Are you experienced?

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 10th October 2009, 10:58

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm still learning and always will...

**carver** · 10th October 2009, 11:14

Originally Posted by 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...

yes i am.......

its a bit like gay sex, you dont know how much further you can take it untill you do.

smoothness and accident avoidance as well as being capable in various conditions would rank high for me

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 10th October 2009, 11:16

Originally Posted by Jantar

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.

But he becomes experienced (ish) for a cruiser rider which have there own characteristics compared to a sports... but not for a sports bike... and vise versa

Originally Posted by 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.

Im still learning after lord knows how many years of actual riding... (not just road). Like you said, it is a very difficult question to answer...

the word;
experienced made skillful or wise through experience.

experience;
1 a : direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge b : the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
2 a : practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity b : the length of such participation
3 a : the conscious events that make up an individual life b : the events that make up the conscious past of a community or nation or humankind generally
4 : something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through
5 : the act or process of directly perceiving events or reality

Those that have many crashes are experienced at crashing I guess... those that been riding along time but have bad habbits are experienced riders with those bad habbits...

**CookMySock** · 10th October 2009, 11:49

I'd hazard a guess, that an experienced biker is a person who had a good grasp on how the bike would behave on all road surface conditions, and how far he could push any particular manoever before he had a high chance of provoking some disaster. He might also be able to respond to urgent situations with calm and deliberate actions, rather than panic and lock up.

All the rest of "the science of roadcraft" is applicable to cars as well, so it's taken as read that it is there.

I'd say the only thing that would make an experienced rider is time in the seat, and an inclination to persue perfection.

Steve

**Big Dave** · 10th October 2009, 12:13

Yes. I am.

**carver** · 10th October 2009, 12:14

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Yes. I am.

typical journo......

**Big Dave** · 10th October 2009, 12:19

Originally Posted by carver

typical journo......

No no, let's talk about me.

**carver** · 10th October 2009, 12:25

Originally Posted by Big Dave

No no, let's talk about me.

oh, right, il nominate you for bike journo of the year...

**Motu** · 10th October 2009, 12:38

Experienced is about all I am.Does all that experience make me a good rider? No,it makes me realise I am not a good rider.

**98tls** · 10th October 2009, 12:40

Pride comes before a fall so i will just

**Ocean1** · 10th October 2009, 12:42

Originally Posted by Motu

Does all that experience make me a good rider? No,it makes me realise I am not a good rider.

Didn't take me anywhere near that long to figure that out...

**Big Dave** · 10th October 2009, 12:46

Originally Posted by 98tls

Pride comes before a fall so i will just

This is wise, but not whence the good comedy cometh.

**bogan** · 10th October 2009, 12:50

lots of bikes, 10-ish years, heaps of hours riding (dirtbikes dont have an odo), lots of 'moments', few crashes, still on restricted (and stuck to conditions). So bit of yes and no, I think my level of experience will soon warant an upgrade from my vt250.

Only one thing is for certain about a true bikers experience level, its always gonna increase