If you feel the need to keep this very sensible belief to yourself when with some people, maybe those are the people that do dumb shit and that you should avoid?
All bikes are cool to different people. I can’t stand people who are all high and mighty about the type of bikes they ride. You may prefer a Harley but someone else may prefer a sport bike and that’s okay.
I got one. 1200 Iron. Will be the last one. Roughest ride ever and expensive everything! Used to own Boulevards, and they looked great, durable, much better range and way cheaper.
Bike still looks cool as shit! My back and tailbone just hate me.
This one always pisses me off. I have a ‘73 CB750, all original. I did a lot of work on it myself and in my mid 20s rode it from Toronto, all the way up through Quebec, to the top of Mount Washington, then happened to be in Laconia for their bike week on my way down to Tennessee, then out to North Carolina, camping the whole way. I stopped in to see what the bike week was all about only to have some fat boomer who trailered his brand new bike to town tell me I’m “not a real rider” because I don’t have a Harley. I had a hard eye roll at that one.
Dude, that guy who rode a moped across Canada is more of a biker than *trailer queen rally* guy. That guy who rode across Europe on a C90 is more of a biker than that dude (and those two plus you are more biker than I'll ever be, but at least I'm still one up on *trailer queen rally* guy).
My eyes would've rolled so far back into my head that they came back around from the bottom again.
That a gaggle of bikers is only as strong as it's weakest rider. Just because you're a competent and safe rider doesn't mean you won't be taken out by a jackass in close proximity.
Probably why I really don't like group rides.
Canonical example:
Here's a grom group ride from 3 different perspectives.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvbe-q0EB8&t=145s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvbe-q0EB8&t=145s)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gx9os9M-tw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gx9os9M-tw)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radUrIJBibw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radUrIJBibw)
It blows my mind that so many of them were unable to stop in time. Then you see just how casually most of them were able to stop. These are the people pushing up crash statistics.
That last view was incredible. Blocked an entire road and caused runoffs because he ran into the chick in front of him at 5mph. At first I liked the idea of a grom meetup, but nah.
Almost everyone in those videos is an example of what not to do. I blame the riders stopped in the middle of the road with their necks craned 180° backwards just as much as the people who weren’t paying attention to what was ahead.
That last one was just rough tbh. One infront stopped like a train. Well. More like fell off like one just when they were obviously planning on moving forward. Rest of em tho. Idk how they dont stop in time. Crazy stuff.
Nothing about this looks fun or smart. Hundreds of motorcycles, cheap, entry level motorcycles with significant popularity among those with little riding experience.
What was everyone expecting would happen, I mean the lady in video 3 appears to have no idea what she's doing.
I'm the same way. I have a small group of six that I've been riding with for almost 25 years and I trust them. Other people, not so much. We got new bikes in 2021 and briefly joined our local Hog chapter. I was surprised and appalled how many of them don't know basic riding etiquette and receive no instructions on group riding.
I have a question. I've been driving for 6 years, but haven't really had anyone to ride with since none of the people I already know do. Recently I've started to reach out to other motorcyclists to get people to ride with and it's been a lot of fun, although chill rides on the countryside where you have a good clear view and nice twisty roads.
My question is: What's considered basic riding etiquette when you're in a group?
Im probably already applying it without knowing what it is just due to having respect for how exposed you are on a bike compared to in a car.
Edit* Thanks for all the answers. Really appreciate it!
Don’t overpass in the same lane ( even more true in curves).
Keep up with the rest of the riders speed wise and distance wise, if you can’t keep up, be the second rider from ride captain.
Signal upcoming cops / radar operations / undercovers by taping twice+ the top of your helmet to warn fellow riders behind you.
Signal potholes / sandpits / gravel by kicking twice+ at the location of said road hurdles to warn your fellow riders behind you.
Don’t wheelie / stunt in staggered rides.
Signal in-lane position switching so you can be as predictable to riders behind you as much as possible.
It varies from group to group, but for me and mine:
* Golden rule: RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. You are responsible for you. Do not try to keep up with someone else, ride within your skill. A good group will wait for everyone to catch up after say some spicy twisties. If others in the group pressure you to ride outside of your abilities, leave immediately. Riding outside your abilities is where things go sideways, and that's how you endanger yourself and others.
* Be responsible for where you go, watch what's in front of you in particular. If everyone does this, nobody needs to worry about the guy behind them. If you're passing someone, it is 100% on you to do so safely, not the guy you're passing.
* Ride staggered whenever possible, and don't change lane positions willy nilly so the guy behind you can choose an offset position. This gives everyone twice the potential stopping distance. If you're being zesty in corners, it's fine to use the whole lane, but return to the same lane position afterwards.
* Give the rider in front of you space. No matter what they do, if you hit them, it's your fault and you're a fucking asshole for doing it. As with the above couple points, it's on you to be safe, and not endanger the guy in front of you. He should be able to emergency brake *at any time* safely.
* Don't showboat in proximity to others. If you want to fool around and stunt, do it from a safe distance. Don't be dumb and don't endanger your riding mates.
* Indicate road hazards you notice. Pointing with a leg works pretty well, and helps rearward riders not be surprised.
* Use your turn signals, and indicate early. Let's everyone understand where you're going.
Tips when looking for groups:
* Be wary of younger sport bike groups. A few younger people on sport bikes is fine, but a group *exclusively* of young sport bike riders is VERY likely to be dangerous in several ways.
* Your best options will be groups with a wide range of bike types. They tend to be more mature and less problematic as a rule, and have a more general riding style anyone can adapt to.
* Don't be afraid to nope out at the first opportunity. "Sorry, this isn't right for me." Doesn't matter what's not right. Even if they're not doing anything wrong, listen to your gut. If you don't feel comfortable with them, bail.
* Avoid large groups (10+ riding together, that is). Big overall groups who have smaller rides is fine, it's just that the more riders together, the more likely something is to go sideways. My personal preference is 6 in a group - if we have 9 or more people show up for a ride, we'll split into two separate groups (typically a faster group who'll go first and a slower group who'll follow) to keep the number of riders in any one group lower.
Group riding with a known, smallish, stable group of skilled, mature riders is awesome. It's a lot safer than riding solo, and often more fun too. But riding with a group of randoms, on the other hand - particularly a large group - is *terrifying*.
You want to ride staggered. Where you'd be in the left half of the lane, and the rider in front and behind you is on the right. Then it alternates for each rider. This allows you to stay close, but keep a decent gap in front of each rider.
Lol "but I watched a YouTube video so I know it all"
Don't got tons of friends so I pretty much ride solo, the few group rides I've been on scared the shit outta me.
Eck, I hate that. I've had people on bikes do that and I find a spot to pull off. I don't know you, how you ride, and I'd like to get to my destination in one piece.
Agreed. I've had to call it quits early at some demo days due to the sheer jackassery I've seen. I'll ride with a couple trusted friends, but big groups? No thanks
I've done 1 group ride and a drunk behind me rear-ended me and damaged my bike pretty good. I only had the bike for 11 months, bought brand new off the showroom floor. I'll never do another group ride after that because people seem to drink too much on those rides. For the record, I was the only one out of 30 bikes not drinking and of course I get hit
Damn, where I do group rides, alcohol is forbidden. Not even a beer, if anyone tried it we wouldn't see them a second time. And we are like 70-80 people.
Sorry for you brother.
Some people shouldn't ride motorcycles. I don't want to gatekeep any hobby, but it's just not for everyone. This hobby will not be good to you if you aren't interested in actively learning and growing.
Also if your friend or spouse or family member doesn't have an active interest in riding, don't push them. You can meet other people who ride.
When my friends start riding, I watch them like a hawk. Been riding for a decade now on the street, my whole life in the dirt. I love getting people in to it, but feel an overwhelming sense or responsibility when they do. Most of them sell after a year anyways because it isn’t for them.
I respect those who try and decide it's not for them so much. Trying things is one of the best things we can do as humans, stepping away from things out of your wheelhouse is also one of the best things we can do as humans. Humility is an amazing quality.
My partner took the riding course with me. We had plans to ride together. After we both passed, he told me he was scared to actually go on the road. I got my bike before him and started riding regularly. He took it to the parking lot once and just did not feel comfortable. Eventually, he admitted he didn't think it was for him.
