Unsolicited riding safety tips and newbie look??
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 1
From: Saint George, Utah
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
Anyone out of the blue ever give you a riding tip with out you asking?
Stopped at a new to me biker watering hole yesterday, had a great time and struck up several conversations with the other bikers there. Especially since a nice little thunderstorm came up. Once the storm passed, the others I was with were getting ready to leave when one of the guys there feels it necessary to tell me to watch the roads after the rain. At first I'm thinking, hey,thanks for the reminder. Then he goes on for a few minutes explaining the oil on the road, hadn't rained in a while, really slick in the middle. He went on for a bit. I politely thanked him and told him I'd be fine.
After I left, I started thinking to myself, why did he feel the need to go on and on giving me riding advice? I know he was just being nice but I couldn't get over why he felt the need? Do I look like a newbie? Was there something about me that made me look new to this motorcycle thing?
FYI - I will be the first to admit, I will never brag about my riding abilities. I know I'm not the best rider out there. I've never taken a riding course or watched the ride like a pro video. I don't know if I could make a u-turn in under 20' (can't remember ever needing to) but my 08 has over 38,000 miles on it. Most commuting 75 miles a day every day in Houston traffic. I have ridden in everything from a hurricane to a hard freeze. 17 degrees to 110 degrees. My wife and I only have one car between us so the bike is my only way to work, no matter what the weather.
So how do you get rid of the newbie look? I have to be clean cut for my job and I'm not the vest with patches type. I don't have any tattoos. I was wearing jeans, Harley boots and a tshirt from a rally....it was even dated 05. I guess I just get a kick out of people judging you by your appearance.
Stopped at a new to me biker watering hole yesterday, had a great time and struck up several conversations with the other bikers there. Especially since a nice little thunderstorm came up. Once the storm passed, the others I was with were getting ready to leave when one of the guys there feels it necessary to tell me to watch the roads after the rain. At first I'm thinking, hey,thanks for the reminder. Then he goes on for a few minutes explaining the oil on the road, hadn't rained in a while, really slick in the middle. He went on for a bit. I politely thanked him and told him I'd be fine.
After I left, I started thinking to myself, why did he feel the need to go on and on giving me riding advice? I know he was just being nice but I couldn't get over why he felt the need? Do I look like a newbie? Was there something about me that made me look new to this motorcycle thing?
FYI - I will be the first to admit, I will never brag about my riding abilities. I know I'm not the best rider out there. I've never taken a riding course or watched the ride like a pro video. I don't know if I could make a u-turn in under 20' (can't remember ever needing to) but my 08 has over 38,000 miles on it. Most commuting 75 miles a day every day in Houston traffic. I have ridden in everything from a hurricane to a hard freeze. 17 degrees to 110 degrees. My wife and I only have one car between us so the bike is my only way to work, no matter what the weather.
So how do you get rid of the newbie look? I have to be clean cut for my job and I'm not the vest with patches type. I don't have any tattoos. I was wearing jeans, Harley boots and a tshirt from a rally....it was even dated 05. I guess I just get a kick out of people judging you by your appearance.
I think you are a bit too sensitive about your appearance. Perhaps you might get rid of the newbie look with a little more self confident attitude.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
Likes: 1
From: Durham, NC
Sounds to me like a guy that has diarrhea of the mouth, and doesn't know when to stop talking. Doesn't sound like "newbie" advice. And if you think people look at you like a newbie, maybe it's something you are doing.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 401
Likes: 4
From: In my head
1993 500 CC Grand Prix World Champion and all around good guy. Arai sold a replica of the helmet he wore during that season. He also runs a school at Road Atlanta.
http://www.kevin-schwantz.com/html/
http://www.kevin-schwantz.com/html/
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
I did appreciate the concern and am always willing to listen. You never know when you'll hear something new.
I did thank him and told him I'd be fine. Just thought about it afterward and wondered why he felt the need to go on and on and why he singled me out to pass along his wisdom. I'm just going to chalk it up to the beer he'd been drinking.
I'm pretty comfortable with who I am, my appearance and my riding ability. I know my limits and stay within them. Only pushing them when comfortable in the situation and only so I can expand my comfort zone. I think I'll skip trying to wheelie my King in a tunnel. Or anywhere else.
It is funny the things people will say to you and how they size you up with out knowing you.
You get the good comments with the bad and the strange.
I did have a guy at a light on the way home today want to trade me even for his King Ranch 3/4 ton diesel truck. The light turned green before I could take him up on it
Thanks for the comments !!
I did thank him and told him I'd be fine. Just thought about it afterward and wondered why he felt the need to go on and on and why he singled me out to pass along his wisdom. I'm just going to chalk it up to the beer he'd been drinking.
I'm pretty comfortable with who I am, my appearance and my riding ability. I know my limits and stay within them. Only pushing them when comfortable in the situation and only so I can expand my comfort zone. I think I'll skip trying to wheelie my King in a tunnel. Or anywhere else.
It is funny the things people will say to you and how they size you up with out knowing you.
You get the good comments with the bad and the strange.
I did have a guy at a light on the way home today want to trade me even for his King Ranch 3/4 ton diesel truck. The light turned green before I could take him up on it
Thanks for the comments !!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
That was my first assumption. I know that sometimes (outside of riding) I'll volunteer a "helpful safety tip" about things since I figure it never hurts to share learning experiences.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
How many did you tip up. Maybe he thought you needed the repetitive reminder to fully pick up what he was puttin down. Or maybe he was tippin too many and forgot what he was saying and that he already told you. Or maybe, Or maybe, Or maybe. Appreciate the advice and enjoy the ride.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 101
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After I left, I started thinking to myself, why did he feel the need to go on and on giving me riding advice? I know he was just being nice but I couldn't get over why he felt the need? Do I look like a newbie? Was there something about me that made me look new to this motorcycle thing?
That's Gospel!
