Following from the "Grrr" thread...

[Hetzer]

What defines a "great (public road) rider"? Public roads, under the traffic regulations, not TT road.

What's "great"? A speed maniac who can handle his corners? A commuter who always gets to work in one piece? A wheelie merchant? What exactly is this "great rider" shizzle? What makes a person one?
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[Handsome]

Someone who gets from A to B in one piece without being a danger to him/herself and others...

Everything in between is just extras...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Rookie]

Well, I think exactly what that nonce doesn't understand is context. Roads are different things to different people, so it can be any of the above.

[TheShaggyDA]

I don't think "great" is a title that one can bestow upon oneself. I'd personally call a good courier a great rider - someone who can read the road and make the best use of every opportunity, whilst pre-empting other road user's actions. The latter part cannot be learned on a track, nor be trained for, it's something that comes with experience. Track riding is a good place to learn your bike's capabilities, but there isn't much in the way of junctions, tired commuters, diesel spills, potholes, boy racers, buses, taxis, roundabouts, roadworks on a track. Not to mention people coming at you from the other direction.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[kingnathski88]

This will probably sound really stupid and might not make any sense, but...

I dont think you can say what makes a great or good public road rider. As you then have to be in a position to judge. I personally dont think i'm in a position to judge. All I can say is that I think someone is better than me or worse than me, and usually that is my opinion, and again cant really judge.

Although I suppose a good rider could be someone that confirms to all the laws, speed limits etc... is confident, can read the road as said before...

Didn't make much sense, but the idiot in the grrr thread is a very over opionated melon!

[Dragonfly]

what makes a great public road rider?

It dosnt matter what type of bike you ride its the rider.

1.getting somewhere in one piece would be a start
2.showing curtosy to other driver on the road
3.not breaking the law and endangering yourself and others by speeding.
4.one who is aware that your are vunerable on the road and takes care of his or own life using precautions and common sence.
5.Obvuisly you will have to know the rules of the road.
6.Roads are not race tracks.
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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[Sephiroth]

I used to do it but not anymore :


Being fast around corners = Good bike control but just shows stupidity (or confidence if you want to call it that).

As you said, from A - B in one piece shows a careful rider.

Wheelies - Just practise needed.

In short 'good' is just what you think it is. It's a personal opinion. You might think I'm a good rider for doing wheelies but the car driver that I just wheelied past might think I'm a dangerous cunt.

[Kickstart]

[bazza]

[iooi]

One that on the day they die, can say they never had a crash or caused anyone else to have one.....
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Kal]

I've been lucky enough to know two great riders as friends.

Both of them I could go pillion without holding onto them or the bike because they rode/ride that smooth...

Both of them were/are quick but that was more a function of them getting evertything else right rather than setting out to go really, really fast.

A few months ago I was out with my partner on the A6007. She had to move the car out of the way of some twat on a 'Blade who was trying to make progress. Reason I'm pissed off is because he was in our lane overtaking a coach on a bend, we got to see him when we were already in the bend. Bloke was proably fast but was also a pisspoor rider.

Just like this muppet probably thought he was good right up to the impact.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[st3v3]

for me, it's the ability to ride on a road safely, yet maybe illegally as and when required without a second thought. I filter too much, and am too cheeky about it, most don't care, or don't have the time to do anything about it for which I'm grateful although if I slowed down a taj I would only get there a few minutes later, and my trip isn't as dangerous but also the bore factor has increased as there is no frills.

Doing a trackday is about learning your limits in unison with the bike's, riding on the road is necessity and there always has and always will be risks, but it's learning to spot and avoid or minimize the risks that forms with experience and there is nothing that can change that.

Being on the road is about the most dangerous thing we can do 'freely(as in hop in/on and go)' and commonly, No one can neither predict what may happen nor control the twit coming at you with SMIDSY so I don't think there is any way to define a great rider but one thing I do know - Those couriers out there who do their stuff and stay around the place are the one's who clearly know how to ride, and how to survive as best they can on the road


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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[fenton]

Theres no such thing as a great rider. Theres far too many aspects of riding for one person to be called great. For example, my mate joe, will keep a fair distance inbetween me and him on a country road, maybe i need more practice, maybe i dnt push hard enough. But as soon as we get into traffic/town. I can get away from him and leave him behind for a fair few minutes. I filter like a crazy person and take probally what seem to be "unnesesary" risks. But, ive never once hit another car and i can squeeze through most gaps.

For someone to be a great rider, they would have to be competent in every aspect of biking. Racing, filtering, fast riding, safe riding. Most people i know are good at one or too of these. but not all..

Just my 2cents

Fenton
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CBR400RR NC29 ( '06 - '09 )... TL1000 RK1 ( '10 - present )

[Diggs]

Someone who's quicker and safer than oneself, without really trying too hard...
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[gmanxiii]

im sure real 'great' riders or anybody else who are refered to as 'great' in their chosen profession or activity, would not consider themselves as such. Its how their peers or others percieve them and give them the title. So one persons idol can be another persons idiot, a great road rider might not be considered great in the eyes of someone who races and vice versa. Both ride, but are from different camps.

think a better question is it really that important to be great? what would it change other than admiration of a fellow rider? For me being a good safe rider is enough, and its something i'll forever be working towards. I've got nothing to prove willy waving on the road so being faster doesnt mean better to me. I'd admire another rider more if you dont create situations that are dangerous to others. Wont make you 'great' but you'll get a wave.
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I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[gazzabo]

My tuppence worth . !

All the great riders are in GPs / Superbikes .


The rest of us are just "riders/bikers" and that includes the :- good, bad, uncurtious, ignorant, stupid, Rossi would be's, couriers, moped riders, 125 ers, ......all of us.

What makes you good ?

you don't have to be good , i would rather be plain lucky .

and enjoy my bike .
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RD50 < RD125 < 750 Zepher < Fazer 600 < FZ1000 , in silver/black , sex on wheels .
If you love your bike, set it free......
If it comes back you've high sided.

[stinkwheel]

[gazzabo]

[thinkingabout...]

Great for me means someone who intrudes as little as possible on other users. He should be seen, but he should not cause another to brake or stop or slow down severely, like others do to me including motorbikes.

[st3v3]

[gazzabo]

[iooi]

[gazzabo]

[JonB]

A Great rider is someone who is always looking to improve their riding.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Modo]