are why we have that kind of stuff going on in the first place. Those with Knowledge, experiance etc. are not sharing that with the newer riders.
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The OP was referring to what seems to be mostly common sense things. Revving your engine incessantly, weaving in and out of traffic, and generally being an idiot are not things that are remedied with knowledge. It has nothing to do with "caring only about ourselves", thanks very much, and more to do with "it's your life and your choices and your responsibility". I'm not your mother, and if you need to be told that the way you're acting makes you look like an imbicile, then a sit down and a chat isn't going to fix it.

If anyone genuinely wants advice, motorcyclists as a general rule will go out of their way to share, and I'll put myself in this category. However, if you need to be told that an Icon vest won't provide much protection when you go down, or cutting off that minivan and scaring the crap out of mom and her kids is a bad idea, I think that said person is lacking in common sense, not in knowledge.

Turning around and saying it's all our fault because we don't speak up - I think you're seriously offside. I am glad that you feel you're making a difference. Keep up whatever good work it is you're doing.
 
jc100 said:
No need...just a grumpy irrational rant on the entitlement generation.
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Haaaaaaaaaaah. You should really read this article from, of all places, The National Post, about which generation is really the entitled one.
 
oomis said:
The OP was referring to what seems to be mostly common sense things. Revving your engine incessantly, weaving in and out of traffic, and generally being an idiot are not things that are remedied with knowledge. It has nothing to do with "caring only about ourselves", thanks very much, and more to do with "it's your life and your choices and your responsibility". I'm not your mother, and if you need to be told that the way you're acting makes you look like an imbicile, then a sit down and a chat isn't going to fix it.

If anyone genuinely wants advice, motorcyclists as a general rule will go out of their way to share, and I'll put myself in this category. However, if you need to be told that an Icon vest won't provide much protection when you go down, or cutting off that minivan and scaring the crap out of mom and her kids is a bad idea, I think that said person is lacking in common sense, not in knowledge.

Turning around and saying it's all our fault because we don't speak up - I think you're seriously offside. I am glad that you feel you're making a difference. Keep up whatever good work it is you're doing.
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You can't teach common sense.
 
jc100 said:
No need...just a grumpy irrational rant on the entitlement generation.
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Absolutely agree with the whole entiltment generation thing (just look at Montreal) just not too sure how it pertains to this thread. For all we know these "dangerous" riders could be 45 year old men who have successful careers, i realize it's not likely, but it's possible. Pretty difficult to judge age or dooooochebaggery level under the helmet.
 
estone said:
You can't teach common sense.
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No, but you can teach that there is a time and place for everything, get them to parking lots for stunts and the race tracks for speed. It works, I have several young riders here who still do the stunts, and go fast but they limit that activity to places that do not affect others.
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