5 things no-one told you about becoming a biker
Unwritten rules and guaranteed circumstances
Whatever the reason you got into biking; because your dad did it, you're an adrenaline seeker, it's cheap transport or you thought it would impress a member of the opposite sex, they're all valid and now, you're a biker. For life.
When you thought about getting onto two wheels, I bet there were people queuing up to tell you about their uncle's mate's brother who once had a bike and now he's in a wheelchair. Oh well, that didn't stop you, did it?
But there are certain things that they weren't qualified to tell you, things I bet no other biker told you either. See, it's kind of like a secret code, except the moment you become a biker, these things hit you in the face (sometimes literally).
Here are 5 things I bet no-one told you about becoming a biker, starting with number one: it's about your driving.
Discuss this story
Actually, I'm a VERY patient car driver.
Stick radio 4 on and I'm well happy.
Posted: 04/11/2011 at 13:33
"This article sucks, it's 5 things a self absorbed football playing sun reading fair weather GSX-R rider feels."
Let me guess, you ride a 1200GS, don't you?
I liked the article, funny and true at the same time.
Posted: 04/11/2011 at 13:37
6. You become obsessed by the weather (and clothes)
It's looking chilly in the morning, but the sun is out and it's going to warm up later. Leathers and a thermal layer it is, then. Hang on, though - it's going to be warm and a little bit rainy for the ride home from work. Textiles? Might be overkill. Waterproof outer-layer? It'll get a bit steamy. Normal leathers? Might rain just that bit too much.... Oh, god.
Posted: 04/11/2011 at 17:07
Very funny!
Thank you
:-)
Posted: 04/11/2011 at 17:12
My nodding code is:
No scooters, no Harley riders (never nod back), no Goldwing riders (riders who think they're in a car - so never nod back) and no commuters (who obviously just ride because they can't get a car - and never nod back).
Posted: 04/11/2011 at 21:26
Good article, nodding section was great! Tried not to laugh too loud as I'm on a train to maybe buy my first Harley, hopefully won't stop nodding though!
I don't think I'm a more impatient car driver, but definitely massively impatient on a bike which isn't great.
Posted: 05/11/2011 at 08:14
J.WARD -
"no Goldwing riders (riders who think they're in a car - so never nod back"
Funny article, Old men who 'used to have a BSA' are plentiful and I always take time to have a chat with them whenever.
Bikers are bikers to me Wardy, 'L' platers, trikes, old, young, mopeds, Blades or Gixers but okay, maybe even I draw the line at scooters.
Having progressed thru some 40 years of riding and as many bikes probably, road, dirt and track, I now have a Goldwing too, besides my Fazer 1000.
I acknowledge all with a wave and it's a delight to see a new 'L' plater wave back in surprise - but it's equally annoying when riders with your attitude simply don't bother 'cos I'm on my Goldwing 1800. Shame on you.
Posted: 05/11/2011 at 13:20
never leave your bike out in a frost, hard seat & VERYcold bum!
Avoid wet man hole covers!!
Nod at everybody, be proud!
resist looking like a power ranger ! LOL just kidding, old fart on bmw!(me)
Posted: 05/11/2011 at 17:32
Riding a Daytona 675SE in full leathers with a black visa, often young woman just look and smile as you go past
What they do not realise, is that underneath that helmet, is 70 year with six grandchildren.
It certainly brings a smile to my face and great for your ego!!!!!!!
Posted: 06/11/2011 at 18:13
Only reason I don't wave to scooters is because at lights, unlike other bikers, they're never looking at you so I assume (correctly I think) that they aren't interested in waving or interacting in any way.
But otherwise I'll wave at trikes, L-platers, Harlies, etc. When I was living in Ireland, I did find it ludicrous that this one guy in a half helmet would NEVER EVER wave: its like dude, you're not in fvcking America where there are two groups of riders in the Harley guys and the rest of the biking world, and where Harlies are used by drug-dealing gangs. You're in RURAL IRELAND! Stop PRETENDING like you're not a biker and are a breed apart!
And, generally imho women don't really like proper motorcycles, but i did get a ton of female attention when I started riding years ago on my dad's vespa!
