Born Again Bikers

[Leeway]

Is it me, or is nearly everyone you meet on a bike these days a born again biker.

Personally, I hate being tarred with this brush just because I am middle aged and ride a bike.

Two years ago I was in a collission, and the nurse in A&E asked me how long I'd been riding.

When I said 25 years, she seemed impressed and remarked, "so I can't really class you as one of those mid life crisis bikers we see so many of in here".

Erm no - Definitely not

Don't get me wrong.

I've nothing against them, but where are the long term riders.

People who've stuck it out and haven't had to use family pressures as an excuse for a 20-30 year "break"

Nearly everyone you meet on a bike is 30-40-50 something and has been riding a handful of years only.

I'm not imagining it.

When I renewed my insurance recently, for the first time I was asked how many years continual riding experience I had.

When I said 27 years, she said, (and I quote), "gosh you are a rare breed"

She went on to say that 5 years was the average, and worse than that, the average mileage covered by todays rider is about 3000-5000 miles a year

I'm prepared to bet that this statistic could be applied by all the major insurers, in which case, the average rider on a superbike has very little riding exprience.

No wonder our accident statistics are so bad.

Imagine if the average car driver had 3 years experience and in that time had only covered about 9000 miles.

The roads would be absolute carnage.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

https://webhollis.com/albums/Funny-Forum/Want_A_Cookie.jpg
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[base]

I have sat here thinking of a suitable reply, but Shaggy has sumed it up perfectly

[LordShaftesbu...]

Don't let these mongs put you off, Leeway. Although next time you don't need to press return after every sentence.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Don't let that mong encourage you Leeway, there's plenty of people on here who aren't BABs, who don't feel the need to wave a flag.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[DEN MONKEY]

I'm not as tough a crowd as those before me and will at least give you credit for this comment

[T0MMY]

[wizzzard]

Doesn't matter if you started riding 50 years ago and haven't even got off the bike to take a leak since or if you only started last week and will only use it one sunny sunday a year. The love of two wheels and a beautiful stretch of road is what's important.

When I'm on the bike and pass a fellow rider I don't think how long have you been riding I just know that whether the guys going to work or for a ride out we are both enjoying riding and that's all that matters.
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Devils Advocate]

[hellkat]

I'm tryin to decide whether its your arrogance, your whinging, or your line spacing which is more irritating.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[LeeR]

[nowhere.elysium]

I can't help but think that we ought to lock this guy and X9travels in a room together. They can compare their annual mileages and get sweaty and vigorous over it, or something.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[KevTM]

He's arrogant yet even with his many years of experience managed to become part of these statistics he's talking about. Accidents happen and I'm sure there's loads of fair weather summer riders that cover less than 5k a year and haven't had an accident.

Argument is irrelevant.

[Gazz]

I agree with you on the most part, except on the bit about mileage covered in a year.


I know a lot of people who tell there insurance that they will do less mileage than they actually do just to bring insurance down because it is so damn expensive.


For me personally, I told my insurance I will only do 3,000 miles this year and I have clocked up 5,000 already in the last few months - MY BAD !

[kitty kat]

I have been riding many years, do about 20,000 miles a year, but I am still learning and still make mistakes. I don't have a problem with those that do 3-5k a year, just the ones who trailer their bikes to rallies and do about 10 miles when they get there - they are the dangerous ones as they don't have the confidence to ride properly, don't know how the bike handles on the roads and are usually very hesitant.
TBH the Sunday riders seem to know all the best biking roads as when they ride they are out for pure fun, not just getting from A to B
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[bazza]

One does not simply "Sunday hoon" into Mordor...

https://amyruttan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/boromir6.jpg
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[hellkat]

Ooo! Sean Bean alert...
God, he's so seedy looking.

*slightly sexual groan*

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Skudd]

I've been riding for the last 27 years, 25 of those every day, but the last two years i have turned into a weekend biker, still do about 300 miles at the weekend. My mileage has dropped to 4-5k miles a year, but I have started touring more. Swings and round abouts really.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[MarJay]

Anyone who does less miles than me per week is not a real biker...









It would be hard to do less than about two or three miles a week...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[yen_powell]

Anyone who hasn't got a transit van, a bike permanently in bits, a big dog and a wallet on a chain isn't a real biker either.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[lostboy]

Dear Leeway

I'm a new rider in my early thirties, I use my bike everyday, I drive sensibly and I like to go for rides around the bikers routes in my area but for some reason with some of the 'more experienced riders' they see you with an 'L' plate and sneer when you park next to them, I have alot of respect for the experienced biker and wish I had done it years ago.

So what if someoone is a born again biker?, or only goes out on a sunday? I know people who do track days in cars or rally weekends I'm sure you don't moan that Valentino Rossi is only using his superbike at weekends or Lewis Hamilton only drives his F1 car for 9 months a year. So why moan about the born again bikers, we got our bikes at a later age and are doing something I feel you may have forgotten it's called HAVING FUN
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Never invite a vampire into your house you silly boy!

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Well I'm in my forties and have gone back to biking, allways loved bikes, the feeling of being free and the whole riding sensation, have yet to do my test as I stopped riding 20 years ago without sitting it due to family / work commitments. Now I have the perfect excuse as I mainly use the bike for commuting, I'm gonna fine tune my skills and practise for 6 months then do my DAS before I leave it to late. Not bothered about high speed but want to use motorways and keep up with traffic whilst being comfortable.

Would love to go for a rideout with some fellow 125 riders just for the crack and a good laugh one week end, I'm in London so if anyone is interested I'll try to arrange something.

Paul.

[arry]

[Faldo]

Clicky
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[Cptn. Awesome]