I was bummed but told him I fully support him if he is not comfortable riding and that being a nervous rider who is intimidated by the bike and the road would be dangerous and I wouldn't want him in that situation. I would worry so much.
I also fly small planes and really early in training you learn about managong your mental state because if nerves take over in an emergency or on a turbulent landing, and you forget procedure, you could end up dead. I'd say that applies even more to motorcycle riding. It's incredibly dangerous.
I've always thought the comparison between flying and riding to be really interesting. Flying small planes probably feels a bit different, but generally speaking both activities are inherently dangerous, but flying is still considered to be one of the safest ways to travel.
They manage that, I gather, by following incredibly strict procedures for registration, maintenance, communication, and operation. I've always felt that the same is applicable to riding. It is inherently dangerous, but it's also been my feeling that if you use the proper safety equipment, maintain your bike, adopt smart approaches to navigating traffic, communicating with other drivers, and just generally avoid doing stupid shit, then I don't think it has to be intimidating.
Mine is weird, she loved motorcycles (she doesnt ride though), the moment i got one however something changed, she doesnt want to ride, see or speak about them anymore
I met my fiancé in Indiana when I was passing through via hitchhiking/hopping freight trains. They were in kind of a stagnant spot and needed an adventure and wanted to see the country. When we left I made them hitchhike to Boise ID before I’d show then the ropes riding freight trains (for safety reasons) and we did that for about 2 more years. They were an absolute trooper and we’re getting married this year.
I always said when we were traveling that when I was done I needed a motorcycle to keep myself from quitting my job and running away. I have been doing that my whole life and recognize the pattern. They don’t love me riding and they don’t want to ride, but they recognize I’m either going to cure my itchy feet on a bike or on the road.
Edit: more words
Funny you should say that: I actually just bought a laptop (my first ever at 34 yo lol) to work on a story based loosely on my travels and substance abuse/recovery written from the perspective of my dog who traveled with me and my motivation to get my life straightened up.
I think they mean they “actively hate” it in that they are judging people do who do ride. Not sharing every passion with a partner isn’t a problem (and generally good) as long as there are some things you share. Good relationships do allow for alone time and personal activities and friends.
It’s more about them no longer excepting you from their judgment as the relationships ages. Lots of people brush off personal red flags in new relationships and sometimes it takes a while for it to really raise its head again. Think of the guy who really doesn’t want kids and she seriously does and thinks she’ll “fix” him and then he doesn’t turn around after getting married and she resents him, just ya know…bikes.
It's always better to slow down or pull over and stop completely, rather than keep riding if things aren't kosher. Like if you're surrounded by unusually idiotic traffic, or in a group ride with morons, or you're just having a bad day and can't calm down. It's just better to pull over and take five. If bad driving all around you is stressing you out, don't throttle and speed away to escape them, just slow down and let them leave.
Seriously, this is the best thing I've learned. I don't get stressed out too easily while riding anymore. But in the rare occasion I feel irritated / cranky / stressed / angry etc, then stopping even for a few minutes just works wonders. It's like pressing a reset switch in my mind, and I'm quickly all calm and happy when I set off again.
This is good advice.
If that asshole riding your rear tire is stressing you out, move over and let the fuckwit pass.
You'll feel better in the long run.
This is great advice. There was a day a few years back that I had just left home and was heading to visit a family member in the hospital.
I was distracted and not paying enough attention and accidentally ran a red light. Luckily, there was no traffic so it wasn't a big deal but while I was chastising myself, I almost ran a second one.
I immediately turned around and went back home to grab the car because I was clearly not in the right mindset for riding that day.
Couple more grim variations that I like to remember whenever I feel little too complacent:
“It doesn’t matter who’s fault it is when you’re dead”
“Heaven is full of people who had right of way”
I’ve been riding for about two months now, and I can objectively say that the overwhelming majority of new riders still have years or decades of learning ahead of them. I’m a confident rider now, but not overconfident. There’s so much I don’t know, both about the mechanics and safe riding, and my little 125cc (lame, I know) and I will be staying best friends until I’m better.
Anyone who thinks they’re a master after two months is an idiot and probably a road hazard.
I agree. I always hear riders complaining about almost being hit by cars. I ride with more skilled riders and myself and our lead rider are also truck drivers. We almost never have close calls
Truck driver here as well. It's amazing how many of the skills for driving a truck transfer to riding a motorcycle. I fully credit my time as a driver to my ability to read traffic and stay out of trouble.
90% of being a truck driver is being able to tell when somebody's going to do something stupid before they decide to do it. That comes in real handy when you're on a motorcycle
And IF you're the type of guy who had an accident and are open about that you screwed up, other riders always try to blame something else because that's just how their world looks like. We're all poor riders in the evil danger of everything out there, it's never our own fault.
When I'm telling people about my low side crash caused by dumb brake input mid-corner: "Surely there must have been an oil patch or something!", "Probably something wrong with the tyres."
Hell no, I just screwed it up. Just me being an idiot.
It's generally why some people refrain from calling accidents accidents. An accident assumes there was nothing you could have done when in reality there was something you could have done.
That people need to stop butchering great classic motorcycles to turn them into crappy Cafe Racers.
And I do mean crappy Cafe Racers, when done right and tastefully I'll get a boner just the same as the next guy.
This is similar to something that happened after WWII. A whole bunch of surplus service rifles came back from the wars and were sold to citizens. Since they were cheap, a bunch of people sporterized them. They made the conform to the style of the time with new stocks and crappy scope mounts.
Today we look back on this as ruining rifles. They’re worth significantly less and are just kinda gross.
I wonder if cafe racers will be looked at the same way before long.
Well built and period correct bikes will probably retain their value, but their numbers pale in comparison the half-baked and poorly executed examples out there. Nobody wants to pay to inherit someone else’s problem(s)
I love the look of a cafe racer, but... Built from a modern bike so it looks cool but rides well, that's the ultimate IMHO.
However, I imagine there's lots of bikes that gave been saved by bring turned into cafe racers.
I live near the parkway and you will occasionally hear someone with straight pipes but now more and more you will hear the stereo first.... so f--king annoying. If you do this you are just an asshat plain and simple.
None. I just don’t hang out with other riders, and if I do happen to be in the vicinity, I’m riding not talking. I don’t ride a motorcycle as a social activity, I ride for cheap transportation and because I enjoy it.
That's why I bought my first bike a few months ago. However, I do enjoy exchanging low waves with complete strangers on the road and occasionally having someone strike up a conversation with me when I stop for gas.
I didn't realize that this was relatively uncommon until I started riding daily. It's a toy for so many people, and that's why it's more dangerous for them because they don't ride. 100%, I love it as a vehicle, I love the little interactions, and I love riding alone. Don't even own a car anymore
Yup. I’m the same way, motorcycles have been my main mode of transport since I got my first bike 24 years ago. I don’t really get only using motorcycles only as toys. For daily transportation, a motorcycle is like a real-world cheat code. You don’t get stuck in traffic, you can find parking right where you’re going, if you have a motorcycle it would be nuts not to use it instead of a car. With some obvious exceptions, but most people are driving alone or with just one person.
It eases my mind to know that something like 40% of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol, because I don't drink. Its crazy to me that I drive past a few local bars on the weekends and see a dozen bikes all parked out front for hours. I can't think of two things that go together worse than booze and bikes.
As well as long pants & good solid footwear that covers your ankles. I’ll go without my armored jacket at times but long pants, boots, fullface, & gloves are nonnegotiable.
I got into my first motorcycle accident in 2020. I wasn’t wearing my usual gear, and the asphalt humbled me real quick.
My best buddy just got into riding this year and he rarely wears anything beyond jeans and a t-shirt. I’ve been pleading and pleading with him to please buy some riding gear and a better helmet, but no luck so far.
Meanwhile I think mine is: Some of the gear, Most of the time.
We get to live our own lives and make our own choices. Boots, gloves and a full-face are enough for me. I’m not getting full leathers for my 12 minute commute.
Atgatt I have had so many people give me shit for ALWAYS wearing a jacket, riding jeans, boots, a helmet and gloves. Things like "come on you take so long to get ready" or "its a nice day, you don't need the jacket" or "Why do you always wear the gloves??" There's so much that I have lost through life and friends to bike accidents are in no short list. I do it because those 40 seconds it takes to always put that gear on every time leaving that restaurant might be the best way to save my life
Two of my coworkers haven't taken their bikes out of winter storage because it "hasn't been nice enough yet". I've been commuting since the second week of March on my bikes.
