Generalizations about specific riding groups and barf

[budman]

I lowered mine and went black.

:smoking

 

[mrhuthut]

"Goodnight Ladies"

 

[metrorollah]

Wanna see people making generalizations about bike specific groups? Try Bill 137, its proposed Senate legislation aimed directly at a fabricated rider stereotype.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253139

Think about how this kind of profiling can hurt when left unchecked. It hurts not just your pride, or your social status, it can hurt your lifestyle. Racism, sexism, prejudice, and discrimination are always just a few signatures away. But, you, yourself, can help by breaking down the boundaries between you and your government, and staying more active and informed than your stereotype allows. We need to stay above these issues, and above degradation in our community, however loosely tied it may be.

Three people spoke up at the hearing to have Bill 137 quashed. Bruce Arnold of www.LDRlongdistancerider.com, a member of ABATE, and a motorcycle dealer.

 

[sommelier]

Hey Blind Io

I'm not even sure the stereotype into which I would fall. I'm not a Harley rider, I'm not a sport bike rider. I don't stunt (hell, I don't even know how). Even my riding jacket is only about 60% leather over thick denim. I wear a full face helmet, even in states that don't require one (Utah).

I guess you could stick me in with the new riders since I don't have that much time under my belt and I ride what some consider to be a starter bike (because it's so cheap).

I completely agree with what has been said here. I feel like I have more in common with anyone on two wheels than I do with anyone on four. When I'm riding I get The Wave from most other riders, no matter what they are on, and I return in kind. Yesterday I was lane splitting through rush hour traffic in The Maze behind someone on a sports bike - he moved into an empty space and let me pass. He didn't have to do that and I wasn't riding his ass, but it surprised me that a high end sports bike would want to slot in behind a slower (and much older) cruiser. It just shows that you can't make any assumptions.

This is my first post here on BARF. I am a little curious where the above lane splitting took place. I think I might have let you by... Either way, as a fencer you shouldn't be suprised to be given the right of way. Sometimes it is an offensive tactic.

 

[smoothkneedragr]

Why is this so?

 

[DaveT319]

A few generalizations I have noticed:

- Sportbikers don't often wave at cruisers, unless the cruiser waves first - and even then, sometimes they don't wave back.
- Harley riders often only wave to other Harleys, and not other cruisers... and almost never wave to sportbikers.

These both irritate me, because - as someone said above - it's not what you ride, it's that you ride. First and foremost, we are all riders, no matter what we're on.

Dave

 

[Roundboy]

A few generalizations I have noticed:

- Sportbikers don't often wave at cruisers, unless the cruiser waves first - and even then, sometimes they don't wave back.
- Harley riders often only wave to other Harleys, and not other cruisers... and almost never wave to sportbikers.

These both irritate me, because - as someone said above - it's not what you ride, it's that you ride. First and foremost, we are all riders, no matter what we're on.

Dave

You can catch me waving to every bike M-F on 237E and 880N at about 3-4pm Yellow and black Superhawk
I wave in the hills too...some wave back others don't...

it's a choice I don't think everyone is paying attention all the time and some folks just don't care to wave...this has been discussed a whole bunch of times here and other boards and I'm sure will continue to be a popular topic of discussion.

Ride on!

 

[FickleBiker]

I have a couple generalizations:

BMW RT riders are, for the most part, 'snobs on wheels'...... They don't wave, and even if you're on another Beemer, you're still NOT on an RT. They are the LEAST fun to party with at Beemer rallies, have the most designer-name goodies & gear, and.... well, I better stop now.
GS riders on the other hand, will party loud enough to go to the local jail, get bailed out by their bud's, and celebrate what they did to get locked up!

I put 60,000 miles on a 2001 BMW R1150Ra, spent time with all sorts of Beemer folk, and have decided that I'm not quite rich enough to maintain a BMW. Good bike, but BMW folk are indeed quirky folk.....

 

[kYLEMtnCRUZr]

I've noticed that with KTM riders in the dirt...Many of them are stuck up since they think theyre the fastest.

