We all do it

**Wolf** · 11th December 2005, 21:24

I'm sorry VTWIN, I have to add to the growing number of people disproving your thread title.

I scope out the bike with regard to how much I like the look of it - never look at chicken strips or wear patterns on the rider's armour.

**Sensei** · 11th December 2005, 21:28

Down here there is only about 8 of us that Haul major Arse So we don't have to try to be anyone else than who we are & just ride the way we Ride .

**Sensei** · 11th December 2005, 21:31

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
[/QUOTE]

Yea Do the same . Has worked for 20+ y's

**scumdog** · 11th December 2005, 21:31

Originally Posted by VTWIN

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.

No fuckin' way!
I just look, 'hey, a bike' then I look again "hmm, looks like a cool scoot, I wonder if it's xxx? (he or she) is from xxx club. (Or some other rider I've met before)
Bike? tyres? apparel? who gives a shit?
We're all bikers.

**SPman** · 11th December 2005, 21:35

Originally Posted by Sensei

Down here there is only about 8 of us that Haul major Arse So we don't have to try to be anyone else than who we are & just ride the way we Ride .

Good answer. Learned long ago to just be who I am and not try to compete. I I ride the pace Ive always ridden and sod everyone else. I really couldnt give a toss if people think I ride fast slow or backwards - as long as I enjoy myself and dont cause anyone any problems...probably why I ride by myself so much,,,,,,

**bladez** · 11th December 2005, 22:28

tyers dont mean alot to me as i like to make them last but will always stop to look at bikes and talk if they are not stuck up like most are

**Zed** · 11th December 2005, 22:44

Originally Posted by VTWIN

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

Not everyone does it, in fact, there are probably fewer than you may think? Those observations come through *experience* and not all riders have that.

But yeah, I'm guilty as charged of doing that officer VTWIN, I usually look at the chicken strips on the rear tyre first though. :spudguita

**scumdog** · 11th December 2005, 22:55

Originally Posted by Zed

Not everyone does it, in fact, there are probably fewer than you may think? Those observations come through *experience* and not all riders have that.

But yeah, I'm guilty as charged of doing that officer VTWIN, I usually look at the chicken strips on the rear tyre first though. :spudguita

You mean you have to have a rear tyre ?????? AND chicken strips???

**Zed** · 11th December 2005, 23:00

Originally Posted by scumdog

You mean you have to have a rear tyre ?????? AND chicken strips???

Well, chicken strips don't really apply to Harleys so you have no worries mate!!!

**justsomeguy** · 11th December 2005, 23:07

Originally Posted by VTWIN

Out on a ride you stop at a well known rider meeting/gathering point................Yeah yeah I know pointless crap. But if think about it, we all do it.

I used to be like that.

Now I can't be fecked with all that bullshit mine's bigger than yours crap......

**Waylander** · 11th December 2005, 23:12

I like that my chicken strips are smaller than what you would expect for a cruiser, but I really don't check them on other riders wheels.

**Virago** · 11th December 2005, 23:21

Originally Posted by VTWIN

We all do it............

No we don't.

Ride fast, or ride slow. Ride big, or ride small. Ride near, or ride far.

It makes no difference to me.

When I meet up with other riders, its a chance for camaraderie, not snobbery.

**Wolf** · 11th December 2005, 23:29

Originally Posted by Zed

Not everyone does it, in fact, there are probably fewer than you may think? Those observations come through *experience* and not all riders have that.

But yeah, I'm guilty as charged of doing that officer VTWIN, I usually look at the chicken strips on the rear tyre first though. :spudguita

The observations come from desire to compare or to judge, not everyone is like that. I don't care what a person rides or how they ride it. Obviously you and some others do. There are a lot of very experienced riders on KB (and elsewhere) and not all of them go around scoping out people's bikes to see if they lay them down more or less than themselves or others they know. Pissing contests are just not some people's scene.

The problem with such observations is that they can be interpreted - or judged - in different ways: to some it may be "cool" that the rider has scuffed knee sliders, others may question the "wisdom" of taking the corners on public roads so fast they have to scrape their knees. To some, wearing knee sliders on a public road might seem the territory of irresponsible hoons (my uncle was accused of being a hoon for wearing a helmet back before compulsory helmet laws, the cop who was talking to him felt they belonged strictly on the track)...

When all is said and done, is scraping a knee on every corner the "right" way to ride or is slowing down and taking it easier the "right" way?

Personally, I leave a person's riding style to their own personal preference and just get on with admiring the bike.

**scumdog** · 11th December 2005, 23:40

Originally Posted by Zed

Well, chicken strips don't really apply to Harleys so you have no worries mate!!!

SOOOO! I guess you have NEVER looked at my H-D rear tyre!!!

O.K. it's not "sprots-bike' catagory but I bet it has no relevance to your comment eh????

Not getting nasty either.

**Zed** · 11th December 2005, 23:49

Originally Posted by Wolf

The observations come from desire to compare or to judge, not everyone is like that.

Pissing contests are just not some people's scene.

Sounds like you're the one doing the judging? The observations don't necessarily come from those desires, that psychological babble IMO.

I don't belive either VTWIN or myself are indulging in any sort of "pissing contest" but rather are exercising our natural tendency to be curious about other riders and their bikes, nothing wrong with that, we are passionate about motorcycles. When you examine a bike and its rider like we are discussing, there is a whole wealth of knowledge to be gained that people like you miss out on!