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At what point do you consider someone Experienced? (Length of time riding, and or miles driven)

I would like to know this out of curiosity. I would like to know where I would rank in others opinions.

I have been riding for 11 months, and have 11,000 miles under my belt.

I'd say your an experienced rider. I'd say you're a rider with- oh I don't know- 11 months and 11,000 miles of experience

Is it good experience? Bad experience? I don't know. I see it as a vague term. However, I am always doing something to hone my skills and recommend taking some sort of skills class every year. Thus far I've taken a BRC, ERC, Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, Cornerspeed I&II, Cornerspin, and a few others

This year I'm taking the local police force's advanced skills class on a road king

motorcyclinmama wrote:I would like to know where I would rank in others opinions.

I would only be able to say something if I've ridden with you.

Both miles and years riding don't paint a very good picture of a rider's experience. You can easily rack up miles on the superslab without learning some vital skills. It's tough to say who is experience and not on the interwebs.

experience is subjective. i consider myself experienced. started riding @ 7 years old on a honda50. 30 years later i'm still riding. i've also been thru some really close calls. yet,i digress.

experienced, to me is a term that describes someone who has detailed knowledge of something imho


just a side note though


In my country, motorcyclist related deaths in a year are 10% of all motor vehicle deaths but bikes only represent 3% of registered vehicles.

of that 10% (motorcycle riders) of us who die, the age group the represents the highest deaths is the 30-45 year olds.

The 30-45 year olds are the group who have the most "experience"


Experience isn't a protective jacket of elfin gold that provides road immortality.



anyhoo, just thought id share

i dig this question -

id say im experienced but ive only ridden one season. ive ridden in rain from edmonton to calgary (stupidist decision of my life), ive ridden with passengers, over pot holes, in puddles, fast, slow - etc

that being said, i also dont think im experienced. sometimes a different driver almost nickin you, or a pothole can humble you pretty good.

its prolly like blues, takes a moment to learn and a lifetime to master ridin a bike

kennydude wrote: its prolly like blues, takes a moment to learn and a lifetime to master ridin a bike

Brilliant! That is the whole motorcycling experience rendered down to one statement - nicely put! As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to borrow that one if you don't mind.

After 26yrs in the saddle, I'm still learning.

Its a tough question to answer really, generally I treat myself as experienced in some matters, amateur in others.

I've ridden rainstorms, 80mph gusts of wind, hail, fog, frozen ground, water soaked muddy fields on street bike tyres. (at one point 70mph gusts of wind, drizzle, and night, at the same time on a winding road - thats just scary when oncoming cars are blinding you with their headlights). I've also had appauling tyres that slip in the dry (riding down wet oil soaked roads in Luton was an experience I tell you, the back end just constantly wants to step out no matter how much you baby the throttle)

Never ridden in a stowstorm or extreme heat though, so as I said "experienced" is a subjective term. Also I've never done any track time, dirt biking, nor dropped a bike yet (with me at the controls at the time, had 2 drop off their stands though )


Generally I guess "experienced" is more about amount and diversity of adverse situations you've been in

shane-o wrote:Experience isn't a protective jacket of elfin gold that provides road immortality.

Damn Shane-O thats possibly the most eloquent thing I've seen you write Its also probably the most truth I've seen wrapped in a single sentence. Spot on, good sir

The answer is simple. It all depends who you are riding behind.

Observing some of my fellow motorcyclists (even those with many years 'experience') makes me feel like a well-seasoned rider. Tailing others, watching their smooth lines, perfect handling, and savvy road skills is a humbling experience.

Appreciate your skills because they give you confidence; be aware of your limitations because that gives you long life. You're on the spectrum. I guarantee that will never change till you hang up your lid for the last time.

Have fun.

shane-o wrote: Experience isn't a protective jacket of elfin gold that provides road immortality.

Are you sure you're an Aussie, Shane-o?