You meet up with some in the middle of some singletrack taking a break...kill your bike and say whats up and they hardly acknowledge you being 10 feet next to them in the middle of nowhere...kickstart and ride away..."good luck draggin your bike off the cliff, cuz i wont help you next time!"

 

[YZF450LE]

what i dont understand is why riders HAVE to fall into their stereotypes.
Because its a sense of belonging

like if you buy a harley, why do they wear the same type of helmet, grow a beard and wear the same gear (or lack there of)?
Look at the White Kids in Gangsta get up in an affluent school

why do sportbikers have to put tiny turn signals and their bike, remove the fender, and shove the license plate up what looks like the bike's ass?
I have no issue with that, just dont fold your ears under your cap and wear that sideways

Why do BMW riders wear the funny gray jumpsuits with the reflectors and a gray flip face helmet?
Because They are special

i know there are exception, but exceptions dont make the rule. so i know YOU dont do that, but most riders you see on the street do.


i know when i had my magna, i did everything i could to buck the trend and wore a full face helmet with full gear. now on my buell, i make sure not to use chew, wear flannels, or live in a trailer.

When I told my daughters old boyfriend where and what the meaning is for wearing your pants at your ankles, he pulled his pants up :rofl

Back to generalizations
It is true there are idiots in every group, there are those in our own community that are bombastic self absorbed narcissists, that insist and toss tantrums over a simple name. What it all means is IMHO is it is always the one who creates the issue for the many. The one photo of a wheelie down the freeway, the one who threatens to punch in a face because he dare post a rebuttle in a thread or the or the one who sits idle and watches the one(s) ruin it for all.

 

[frostyspeed]

Well said:thumbup

 

[Jack the Smack]

A few generalizations I have noticed:

- Sportbikers don't often wave at cruisers, unless the cruiser waves first - and even then, sometimes they don't wave back.
- Harley riders often only wave to other Harleys, and not other cruisers... and almost never wave to sportbikers.

These both irritate me, because - as someone said above - it's not what you ride, it's that you ride. First and foremost, we are all riders, no matter what we're on.

Dave

I wave at most people, but I have more and less respect for each group based on what they wear.

I have little respect for people who wear almost nothing at all in terms of protection. I saw a 35+ year old fat Harley rider the other day with just a helmet. No gloves or any other protection, and thought "What a squid."

if you're wearing mostly all gear except jeans and boots, I have respect. You get what you can afford and protect the most likely to be injured parts.

 

[sick50ford]

A few generalizations I have noticed:

- Sportbikers don't often wave at cruisers, unless the cruiser waves first - and even then, sometimes they don't wave back.
- Harley riders often only wave to other Harleys, and not other cruisers... and almost never wave to sportbikers.

These both irritate me, because - as someone said above - it's not what you ride, it's that you ride. First and foremost, we are all riders, no matter what we're on.

Dave

during last years hollister rally, my bro on a cbr was riding opposite incoming on highway 25, just for fun, he waved to every harley (well over 100) and got about a 5% return

 

[Cincinnatus]

I have a couple generalizations:

BMW RT riders are, for the most part, 'snobs on wheels'...... They don't wave, and even if you're on another Beemer, you're still NOT on an RT. They are the LEAST fun to party with at Beemer rallies, have the most designer-name goodies & gear, and.... well, I better stop now.
GS riders on the other hand, will party loud enough to go to the local jail, get bailed out by their bud's, and celebrate what they did to get locked up!

I put 60,000 miles on a 2001 BMW R1150Ra, spent time with all sorts of Beemer folk, and have decided that I'm not quite rich enough to maintain a BMW. Good bike, but BMW folk are indeed quirky folk.....

Geez, somebody's waking up old threads recently....

I have an '06 K1200R (see avatar :laughing), and my maintenance costs are low, considering I have the 4-year extended warranty going. :thumbup

I wave at everybody except the nutjobs that don't wear at least a modicum of good gear. I have an HJC fullface helmet, a leather/textile Joe Rocket jacket, Joe Rocket gloves, jeans or work-related cargo pants (ok, Army uniform trousers :laughing), and Army boots. In nasty weather I wear the FirstGear waterproof overpants with armor.

