What makes a good rider?

**gixermike** · 27th April 2007, 15:23

Originally Posted by Ixion

It does make a difference what sort of bike you ride! I see Mr GixxerMike, who commented that he doesn't use brakes, rides a VTR1000. 1000cc V Twin. Nope, he wouldn't need to use brakes much. Now, try the same on a 250cc two stroke!

yeah, but with the long first gear on the sp1 it was actually easier on my gixxer 6 as first was shorter.

thinking of dropping the gearing for just that reason...

**Kornholio** · 27th April 2007, 15:32

What makes a good rider???

Ill hazard a guess and say.....

**KATWYN** · 27th April 2007, 15:41

Originally Posted by The Stranger

I'm a bad rider then.
What do you do when this conflicts with "ride your own ride"?

By way of example we are on the noob ride on ANZAC day and riders are just rocking up to a corner from the left or right, where ever they happened to be in their stagger pattern.
If there is a pot hole, rough surface, seal repairs, tar bleed or a corner I am out of formation riding my own ride thanks.

IMHO means 'In my humble opinion'

Of course you make allowances for variables in the environment and circumstances!

But in general (without the variables you mentioned) staggered is a safe riding strategy for group riding.
From memory, I think they teach that at motorcycle basic handling school

**lowededwookie** · 27th April 2007, 15:55

Originally Posted by Jim2

Actually they don't stand at all Mr wookie, and I don't like the implication that motorcyclists who don't conform to your standards "deserve" injury or death.

"Unresponsible" isn't a word.

Actually it's NOT my standards. Say what you want but there's a reason bike gear was made. If you don't value your life by not wearing proper gear that is designed to protect you and give you a chance if something bad happens then you deserve whatever you get if you come off but hey that's your perogative.

I've had a reasonably serious crash and I was fully kitted up. I busted my wrist but I walked away otherwise fine. A busted wrist mends pretty quickly. My friend's dad didn't have the proper gear. He had jeans, an old leather dress jacket, gloves, and a helmet. He lost his livelyhood when a car knocked him off and he busted his knee. He was in hospital for nearly three months, two years later his knee is still pretty bad and he still can't do carpet laying, in fact he never will so he got into real estate. All of that could have been prevented with the proper gear.

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

Being responsible doesn't make you a good rider though does it... heck if you are a good rider you shouldn't need to have the gear cause you ain't gonna bin it are you... the responsible bit wearing the gear is even though you are a great rider, you don't trust the other buggers on the road.

Being responsible makes you a better rider than being a dick with no regard to other road users. Understand that by better rider I don't mean being able to handle your bike any better.

Riding is, has, and always will be a state of mind. If your mind is screwed then no matter how good a rider you are physically you are still a crap rider. I consider myself a good rider because my mind is so in tune with what I'm doing. I make mistakes yes but I learn from those. I don't go out and actively put myself or other road users in danger because I have some desire to ride fast. If the road suits I will open up. If it's rainy, lots of traffic, twisty, or other riders in a group I will not play silly buggers because it will not be responsible of me to put other lives in danger.

I know that makes me sound like a loser rider but I've done seriously crazy crap like riding 220 over undulating road getting airborne over every crest all while on the wrong side of the road going past intersections where at any point in time a vehicle could pull out without even seeing me - at any stage that said vehicle could have been a truck and trailer unit.

The whole point about riding is the RIDE not about pushing limits and being a hoon. You want to do that do that on the track, that's what it's there for. Doing it on the road is stupid and stupidity does not make you good at anything, except being fertiliser for the daisies.

To state that being a good rider means you shouldn't need gear is bollocks and the most retarded statement ever made. There's a reason why racers wear the gear they do and these guys would leave you for dead on road and on track. They know why they wear the gear and I would hazard a guess that they wouldn't ride on the road without the proper gear.

The point about gear is exactly what you said about not trusting the other road users. Responsibility plays into it here again.

In my original post I mentioned the best form of protection is to treat everyone as though they are out to kill you. By simply knowing that one fact you take the responsibility from them and place it on yourself. YOU learn how traffic flows, YOU learn what drivers are capable of, YOU learn what YOU and YOUR bike are capable of, and YOU wear the correct gear incase something goes wrong. This makes you a good rider and as such my comments about responsibility do indeed still stand.

Responsibility is more than just riding like a nana. The only way to protect yourself from other people is to take as much responsibility as you can.

Never trust anyone not even the greatest rider on the planet to keep you safe. Only you can do that.

And that word should have been "irresponsible" yes but who cares considering there is far worse grammer than mine on this site.

**Disco Dan** · 27th April 2007, 15:55

Originally Posted by KATWYN

But in general (without the variables you mentioned) staggered is a safe riding strategy for group riding. From memory, I think they teach that at motorcycle basic handling school.

You are correct. However I believe the point was that it becomes dangerous when the formation is kept through a corner in a tight group of riders... rather than breaking formation and taking your own line for the corner - which is the safe way to do it.

**James Deuce** · 27th April 2007, 16:02

Mr wookie - hang around KB - read - learn.

I used to have an immature attitude to other people's choices too.

**KATWYN** · 27th April 2007, 16:25

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

You are correct. However I believe the point was that it becomes dangerous when the formation is kept through a corner in a tight group of riders... rather than breaking formation and taking your own line for the corner - which is the safe way to do it.

Yep, I agree. Perhaps when I suggested it, I should have made the point of saying in general
except cornering and the unexpected

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th April 2007, 16:36

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

Being responsible doesn't make you a good rider though does it... heck if you are a good rider you shouldn't need to have the gear cause you ain't gonna bin it are you... the responsible bit wearing the gear is even though you are a great rider, you don't trust the other buggers on the road.

