The only riding I do in crap cold winter weather is off-road. Great fun, the exercise keeps you warm and you can choose your own risk level.
I'm an enthusiastic motorcycling biker who gave up 'all-weather riding out of necessity' years ago. I ride at every opportunity.:smile:
To me, 'biker' suggests a lifestyle, a car hating tassled jacket wearing type with more of a gang type mentality, they are constantly at bmf meets, or protests fighting 'proposed eu legislation' that would never get through anyway.(remember leg protectors) An enthusiast is a more normal person with a passion.
So what is the proper definition of an enthusiastic biker and a biker, I'm confused??? Is it meerkat or market, which band should I fall in. Enthusiastic because I like all bike stuff or a biker because I represent all bike stuff.
I think I'm very much a biker, although I don't need to use the bike in all weathers. I have no interest in cars whatsoever, they are just utensils in my book, but I've got a soft spot for just about every motorcycle ever made (Harleys excepted). I still ride all year round, only avoiding rain where possible and snow, and put plenty of miles on the bikes when I can. I've done the all-weather dispatching thing, but that don't make you a biker, it makes you cold and wet. And anyone who says riding in winter makes you a better rider is lying - it just makes you more anxious. Riding more miles, that's what makes you a better rider.
Agree with what you say, but on the other hand, riding in not so good conditions does make you a safer rider. An example of mine, typical corner coming up and it's wet you go,round it as say 50mph, you do the same route every day and then one day, I say one day it's sunny and you think well I've be round this corner 100 times in the wet etc at 50 so today I will try a bit more, you do it and think yes that was good. Riding in poor conditions can improve your reactions and response rates. Riding every day in all types of weather does improve your skills but its still scary sometimes
Sorry, I disagree. Putting more miles under you wheels makes you a better rider, wobbling round in the wet does nothing.
Obviously you seen me riding in the winter then, 50p shape springs to mind ha haa, my old bike instructor once told me "Simon, now you have past your test now you start to learn to ride a motorcycle" as a question then? Do you ride any different in poor conditions to good conditions then. If im honest I do, in good conditions I'm confident and chuck it around, in poor conditions I ride confidently.
Absolutely. When I was dispatching I was confident bordering on dangerous in the wet, but still not as rabid as I was in the dry. But over the years, despite the bikes getting better and better, my riding has got worse and worse. And this is down to not riding every day; I'll still chuck it about in the dry, but I'm much more cautious in crap weather. That isn't down to lack of experience - I've got plenty of that - it's down to a lack of riding time. My job demands a van, so I only get to ride at weekends.
Words of a wiseman....I don't think your riding got worse at all, I think you're more confident in your abilities with your bike and that is a very good thing. As we get older we get wiser
RE Biker, this has always had connoitations of a greasy bundle of rags on a rat bike, a rarely seen object nowadays as judging by my local meets we're all getting to be old farts with leathers and polished machines...... Winter riding ? I must be weird, with the right kit on I actually enjoy riding in the pouring rain but the greasy stuff we get this time of year is sh*te. Riding the SS is hopeless below 3-4deg, carb icing sets in just as you're overtaking, I just use the Honda.......oops I swore......Mike
Doesn't matter what Im referred to as.....As James May said 'The thing I like about bikes is that the only people who like bikes are on them.....Cars are full of people who don't care.' I ride bikes because I enjoy them. I have a car (a 20 year old VW polo) but its there to ferry stuff about and use when the weather is crap. My bike isn't a tool, its a luxury. A toy if you like . I tend not to ride in the wet but not because I worry about grip....more about being cold and wet and having to clean it (although I take pleasure from cleaning it too). Not sure if it makes me a biker.....probably a bit too precious to qualify and I don't have any tattoos!
Add in MAG to the BMF and I think you have 'biker' bingo. Biker to me equals beards and back patches. I ride all year round but I won't ride on ice or snow. I don't own a car because I don't need one.
Yup, pretty much summed up. I make no apologies at all for aspiring to an immaculate double garage with five or six immaculate bikes, a perfect floor, a spotless toolbox, and halogen lighting. Probably doesn't fit in with the classic 'biker' image at all.
To flip the coin, Motorcycle Enthusiast brings to my mind Derriboots and sea boot socks, James Cadets, and spending too many evenings fussing over squish clearances. On the whole I'd very much rather be a biker...
Does sound nice thou, although mine would have a central heating/air conditioning, a sofa and a nice big HD TV as well.