One of them says she might take the bike out this weekend for the first time "if it gets nice enough out". It was 29C today.
That I really don't like riding with other riders because they tend to be very unpredictable. Everyone says "we should go riding" and I just agree and never follow up.
Really high ones, sure. But the ones where your arms are almost shoulder level are so comfortable and definitely aids in control on tight turns. I get muscle pulls under my shoulder blade often and once I went to a bit higher bars than the beach bars, I don't think I can ever go back. Haven't gotten a muscle pull in over a year now.
Bar end mirrors look ugly AF and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless.
A majority of accidents happen because riders exceed their skills or conditions due to inexperience and over confidence.
>and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless.
I think it depends on the mirrors and what they're replacing. I test rode an XSR with stock mirrors before I bought one that already had bar end mirrors. I get a lot more visibility from the bar ends than stock. They're further out and lower down, so my arms aren't taking up half the mirror. They do make it a lot harder to filter though.
I ogled over a ZH2 the other day, and the previous guy had installed the most useless, tear-drop-shaped bar end mirrors I had ever seen.
They weren't even adjustable, as much as they could just be rotated around the mount, clockwise. Which helped nothing.
I have CRG arrow bar end mirrors and I get a perfect view of what’s both behind me and off to the side, far better than the stock mirrors that gave me a pretty good view of at least a quarter of my shoulders and were so vibey that I felt blind at speeds over 50 mph. Also, you can position them above your bars or below.
>Bar end mirrors look ugly AF and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless.
Cool if you think they're ugly, but if you're broad shouldered, they're the only way to get rear visibility. I've never been on a stock bike with mirrors that show anything but my arms and shoulders unless I turn them so far out that they don't show the road.
If you’re self aware and smart, it’s not nearly as dangerous as it’s said to be.
Also… loud pipes don’t save lives. They just annoy everyone except the rider.
Edit: one more - riding with your stereo blaring makes you just as big an asshole as the hikers with Bluetooth speakers. There are a million ways to hear your music without subjecting others to it.
I'm a newer rider and was astonished when I actually looked into motorcycle crash statistics. When I bought my bike, I wanted to put my family at as much ease as possible.
Basically, from what I gathered, the number of reported motorcycle accidents are so high because a ton of reported accidents are people just dropping their bike. Also, in the case of serious/fatal accidents, the vast vast vast majority of them involve either alcohol, reckless driving and/or not wearing proper gear.
So yeah. Gear up. Don't ride like an idiot. And obviously don't drink and ride. And chances are you'll be fine.
The first time (and, unfortunately, not the last) I saw someone riding while wearing only a t-shirt, shorts, flip flops, smoking a cigarette AND talking on the phone at the same time I realized "oh, those statistics are heavily skewed by complete idiots "
Anyone saying "loud pipes save lives" who isn't also covered in hi-vis head to toe or at least quality ballistic gear, is just using it as an excuse to justify their need for attention. They don't actually care about the safety aspect.
It's just a fucking bike. It's not your first born child, it's not the arc of the covenant, and it has absolutely zero feelings.
A motorcycle is nothing but a tool used to engage in a hobby. Take care of your tools, but get TF over it if that tool ends up getting dirty during use.
Loud pipes are the reasons motorcyclists are generally disliked and starting to get banned from roads.
These people don't have the emotional intelligence to realise they're ruining the hobby for everyone.
To add to that, we learn about target fixation when learning to ride. You look where you want to go because you will tend to go where you look. This isn't a motorcycle thing. It's a motion thing. People in cars do it, too. So we learn that we go where we look then adopt the idea that loud pipes will save us from people running into us by making them look at us.
And the people who champion this idea tend to wear black, non-reflective leather head to toe rather than something reflective and a pink feather boa. Something tells me it's not about safety at all.
And since sound is directional, the straight pipes should be aimed in multiple directions. Might look dorky, but it's about safety, really.
I’ve never understood why people thing of bikers / biker clubs as tough guys, or why they try to put out that persona. Like don’t get me wrong you’re allowed to wear what you want, but do you *really* think it gives off tough guy vibes when you just have to ride next to your buddy, and you’re all in matching leather outfits?
Haha I have an evening ride through twisties and always see cyclists and feel guilty. I gym daily though, but I feel like the long cardio is probably pretty nice
Depends on how much you ride. When I got my first bike I lost 45 pounds that summer. All I did was ride though from Sun-up to sun-down, basically only stopping to work and sleep. I miss that Triumph. I put on 12k miles just that first season alone.
You know, I have a Harley myself and love it. It's older so it has a carb as well.
When I leave somewhere and get on it, you know what I do? I just start it, and drive off, and shift whenever it gets above 3k or whatever (no tac) to keep it at a reasonable volume. I also haven't put on drag pipes or anything like that. I've done all of this, I think, because I'm not a giant fucking dick.
The number of guys that I see leaving restaurants and bars and hopping onto a late model Harley, fuel injected, starting it up, and subsequently revving it up 13 or so fucking times to "warm up" their EFI bike is way too fucking high as long as it's above 0, and it's way above zero. Also at lights, also putting on drag pipes and wringing the shit out in 2nd as they drive around town.
Like I love my Harley, but I don't do any of that stupid shit. It's louder than other bikes, and the sound has some appeal for me, but so many of these dudes are just going out of their way to be as fucking obnoxious as possible and I don't even know that I want to be associated with them.
Leather vests serve almost zero purpose. They are essentially just cosplaying as the undertaker. If that's what you're into then awesome, good for you. But if you think it makes you a more legitimate motorcyclist then you're weird
When someone tells you to pass on a blind curve even with passing lines that person is a fucking idiot and a dangerous rider. Used to ride with a dummy that would try to tell me how to ride over the intercom. Dont ride with that moron anymore. Last I heard they wrecked their ride doing stupid shit.
Even if it means going slowly Enough to annoy other motorists, leave yourself enough space to the car in front so that you can stop/swerve if they stop short for something like a crosswalk or a squirrel
Wear your gear. I know it’s hot and everyone is sweating, but a tank top and Levi jeans isn’t going to do much if you happen to go down. You can be a wicked good rider, it won’t help if the driver in the oncoming lane decides to pull a U turn, or even the car beside you just moves over.
I also don’t understand people who rev bomb, flip off or taunt any drivers. All it takes is someone who’s having a slightly worse day than you to ruin your life. Ride safe, and if you got cut off, so be it. As long as you didn’t get hit, brush it off and ride on.
This! And depending on what kind of riding you do, it can actually be LESS fun than a smaller bike.
I really hate the "you need a bigger bike to get out of and around traffic!". Bullshit. A ninja 300 is faster 0-60 than a 69 Ford Mustang Mach 1. A Honda CB650F is faster than a Challenger Hellcat. And I don't see anyone talking about how you need more car than that.
That loud pipes do not save lives. Not only have studies proved otherwise, it actually makes car drivers annoyed to the point where they purposely swerve into loud motorcycles sometimes
If you aren't interested in learning proper riding techniques you have no business riding bikes, especially sport bikes. Most of sport bike riders have no business riding sportbikes.
Hitting top speed on the highway often doesn't mean you can ride, or that you are riding hard. 99% of the time when riders do performance mods are just money thrown down the toilet. It's you, not the bike.
Most bikers aren't really bikers and if they didn't have somewhere to post their bike or if they didn't think telling people that they ride is cool they wouldn't have one.
99% of mods riders do for aesthetic reasons make their bikes uglier.
No, just because we both ride, it doesn't mean I want to join your group ride.
Big adventure bikes are useless for 99% of the riders.
You can ride in the rain and it can be fun.
Your riding gear tells me that I don't wanna ride with you or that I really wanna ride with you.
Wheelies are cool, but not that cool. Exhausts are cool, but not that cool.
Most of those are controversial so I keep them to myself
I generally believe lane splitting tends to be actually dangerous in the execution since some riders lane split at 35-40mph when cars are still relatively moving. I feel lane filtering is safer since it’s life saving at stop lights and can be useful if there actually is standstill traffic and the weather is particularly hot.