I'm always happy to talk to anyone about my bike or bikes in general though, and meeting old codgers who tell me about their youth is often the highlight of my day. Once when I was on my Monster at a light, an old Irish gentleman was telling me about how back in the 1950s they'd take the baffles out of the exhausts on their BSAs and Triumphs. Was defo the highlight of my day as well as an education as I foolishly assumed that the loud pipes craze only began w/ faired sportsbikes in the 80s
Other than Harlies and scooterists (many of whom won't actually go on to be proper motorcyclists anyway), I find that everyone waves back or even first, even the supposedly notorious non-waving GS and Gold Wings
Posted: 07/11/2011 at 00:40
"you MUST get up the speed limit as fast as possible". Guilty, but then I keep to speed limit.
I will wave at anyone: scooters, Harley's, and delivery guys.
Well I am South African.
Posted: 08/11/2011 at 15:10
Kids will wave at you. Much to parents' disgust. But every kid wants a motorbike and they can't help themselves. So as you ride down the main street in 1st making a hellacious noise, you see the tug away from mommy, the little head turns,the hand slips from mommy's, a little face looks open-mouthed and then there's a broad grin, the kiddie points and then waves, and then mommy who has seen all this with great disapproval starts scolding, fearing what her little precious might turn into, backed up with a glare which means 'how dare you lead my child in such wicked ways' - and then you're gone, start over:)
I ALWAYS wave back at kids, with an exaggerated nod too, it makes the parents even more irate:)
Posted: 08/11/2011 at 22:32
Don't worry, you will all become usefull spare parts at your local hospital one day! Leaving your family to cope by them selves.
Grumpy
Posted: 09/11/2011 at 09:33
Missed one:
You become an arrogant shite with no manners.
As a youngster you are, I hope, brought up to say ‘Thank you’ if someone is nice or helpful to you.
It seems that none of this applies if you are notionally a ‘biker’.
Flashback to yesterday morning (well every morning, and evening for that matter) and filtering between several hundred cars stopped on the A31 or A3.
Bike in front working his/her way through the gap, dozens of cars and lorries edge over to provide extra space for us bikes to get through.
Does the bloke in front say thanks to anyone?
Of course he doesn’t – you don’t need good manners if you’re on a bike!
You don’t need to nod or hang a leg to every car or lorry you pass – but at least have the decency to say thanks to those who take extra effort to give you room to get through.
You may find that the car you piss off today is the one who says f..k you tomorrow.
Always give the kids a big wave, their smiles light up a pretty crap world.
Posted: 09/11/2011 at 14:27
Good articles will make you smile and nod a little (inside), and this one did.
I feel "the sadness" every time I meet the type of 1200GS rider mentioned, hoping that this time things might be different and he might have actually gone somewhere interesting or at least far, or maybe on an unpaved road, just once.
I nod back at anyone that nods at me, but don't usually nod at the uncool types which are generally scooters with blokes in track suits and ill fitting moto cross helmets, and anyone who is obviously riding like an idiot. Hate the way lots of couriers ride with complete disregard to being polite to anyone including other bikers.
Have learned over the years to switch brain mode when driving though. Putting on some classical music or radio-4 surely helps as well leaving extra time for the journey :)
Posted: 16/11/2011 at 11:42
The whole preconception thing is really bad sometimes and people often blurt out unbelievable stuff like "Oh so your an adrenaline junkie are you ?" or, "you don't look like a biker !"
But every now and then someone "nice" will say, almost involuntarily: you ride a bike, how cool ;)
Posted: 16/11/2011 at 11:46
You discover most (non riding) people think a Harley Davidson is the ultimate in motorbikes, as they always say, "what have you got a Harley?"
And I like the one they think you're a gang bikie, that's very true. People still equate; bikes = bad.
Posted: 16/11/2011 at 21:23
No, *embrace* looking like a power ranger. I bought the most power-rangery jacket I could find, and it looks cool. Just a matter of how you wear it. Don't hide behind that boring black. Of course it takes good taste to pull it off, and taste is rare amongst men.
One more thing - obvious in hindsight but not at all clear before becoming a biker:
- Getting from point A to B easily turns into an adventure. The route you've done 100 times, which is utterly boring in a car, is suddenly as exciting as scaling the K2 - there's sheet rain coming down, its pitch dark, you can't see a thing out of your fogged up helmet and you are going way too fast in order to keep up with your apparently-gone-mad mate who is riding up front.
Posted: 07/12/2011 at 06:31
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