Am I considering an Aerostich? Hell yeah, I ride in all kinds of weather, and I like being warm, dry, and protected. A flip-face helmet doesn't make sense to me, but if there are enough good reasons to get one, I will. If it's a better helmet for group rides (ability to add the Chatterbox system, etc.), then I'll get one.

It all adds up to what is reasonable under the circumstances. Folks who can afford the RT (and the LT) are more likely to be able to afford the excellent gear that they like. Does that make me quirky? :laughing

For a while, yes, HD riders were scorned by other HD riders if they wore more than the skull-cap helmet. But more & more of them are starting to wear full-face. Knowing that the open-face forces more debris to hit the face, and increases sun-damage, I'd bet that they wear full-faces because a good-sized chunk of them are doctors, lawyers, etc., and they don't want to get face-lifts faster than they have too... :laughing

 

[Brown81]

I wave to everyone on two wheels. I always wave to fire trucks and emt vehicles (good karma??) and always moto cops.

The folks who irritate me most are those that that can not mind their own business.

Don't like a vest that doesn't conform to your idea of what a guy should wear?
Don't wear one then. Or, go up to the fella like a man and let him know to his/ face.

Don't like what someone else is wearing while riding?
Cool, it's none of your business anyway.

Don't like Harleys? Cool, don't buy one.

Don't like sprotbiles? Cool, buy a cruiser. Or a standard.


All these ridiculous divisions are the only thing "ruining it for the rest of us", imo. Ride your own ride and run what ya brung.

 

[750_sport]

I wanted respond with my opinion based on this thread, but felt it would be lost so here ya go.

The thread ..another about stunters:
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=213283&perpage=15&pagenumber=1


I hate generalizations... but it is a matter of fact in life.
Business, government the moto and general public do it everyday.

Guys who stunt or ride super fast on well trafficked roads will help generalize the public's view of motorcyclist . Same with guys who ride in T-shirts and no gloves, or sandals or shorts or drunk.. etc. etc..

Hell.. IMO we as motorcyclists still are seen so much as an outlaw group due to years of the Hell's Angels grip on the public perception. We know that is true right??

And to say that barf wants the Ruff Riders to die in the original thread above.. (I believe the intent is to die off as a group) is a generalization too. Barf is a bunch a members that are as diverse as society and just love bikes and loves to talk about them. I personally don't like to hear the generalizations about barf either, but WTF are you going to do..? That is how people are. Most of barf is actually quiet. We may have 500 people a day who post, but we have 5000 that look and read and likely often behind the keyboard they are going :rolleyes or :laughing or :wow

So who is barf?? Who are the RR?? SBF??? Just people that have a little more in common than just being a rider. To say that all are a certain way is just a generalization that is not completely true. We become more likely suspects of such by joining or identifying ourselves with those groups, but that may be likely a reality.. just not given fact.

If you are posting here on barf and a RR then you too are part of barf.

If you are posting here on barf and a LEO then you to0 are part of barf..

And so on and so on...

Do barfers vote and give to charity or volunteer at events that help our society?? Do the other groups do that?? Do we all pay taxes and so on and so on. Sure.. some do.. some don't. We all pay taxes to some extent.

Generalize all you want, but each individual is something else besides being part of a group. Each person chooses their path in life and interests.. If your reading this then motorcycling is likely a chosen path and welcome to :barf That is what WE are.

I believe that most of us want the publics perception of us to be favorable and that leads to many opinions about certain activities. I know for myself I have been on almost every side of these issues and maybe that has jaded my own opinion.

Stunted.. yup.
Rode dirt in restricted areas .. yup.
Sped on public roads...yup.
Had my Harley bad boy look and drank... yup.

I am no saint, but experience/knowledge has cooled my jets to some degree and left me with a fairly realistic view into who we motorcyclist are. Again IMO.

