Find a mentor?

[Urano]

there's something i've been wanting to ask for a while...

every once there's some new guy that comes out and ask "what should i do to learn?"
and one of the answers i read more often is

Find a mentor

now, seriously.
what does it mean?
i mean, "go get some training" it's a thing: you go to a school, there is someone who got a certification with "instructor" written on it because he passed exams and demonstrated some sort of ability.

but a "mentor"...?
who is a mentor?
is "the one who knows best about bikes"? is the "old man with a bike in the garage"? is the "superduper knee on tarmac track addict"?

and how a newbie should recognize a "mentor" from a casual idiot who hasn't yet killed himself just thanks to the right planet alignment?
is there any patch, any plate, a card, a sticker to put on the helmet you receive down there when you reach, what... 50, 100, 500.000 kms on a bike?

if i'd listened to the "good suggestions" of half the ones "who knows best" about motorcycling i've met on the road (and it seems to me that the same part, if not bigger, can be found in web forums...) i probably hadn't reach my second bike...

[Ender EnZed]

KB Mentors Programme.

[skippa1]

there's something i've been wanting to ask for a while...

every once there's some new guy that comes out and ask "what should i do to learn?"
and one of the answers i read more often is



now, seriously.
what does it mean?
i mean, "go get some training" it's a thing: you go to a school, there is someone who got a certification with "instructor" written on it because he passed exams and demonstrated some sort of ability.

but a "mentor"...?
who is a mentor?
is "the one who knows best about bikes"? is the "old man with a bike in the garage"? is the "superduper knee on tarmac track addict"?

and how a newbie should recognize a "mentor" from a casual idiot who hasn't yet killed himself just thanks to the right planet alignment?
is there any patch, any plate, a card, a sticker to put on the helmet you receive down there when you reach, what... 50, 100, 500.000 kms on a bike?

if i'd listened to the "good suggestions" of half the ones "who knows best" about motorcycling i've met on the road (and it seems to me that the same part, if not bigger, can be found in web forums...) i probably hadn't reach my second bike...

Where you been? There's a bunch of em on here

[Akzle]

ill do it .

[Gremlin]

ill do it .

We'll call you.

[pritch]

Where you been? There's a bunch of em on here

He has probably been in Italy, since that's where he lives, being Italian and all.

[Urano]

KB Mentors Programme.

ok, this is just fuckin' awesome...

but the question remains: how is a "mentor" different from "the pal that knows best about bikes"?

because, i've read the page on the programme launch and the requirements, but still isn't clear at all...
"isn't a riding trainer" you say.
"he's someone who advice and encourage" and "pass his knowledge".
but on what you base the opinion that his knowledge is actually worth to be passed and not some bunch of bad habits layed down with the time...?

[Big Dave]

but on what you base the opinion that his knowledge is actually worth to be passed and not some bunch of bad habits layed down with the time...?

Survival..

[skippa1]

He has probably been in Italy, since that's where he lives, being Italian and all.

In that case.......pizza please

[Maha]

''but the question remains: how is a "mentor" different from "the pal that knows best about bikes"?

The Mentors list on here is varied, only a few would get a call if I were in the position of needing one. Five out of the Nineteen listed to be honest.
Two of which are licenced instructors, one is probably the best rider I have ever followed in terms of safe riding and lines, the other two (no doubting) really know their craft.

[avgas]

Ok I have just starting looking for one. According to good image search I have found one.

Is this one?