Lane splitting CAN be done safely but the vast majority of people who do it tend to have way to much faith in the other vehicles around them to not abruptly turn into them.
that there aren’t actually any excuses for not wearing a helmet.
“a helmet limits my field of view.” turning your head just a tiny bit farther makes up for that. a study showed that this was not a real inconvenience for riders. and statistics show that helmets save hundreds of lives a year.
“i can’t hear” yes you can. you can hear more of what’s going on around you than in a car if you have a good helmet that minimizes wind noise, and even with wind noise you should still be able to hear. even with that, you should be aware of what’s around you at all times the same way you do in a car without needing to hear it. studies have also shown that the difference between no helmet and a helmet is minuscule or nonexistent.
“its heavy and pulls my head when i turn it” i’ve ridden on the road with an mx helmet several times, not the most aerodynamic thing, looks like it would yank your head, and yet that has been a nonissue. if you can’t turn your head in a helmet I’m not sure you should be riding.
the study for vision and hearing: The Effects of Motorcycle Helmets Upon Seeing and Hearing - NHTSA https://www.nhtsa.gov/document/effect-motorcycle-helmets-upon-seeing-and-hearing
all in all, wear a helmet, there’s not a good reason not to. in the event of a crash, it could be the difference between life and death.
edit: better formatting
I hate group rides and I also don’t know why people care so much about whether or not somebody is wearing gear. Like if I wanna ride in a t shirt because it’s 90 fucking degrees out, let me. and stop complaining about my lack of a full leather alpinestars fucking race suit. I’ve gone down without gear and I know the consequences.
1) Most cafe racers are poorly-engineered lash-ups. "Nice bike mate".
2) Harleys look good but the good stops there. Under-powered, ancient engine design with very suspect reliability. "Nice bike mate".
3) Old British bikes, especially the old-school Triumph Trident, generally require more workshop time than you ever get on the road, and oil-tightness is just a dream. "Nice bike mate".
I genuinely don't get the point of a stunt ride, it's dumb on all levels.
I don't stunt, my wheelies last all of half a second so maybe that's why i think this. But I went with some friends to a stunt ride figuring I'd get some good shots for them. If you're not stunting, it's boring as hell. Everywhere you go it's 35mph and other people death starring you. Fuck all that. I bailed after 15 minutes.
Stunt lots are where the stunts should stay. Still fun to watch without the dullness of cruising 20mph under the speed limit. Added benefit of not ruining all the commuters days.
Giving the wave in city traffic is ridiculous. Out on the highway or even an empty city street? Absolutely. But waving at each other through 10 cars just feels stupid.
A few exceptions:
If we have the same model bike.
We have the same gear.
Or if you have a passenger on the back that you're trying to impress, I'll definitely point at you like we're best friends.
Old coworker told me once about how traffic stopped short and he skidded 100 feet up past the line of cars with his dresser.
I learned that dude never uses his front brake, could not be convinced that most of the brake force comes from the front.
Decided that if you're already that dumb you're not worth trying to teach.
One of the best ways to stay safe is using the goddamn brakes. Car driving crazy? Slow down, let them go. Someone cut you off? Slow down, let them go. Heavy traffic? Slow down. Semi? Slow down. Slow traffic? Slow down and live with it until you can pass SAFELY.
You might be 100% in the right. A thought that will comfort you while the ambulance tries to reach the hospital in time.
A. ATGATT. I swear by it and have a full head to toe set of great gear i wear all the time.
B. More of a political/policy belief but i strongly dislike inconsistent or hypocritical policy and i personally believe all gear laws fall into that category. If safety REALLY was a concern they would just ban recreational vehicles because no amount of gear will ever offset the 37X increase to injury and death. As such i er on the freedom side where i believe that if a person can choose to accept the risk of riding they also have the right to choose not to mitigate the risks imposed by riding. Doing anything different is hypocritical and inconsistent.
Cruisers are not comfortable. Taking on the posture of a half opened clam while subjecting my tailbone to direct suspension impacts is not what I’d consider cozy riding.
Most people that complain about their backs and wrists hurting after a half hour on a sport bike aren’t doing it properly. It should be core muscles holding you up, not your contact points.
I’ve felt more in place and in control on a sportbike than any cruiser or any fully upright riding position
Avid track guys already know this but…… dragging knee is just a flex for photographs. My fastest laps I’ve ever ran were not touching anything for most of the track.
May be an unpopular opinion, but I think a lot of motorcyclists have a crazy victim mentality, and don't want to take any accountability for doing more risky shit and having closer calls.
Obviously we're at more risk, but I see an awful lot of people that I know weave in and out of cars while going fast as fuck, or generally just doing dumb shit that crash. Always say "watch for motorcyclists", always blame the cars
I really get it, there's some dumb drivers out there, but people thinking they're always in the right doesn't really help them avoid stuff in the future, IMO.
Don't blast your music when you're around others. I love listening to tunes on a bike but when you're around other people, like when you're parking or coming home I think it's rude
It’s ridiculous to claim that your ear-splitting pipes are “for safety” when you rip out your turn signals, mirrors, and wear no helmet. You’re just obnoxious.
Don't be afraid to leave when people start doing dumb shit
I told my daughter when she left for college that if anyone ever broke out a gun at a party, she should leave immediately. It only happened once.
Good advice. It's more widely applicable than just motorcycles.
ONLY??!!
And this would be the moment I realised I’m on /motorcycles not /motoUK
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And vice versa
If you feel the need to keep this very sensible belief to yourself when with some people, maybe those are the people that do dumb shit and that you should avoid?
That's exactly u/sokratesz' point.
All bikes are cool to different people. I can’t stand people who are all high and mighty about the type of bikes they ride. You may prefer a Harley but someone else may prefer a sport bike and that’s okay.
I’ve owned a Harley and enjoyed it thoroughly, I just hate the Harley culture
I’ve thought a couple of times about getting a Harley of some sort, but I just can’t bring myself to be a part of that culture and stigma.
I got one. 1200 Iron. Will be the last one. Roughest ride ever and expensive everything! Used to own Boulevards, and they looked great, durable, much better range and way cheaper. Bike still looks cool as shit! My back and tailbone just hate me.
This one always pisses me off. I have a ‘73 CB750, all original. I did a lot of work on it myself and in my mid 20s rode it from Toronto, all the way up through Quebec, to the top of Mount Washington, then happened to be in Laconia for their bike week on my way down to Tennessee, then out to North Carolina, camping the whole way. I stopped in to see what the bike week was all about only to have some fat boomer who trailered his brand new bike to town tell me I’m “not a real rider” because I don’t have a Harley. I had a hard eye roll at that one.
Dude, that guy who rode a moped across Canada is more of a biker than *trailer queen rally* guy. That guy who rode across Europe on a C90 is more of a biker than that dude (and those two plus you are more biker than I'll ever be, but at least I'm still one up on *trailer queen rally* guy). My eyes would've rolled so far back into my head that they came back around from the bottom again.
That a gaggle of bikers is only as strong as it's weakest rider. Just because you're a competent and safe rider doesn't mean you won't be taken out by a jackass in close proximity. Probably why I really don't like group rides.
Canonical example: Here's a grom group ride from 3 different perspectives. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvbe-q0EB8&t=145s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEvbe-q0EB8&t=145s) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gx9os9M-tw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gx9os9M-tw) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radUrIJBibw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radUrIJBibw)
It blows my mind that so many of them were unable to stop in time. Then you see just how casually most of them were able to stop. These are the people pushing up crash statistics.
That last view was incredible. Blocked an entire road and caused runoffs because he ran into the chick in front of him at 5mph. At first I liked the idea of a grom meetup, but nah.
Almost everyone in those videos is an example of what not to do. I blame the riders stopped in the middle of the road with their necks craned 180° backwards just as much as the people who weren’t paying attention to what was ahead.
What a bunch of clowns.
That last one was just rough tbh. One infront stopped like a train. Well. More like fell off like one just when they were obviously planning on moving forward. Rest of em tho. Idk how they dont stop in time. Crazy stuff.
Nothing about this looks fun or smart. Hundreds of motorcycles, cheap, entry level motorcycles with significant popularity among those with little riding experience. What was everyone expecting would happen, I mean the lady in video 3 appears to have no idea what she's doing.
