Judging A Rider By Their Bike

[ScottRNelson]

I figure that anyone riding a KTM that is bigger than a 390 is probably not a noobie rider. And anybody on an F650GS likely is.

Ha! Well, that bike does not say Grandfather to me, but the pic says you have it all. :thumbup

I let my license plate "say Grandfather" to people. :teeth

I have similar Idaho plates on my bikes now.

 

[gixxerjeff]

So now I judge riders by the condiments they blow out as they do the 1st to 2nd shift.

:laughing

 

[NeverSayDie]

-Every thing out of the Rizoma catalog tacked on?
.

I had to look up what that is. They don't make parts for my bike. So fuck them.
:teeth:teeth:teeth

 

[originalsturge]

I ride an RC8 with a ventura rack. I don't get to many looks about that. Then again most of the time it also has saddlebags, dry bag, and another bag in the rack so I get some interesting questions at gas stations.
Knock on wood I've never had any mechanical or electrical issues that supposedly are common with KTM. Guess when you don't put a bunch of farkles on a bike it doesn't do that?

 

[Tumbleweed]

I wait until they open their mouth and let their inner demons out. :teeth

+1. You can wrap crazy up in pretty package and put them on a badass bike... but they still bat-shit cra-cra and no one I want to hang/ride with....

 

[lefty]

I generally don't give a rats ass what other people think, and I learned a long time ago to not judge people based on appearances. But it sure is fun seeing "real" riders riding sleeper bikes just to mess with people who judge others based on what they ride.

So much THIS!!!!!! :thumbup

When I used to commute over 17 daily on my ZX9-R, I thought that I had some skills,,,,,, that was until I got OWNED by some old dude on a GoldWing!!!!

 

[DReg350]

This thread reminds me of my college Sociology class: Societal norms and conformity. Ethnocentrism. Without getting to know someone and making time to explore the reasons for their choices, it would be presumptuous of me to judge them. Bike choices fall into that category, for me.

Communication style is a little easier. Especially if we're functioning in the same society, much like we are here. I'd venture to guess that most of us are a little more skilled in assessing this. We can usually tell if someone is positioning themselves as competitive, boastful, an expert, a beginner, or any number of other definitions we might come up with. Once I've assessed this I might make a decision to dive in deeper, or shut the conversation off.

I learned a hard lesson several years ago while on a group ride. I judged a rider before I gave both of us an opportunity to get to know one another. Then it was too late. I hope to never repeat that mistake.

It's easy to dismiss someone based on the bike they ride, but when we do this we dismiss the journey they taken. If I take the time, I can usually learn something from anyone, but it takes patience and a decision to set preconceptions and judgements aside.

 

[nickb]

Bandit riders are cheap. Er... budget conscious

IF there is JB Weld or duct tape on the motor: this person probably does not give a F*** about anything and will be faster than I can ever aspire to be :laughing

old Bandit has globs of Ultra-Black around base gasket and valve cover for reason above. I am old and not fast.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I've got a thick skin, so pile on:

I ride a 1994 GL1500SE with a CSC Friendship 1 sidecar attached, and the wife owns the sidecar seat - what does that make me? :afm199 :teeth

 

[gixxerjeff]

what does that make me? :afm199 :teeth

Answer: A good husband. :thumbup

 

[ST Guy]

I see bikeama's bike in his avatar. It speaks nothing to me about bikeama, other than he has some bucks to buy a nice bike. He could be a rich newb or a seasoned ama racer.

True. But in his case, I wouldn't recommend trying to keep up with him. Especially in the twisties. :afm199 :teeth

 

[redbull]

But what if it's not their bike? I often ride around on my wife's Grom because she never rides it during the winter. Full gear with full face Arai "Ducati issue" helmet. People are more like; WTF!? :wtf

I am the same way and laugh at the contrast of people's looks/comments/gestures while on my 950 Adventure all kitted up for a long distance off road madness, versus city rolling the z125 Kawi to the store for beer while dressed for battle in more leather than Halford. But then again, no one is ever standing next to the little z125 humping the rear tire when I come out so I escape much quicker. :ride

 

[Gary856]

I've got a thick skin, so pile on:

I ride a 1994 GL1500SE with a CSC Friendship 1 sidecar attached, and the wife owns the sidecar seat - what does that make me? :afm199 :teeth

It's sad enough to ride a GW of that generation, made far worse by that awful teal color, I don't have the heart to tell you how I really feel.

 

[HadesOmega]

I took this picture in Death Valley a couple days ago and posted it on my instagram about the difference between these two adventure bikes is one is too clean.

I mean c'mon you dump a lot of coin into one of the most dirt capable adventure bikes on the market and your not hitting any of the dirty routes. Where you can clearly see mine has gone literally everywhere.

 

[Honey Badger]

If it's a friend, I may make jokes about something like chicken strips, or how dirty their sportbike is, or some other comment, but I know them, I know how they ride, and we rib each other back and forth.

Other riders? Not going to judge. Pretty sure I look like a total scooter squid when I'm bombing around town on my 125 Riva. And my street bike, while the tires have been scrubbed to the edge, the edges are far from worn, so I'm sure more than a few people have or do make judgements.

I really don't care TBH.

Enjoy your ride, I'll enjoy mine, and if one of us is slower than the other, wave the other by and enjoy the rest of your day!

 

[ST Guy]

Knew a woman once who was petite and rode a VFR. I would imagine most people would figure she was a slower, perhaps even timid rider given her physical appearance. However, if one examined her front tire, it told another story. Her's is the only front tire I've ever seen where the tread in the middle appeared almost unworn and the sides were completely worn down to the bottoms of the grooves. And all the way out to the sides.

 

[ThumperX]

youtu.be//oPRwh_dUJuc

 

[banshee01]

I took this picture in Death Valley a couple days ago and posted it on my instagram about the difference between these two adventure bikes is one is too clean.

I mean c'mon you dump a lot of coin into one of the most dirt capable adventure bikes on the market and your not hitting any of the dirty routes. Where you can clearly see mine has gone literally everywhere.

Post up your Instagram if public

 

[Ready to Ride]

........ Her's is the only front tire I've ever seen where the tread in the middle appeared almost unworn and the sides were completely worn down to the bottoms of the grooves. And all the way out to the sides.

Gary’s Ninja 250 wore front tires like that.......

 

[gixxerjeff]

Gary’s Ninja 250 wore front tires like that.......

^This^
:rose