Are you a REAL biker?

[Firefight]

Yeah that's the road,
Places to be carefull,after the Pollock hair pin you drop into a valley,as you go up the other side you pass Hamiltons gap.The wind coming thru the gap can get very strong and blow you about,after this you find yourself on a short straight leading into a sweaping up hill left hander,you come out of this corner into a shaded damp road with moss right were your going to be.
After Awhitu there is a long straight with a bit of a kink and then you start to drop into another valley,just after you start going down there is a sharp right hander,go wide into this corner because all the locals take it wide from the other direction,same coming back,stay close to the inside of this corner because the locals cut it.After that there is a short straight with a sweaping down hill left,it has a permanant water stain where water always flows across it in a small stream if it's been raining.As you come out of that valley there,s a 90degree left hander that you won't see until you come over the top of the hill and then your right on it.Then your on a one km straight that finishes in a Y intersection,you take the right into an off camber down hill corner thats followed by a left that's also off camber and often wet.These are the only sections that will give you any real problems.
You can avoid the section after Awhitu by turning off to the left just before you get to Awhitu and take the back way to the signal station.Twisty as,top veiws over the west coast and back over the Manukau,down into destruction gully ect,ect,.
There are plenty of other back roads around the area as well.
Cheers.

Jack is the tea rooms at the bird farm place still open,? we rode there a couple of times last year, was a good spot to stop for a break.I heard a rumor the old girl had closed down .

F/F

[Posh Tourer :P]

A bike can be many things. Mechanical learning tool, something to polish for hours on end,

Better than a purple helmet then....

[Jackrat]

Jack is the tea rooms at the bird farm place still open,? we rode there a couple of times last year, was a good spot to stop for a break.I heard a rumor the old girl had closed down .

F/F

Not sure,I'll get back to you on that.

[Deano]

When Neale on 'The Young Ones' said that word it sounded like 'boomshanka', does it mean the same thing? ' :spudwhat: 'Oh wow, heavy man, take it easy guys, I was the one that got it together and soaked the lentils'

Didn't boomshanka mean "may the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman" ?

I think booashucka is just an expression like "word", or "awesome".

The new Ali G series was on Tuesday nights but I think its finished again already.

[vifferman]

I's almost sorry I started this 'ere thread, I yam...

I started it because I guess I was frustrated by trying to talk about bikes with someone who was obviously on a different wavelength, if not a different planet. After reading some of the comments here, especially Jackrat's:
"I don't like being judged by others on how I do things,or being told one thing is more real than another.....The answers are also always the same,people claiming to be the REAL thing on the backs of those that don't comform to their veiws.I fortunatly don't conform to any purist veiws on anything but I've been involed in all of these things most of my life."
And also XJ/Frosty's:
"But then how do you define a real biker/
Isn't that what is so fantastic about this sport/means of transport? -The diversity of reasons for riding we all have?"

I have decided "Are you a REAL biker?" was a dumb and judgemental question to ask. Yeah, sure there are some people who are just fair-weather riders, and some who are just poseurs, and some who just have a bike for transport/status/image/entertainment/investment only, but that's their business, I guess.
And people change. I used to be almost proud of being a 'REAL' biker, and riding in all weathers, especially when people at work would go, "You rode in this weather!?!" But now I've realised:

• I have the option of not riding to work when it's wet,
• I don't enjoy it as much as I used to,
• It's more dangerous,
• I'm commuting on the bike so much it's spoiling the way I feel about it.

So I decided this year that I'm only going to ride if I feel like it, and whatever anyone else feels about it is their business, and I don't care. And it doesn't make me any less of a biker, or less serious, or less committed or whatever.
I also used to be proud of the fact that I am amongst the elite 3% of people at work who ride a bike, despite many (including several of the managers) confiding in me that "I used to ride a bike, but then I grew up / had the shit scared out of me / got sick of it / realised it was too dangerous".

Maybe humans (or maybe just some humans, including me?) are naturally judgemental, and divide their fellows into groups, and we as bikers are just the same.

Perhaps my thread title should have been: BIKING IS VERY ORDINARY.
And the post should have read:
Have you noticed there's as much diversity amongst bikers as there is amongst people, and although we like to think we're different and elite or special or whatever, we're not: we're just a bunch of people who ride all kinds of different sizes, makes and types of bikes sometimes, for whatever reason. And just like any other group of people, we have factions and prejudices and elitism and fears and envies. And some of us are loners, and some of us are gregarious, and some of us are nice, and some aren't and some are complete and utter wankers. And some of us don't even have a bike (at the moment, but I'm getting one soon, as soon as I have the money / my leg's better / I get out of prison / I sell the car / I get a job). And some of us are newbies, and some of us have been riding like FOREVER, Man, and some of us are great riders and can ride faster than Rossi, and some of us fall off all the time and shouldn't even own a bike.

