Squids, hooligans, stunta boyz, and what have you...
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:51 am
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.
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.
