Are you experienced?

[Maki]

A while ago someone call me an "experienced biker". I have to admit I was taken aback and this has got me thinking. What is an "experienced biker"? Do you have to have ridden more than a certain numer of kilometres? Ridden regularly for a number of years? Been on a certain number of KB group rides? Crashed a certain number of times?

So, are you experienced, and what do you think makes an "experienced biker"?

Am I experienced? Hell no, im just a noob who rides around on a stupidly powerful bike...

[Drew]

I've done a few K's, crashed a bunch, been on some rides organised on here.

Dunno if that makes me experienced, but I would call myself experienced all the same.

Don't know that it really matters though. Others perception of me, (which is kinda what you're asking), might just see me as some idiot that's ridden and crashed a lot.

There's no answer to it really, people who have others looking up to them, and asking advice hopefully have the brain to know that everyone rides differently, and there are no hard and fast rules.

[Jantar]

Aha... The proverbial question like how long is a piece of string?

An experienced biker? I wish there was a set standard or definition for such an animal, but unfortunately its all comparitive.

Compared to someone on their learner licence a rider on his/her restricted could be termed as experienced. Probably anyone who has ridden a greater distance, a greater variety of bikes, and tried a greater number of challenges than oneself is experienced, whilst anyone who has ridden a lesser distance, a lesser variety of bikes, and tried a smaller number of challenges than oneself is still learning.

[Sidewinder]

I've done a few K's, crashed a bunch, been on some rides organised on here.

Dunno if that makes me experienced, but I would call myself experienced all the same.

Don't know that it really matters though. Others perception of me, (which is kinda what you're asking), might just see me as some idiot that's ridden and crashed a lot.

There's no answer to it really, people who have others looking up to them, and asking advice hopefully have the brain to know that everyone rides differently, and there are no hard and fast rules.

well ya good at crashing drew

[Owl]

Experienced biker no, but I've had some experiences

[Maki]

What about more than 5 years and more than 50.000km? Does that make you an experienced biker?

[McJim]

gijoe1313 - 3 years and prolly 250,000+km.

He's experienced AND a n00b all rolled up in one. Rides loadsa different bikes too.

It's a good thing to keep some humility even if you think you are experienced. I always assume I am an idiot.....prolly coz I am!

[Owl]

What about more than 5 years and more than 50.000km? Does that make you an experienced biker?

More than some, but less than others!

I started riding in 94 with a 6 year break from 2001 and have clocked up plenty more than 50,000km in that time. I still consider myself a turkey, but hopefully I'll stay alive.

[Morepower]

Been riding for more years than I have fingers and toes , so cant tell you exactly how many ( started at 13 ) . Experienced .. yes .. any good ??? who knows , probably have a lifetime of bad habits .. still walking so cant be too bad.

[Bronson]

I would say the more years you have been riding & more k's you've clocked would mean more experiences you have had & therefore the more experienced you are. ?????

[Jantar]

What about more than 5 years and more than 50.000km? Does that make you an experienced biker?

If that 5 years is mainly on a single type of bike (eg sports, cruiser, etc) and the 50,000 km is only on a certain type of road (eg highway) then it wouldn't make one an experienced rider.

If that 5 years was on a large variety of bike types, and that 50,000 km was spread over all types of road from motorway through to highway, back country, gravel, remote areas, inner city etc then it could make one a very experienced rider.

[Drew]

Compared to someone on their learner licence a rider on his/her restricted could be termed as experienced. Probably anyone who has ridden a greater distance, a greater variety of bikes, and tried a greater number of challenges than oneself is experienced, whilst anyone who has ridden a lesser distance, a lesser variety of bikes, and tried a smaller number of challenges than oneself is still learning.

Yep, and yet there are those who've ridden more than me, on more types of bike. Who I consider to not have a clue.

[ukusa]

So, are you experienced, and what do you think makes an "experienced biker"?

I have though about this long and hard and come up with a complex mathmatical formula to explain ....

years riding + kms + posts on KB + speeding tickets + no. of bikes owned + length of beard + length of longest scar - crashes - loss of licences - $ spent on repairs = experience
eg. 25 + 100,000 + 400 + 3 + 5 + 3 + 8 - 2 - 1 - 2000 = 98,436.

[James Deuce]

[Murray]

He was and this is a good version!