What is a "Motorcyclist"? What defines it?

[smithy5]

Got it in a nut shell Jonno but I do try and re-live the old days at times

riding overweight, underpowered bikes with shit suspension, spaghetti frames and crap tyres?

Don't knock it, best and latest technology available at the time
I was referring to re-living the old day culture, maybe it's time to sell the bikes and prepare for the nursing home

I come from the old school world, where the law was to be broken at every opportunity and in some very inventive ways (its all fun and games until the cops turn up) safety was of no concern let alone safety gear and what was insurance other than a waste of money that could be better spent on drugs booze sex & rock n roll.
It was absolutely anti social behaviour guaranteed usually around a bonfire with a local band, bathtubs full of beer, some animals on a spit over a few days and bikes of some sort doing crazy shit in the paddock. Getting locked up was a way to gain respect but interfered with party time for a short period, oh and the women.......

[fireyrob]

I just gotta say that the guys n girls at EC today are a bunch of legends despite not owning green machines. Thats what being a motorcyclist is all about for me, anyone who enjoys riding and isnt a carnt

[dutchy]

On the other hand, the suit on the scooter, who rides because it is a cheap mode of transport, has never heard of Mick Doohan or Casey Stoner or even Mick LC - well these nobs are just *not* motorcyclists. They are people who ride scooters because it is a cheap mode of transport - full stop.

I like this, AND I don't think it applies to just suit on scooters. If some guido has decided he wants to cut fast laps around the city in his tank top on his R1 with the sole purpose of being "fully sick bro" and because it pulls the chicks, I don't think I would consider them a motorcyclist either.

It sounds like if someone wants to be a motorcyclist they have to tick at least three boxes. The right ride with the right reason and the right attitude

[The Goose]

There must be gay motorcyclists aswell.

Go back through some older threads, you'll find they're everywhere around here

No problems here as i am not homophobic or homosexual. What threads are they?

[The Goose]

I just got home late this evening from my trip to Phillip Island supers, I spent 10 days of riding and a few driving, met awesome people mostly KSRC members and blade boy, witnessed some great racing and rode an estimated 3000kms on some of the best roads in this country with other spirited motorcyclists and solo.

Anyway, why do dogs like hanging their heads out of car windows? I think riding has a similar feeling that is spiritual, physical, and at a deep soul level.
It is almost like the sensation of free fall or flying and being close to the edge, any bad day on a bike is better than a good day not on a bike.
I cant imagine not being without a bike for long at all as I have been riding since I was 6yo and prolly been without a bike of any description at times for 2-3 of those 38 riding years but I cant remember, I would buy a bike before a car, I would prefer to ride rather than fly or drive time permitting. I would say being a motorcyclist is about passion and the love of bikes and riding mostly, you can enjoy it on your own or with other like minded riders, sorry scooterers dont qualify as motorcyclists and was covered well above, I reckon show ponies don't either because they have missed the point.

I come from the old school world, where the law was to be broken at every opportunity and in some very inventive ways (its all fun and games until the cops turn up) safety was of no concern let alone safety gear and what was insurance other than a waste of money that could be better spent on drugs booze sex & rock n roll.
It was absolutely anti social behaviour guaranteed usually around a bonfire with a local band, bathtubs full of beer, some animals on a spit over a few days and bikes of some sort doing crazy shit in the paddock. Getting locked up was a way to gain respect but interfered with party time for a short period, oh and the women.......

Roll forward 20 years and I would classify myself as a somewhat modern rider, drinking latte's, owning a bike worth polishing and insuring, obeying the law safety conscious, respecting other road users, wear most of the gear most of the time, and being somewhat social and where have all those women gone.......
Maybe age catches up, but legal morals have changed 180 degrees since the 1970's and probably for the better but fark the ride was insane man.

Yes i think Jonno and Balance in the previous post have summed it up, god bless those that can write

[dutchy]

There must be gay motorcyclists aswell.

Go back through some older threads, you'll find they're everywhere around here

No problems here as i am not homophobic or homosexual. What threads are they?

I haven't seen a genuine "i'm a gay motorcyclist" thread, although like you i'm sure they're out there. It's just sometimes (and often sometimes unfortunately) quite a number of threads degenerate into name calling shit slinging matches. All in good spirit ofcourse
But lets not hijack what is actually turning out to be an insightful and thought provoking thread by discussing the posting habits of the forum members.

Unless it can be brought in as a relevant arguement that this sort of mateship is an attribute to what makes a motorcyclist a motorcyclist?

Did that make sence at all? Screw you guys, I know what I mean.

[Strika]

I'm lucid for once........but still couldn't understand it?

[seiko1]

a number of threads degenerate into name calling shit slinging matches.

and I've been so well behaved of late

[Jonno]

Here is where the love is

[javaman]

My mental image of motorcylist is something like this... people who ride bikes on very regular basis, for whatever reasons.



Weekend/fairweather riders perhaps can be called "Motorcycle hobbyist / enthusiasts". Bikes are not their main transport.

[Strika]

I think taking on challenges is also part of being a true motorcyclist. Like when you head off for a trip and it pisses down the entire way. Yet, rather than give up and head home, you dig deep, concentrate and make every bend, stop or pass a challenge.

Finding ingenious ways of getting your bike going when it has a component failure on a ride. (A Certain Z1000J rider springs to mind here, as well as loads of others I know)

When someone crashes, pulling together as a team to get bikes n bodies back to their rightful place.

[Duane]

^-- motorcyclist

new age sissy ------------------------------------------------->

[balanse]

I think taking on challenges is also part of being a true motorcyclist. Like when you head off for a trip and it pisses down the entire way. Yet, rather than give up and head home, you dig deep, concentrate and make every bend, stop or pass a challenge.

Finding ingenious ways of getting your bike going when it has a component failure on a ride. (A Certain Z1000J rider springs to mind here, as well as loads of others I know)

When someone crashes, pulling together as a team to get bikes n bodies back to their rightful place.

I feel motorcycling inadequate because I don't commute every day in shit traffic/weather and my open class bike is not covered in unwashed road grime. Yet when it is on max lean at $2.60 for the 15th corner in succession I somehow feel that my life on motorcycles is perhaps valid after all and I might have "made it" in the ranks.

This is a major and constant preoccupation in my world and I live to achieve the tag of motorcyclist so that I can tell my Indian mates at work.