So there you go: the biker mythos has now been completely and utterly debunked. There is nothing special about riding a bike, and just because you ride one makes you no different to anyone else. "It's just a bike". Say that to yourself next time you're out riding, and it feels good, and you feel special.
"It's just a bike. There's nothing special about this, it's just a mechanical contrivance that's missing a couple of wheels, and is an inherently dangerous means of transport."
You'll feel much better for having regained your tenuous grip on reality, really you will...

[vifferman]

Ah I know this is But I have to ask you Mr Goattucker can you tell me how many goats there are in Remuera? ,And are they happy living in such a built up area ?, where do they stay. Who feeds them ?


F/F

I am sorry. I was not telling the truth I donot live there so I dont know how manny goat live there. I was live there for a little while but now I do not. My goats they live at home not in remueara.

[Motu]

Thanks for coming back with that Firestormer - I posted a couple of other repleys,but deleted them,I'm not happy with passing judgements about such things.One of my replys was along the lines of - there are lots of different people riding lots of different bikes for lots of different reasons - you just can't pidgeon hole them.

[scumdog]

Thanks for coming back with that Firestormer - I posted a couple of other repleys,but deleted them,I'm not happy with passing judgements about such things.One of my replys was along the lines of - there are lots of different people riding lots of different bikes for lots of different reasons - you just can't pidgeon hole them.

See my posting on page 5, without wanting to sound too big-headed I think it covers it for most of us.

Despite my rantings I can see most points of view and don't slag the other guy too quick - maybe it's an age thing?

[Jackrat]

I's almost sorry I started this 'ere thread, I yam...

I started it because I guess I was frustrated by trying to talk about bikes with someone who was obviously on a different wavelength, if not a different planet. After reading some of the comments here, especially Jackrat's:
"I don't like being judged by others on how I do things,or being told one thing is more real than another.....The answers are also always the same,people claiming to be the REAL thing on the backs of those that don't comform to their veiws.I fortunatly don't conform to any purist veiws on anything but I've been involed in all of these things most of my life."
And also XJ/Frosty's:
"But then how do you define a real biker/
Isn't that what is so fantastic about this sport/means of transport? -The diversity of reasons for riding we all have?"

I have decided "Are you a REAL biker?" was a dumb and judgemental question to ask. Yeah, sure there are some people who are just fair-weather riders, and some who are just poseurs, and some who just have a bike for transport/status/image/entertainment/investment only, but that's their business, I guess.
And people change. I used to be almost proud of being a 'REAL' biker, and riding in all weathers, especially when people at work would go, "You rode in this weather!?!" But now I've realised:

• I have the option of not riding to work when it's wet,
• I don't enjoy it as much as I used to,
• It's more dangerous,
• I'm commuting on the bike so much it's spoiling the way I feel about it.

So I decided this year that I'm only going to ride if I feel like it, and whatever anyone else feels about it is their business, and I don't care. And it doesn't make me any less of a biker, or less serious, or less committed or whatever.
I also used to be proud of the fact that I am amongst the elite 3% of people at work who ride a bike, despite many (including several of the managers) confiding in me that "I used to ride a bike, but then I grew up / had the shit scared out of me / got sick of it / realised it was too dangerous".

Maybe humans (or maybe just some humans, including me?) are naturally judgemental, and divide their fellows into groups, and we as bikers are just the same.

Perhaps my thread title should have been: BIKING IS VERY ORDINARY.
And the post should have read:
Have you noticed there's as much diversity amongst bikers as there is amongst people, and although we like to think we're different and elite or special or whatever, we're not: we're just a bunch of people who ride all kinds of different sizes, makes and types of bikes sometimes, for whatever reason. And just like any other group of people, we have factions and prejudices and elitism and fears and envies. And some of us are loners, and some of us are gregarious, and some of us are nice, and some aren't and some are complete and utter wankers. And some of us don't even have a bike (at the moment, but I'm getting one soon, as soon as I have the money / my leg's better / I get out of prison / I sell the car / I get a job). And some of us are newbies, and some of us have been riding like FOREVER, Man, and some of us are great riders and can ride faster than Rossi, and some of us fall off all the time and shouldn't even own a bike.

