Squids, hooligans, stunta boyz, and what have you...

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I'm on a "new post" rampage. This last Wednesday I attended a bike night at the local Quaker Steak and Lube. Every Wednesday through the riding season they have a meet there. I like to go because to me it is like a new bike show every week. I've gotten to know a few guys there and some are very cool. A few of these guys from zrxoa.org and a few from the Central Ohio Riders Enthusiasts. Anyway, it is mostly a good experiance.

On any given week there are about 60 to 70 percent Harleys there and the rest a mix of any other kind of bike. That is a pretty good showing by the non-Harleys I think. Every week there are a few guys who pull in, or pull out with the loud pipes, reving the engines and make a general big rucus. Every week there are a few sportsbike guys who burnout and make the big cloud of rubber smoke to be cool. Mixed in the crowd are a few bikes which are beat up and have huge crash bars and clearly are used for stunting.

This paticular week was a bit unique. Some orginization was trying to raise money for someone who was killed by some situation. It was a good cause as far as I could see. They blocked off an area and 5 or 6 stunt bikes were doing tricks for the crowd. Everyone loved the wheelies, the stoppies, and the general abuse of these beat up sports bikes. None of these guys wore gear, which sort of surprised me at an event to raise money and endorsed by the resturant, but whatever, it was fun to watch.

On my way out from hanging around I saw the usual but a lot more of it - guys burning out, guys being loud with their pipes, and people zipping around the parking lot less careful then they should be. On top of this I saw guys in a big group doing wheelies and riding at 80 or 90 down a 45 MPH zone. Disregard for other's safety and their own. They make the whole group of riders look bad, I think.

I belong to another webboard - zrxoa.org. They all are proud of being "hooligans". What does that mean? To the best of my knowledge it is a way to squid without saying squid. They promote wheelies on the street sometimes. They promote high speed riding on the streets sometimes. They insult safe talk as being wimpy. Not always mind you - there seems to be a mix of both safe and crazy talk, but the crazy talk goes with being a proud ZRX hooligan.

On a Sunday a few weeks ago I went on a sportsbike ride with some guys from CORE - Central Ohio Riding Enthusiast. Nice guys. They were all willing to help keep me along, but I could tell the preference was balls to the wall. Blind corners and non-visible sweeping turns at high speed. Passing in no passing zones. Flying by people in a less than careful manner. A few wheelies within the group. And one accident where the guy was not badly hurt, but turned out to have no insurance.

Is this the biking community? I feel I am in a minority wanting to ride safe and have a good time. Not willing to take crazy risks. I guess I am no hooligan. Maybe I should turn in my motorcycle for a Vespa.

[cb360]

I think you should keep the bike you have and keep riding safe. You'll be able to do it a lot longer. I don't want to see anyone injured no matter what they are doing, but Darwin has a way of working these things out in the end. No amount of safety talk is going to have any effect whatsoever on someone who is young and feels invincible. I'm a fellow boring safety nut and I still have plenty of fun.

[bikeguy joe]

Maybe I should turn in my motorcycle for a Vespa.

Now you're insulting the scooter people.

[oldnslo]

Hooligan: Mindless thug. Eventually contributes to the purification of the gene pool via self-euthanization. Keep safe distance and let them do their job.

[flynrider]

I think the hooligans and nut cases are still a minority. You've just gotta quit hanging around with squids. They're blocking your view of the average motorcyclist

[iwannadie]

you get these type of people in every crowd. theres tons of car guys whos only intent is to go out and street race putting every one at risk. they are just out for attention they want people to look at them and be wow'd. probally not enough attention from their parents as kids caused them to turn out this way. so its not just limited to bikes, go to a car meet and youll see the same type of guys. the problem with bikes is its Alot cheaper to go buy a salvage sport bike for a few grand and go out and pull wheelies and 'look cool'. at least in the car crowd it takes alot of cash to get a decent car setup so they are more carefull to a degree.

[Mustang]

These guys are a minority...mostly because they hurt themselves with the stunts they pull.

Personally I think riding a bike is about confidence whic grows the longer you ride. It's this same confidence that should help you hold bakc and ride safely when everyone around you isn't.

I ride a Harley and I can't tell you how many other HOG riders I see without helmets, but I'll always wear mine because its my choice.

Feel free to ride with whoever......but know your own limits and always remember what good riding looks like.

[dr_bar]

Plain and simple...


Power + Testosterone = A Bad Combination

Most guys that get on a bike that will do 200 MPH are going to go balls to the walls with it. There
are actually very few of us with the maturity to see that that much power can be driven in a safe
manner. Young men/teens on powerful bikes is usually a recipe for disaster, "I know
you can get hurt, but it won't happen to me." is the only thing going through their
minds. All it takes is one not so sane person to lead an otherwise sane group down that
path to instant pain and not to much gratification...

[9000white]

do like i do.go alone to the most desolate roads you can find and ride at your leisure.no peer pressure to ride beyond your limits.no goons doing wheelies or burnouts.the only place you see that bunch is in a crowd.go to places that dont know what a crowd is.

[BuzZz]

Just shut-up and ride the dam thing?

Yeah, that does sound like me. Although, I generally ride my ride alone and on deserted roads. I hate an audience.