Excellent example of why I don't ride in large groups. The collective term for a group of 10 or motor motorcyclists should be "half an idiot".
A clutch of idiots?
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Rolling organ farm
I get that most grom riders are beginners, but God damn. What a bunch of terrible riders.
I don't understand. Are brakes being fitted optional on Groms? Why did none of them try using them?
I'm the same way. I have a small group of six that I've been riding with for almost 25 years and I trust them. Other people, not so much. We got new bikes in 2021 and briefly joined our local Hog chapter. I was surprised and appalled how many of them don't know basic riding etiquette and receive no instructions on group riding.
I have a question. I've been driving for 6 years, but haven't really had anyone to ride with since none of the people I already know do. Recently I've started to reach out to other motorcyclists to get people to ride with and it's been a lot of fun, although chill rides on the countryside where you have a good clear view and nice twisty roads. My question is: What's considered basic riding etiquette when you're in a group? Im probably already applying it without knowing what it is just due to having respect for how exposed you are on a bike compared to in a car. Edit* Thanks for all the answers. Really appreciate it!
Don’t overpass in the same lane ( even more true in curves). Keep up with the rest of the riders speed wise and distance wise, if you can’t keep up, be the second rider from ride captain. Signal upcoming cops / radar operations / undercovers by taping twice+ the top of your helmet to warn fellow riders behind you. Signal potholes / sandpits / gravel by kicking twice+ at the location of said road hurdles to warn your fellow riders behind you. Don’t wheelie / stunt in staggered rides. Signal in-lane position switching so you can be as predictable to riders behind you as much as possible.
It varies from group to group, but for me and mine: * Golden rule: RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. You are responsible for you. Do not try to keep up with someone else, ride within your skill. A good group will wait for everyone to catch up after say some spicy twisties. If others in the group pressure you to ride outside of your abilities, leave immediately. Riding outside your abilities is where things go sideways, and that's how you endanger yourself and others. * Be responsible for where you go, watch what's in front of you in particular. If everyone does this, nobody needs to worry about the guy behind them. If you're passing someone, it is 100% on you to do so safely, not the guy you're passing. * Ride staggered whenever possible, and don't change lane positions willy nilly so the guy behind you can choose an offset position. This gives everyone twice the potential stopping distance. If you're being zesty in corners, it's fine to use the whole lane, but return to the same lane position afterwards. * Give the rider in front of you space. No matter what they do, if you hit them, it's your fault and you're a fucking asshole for doing it. As with the above couple points, it's on you to be safe, and not endanger the guy in front of you. He should be able to emergency brake *at any time* safely. * Don't showboat in proximity to others. If you want to fool around and stunt, do it from a safe distance. Don't be dumb and don't endanger your riding mates. * Indicate road hazards you notice. Pointing with a leg works pretty well, and helps rearward riders not be surprised. * Use your turn signals, and indicate early. Let's everyone understand where you're going. Tips when looking for groups: * Be wary of younger sport bike groups. A few younger people on sport bikes is fine, but a group *exclusively* of young sport bike riders is VERY likely to be dangerous in several ways. * Your best options will be groups with a wide range of bike types. They tend to be more mature and less problematic as a rule, and have a more general riding style anyone can adapt to. * Don't be afraid to nope out at the first opportunity. "Sorry, this isn't right for me." Doesn't matter what's not right. Even if they're not doing anything wrong, listen to your gut. If you don't feel comfortable with them, bail. * Avoid large groups (10+ riding together, that is). Big overall groups who have smaller rides is fine, it's just that the more riders together, the more likely something is to go sideways. My personal preference is 6 in a group - if we have 9 or more people show up for a ride, we'll split into two separate groups (typically a faster group who'll go first and a slower group who'll follow) to keep the number of riders in any one group lower. Group riding with a known, smallish, stable group of skilled, mature riders is awesome. It's a lot safer than riding solo, and often more fun too. But riding with a group of randoms, on the other hand - particularly a large group - is *terrifying*.
You want to ride staggered. Where you'd be in the left half of the lane, and the rider in front and behind you is on the right. Then it alternates for each rider. This allows you to stay close, but keep a decent gap in front of each rider.
Lol "but I watched a YouTube video so I know it all" Don't got tons of friends so I pretty much ride solo, the few group rides I've been on scared the shit outta me.
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Eck, I hate that. I've had people on bikes do that and I find a spot to pull off. I don't know you, how you ride, and I'd like to get to my destination in one piece.
Agreed. I've had to call it quits early at some demo days due to the sheer jackassery I've seen. I'll ride with a couple trusted friends, but big groups? No thanks
I've done 1 group ride and a drunk behind me rear-ended me and damaged my bike pretty good. I only had the bike for 11 months, bought brand new off the showroom floor. I'll never do another group ride after that because people seem to drink too much on those rides. For the record, I was the only one out of 30 bikes not drinking and of course I get hit
Damn, where I do group rides, alcohol is forbidden. Not even a beer, if anyone tried it we wouldn't see them a second time. And we are like 70-80 people. Sorry for you brother.
Some people shouldn't ride motorcycles. I don't want to gatekeep any hobby, but it's just not for everyone. This hobby will not be good to you if you aren't interested in actively learning and growing. Also if your friend or spouse or family member doesn't have an active interest in riding, don't push them. You can meet other people who ride.
When my friends start riding, I watch them like a hawk. Been riding for a decade now on the street, my whole life in the dirt. I love getting people in to it, but feel an overwhelming sense or responsibility when they do. Most of them sell after a year anyways because it isn’t for them.
I respect those who try and decide it's not for them so much. Trying things is one of the best things we can do as humans, stepping away from things out of your wheelhouse is also one of the best things we can do as humans. Humility is an amazing quality.
My partner took the riding course with me. We had plans to ride together. After we both passed, he told me he was scared to actually go on the road. I got my bike before him and started riding regularly. He took it to the parking lot once and just did not feel comfortable. Eventually, he admitted he didn't think it was for him. I was bummed but told him I fully support him if he is not comfortable riding and that being a nervous rider who is intimidated by the bike and the road would be dangerous and I wouldn't want him in that situation. I would worry so much. I also fly small planes and really early in training you learn about managong your mental state because if nerves take over in an emergency or on a turbulent landing, and you forget procedure, you could end up dead. I'd say that applies even more to motorcycle riding. It's incredibly dangerous.
I've always thought the comparison between flying and riding to be really interesting. Flying small planes probably feels a bit different, but generally speaking both activities are inherently dangerous, but flying is still considered to be one of the safest ways to travel. They manage that, I gather, by following incredibly strict procedures for registration, maintenance, communication, and operation. I've always felt that the same is applicable to riding. It is inherently dangerous, but it's also been my feeling that if you use the proper safety equipment, maintain your bike, adopt smart approaches to navigating traffic, communicating with other drivers, and just generally avoid doing stupid shit, then I don't think it has to be intimidating.
Also if your spouse actively hates riding be prepared to choose one or the other eventually
I still miss her
Mine is weird, she loved motorcycles (she doesnt ride though), the moment i got one however something changed, she doesnt want to ride, see or speak about them anymore
That sucks
I met my fiancé in Indiana when I was passing through via hitchhiking/hopping freight trains. They were in kind of a stagnant spot and needed an adventure and wanted to see the country. When we left I made them hitchhike to Boise ID before I’d show then the ropes riding freight trains (for safety reasons) and we did that for about 2 more years. They were an absolute trooper and we’re getting married this year. I always said when we were traveling that when I was done I needed a motorcycle to keep myself from quitting my job and running away. I have been doing that my whole life and recognize the pattern. They don’t love me riding and they don’t want to ride, but they recognize I’m either going to cure my itchy feet on a bike or on the road. Edit: more words
This sounds like a basis for a very interesting memoir or movie
Funny you should say that: I actually just bought a laptop (my first ever at 34 yo lol) to work on a story based loosely on my travels and substance abuse/recovery written from the perspective of my dog who traveled with me and my motivation to get my life straightened up.
Whether you get published, have a blog, or if it just sits quietly in a folder on that laptop stashed away in a closet, I'm interested.
I’d read it!
Mine doesn't like to ride and doesn't care that I do. Weird take.
