Way to go "infamous 508"

[Falko]

I guess he thought that mirror looked loose and didn't want it to fall off and make the road unclean. He's jus a heppin out.

[G21forme]

I would have ran the kids bike over, no lies.

I'm sorry officer I feared for my life amd the life of my passenger so I hit the gas and hit his bike by accident, he then reached in his jacket and I shot him in the face...

[nhbubba]

I thought it was utterly hilarious that they do "community service" and clean up roads and what not, then go out and act like retards on them, intentionally putting their own lives and others lives in danger with their blatant stupidity and various other forms of BS.

I wonder what the SUV driver did to deserve getting his mirror kicked and smashed. Must have been something pretty bad.

The SUV rolled out into traffic. I'm speculating, but my guess is that the driver was tired of waiting for a fleet of ass-hats to clear the intersection and obey basic traffic laws.

That said, I'm feeling a bit of hypocrisy here. I've been out with some of you while we rolled stop-signs, ran stop-lights, and completely disregarded the speed limits.

I wonder how your average motorist tells the difference between us and them.

Please realize I think these people are ass-hats, through and through. I'm just making a comment about how short the jump is from 'us' to 'them' here.

[carsick]

I wonder how your average motorist tells the difference between us and them.

Hi-Viz.

[jasnmar]

It's a good point. I'd bet that the general public can't and doesn't care to tell "us" from "them". Nor do they care to tell "us" from the large groups of Harley's. We see ourselves quiet differently, but the general public doesn't.

One part of you post I want to disagree with is the speed limit part. We don't disregard the speed limit, we just consider it a lower limit rather than an upper .

While we will roll some signs etc. we generally do so with the "permission" of the cars (well, at least often). There have been a number of times that cars have waived us through so as to not break up the group. There have also been times that they didn't, in these cases we probably annoy them so badly that they will next time :/.

While I certainly do some "abrupt " lane changes, pass on the right on the slab and move through traffic as efficiently as possible I also make an effort to let people in, signal everything in advance (it feels really strange for me to pull into the pit on a track day without signalling) give room when they declare that they want it.

We're all representatives of a large and diverse group of motorcycle enthusiasts, and all of our actions impact the opinion of the non-riding public.

[nhbubba]

And, unfortunately, they are representatives of us too. That's probably what chafes my ass the most.

[e30addict]

I get the impressions people either love bikes and give us the thumbs up etc... when we all go by or they hate us. To the one's that us, they think we ALL suck, regardless of how we ride. To them I say

Real difference between our "lawless-ness" and the "crew" here is that we're out to have a good time and enjoy the bikes. These guys are out expressly to fuck with people.

[maxim_X]

I think the truth is we are the minority. Most motorcyclists are asshats. I don't know if riding a bike that makes people like this or bikes themselves attract assholes. We take motorcycles and riding seriously. Others treat is as a cheap thrill or cool hobby.

[Sincere]

Wow.... I was looking for the accident info, seeing as I was riding back from visiting a friend in Fall River and was on my way home that morning. I got pulled over while riding down 24N (The limit mind you) so I knew something was wrong. The statey didn't even ask for my license, he just approached me and as he did, I took off my helmet. He stopped. " Where are you coming from?", He asked. no sooner than I could open my mouth, "Never mind, keep it to the limit, good day." I'm like, "WTF??" Come to find out today, this happened about 10 miles from where I was stopped, but I never seen any bikes at all that morning. Just me. Matter of fact, the highway seemed kinda empty.


And I was riding a Suzuki... and have not had it up in the air in the 5 years I've owned it. No need. I know that my family is more important to me, than internet fame.


As far as the other page, I've seen or have dealt with some of them. Repairing plastics for most of those kids (average age= 22) and the Malden portion doesn't get along with me for not selling wheels and parts off my car to 1 of their members. So this thread pretty much sums up a part of what I think of "Some" of them.

[Slyder]

I wonder how your average motorist tells the difference between us and them.

Please realize I think these people are ass-hats, through and through. I'm just making a comment about how short the jump is from 'us' to 'them' here.

The average motorist doesn't tell the difference between them and us. Or sport riders and Harley riders. Or cruisers. Or motards. I do however think they distinguish between the previous bikes and scooters.

A year ago this month I watched a guy on a Harley kill himself by slamming into a SUV (driven by his mothers best friend, nonetheless). I estimated his speed at around 70 mph when he passed me, in a 40 zone, and he was still accelerating and up shifting. As he lay in the road dying, many people at the scene went on to state "all motorcyclists think they are above the law"..."all motorcyclists think they can do as they please"..."everyone on bikes think they're invincible".