Originally Posted by lowededwookie

To state that being a good rider means you shouldn't need gear is bollocks and the most retarded statement ever made. There's a reason why racers wear the gear they do and these guys would leave you for dead on road and on track. They know why they wear the gear and I would hazard a guess that they wouldn't ride on the road without the proper gear.

You have taken that out of context as such... I am not saying we shouldn't, even if the helmet law was changed I will always ride fully kitted, including the skid lid... Its only meant to be used as in THEORY... if you are a good rider you shouldn't need the gear... a good rider isn't going to bin it, hes already seen the hazards and adjusted his riding to suit. As I said a helmet doesn't help me ride my bike... it just helps me when I make a stuff up... My boots don't help either...

As for racing well... they are pushing the limits of the bikes, and their skill and are actually at a higher risk than the average biker on the road.

Originally Posted by lowededwookie

In my original post I mentioned the best form of protection is to treat everyone as though they are out to kill you. By simply knowing that one fact you take the responsibility from them and place it on yourself. YOU learn how traffic flows, YOU learn what drivers are capable of, YOU learn what YOU and YOUR bike are capable of, and YOU wear the correct gear incase something goes wrong. This makes you a good rider and as such my comments about responsibility do indeed still stand.

I have been riding for 20 odd years and have always said this... still doesn't make you a good rider, makes you a good road user not a rider. You should be doing this whether on yah bike or in yah cage or walking as pedistrian crossing the road...

I have been on a couple of rides where th group was being responsable following all the giving laws and cursity etc... but there were a couple in the group that weren't good riders (yes still learning and hopefully I mentored ok to help)

The question “What makes a good rider?”
On road, off road, on track, in the park... on you own private road or track or the farm where you can act like an idiot...?

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th April 2007, 16:43

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

You are correct. However I believe the point was that it becomes dangerous when the formation is kept through a corner in a tight group of riders... rather than breaking formation and taking your own line for the corner - which is the safe way to do it.

In theory you should be able to hold the staggered formation through corners, and still use the whole lane to your advantage...

You still keep the 2 second rule, but not from the bike ahead of you but two bikes a head who is on the same staggered line as you. In the tigher corners the formation does change as you choose the same line round the corners but as you out of the corner the staggered formation should be regained.

The staggered formation allows for movement in your lane if needed. But for it to work as intended, everyone needs to follow it and not be pushy impatient etc

**The Stranger:Me** · 27th April 2007, 16:49

Originally Posted by KATWYN

IMHO means 'In my humble opinion'

Of course you make allowances for variables in the environment and circumstances!

But in general (without the variables you mentioned) staggered is a safe riding strategy for group riding.
From memory, I think they teach that at motorcycle basic handling school

I dig the IMHO and mine is but the same.
However most people I know head for the twisties and given the number of corners we strike on our roads (thank goodness) and the state of our roads with said tar bleed, pot holes and repairs I don't believe that staggering is an important issue to remember.
Sure stagger where practical, it does permit better vision and an additional safety margin, provided propper following distances are maintained. In my experience however people often tend to close up when in a stagger, believing that they have additional stopping distance. If I pull over to avoid a hazard that additional distance is no longer available.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

**yungatart** · 27th April 2007, 16:51

Wow! What an informative thread!
I now have it on good authority, that I am a good rider...cos I always wear the gear...(didn't stop my leg or thumb breaking in an accident that was entirely of my own making....)Woohoo!!!!
And all this time, I thought that a good rider was one in control of his/her bike, aware of the environment, recognising potential hazards, and reacting to same, being considerate of other road users.....how wrong can one be?

**Hitcher** · 27th April 2007, 16:54

Originally Posted by yungatart

how wrong can one be?

Indeed. I'm off to sell the FJR, buy a crotch rocket and a homosexual one-piece leather suit (with appropriate protection, because one must wear all of the gear all of the time) and ride everywhere balls-to-the-wall. I'm going to be the greatest!

**yungatart** · 27th April 2007, 16:57

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Indeed. I'm off to sell the FJR, buy a crotch rocket and a homosexual one-piece leather suit (with appropriate protection, because one must wear all of the gear all of the time) and ride everywhere balls-to-the-wall. I'm going to be the greatest!

You have to beat me there to be the greatest!!!!

**Drew** · 27th April 2007, 17:09

Originally Posted by lowededwookie

In my original post I mentioned the best form of protection is to treat everyone as though they are out to kill you. By simply knowing that one fact you take the responsibility from them and place it on yourself. YOU learn how traffic flows, YOU learn what drivers are capable of, YOU learn what YOU and YOUR bike are capable of, and YOU wear the correct gear incase something goes wrong. This makes you a good rider and as such my comments about responsibility do indeed still stand.

Responsibility is more than just riding like a nana. The only way to protect yourself from other people is to take as much responsibility as you can.

Never trust anyone not even the greatest rider on the planet to keep you safe. Only you can do that.

And that word should have been "irresponsible" yes but who cares considering there is far worse grammer than mine on this site.

I bit my tongue when I first read this, because I couldn't be arsed jumping down anyones throat at the time, luckily, that has passed.

WTF are you talking about? A persons strong sense of self preservation, a good rider does not make!!! I ride in jeans and gym shoes quite a bit, every time I'm out cruisin, or just commuting in fact, yet, there are some on here who consider my riding above average.

The gear a person wears, is completely irrelevent, because not all of us can afford the "right" gear. I went bloody mental at Placid femme a while back for making this same statement, it's an unthinkably naive statement, that shows a complete lack of thought put into it.

Grow the fuck up, and think before you speak!