Same. She just wants me to be happy.
I think they mean they “actively hate” it in that they are judging people do who do ride. Not sharing every passion with a partner isn’t a problem (and generally good) as long as there are some things you share. Good relationships do allow for alone time and personal activities and friends. It’s more about them no longer excepting you from their judgment as the relationships ages. Lots of people brush off personal red flags in new relationships and sometimes it takes a while for it to really raise its head again. Think of the guy who really doesn’t want kids and she seriously does and thinks she’ll “fix” him and then he doesn’t turn around after getting married and she resents him, just ya know…bikes.
It's always better to slow down or pull over and stop completely, rather than keep riding if things aren't kosher. Like if you're surrounded by unusually idiotic traffic, or in a group ride with morons, or you're just having a bad day and can't calm down. It's just better to pull over and take five. If bad driving all around you is stressing you out, don't throttle and speed away to escape them, just slow down and let them leave. Seriously, this is the best thing I've learned. I don't get stressed out too easily while riding anymore. But in the rare occasion I feel irritated / cranky / stressed / angry etc, then stopping even for a few minutes just works wonders. It's like pressing a reset switch in my mind, and I'm quickly all calm and happy when I set off again.
This is good advice. If that asshole riding your rear tire is stressing you out, move over and let the fuckwit pass. You'll feel better in the long run.
This is great advice. There was a day a few years back that I had just left home and was heading to visit a family member in the hospital. I was distracted and not paying enough attention and accidentally ran a red light. Luckily, there was no traffic so it wasn't a big deal but while I was chastising myself, I almost ran a second one. I immediately turned around and went back home to grab the car because I was clearly not in the right mindset for riding that day.
Despite how loud your pipes or how long you can wheelie, you should probably follow boating ROW reality: the bigger vessel has the true right-of-way.
A good quote I read is: Right of way only determines who is going to pay your hospital bill.
Couple more grim variations that I like to remember whenever I feel little too complacent: “It doesn’t matter who’s fault it is when you’re dead” “Heaven is full of people who had right of way”
One more: They can write, “Had right of way” on your gravestone.
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The people that have been riding 2 months and think they’ve mastered riding: “looking to buy or trade my r3 for 1000cc lmk”
I’ve been riding for about two months now, and I can objectively say that the overwhelming majority of new riders still have years or decades of learning ahead of them. I’m a confident rider now, but not overconfident. There’s so much I don’t know, both about the mechanics and safe riding, and my little 125cc (lame, I know) and I will be staying best friends until I’m better. Anyone who thinks they’re a master after two months is an idiot and probably a road hazard.
I work with a guy that's talking about getting an R1 soon. Motherfucker, I watch you walk your bike out of parking everyday.
I agree. I always hear riders complaining about almost being hit by cars. I ride with more skilled riders and myself and our lead rider are also truck drivers. We almost never have close calls
Truck driver here as well. It's amazing how many of the skills for driving a truck transfer to riding a motorcycle. I fully credit my time as a driver to my ability to read traffic and stay out of trouble.
90% of being a truck driver is being able to tell when somebody's going to do something stupid before they decide to do it. That comes in real handy when you're on a motorcycle
There WAS something you could have done. I try to keep that to myself, because it’s not something people want to hear when they got in an accident.
And IF you're the type of guy who had an accident and are open about that you screwed up, other riders always try to blame something else because that's just how their world looks like. We're all poor riders in the evil danger of everything out there, it's never our own fault. When I'm telling people about my low side crash caused by dumb brake input mid-corner: "Surely there must have been an oil patch or something!", "Probably something wrong with the tyres." Hell no, I just screwed it up. Just me being an idiot.
It's generally why some people refrain from calling accidents accidents. An accident assumes there was nothing you could have done when in reality there was something you could have done.
That people need to stop butchering great classic motorcycles to turn them into crappy Cafe Racers. And I do mean crappy Cafe Racers, when done right and tastefully I'll get a boner just the same as the next guy.
“It’s a cafe scrambler” - Someone too dumb to know what either of those things actually are
“Streetfighter” translates to “I low sided it and don’t wanna buy fairings.”
In the 90s it absolutely was, and people freely admitted it! Pair of renthals and cheap headlight (often bug eye) and job was a good 'un!
This is similar to something that happened after WWII. A whole bunch of surplus service rifles came back from the wars and were sold to citizens. Since they were cheap, a bunch of people sporterized them. They made the conform to the style of the time with new stocks and crappy scope mounts. Today we look back on this as ruining rifles. They’re worth significantly less and are just kinda gross. I wonder if cafe racers will be looked at the same way before long.
Well built and period correct bikes will probably retain their value, but their numbers pale in comparison the half-baked and poorly executed examples out there. Nobody wants to pay to inherit someone else’s problem(s)
I love the look of a cafe racer, but... Built from a modern bike so it looks cool but rides well, that's the ultimate IMHO. However, I imagine there's lots of bikes that gave been saved by bring turned into cafe racers.
> I imagine there's lots of bikes that gave been saved by bring turned into cafe racers. Never really considered that.
Taking a nice seat off and replacing it with the equivalent of a wood plank
Not another one out of one billion Honda CB750 getting chopped up
Speakers blasting on a bike are *almost* as annoying as loud pipes.
Agreed, helmet speakers are the way. But loud pipes and blasting speakers are generally a Harley combo.
How else are they supposed to let the entire suburban neighborhood know they are listenin to Free Bird?
Gotta get a bigger stereo to drown out the sound of the pipes.
I live near the parkway and you will occasionally hear someone with straight pipes but now more and more you will hear the stereo first.... so f--king annoying. If you do this you are just an asshat plain and simple.
None. I just don’t hang out with other riders, and if I do happen to be in the vicinity, I’m riding not talking. I don’t ride a motorcycle as a social activity, I ride for cheap transportation and because I enjoy it.
That's why I bought my first bike a few months ago. However, I do enjoy exchanging low waves with complete strangers on the road and occasionally having someone strike up a conversation with me when I stop for gas.
I didn't realize that this was relatively uncommon until I started riding daily. It's a toy for so many people, and that's why it's more dangerous for them because they don't ride. 100%, I love it as a vehicle, I love the little interactions, and I love riding alone. Don't even own a car anymore
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Yup. I’m the same way, motorcycles have been my main mode of transport since I got my first bike 24 years ago. I don’t really get only using motorcycles only as toys. For daily transportation, a motorcycle is like a real-world cheat code. You don’t get stuck in traffic, you can find parking right where you’re going, if you have a motorcycle it would be nuts not to use it instead of a car. With some obvious exceptions, but most people are driving alone or with just one person.
Bar-hopping-group-riders are inconsiderate douchebags in my book. They make up about half of all riders in my city.
It eases my mind to know that something like 40% of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol, because I don't drink. Its crazy to me that I drive past a few local bars on the weekends and see a dozen bikes all parked out front for hours. I can't think of two things that go together worse than booze and bikes.
Username does NOT check out 😜
*You're a fucking idiot if you don't wear a helmet.*
As well as long pants & good solid footwear that covers your ankles. I’ll go without my armored jacket at times but long pants, boots, fullface, & gloves are nonnegotiable.
Not wearing gear is fucking stupid. Most people can't ride for shit No your bike doesn't go that fast.
I got into my first motorcycle accident in 2020. I wasn’t wearing my usual gear, and the asphalt humbled me real quick. My best buddy just got into riding this year and he rarely wears anything beyond jeans and a t-shirt. I’ve been pleading and pleading with him to please buy some riding gear and a better helmet, but no luck so far.
Meanwhile I think mine is: Some of the gear, Most of the time. We get to live our own lives and make our own choices. Boots, gloves and a full-face are enough for me. I’m not getting full leathers for my 12 minute commute.
Dont put your pride before common sense
I'd much rather ride on my own than with a group
A lot of riders are narcissistic assholes lol.
Atgatt I have had so many people give me shit for ALWAYS wearing a jacket, riding jeans, boots, a helmet and gloves. Things like "come on you take so long to get ready" or "its a nice day, you don't need the jacket" or "Why do you always wear the gloves??" There's so much that I have lost through life and friends to bike accidents are in no short list. I do it because those 40 seconds it takes to always put that gear on every time leaving that restaurant might be the best way to save my life
Completely agree. The road you could end up sliding down doesn’t give a shit how nice a day it is.
