[catman]

Ever since i got my licence in 1983, there has been a steady increase of new motorcyclists in my area. It seems like when i started there wasn't alot of folks in my area into bikes. It was my biggest form of transpo, to and from school and work. First a gs750t, then kz900, then gs1100e, When i graduated HS. That was what i was on. I had been riding and racing dirt bikes since i was 4 years old, so there was no other way of life. I would and still do spend hours talking technique. It has alway been a learning process with me. I think if i wasn't so competetive and have a general NEED to progress, I probably wouln't be so into it.
Over maybee the last 8-10 years there has been a huge and steady increase here in my city, with NEW bikers. I love to teach and turn people on to motorcycling, but it comes sometimes with a little regret too.
I have seen in the last week several things that just reiterates what i already say alot. " most people don't belong on one " . 1st- a fella rolls up on a new 1000rr next to me at a light. He swerves around 2 cars to get next to me. As soon as he rolls up, the light turns green, i start to roll off. I hadn't realy came to a stop or even put my feet down. He grabbs the front brake to stop, stalls the bike and almost tips it over. He rolls up to the next light, I'm timeing that one too. He comes to a stop and his shoe lace is stuck in his shifter. The light turns green soooo I yell " get the FUCK away from me !!"
2nd. I get on the highway on my fighter and am emediately passed by a helmetless brother on a bone stock bussa. He's weeving in and out of traffic verry inpercisely. He sucked !! 10 cars get off the off ramp and i find myself right next to him, now he's in the slow lane and me in the fast lane ( I'm still doing the same 72mph. I looked over at him at the same time pulling the front wheel up and givin the staredown flyby. Fucked him up ! rode it out 1/4 mile or so, and here he comes angain !! He's behind me doing some sort of swirving back and forth to warm up to weeve in and out again . It was just as funny as those guys you see riding for miles at 55 mph all tucked under the windscreen. LOL He goes flying on by again weeving in and out of traffic and as soon as he gets back behind one Traffic stops and he hits the back end of a car. Not hard but funny as hell !!
I guess for me I've always had Great acomplished riders to learn from and constantly cretiqueing my riding. It has always been about improving skills. This next generation I worry about !
3rd. I have a few guys riding last night. I asked that we keep it cool and not get too crazy !
I tone it down a knotch with this group as they caint ride as well as my racer friends. Long story short a guy ran off riding over his head. The worst part is i slowed into the corner and turned around and watched the whole thing. Ever been hanging off the bike in a turn watching the person behind you with one hand on the bars to see if they don't go in too hot ? well he did. Lucky there was a run off .He went way wide let off the gas and went even wider into the bushes and trees. The only thing broke on the 02 gsxr600 was the fender, both mirrors, lower fairing, maybee a fork tube. He's OK and still rode it home, But shit !

I'm finnna ride alone for awhile. The stories are getting more and more numerous each year !

 

[sevenpointsixtwo]

That sucks, I'm noticing a lot more riders around here as well. Pretty much everyone rides a harley, and so think they can get away with a turtle helmet and no protective gear. At least most of the sport-bike guys wear full helmets, but again only t-shirts and shorts or jeans. And their girls on the back in tank tops. I don't have any sympathy for the squids if they get smeared on the pavement, and the girls are dumb for getting on without any gear, but I don't wish them any harm just for riding along.

I'm a new rider too, but don't let those few (or many) examples of squid-ish-ness fool you into thinking we're ALL like that. First thing I did after I bought my bike was order FULL protective gear. I have a leather jacket with shoulder, elbow, and back pads; an A* mesh jacket with the same for really hot days; a velocity gear CE2 cert spine brace; draggin jeans with knox knee pads; carbon knuckled full gauntlet race gloves; DOT and snell approved helmet; high ankle reinforced SWAT boots; etc. etc.

The only thing I DON'T have is people to ride with to teach me proper technique. I missed out on riding in my formative years, I'm sure MX since age 4 helps a lot, but I have to learn as I go along now. Basically I practice, practice, practice, but there's nowhere good around here for safe higher-speed corner carving, and even when I do find somewhere good I'm not even sure if I'm doing it right.

Despite being "the next generation of rider", all I want to do for now is improve general skills on the bike, but that's hard without experienced riders to show you the ropes.

 

[catman]

I guess that is my main point in my rant. You get it ! The day i stop learning or progressing at it, I'll probably quit ! I am lucky to have had alot of good MX coaches and track schools. I don't have or know any stunna's around here to learn that from though?? I'm looking for a new coach in that avenue !
I NEED those riders to keep me in check and every once in awhile, ( a humbleing experience )

 

[sevenpointsixtwo]

Exactly, nobody's ever good enough. Even someone like Rossi has stuff to learn, I'm sure. If not in track riding, then in stunting or something. He drove in the WRC in new zealand last year, did pretty well for a new guy but I'm sure that was a humbling experience for him!

There is a lot you can learn or figure out by yourself, but it definitely helps to have people around to help. That goes for everything, be it riding, building, etc.

 

[BB_DASLER]

It's been a general observation of mine over the years, that alot of new riders don't get to be old riders.
On most highways on any ride out, you often see roadside trees with the bark skinned off and floral tributes tied on to them.

It's usually that or some news report of another young buck being over-zealous and getting mashed.

But there is another aspect of new riders that is creating a very high number of incidents and fatalities and that is the "Born-Again-Biker".

These are those who have returned to riding after a long lay off, and have found that the modern machinery is wayyyyy more powerful than anything that they had ever experienced, ending up with them riding at speeds well out of their depth.

You can never tell these guys anything, they take it as an affront if you offer any critique of how they are riding, and thinking they can still cut it with Jr.... alot of these end up on the slab too.

Being a good rider is a myriad of things, not all about high speed, and a pretty good yardstick to becoming one is the amount of saddle time you put in.

Reading and watching vids is fine for grasping the concepts, but practical application and practice is the only way to instill the new found knowledge so it becomes almost a second nature effect.

Talking of this via K/brd has probs taken as much time as blasting a few miles through the twisties....So I'm gonna wheel her out now and make up for that lost time