We all do it

[Uncle B]

Out on a ride you stop at a well known rider meeting/gathering point.
A bike appears you've never seen before, you all stop and watch as he/she pulls up.
Without knowing it we all go through a subconsious 'checking them out' process.

You watch them dismount and you check out the gear the're wearing.....is it textile or leather? (leather scores more points), do they have knee sliders? if so what sort of condition are they (scuffed ones score major points).
Your attention turns to the bike and with a quick scan you go over it looking for signs of what sort of rider they are. Is the bike standard or modded? What tyres are they running?
The most important of all that will determine what sort of rider they are over anything else is.........what state is the chicken strip on there front tyre like? The smaller the chicken, the better the rider.

Yeah yeah I know pointless crap. But if think about it, we all do it.

[Goblin]

Yeah I do it. Thats the beauty of going to Oko and such places. Biker people are so friendly and you can strike up a conversation with anyone and not feel like a total dick. Gotta love it!

[TLDV8]

I must be getting old,that sound's like a Squid checklist

[James Deuce]

Pathetic, isn't it VTWIN.

We're all shallow, shallow, shallow.

You might wanna work on the fur on the edges of your front tyyre. Velox's front is looking distinctly more "professional" than yours.

[Uncle B]

You might wanna work on the fur on the edges of your front tyyre. Velox's front is looking distinctly more "professional" than yours.

Now that's sad.

[Motu]

If there's a bike parked at my favorite stopping place,I'll carry on and find somewhere else to have a rest.If there is a gathering of bikes no way will I join them.If I have to I'll stand at the edge of the crowd and watch.I ride a bike to get away from people,not find more!

[onearmedbandit]

I love it when riders I've just met tell me how hard they are at riding. A quick inspection of the front tyre soon has them on the back foot.

[Big Dave]

Interesting, but no - I don't do any of that - actually, the things you rate as cred - I score as 'reasons to avoid' in a social ride.
Particularly the knee sliders. They only impress me at a race track.

[FROSTY:Me]

Funny aye the chicken strips bit. I used to make a really good contribution to my race budget by selling my used race tyres to posers.
One guy in particular was really keen to look like he rode fast.
Someone shoulda explained to him that the virginal hero blobs under his pegs were a dead giveaway he was a poser.
-Ohh and that was back in the days when ya diddnt need to be a contortionist to fit on a bike so pegs would scrape looong before ya ran outa tyre

[Macktheknife]

Sorry Dave I am not into that stuff mate, I only give a crap if the rider is a half decent person and not a total wanker.
I am of the opinion that I can learn lots from those around me but often all they have to teach is what not to do or be.
I am keen to improve my riding skills but not for the sake of impressing anyone else, I just do it 'cause I love it.

[SPman]

Quire frankly, Im more interested in getting around a corner with the least amount of lean possible. Always seems more impressive to me, than some wanker whos hangin off the bike at every corner on the road, trying to get his knee down.
Guess its cos Im old school where you tucked onto the bike and dangled your toes off the peg to gauge the ground coming up - I tend to look at the toes on peoples boots............
Pathetic, eh?

[kro]

I do that at the swimming pools with the "swimming Mums", but the checklist is a bit different. Yes, I know I'm a pig, but I have made peace with my perving.

[XTC]

Bet you wouldn't check my ride out like that. Probably totally ignore me as most sports bike riders do because I ride a big trailie.... BUT my front tyre does not have chicken strips at all not does the back and they are knobblys but then gravel is a good way to scrub your tyres to the edge. My gear more often than not is mud splattered or dusty. So I probably wouldn't impress you guys at all but then i'm not trying to and thats the difference. If my life was spent trying to impress everyone else then I would not be truly living it. To all those out there don't fall for becoming a try hard/poser/whatever just be yourself lifes much better that way.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Guess its cos Im old school where you tucked onto the bike and dangled your toes off the peg to gauge the ground coming up - I tend to look at the toes on peoples boots............
Pathetic, eh?

LOL i must be an old school rider then cause on my FXR there is no way you can get your knee down to 'gauge' the amount of lean... so my boots now have big holes on the toes and i have scabby scarred toes!! I find once used to gaugeing with the toes it is as helpfull as a knee..... untill you start sliding and cannot hold yourself up with the toe:eyepoke:

and also with the ;chicken strips' BS, it is dumb cause sometimes the tires are to wide for the rims and it is impossible to use all the tire right to the edge. So its a dumb way to tell if someone is a good rider.

[APPLE]

yeh must admit?i dont look at blokes tyres 2 see the chicken strips and that?im more interested in wot there riding?jus enjoy your ride.at your own pace?