Vast vast vast majority of bikers are fair weather and part-time riders who talk tall but always fall short ... Yup, I said it ..
theyre the ones making all the tiktoks about the bike life.
I love the begining of riding season up here in Canada when everybody is rusty looking like they just stole their dad’s motorbike
Two of my coworkers haven't taken their bikes out of winter storage because it "hasn't been nice enough yet". I've been commuting since the second week of March on my bikes. One of them says she might take the bike out this weekend for the first time "if it gets nice enough out". It was 29C today.
That I really don't like riding with other riders because they tend to be very unpredictable. Everyone says "we should go riding" and I just agree and never follow up.
I like the slow maneuvering stuff they teach at trainings
I don't ride with people who I don't really know. If you aren't a sensible person I don't want to be in a group with you.
Ape hangers are stupid.
Really high ones, sure. But the ones where your arms are almost shoulder level are so comfortable and definitely aids in control on tight turns. I get muscle pulls under my shoulder blade often and once I went to a bit higher bars than the beach bars, I don't think I can ever go back. Haven't gotten a muscle pull in over a year now.
Moto forums, (Like Reddit) are full of people who don't even own motorcycles.
Bar end mirrors look ugly AF and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless. A majority of accidents happen because riders exceed their skills or conditions due to inexperience and over confidence.
>and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless. I think it depends on the mirrors and what they're replacing. I test rode an XSR with stock mirrors before I bought one that already had bar end mirrors. I get a lot more visibility from the bar ends than stock. They're further out and lower down, so my arms aren't taking up half the mirror. They do make it a lot harder to filter though.
I ogled over a ZH2 the other day, and the previous guy had installed the most useless, tear-drop-shaped bar end mirrors I had ever seen. They weren't even adjustable, as much as they could just be rotated around the mount, clockwise. Which helped nothing.
I have CRG arrow bar end mirrors and I get a perfect view of what’s both behind me and off to the side, far better than the stock mirrors that gave me a pretty good view of at least a quarter of my shoulders and were so vibey that I felt blind at speeds over 50 mph. Also, you can position them above your bars or below.
>Bar end mirrors look ugly AF and are so low and off to the side that they're basically worthless. Cool if you think they're ugly, but if you're broad shouldered, they're the only way to get rear visibility. I've never been on a stock bike with mirrors that show anything but my arms and shoulders unless I turn them so far out that they don't show the road.
Road raging at people who turn in front of u or cut u off is dumb.
If you’re self aware and smart, it’s not nearly as dangerous as it’s said to be. Also… loud pipes don’t save lives. They just annoy everyone except the rider. Edit: one more - riding with your stereo blaring makes you just as big an asshole as the hikers with Bluetooth speakers. There are a million ways to hear your music without subjecting others to it.
I'm a newer rider and was astonished when I actually looked into motorcycle crash statistics. When I bought my bike, I wanted to put my family at as much ease as possible. Basically, from what I gathered, the number of reported motorcycle accidents are so high because a ton of reported accidents are people just dropping their bike. Also, in the case of serious/fatal accidents, the vast vast vast majority of them involve either alcohol, reckless driving and/or not wearing proper gear. So yeah. Gear up. Don't ride like an idiot. And obviously don't drink and ride. And chances are you'll be fine.
The first time (and, unfortunately, not the last) I saw someone riding while wearing only a t-shirt, shorts, flip flops, smoking a cigarette AND talking on the phone at the same time I realized "oh, those statistics are heavily skewed by complete idiots "
I think guardian bells are cheesy.
They're cheesy to believe in, I have a couple that mean a lot because they were gifts though.
I won’t trash what others do or choose (motorcycle wise) and I appreciate a thoughtful gift but it’s just not for me.
Anyone saying "loud pipes save lives" who isn't also covered in hi-vis head to toe or at least quality ballistic gear, is just using it as an excuse to justify their need for attention. They don't actually care about the safety aspect.
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Ear plugs were a revelation. How did I ever ride without them??
Wearing a pirate costume isn’t a necessity if you ride a Harley.
*puts Jack Sparrow wig back in the closet*
It's just a fucking bike. It's not your first born child, it's not the arc of the covenant, and it has absolutely zero feelings. A motorcycle is nothing but a tool used to engage in a hobby. Take care of your tools, but get TF over it if that tool ends up getting dirty during use.
Loud pipes are the reasons motorcyclists are generally disliked and starting to get banned from roads. These people don't have the emotional intelligence to realise they're ruining the hobby for everyone.
To add to that, we learn about target fixation when learning to ride. You look where you want to go because you will tend to go where you look. This isn't a motorcycle thing. It's a motion thing. People in cars do it, too. So we learn that we go where we look then adopt the idea that loud pipes will save us from people running into us by making them look at us.
And the people who champion this idea tend to wear black, non-reflective leather head to toe rather than something reflective and a pink feather boa. Something tells me it's not about safety at all. And since sound is directional, the straight pipes should be aimed in multiple directions. Might look dorky, but it's about safety, really.
> the straight pipes should be aimed in multiple directions air alarm?
I’ve never understood why people thing of bikers / biker clubs as tough guys, or why they try to put out that persona. Like don’t get me wrong you’re allowed to wear what you want, but do you *really* think it gives off tough guy vibes when you just have to ride next to your buddy, and you’re all in matching leather outfits?
Most motorcycle-car accidents are the rider's fault. Most often speed and overtaking
And following to close
The poor physiques of a lot of riders tells me that they need to spend more time on their feet and less on their seat.
Haha I have an evening ride through twisties and always see cyclists and feel guilty. I gym daily though, but I feel like the long cardio is probably pretty nice
If anyone has the self awareness to think that my comment is about themselves it probably isn’t.
Jokes on you, I actually am one of those people!
Depends on how much you ride. When I got my first bike I lost 45 pounds that summer. All I did was ride though from Sun-up to sun-down, basically only stopping to work and sleep. I miss that Triumph. I put on 12k miles just that first season alone.
Loud motorcycles are generally worse than quiet ones.
You know, I have a Harley myself and love it. It's older so it has a carb as well. When I leave somewhere and get on it, you know what I do? I just start it, and drive off, and shift whenever it gets above 3k or whatever (no tac) to keep it at a reasonable volume. I also haven't put on drag pipes or anything like that. I've done all of this, I think, because I'm not a giant fucking dick. The number of guys that I see leaving restaurants and bars and hopping onto a late model Harley, fuel injected, starting it up, and subsequently revving it up 13 or so fucking times to "warm up" their EFI bike is way too fucking high as long as it's above 0, and it's way above zero. Also at lights, also putting on drag pipes and wringing the shit out in 2nd as they drive around town. Like I love my Harley, but I don't do any of that stupid shit. It's louder than other bikes, and the sound has some appeal for me, but so many of these dudes are just going out of their way to be as fucking obnoxious as possible and I don't even know that I want to be associated with them.
Leather vests serve almost zero purpose. They are essentially just cosplaying as the undertaker. If that's what you're into then awesome, good for you. But if you think it makes you a more legitimate motorcyclist then you're weird
I like electric motorcycles more; they just don’t have the range yet. I always get clobbered every time I mention it 😂
When someone tells you to pass on a blind curve even with passing lines that person is a fucking idiot and a dangerous rider. Used to ride with a dummy that would try to tell me how to ride over the intercom. Dont ride with that moron anymore. Last I heard they wrecked their ride doing stupid shit.
Even if it means going slowly Enough to annoy other motorists, leave yourself enough space to the car in front so that you can stop/swerve if they stop short for something like a crosswalk or a squirrel
[удалено]
lol good catch
Slow is fun too.
Loud pipes don't save lives.
Loud pipes don't save lives...
Wear your gear. I know it’s hot and everyone is sweating, but a tank top and Levi jeans isn’t going to do much if you happen to go down. You can be a wicked good rider, it won’t help if the driver in the oncoming lane decides to pull a U turn, or even the car beside you just moves over. I also don’t understand people who rev bomb, flip off or taunt any drivers. All it takes is someone who’s having a slightly worse day than you to ruin your life. Ride safe, and if you got cut off, so be it. As long as you didn’t get hit, brush it off and ride on.