I was in the cage that day, so no riding gear, no bike. I was under cover, so to speak. I told each and everyone of them they were wrong. I told them I rode too and that I was completely baffled as to why anyone would do what we all witnessed. I told them we don't all ride like that. I told them that I knew each and every time I get on the bike, I might not come home.


On another note, someone else call numb nuts and ask why he ninja kicked the mirror. I don't have an unlisted #

[gregp]

I think the truth is we are the minority. Most motorcyclists are asshats. I don't know if riding a bike that makes people like this or bikes themselves attract assholes. We take motorcycles and riding seriously. Others treat is as a cheap thrill or cool hobby.

Honest question - Who is "we"?
Me - I have been riding motorcycles for over 45 years, and I think of my motorcycles as little more than a "cool hobby"... They do provide me with a relatively "cheap thrill", particularly the dirt versions. Yet, I wouldn't regard myself as an *ass*-anything. The older I get, the *less* seriously I take it, but you would never see me doing the stuff in those clips. If I did see something like that going on, I would probably get as far away from it as I could, as quickly as I could.
I am just trying to figure out the grouping here. My wife (probably close to a non-motorcyclist) tends to see the motorcycle groups/behaviors as "Young", "Middle Aged", and "Old", with "Loud HD/Cruiser" and "All Others" tiers. I suspect that any sub-group of motorcyclists, like all other sports/hobbies, have all kinds of people participating, and there were probably some really good people mixed in those clips. We should all just try to be considerate, above all, but still have our fun.
Lately, I can not help but feel that group rides, in general, are just not a good idea anymore. When in groups (or Mob's, if you will), riders may tend to think that they have more liberties than they would if they were alone. Some of you admit to that type of behavior here in this thread.
I do not want to convey that I support the guys in the clips, and some of them clearly took it too far, but folks in glass houses.....
Sometimes we all need a reminder, and that is how I view this series of events.
I do feel badly for the guy who lost his arm, the guy he hit, and anybody else negatively impacted by this event, including "we".

[SteveM]

We is everyone who rides what I ride, the way I ride it and dresses the way I dress while doing it.

Them is everybody else.

We is superior to them.

Sound familiar?

We believe it.
The HD guys believe it.
The stunters believe it.
The ADV guys believe it.
The Wing guys believe it.
The BMW guys think they invented it.

[jasnmar]

We is random lines that we draw in the shifting sand.

From within the microcosm of motorcycle enthusiasts there certainly are differences. I don't really know all of the dimensions yet, but you can't pretend, that to us, someone who rides a scooter is the same as someone riding a 'busa. The guy getting off the Ultraglide may not have much in agreement with the guy getting off the 1199.

While there are plenty of different things to ride, there are also plenty of different riding styles. I've seen all sorts of people on all sorts of bikes do shit that I'd never consider. I'm sure that there are many who consider me timid, as well as many who think I'm way too risky.

You're wife's "categories " probably aren't too bad. My daughter's categories, however are "motorcycles" and me. She's 18 and is a safe 18 year old driver. She hates the loud ones, she hates the one that follow too closely, she hates the ones that pass to fast. She hates motorcycles. "We've" taught her that.

We... there's a bubble around me, and everyone who fits in it is we. If you're in my bubble, then it's quite likely that others that are in your bubble overlap greatly with my bubble. If they don't, I need to think about my bubble. My bubble moves. It moves with my mood, it moves based on my experiences.

My bubble is safety conscious, but not risk adverse. My bubble wears their gear (mostly). My bubble likes to improve their ability to ride. My bubble does exceed posted speed recommendations. My bubble likes to take advantage of the performance advantages offered by being on a motorcycle.

My bubble does not purposely wreak havoc on a section of the city. My bubble doesn't intentionally impact traffic. My bubble doesn't wheelie / stoppie / burn out on public roads. My bubble doesn't get off their bike and kick a mirror off of an SUV.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers. I'm pretty sure that the amount of stupidity grows based on the numbers exponentially, which only increases the power.

Do I do things with a group that I don't do on my own... It's close, and a fine line. I don't roll stop signs with traffic present on my own. I'm also not waived through. I certainly don't come to a complete foot down stop at every stop sign, even on my own, but I do get your point.

"what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete... and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal..."

I've gotta quit typing long replies on my mobile device. It takes too long.

[maxim_X]

I like to think of NESR as a higher level of riders than most. Of course there are exceptions. Regardless of what you ride you can take it as a serious event or you can jump on blindly. Greg from what you post, often giving advice and helping, I know you take riding seriously. Some people understand the controls, how to operate their motorcycle and are keen on what the bike and themselves are doing. Others are numb to it. I think most riders will have an enlightenment at some time.