So there you go: the biker mythos has now been completely and utterly debunked. There is nothing special about riding a bike, and just because you ride one makes you no different to anyone else. "It's just a bike". Say that to yourself next time you're out riding, and it feels good, and you feel special.
"It's just a bike. There's nothing special about this, it's just a mechanical contrivance that's missing a couple of wheels, and is an inherently dangerous means of transport."
You'll feel much better for having regained your tenuous grip on reality, really you will...

Awwww come on,it's been fun man.
reality,what reality??

[Bob]

Seeing as we are all getting upset about what a ''real'' biker is....how bout we try to find out what makes an ''unreal'' biker???

OK, I can do this!

The Ace Cafe in London - very famous biker meeting place. Gets all sorts turning up. Including a couple who come along in matching leathers, carrying their matching helmets. Come in, sit down, have something to eat and drink, chat to other people and eventually leave... and go round the back somewhere, get into their car and drive home.

I think they fit "unreal" quite nicely...


And Firestormer, don't worry. So you put up a point of view and some people disagreed with it. I've been reading through and it doesn't seem to me that anyone has gone down the 'nasty' route (admittedly some points of view have been, er, 'forcefully put'). And this has turned into quite a wide ranging discussion!

So well done I say!

[Skyryder]

Go to http://motorcyclecity.com/Real_Biker_Test/popquiz.htm.

7 out of 20 for me.

Skyryder

[Posh Tourer :P]

35% to 45% - It is time for something a little larger than that Moped your big sister handed down to you. Get a real motorcycle and there still might be hope

8/20 for 40%

[Skyryder]

35% to 45% - It is time for something a little larger than that Moped your big sister handed down to you. Get a real motorcycle and there still might be hope

8/20 for 40%

Think we had better down size. Or even a better idea re register and cheat.

Skyryder aka (Cheetah)

[Bonez]

Hmmm I don't know if I'm a "REAL" biker (the Teddy attached to my canvass shoulder bag has "Biker" on his T-shirt and he wears an imitation leather jacket cap, pants and boots). Dad has a bike, mum has bike all my brothers have own bikes at some stage in their life (Sister never did though). My stepsons both own bikes. I have 5 bikes- 3 servicable in the garage-2 awaiting attention in the garden shed. My freinds own bikes. I can change a tyre with a set of tyre levers and a can of CRC 5.56 (oh I forgot the boot), do all my own oil/filter changes and servicing. My m/c haven't seen the inside of a m/c repair shop for at least 10 years. One bikes done 120,00kms , the other 143,000kms. All are over 14 years old, one is 31 years old, one is 26 years old. I order bits for my jap bikes from England. I don't mind tenting at a m/c rally. I wave to other m/c like vehicals no matter how big or small ,country of origin or gender of rider or whether it has a bit on the side. In fact I wave to cyclists, cockies, tractor drivers, trucks drivers and the odd tintop driver as well. I don't mind/am not scared of riding a road bike of gravel or dirt tracks (the more the better the adventure). Wont get upset if a cow, sheep, deer , hawk feeding on a dead possum is on the road (hate magpies put) I don't mind a kickstart or getting my hands dirty oiling/adjusting the chain. Can ride in all sorts of weather anytime during the year. Don't beleive m/c tyres should be as wide as my wifes Honda Civics (she bought me an HD pocket watch for my 40th birthday, God bless her cotten socks, and I didn't secretly pawn it off). Wonder what she'll get for my 45 next week (hopefully an air compressor-it will probably cost the same as the watch) Mum signed me up for that "Grow Old etc" outfit because I signed dad up when he turned 40. I'll ring someone up a say "It's a nice day for a ride" quite often. I'm really at a loss as to what I am.

[avgas]

That test sucked, its was pro harley / cruisers.
Im a triumph man to the bone in historic bike bloodlines. If i wanted a harley i would get a buel.
They assumed that all classic rebels ride harleys, What about the ace cafe'? Some of the scariest bad asses ive ever met rode nortons (when does the Norton Nemesis come out?)
Now dont get me wrong, harleys do deserve respect, and i have seen a few sporty's to my liking, but by assuming all REAL bikers ride chop jobs.
bloody 45%, bloody oats
I must be a motorcyclist, ive dissassembled countless bikes, forgetting how they were assembled, have lots of crash scars, and also a titanium pin in my leg.
Tattoo's are cool, but chicks dig scars