Share the love

:smoking

Very nice.
But I can tell you unless the " I killed a side view mirror today" posts stop and things of that sorts, It will never improve, People in cars dont really care about motorcycles and 81's and the problems stemming from the 60's 70's 80's, they see us as aholes that can cause a accident riding a wheelie on the freeway, Split lanes to quickly, or involed in a police chase and high motorcycle deaths in summer months.

So while you have a great thought and nice to see it put down on the forum. Untill it becomes a social unacceptable behavor in the eyes of the people on this board, "Peer policing" It is something we all have to accept and in our future it getting worse with time.

I know because of this change I have rode my motorcycles far less in fear of being stoped or harrased.

Just the other day I tore into a motorcyclist for speeding down the center left turn lane at a very high rate of speed. He got stuck at a light and I pulled up along side and I bitched him out. His actions in my neighborhood is unacceptable as I will be the one being pulled over long after he leaves the area.

 

[EGIXXXER]

I wave to everyone on two wheels. I always wave to fire trucks and emt vehicles (good karma??) and always moto cops.

The folks who irritate me most are those that that can not mind their own business.

Don't like a vest that doesn't conform to your idea of what a guy should wear?
Don't wear one then. Or, go up to the fella like a man and let him know to his/ face.

Don't like what someone else is wearing while riding?
Cool, it's none of your business anyway.

Don't like Harleys? Cool, don't buy one.

Don't like sprotbiles? Cool, buy a cruiser. Or a standard.


All these ridiculous divisions are the only thing "ruining it for the rest of us", imo. Ride your own ride and run what ya brung.

Well said. The problem I have wit BARF is people who are judgemental. I don't wear enough gear. I understand that. If I am going to go ride hard I have all the gear. Except gloves and I have had them and am buying some. but If I want to go to 7-11 and buy a coke I don't feel the need for boots, leathers, gloves, back protector......I have beeen riding my whole life. Haven't driven my car in almost a year. I did a track day and I was an ok B group rider. Not that fast I know but thats the middle of the road right? I used to be able to do wheelies with the best of them, If I spent a few days I could be back. I can ride better than alot of people here and there are people here who are way better than me. If given the chance I would help people where I can and Shut up and listen when needed...My problem is to me the word "squid" means someone who cannot ride, not how much gear they have. I have seen Valentino ride in shorts t shirt and flip flops... Is he a squid?? I agree people should wear gear be safe don't go fast yada yada yada yada yada. But squid is not the right word. I don't know what the right one is but squid is not.

And I wave at everyone: Gsxr rider in a t shirt, Harley in a vest bmw rider in the full gear they wear, east bay rat in all black or a barfer on an sv650 with all the gear in the slow lane I love bikes and everything about them.

 

[Mike T]

edited by mod[/QUOTE] get the fuck out of our forum SPAMMER :spam

 

[Jack the Smack]

WTF is a hero honda hunk?

 

[merco]

Well said. The problem I have wit BARF is people who are judgemental. I don't wear enough gear. I understand that. If I am going to go ride hard I have all the gear. Except gloves and I have had them and am buying some. but If I want to go to 7-11 and buy a coke I don't feel the need for boots, leathers, gloves, back protector......I have beeen riding my whole life. Haven't driven my car in almost a year. I did a track day and I was an ok B group rider. Not that fast I know but thats the middle of the road right? I used to be able to do wheelies with the best of them, If I spent a few days I could be back. I can ride better than alot of people here and there are people here who are way better than me. If given the chance I would help people where I can and Shut up and listen when needed...My problem is to me the word "squid" means someone who cannot ride, not how much gear they have. I have seen Valentino ride in shorts t shirt and flip flops... Is he a squid?? I agree people should wear gear be safe don't go fast yada yada yada yada yada. But squid is not the right word. I don't know what the right one is but squid is not.

And I wave at everyone: Gsxr rider in a t shirt, Harley in a vest bmw rider in the full gear they wear, east bay rat in all black or a barfer on an sv650 with all the gear in the slow lane I love bikes and everything about them.

You said it perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup