What makes a person an experienced rider?

[Gummiente]

Very good question and one that is open to debate. Obviously, the longer you ride the more experienced you become but it takes more than just time and accumulated mileage to become fully competent. Having a motorcycle licence for "X" number of years doesn't really amount to much if your total mileage is only 10,000km under sunny skies. Riding through all different road and weather conditions, riding different makes and styles of bikes, taking regular motorcycle courses, knowing your limits and - perhaps most important - learning from your mistakes. At the 7 year mark I thought I was an experienced rider, then I took a motorcycle course and realised just how little I knew. Now at the 24 year mark I consider myself an experienced rider, but still make the occasional mistake and am still learning new things.

[Kim]

I say once you've gotten your feet off the ground you're experienced. Granted...that's a very low level of experience, but it's an experience just the same!

[King Frog]

See the uniformity in those who want you to risk your bike and neck? KIDS.

I see no reason on thois GOd's earth to try to impresss KIDS. LEt THEM do the wheelies and stunts. I'll ENJOY watching them thanks...

[Scott58]

Experience is the amount of time you spend doing something, but it can be limited. 2 people who both have 100,000 miles under their belt maybe quite different in their experience levels due to a number of issues. If one afraid to do alot of interstate while the other isn't, the interstate rider has more experience at higher speeds. If one has riden a number of different bikes he has more experience with the variety. If one has riden some off road, or dragged a knee on occasion. etc, etc. It really comes down to how much diversity you've had in that 100,000 miles. I know guys who have never seen the high side of 65mph and have just pleasure ridden back roads for years. That doesn't mean they aren't experienced, but they certainly have a limit to their experience.

[Locopez]

Scott very well put....I was just hoping for info...like what you had to say as well as everyone else...who has posted to this thread.......

[King Frog]

IF you ride for 30 years and never have an azzpucker situation you are less experienced then one riding for 3 years who has had to navigate multiple azzpucker situations at multiple speeds and road conditions.
Deer crossing, people pulling out in front of ya, trucks dropping stuff from their beds in front of you, Panic stopping, entering curves to fast and leaning farther then you would ever want to dragging bike parts to get through it.
laying a bike down. People who have experienced these types of things without injury are experienced riders. All others have not been "tested" yet.

Anyone can pretty much ride a bike or even fly an airplane. Its when things go wrong you find out if you re experienced and or GAIN experience.

[jtecj]

Experienced rider or good rider? I believe that you are experienced at different levels from the minute you sit down on a motorcycle but a good rider? That comes from years of experience in different situations and difficulties. Also this is all relative no one is truely a "good" rider or even an "experienced" rider for what others have attributed to being an experienced rider...just remember no matter how long you have been riding the minute you think you are safe because you are "experienced"...thats the minute you ram the back of someones pickup and lose the life you've worked so hard and long for...just be careful and cautious.

peace out

-Justin-

[Wizzard]

Personally , I just love the experience of riding . Been doing it since 1958 .
Regards, Wizzard

[Kim]

Experienced rider or good rider? I believe that you are experienced at different levels from the minute you sit down on a motorcycle but a good rider? That comes from years of experience in different situations and difficulties. Also this is all relative no one is truely a "good" rider or even an "experienced" rider for what others have attributed to being an experienced rider...just remember no matter how long you have been riding the minute you think you are safe because you are "experienced"...thats the minute you ram the back of someones pickup and lose the life you've worked so hard and long for...just be careful and cautious.

peace out

-Justin-

Exactly. Experience doesn't equal skill or knowledge. Experience is very subjective. Years of experience at something doesn't make one necessarily good at it.

[DAU]

would an experianced rider be anyone who recognises hazards and avoids them all using the skills they posess?
if thats the case theni doubt any rider can make this claim as you dont learn much from never trying anything

i dont know!!!!
my brain hurts now