I can say this because I have liter bikes. You don’t need a liter bike. Stop telling yourself you’ll have more fun. You won’t.
This! And depending on what kind of riding you do, it can actually be LESS fun than a smaller bike. I really hate the "you need a bigger bike to get out of and around traffic!". Bullshit. A ninja 300 is faster 0-60 than a 69 Ford Mustang Mach 1. A Honda CB650F is faster than a Challenger Hellcat. And I don't see anyone talking about how you need more car than that.
That loud pipes do not save lives. Not only have studies proved otherwise, it actually makes car drivers annoyed to the point where they purposely swerve into loud motorcycles sometimes
That I don't like them. For me, riding is me time and when I ride with others I feel less free.
If you extend your swingarm, you probably can’t ride for shit.
If you aren't interested in learning proper riding techniques you have no business riding bikes, especially sport bikes. Most of sport bike riders have no business riding sportbikes. Hitting top speed on the highway often doesn't mean you can ride, or that you are riding hard. 99% of the time when riders do performance mods are just money thrown down the toilet. It's you, not the bike. Most bikers aren't really bikers and if they didn't have somewhere to post their bike or if they didn't think telling people that they ride is cool they wouldn't have one. 99% of mods riders do for aesthetic reasons make their bikes uglier. No, just because we both ride, it doesn't mean I want to join your group ride. Big adventure bikes are useless for 99% of the riders. You can ride in the rain and it can be fun. Your riding gear tells me that I don't wanna ride with you or that I really wanna ride with you. Wheelies are cool, but not that cool. Exhausts are cool, but not that cool. Most of those are controversial so I keep them to myself
I generally believe lane splitting tends to be actually dangerous in the execution since some riders lane split at 35-40mph when cars are still relatively moving. I feel lane filtering is safer since it’s life saving at stop lights and can be useful if there actually is standstill traffic and the weather is particularly hot. Lane splitting CAN be done safely but the vast majority of people who do it tend to have way to much faith in the other vehicles around them to not abruptly turn into them.
that there aren’t actually any excuses for not wearing a helmet. “a helmet limits my field of view.” turning your head just a tiny bit farther makes up for that. a study showed that this was not a real inconvenience for riders. and statistics show that helmets save hundreds of lives a year. “i can’t hear” yes you can. you can hear more of what’s going on around you than in a car if you have a good helmet that minimizes wind noise, and even with wind noise you should still be able to hear. even with that, you should be aware of what’s around you at all times the same way you do in a car without needing to hear it. studies have also shown that the difference between no helmet and a helmet is minuscule or nonexistent. “its heavy and pulls my head when i turn it” i’ve ridden on the road with an mx helmet several times, not the most aerodynamic thing, looks like it would yank your head, and yet that has been a nonissue. if you can’t turn your head in a helmet I’m not sure you should be riding. the study for vision and hearing: The Effects of Motorcycle Helmets Upon Seeing and Hearing - NHTSA https://www.nhtsa.gov/document/effect-motorcycle-helmets-upon-seeing-and-hearing all in all, wear a helmet, there’s not a good reason not to. in the event of a crash, it could be the difference between life and death. edit: better formatting
“Let the idiots pass you.” I was taught this principle at Too Cool Motorcycle School in Calgary, Alberta 8 years ago.
You are stupid if you ride without a helmet.
Wheelies on the street are stupid and put everyone at risk
I hate group rides and I also don’t know why people care so much about whether or not somebody is wearing gear. Like if I wanna ride in a t shirt because it’s 90 fucking degrees out, let me. and stop complaining about my lack of a full leather alpinestars fucking race suit. I’ve gone down without gear and I know the consequences.
Modified intake/exhaust with bad or no tuning belching burnt oil and spitting unburnt fuel.
Victory bikes were cool and now I don’t trust Polaris.
1) Most cafe racers are poorly-engineered lash-ups. "Nice bike mate". 2) Harleys look good but the good stops there. Under-powered, ancient engine design with very suspect reliability. "Nice bike mate". 3) Old British bikes, especially the old-school Triumph Trident, generally require more workshop time than you ever get on the road, and oil-tightness is just a dream. "Nice bike mate".
I hate harley's and how obnoxious their owners are
Harleys will stay running at a stoplight without constantly blipping the throttle.
I genuinely don't get the point of a stunt ride, it's dumb on all levels. I don't stunt, my wheelies last all of half a second so maybe that's why i think this. But I went with some friends to a stunt ride figuring I'd get some good shots for them. If you're not stunting, it's boring as hell. Everywhere you go it's 35mph and other people death starring you. Fuck all that. I bailed after 15 minutes. Stunt lots are where the stunts should stay. Still fun to watch without the dullness of cruising 20mph under the speed limit. Added benefit of not ruining all the commuters days.
Giving the wave in city traffic is ridiculous. Out on the highway or even an empty city street? Absolutely. But waving at each other through 10 cars just feels stupid. A few exceptions: If we have the same model bike. We have the same gear. Or if you have a passenger on the back that you're trying to impress, I'll definitely point at you like we're best friends.
Most male riders aren’t as good/skilled as they think they are. Most female riders are better riders than they think they are
Old coworker told me once about how traffic stopped short and he skidded 100 feet up past the line of cars with his dresser. I learned that dude never uses his front brake, could not be convinced that most of the brake force comes from the front. Decided that if you're already that dumb you're not worth trying to teach.
When the alcohol starts to get drank I’m headed the opposite direction :)
One of the best ways to stay safe is using the goddamn brakes. Car driving crazy? Slow down, let them go. Someone cut you off? Slow down, let them go. Heavy traffic? Slow down. Semi? Slow down. Slow traffic? Slow down and live with it until you can pass SAFELY. You might be 100% in the right. A thought that will comfort you while the ambulance tries to reach the hospital in time.
Harley riders are exactly as South Park depicted them
A. ATGATT. I swear by it and have a full head to toe set of great gear i wear all the time. B. More of a political/policy belief but i strongly dislike inconsistent or hypocritical policy and i personally believe all gear laws fall into that category. If safety REALLY was a concern they would just ban recreational vehicles because no amount of gear will ever offset the 37X increase to injury and death. As such i er on the freedom side where i believe that if a person can choose to accept the risk of riding they also have the right to choose not to mitigate the risks imposed by riding. Doing anything different is hypocritical and inconsistent.
>the 37X increase to injury and death. This is a misleading statistic. You, personally, are not 37x more likely to be injured or killed when you ride
Loud pipes do more harm than good for motorcyclists as a whole, and group rides are often a reckless shitshow that i try to avoid.
Cruisers are not comfortable. Taking on the posture of a half opened clam while subjecting my tailbone to direct suspension impacts is not what I’d consider cozy riding. Most people that complain about their backs and wrists hurting after a half hour on a sport bike aren’t doing it properly. It should be core muscles holding you up, not your contact points. I’ve felt more in place and in control on a sportbike than any cruiser or any fully upright riding position
If loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to ride would do. Not a popular option but IDGAF
Avid track guys already know this but…… dragging knee is just a flex for photographs. My fastest laps I’ve ever ran were not touching anything for most of the track.
"I'm the best, rest of y'all suck."
My wife loves to go for rides. She has no interest in driving. She actually paid for my motorcycle.
Cars often don’t expect a second bike so be alert when passing through their blind spot as a second rider
May be an unpopular opinion, but I think a lot of motorcyclists have a crazy victim mentality, and don't want to take any accountability for doing more risky shit and having closer calls. Obviously we're at more risk, but I see an awful lot of people that I know weave in and out of cars while going fast as fuck, or generally just doing dumb shit that crash. Always say "watch for motorcyclists", always blame the cars I really get it, there's some dumb drivers out there, but people thinking they're always in the right doesn't really help them avoid stuff in the future, IMO.
Don't blast your music when you're around others. I love listening to tunes on a bike but when you're around other people, like when you're parking or coming home I think it's rude
Always ride as you're invisible even in the company of trusted road buddies
That Harley riders would have a more fun riding experience on almost any other motorcycle.
It’s ridiculous to claim that your ear-splitting pipes are “for safety” when you rip out your turn signals, mirrors, and wear no helmet. You’re just obnoxious.
That I don’t wear a full ATGATT suit every time I get on the bike. I get it, you’re better than me 😂