[nhbubba]

I like to think of NESR as a higher level of riders than most.

As much as I'd like to believe this, I doubt it is universally true.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: peer pressure is a helluva thing. I believe these videos illustrate that nicely. Careful who you surround yourself with.

All that said, if I were out riding with a group of NESR'ians and someone in a 4k lbs SUV lunged at one of you, I am not sure I'd be above putting a boot in their fender either.

[e30addict]

"what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete... and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal..."

[Falko]

.......
Lately, I can not help but feel that group rides, in general, are just not a good idea anymore. When in groups (or Mob's, if you will), riders may tend to think that they have more liberties than they would if they were alone. Some of you admit to that type of behavior here in this thread.
........

If one wheelies and no one is there to ogle, did the wheel actually leave the ground??

[SquadraCorse]

I think you can basically just tell what type of rider someone is by the gear (or lack thereof) that they have on. As my old man told me a while go, "Don't ride with any skin exposed that you plan on keeping". So far I've never thrown a leg over any of my bikes without proper gear. You all know the consequences of even a low speed get off. It goes hand in hand with responsibility, maturity, and intelligence.

You look at the video's littered through this thread and the most protective gear these guys have on is a helmet, leather vest and t-shirt. The only thing I can think of is that their attitude is such that they think they are above any type of incident. There's some squid rookie laid up in a hospital missing an arm at the moment that found out otherwise.

As SteveM mentioned a few posts up:


We believe it.
The HD guys believe it.
The stunters believe it.
The ADV guys believe it.
The Wing guys believe it.
The BMW guys think they invented it.

The only 2 groups that never wear any gear are the HD guys (all 'fashion' and bar hopping) and the Stunters (total squiddery). Other than that all the groups typically wear proper gear, even if it is dayglow yellow with heaters, air conditioners, back massagers, etc. built in.

I always look at anyone wearing full gear on a 90° day as a true motorcyclist. Anyone else comes across as someone in it for the image. That's how I view the 'us' vs 'them'.

[SRTie4k]

I've never seen anyone on a scooter wear gear. They must all be a bunch of squids.

[kb1]

I wonder how your average motorist tells the difference between us and them.

Please realize I think these people are ass-hats, through and through. I'm just making a comment about how short the jump is from 'us' to 'them' here.

Easy, I don't get off my bike and kick an SUV's mirror in because he wants to go on a green light and my "crew" making an illegal left hand turn won't let him.

[JettaJayGLS]

I think you can basically just tell what type of rider someone is by the gear (or lack thereof) that they have on. As my old man told me a while go, "Don't ride with any skin exposed that you plan on keeping". So far I've never thrown a leg over any of my bikes without proper gear. You all know the consequences of even a low speed get off. It goes hand in hand with responsibility, maturity, and intelligence.

You look at the video's littered through this thread and the most protective gear these guys have on is a helmet, leather vest and t-shirt. The only thing I can think of is that their attitude is such that they think they are above any type of incident. There's some squid rookie laid up in a hospital missing an arm at the moment that found out otherwise.

As SteveM mentioned a few posts up:


We believe it.
The HD guys believe it.
The stunters believe it.
The ADV guys believe it.
The Wing guys believe it.
The BMW guys think they invented it.

The only 2 groups that never wear any gear are the HD guys (all 'fashion' and bar hopping) and the Stunters (total squiddery). Other than that all the groups typically wear proper gear, even if it is dayglow yellow with heaters, air conditioners, back massagers, etc. built in.

I always look at anyone wearing full gear on a 90° day as a true motorcyclist. Anyone else comes across as someone in it for the image. That's how I view the 'us' vs 'them'.

I've been trying to avoid this thread...but this post has sucked me in.

This is ridiculous. What is a "true motorcyclist"? It sure as hell isn't someone who wears gear or not.

Do what makes you happy.

[SquadraCorse]

Perhaps true motorcyclist was a bad choice of words. However if you were to see 10 guys riding responsibly in full leathers vs 10 guys in shorts and t-shirt riding like idiots you'd classify them in the same group? Again, just how I view it, but in my mind they're worlds apart.

[kb1]

What happened on that ride, and in those videos has nothing to do with being a motorcyclist. What that pertains to is being a halfway intelligent, sensible human being with common decency to those around you. Those individuals are a bunch of jackasses for their actions, end of story. I don't care if they were on razor scooters, their attitude and mentality is the problem.

[nhbubba]

However if you were to see 10 guys riding responsibly in full leathers vs 10 guys in shorts and t-shirt riding like idiots you'd classify them in the same group? Again, just how I view it, but in my mind they're worlds apart.

Please clearly define "riding responsibly".

[jwm2k3]

Jesus...