Respect me now!

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

...because I ride a large capacity/powerful motorcycle.. Rolling Eyes

Although it's not something that has been bugging me exactly, I have always been fascinated by the "mines bigger than yours, therefore I'm better" mentality.

I ride an R1 (when it's dry Razz

)...so does that make me a hero? Does that mean that I'm a good rider? Not necessarily. The fact that I'm still alive just means that I can control the throttle. On the other end of the scale - does that fact that I ride a superbike mean that I ride like a hooligan everywhere in t-shirt and shorts?

/rant.
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TiN
dotgems.net

Hex · Party Boy Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Mr C · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

and anyway

R1s are very, very sloooooooow
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187.3bhp = 201mph

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

It does seem to be astonishingly prevalent in the biking world. Which is amusing cos there are plenty people on big bikes who have them for the pose value and can't ride for shit. Sadly, it seems to be part of human nature to put other people down in order to make yourself look better.

Other night at stockley I arrived to find R1 boy and Gixxer boy and a Saxo full of chavs. Both were spouting forth about this and that. Gixer boy was showing off his tyres, bragging about how mullered they were, and the chav boys were lapping it up. One then went to have a look at my bike and shrewdly noticed that my tyres were considerably more mullered (thanks to Cadwell). R1 boy asked how long I'd had it, to which I replied 'a year and a bit'. "Not wanting to upgrade?"

Why is that the question always asked? Why is it so hard for them to grasp that you may be perfectly happy with what you have, feel no need for anything faster? They kept up with their bragging, went out and trundled round the roundabout a few times doing nothing impressive and then fucked off.

I'm rambling and getting a bit off-topic now... I guess what annoys me is people who give it 'all that' and are frankly talking bollocks. I'm not a fast rider and I would never dream of saying I was. But judging on what I saw from those two, I'm a better rider than either of those guys were.

I guess you could summarise it as bragging in general. "I've got a big bike therefore I'm better than you" seems to work all the way down the food chain, just look at how the scooter riders seem to get picked on round here.

Bragging sucks. If you're good, be good and people will notice.

But hey, it's a free world. If you want to ride your big bike around and tell tales of derring-do, go for it. But be prepared to look like a prat when someone comes along who isn't telling porkies.

Oh, and Tin, I don't think you should be a hooligan cos you ride an R1. I think you should have a Hoxton fin, thick framed glasses, a single strap rucksack and be a gay web-designer. Wink

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Fastest bikers do the least talking aye Bendy Very Happy

As to the original post, I'm confused at the argument/rant. Do you hate the attention/reputation the R1 (or any large sportsbike) gets you?

Interesting thing happened on Monday night. I went to see a friend's bike at his house. I haven't seen this guy for almost a year, and the last time he saw my bike was when I had my NSR. Well when I arrived all of his mates were there too. All of them know of me, had seen me on the NSR etc. As soon as I parked the ZX-9 up they were crawling all over it, begging for a go.

"Now that's a proper bike" remarked one.

I didn't think too much of it at the time but thinking back my NSR was a proper bike too. It went round tight corners much faster than the 9 ever did. Why is it any less of a bike...

One word. Presence. People naturally respect bigger bikes more. They are more scary, more intimidating, more edgy. The 9 looks faster than my NSR just parked up.

Very Happy

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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

I guess it's the "mine's bigger than yours" thing being shown. Laughing

And a small bike can, and well are fun. I believe G is enjoying his RS250, a 125 is fun as it's your first time on two wheels Very Happy

. Mini-moto's are also fun and you can't get petrol powered bikes with smaller engines than mini motos. Mr. Green

Stew · Posted: 13:55 - 01 Jul 2004 Post subject:

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

I find life so much simpler if I just hold my hands up and say I'm crap at fast riding. Then if I actually do an alright pace, it's a bonus. Laughing

Of course, you could be here all day long with a debate on what's good and what's bad - being fast seems to be judged as 'good' in the bike world while being safe doesn't gain the same kudos.

Nobody's ever said I was fast, but I've been called 'smooth' which I took as a compliment, and I also took it as a compliment when out of a group of us, someone chose to go pillion with me because they'd feel safest on the back of my bike. It's not very rock and roll, but it's still very valid.

Stew · Posted: 14:33 - 01 Jul 2004 Post subject:

Scratchy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 May 2004 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I've started almost the exact same thread on T595.net. Its called: "I don't want a 170bhp bike!"

Its about how I prefer the usable power and torque of my triple, and that the people on that forum who bleat and moan about how this years Daytona isn't as powerful and as light as this years R1.
Most people that like to 'pose' on their R1's and Gixxer thous would be much much faster on 600's. This obviously isn't the same for people who have a modicum of skill admittedly, but you can also argue that the shedloads of power available from this years litre bikes (150bhp at the rear) is not actually usable on the road.

Personally another reason why I don't have a blade or R1 is that I don't want to live up to the reputation of the R1 etc. I actually like the fact that a lot of people consider my bike to be 'off the boil'. My bike is by no means slow, and it handles very well. I much prefer to beat people from the lights when they are expecting to win! Laughing

I purposefully looked for a bike with good peak torque but not loony power (if for no other reason than for the insurance!).

As far as "Mine's bigger/faster/lighter/got more shredded tyres" goes, I have the bike I like... it doesn't have a reputation to uphold and its quick enough for me. What more can I ask for? Smile

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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

Mr C · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

my bike is virtually unrideable on the road if it's nailed everywhere

now let me qualify that

at 6,000 rpm it's making 90ftlb of torque and over 100bhp

this is good, it's rideable and tractable - still possible to overwhelm the tyre and make it squirmy but it's rideable and fun and let's not forget that 6,000 rpm in top gear is over 110mph (indicated)

now if I were to ride it like I ride it on the strip, at 11,000 rpm it's making over 185bhp, fair enough - the problem for road riding is the way that it makes that power, the curve is quite steep from 7,000 to 9,000 so with the throttle nailed it picks up FAST

all it takes is a ripple in the road and you are looking at sky, or a bit of damp or dogshit or whatever and the rear is breaking away

now don't get me wrong, it's great fun in a straight line and controllable with care anywhere it's just that with all that power on tap, it's no quicker than a 600 on the road as it's virtually impossible to use it as intended - it can't be ridden at more than 7/10 on the road - and to be honest that's probably pushing it for extended periods

the upshot is, Marjay is absolutely correct, I don't need 185+bhp for road riding nobody does

but I wouldn't swap it Twisted Evil

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187.3bhp = 201mph

jayluvmito · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 May 2004 Karma :

in that case..
i have two small bikes, a ts50 and a mito (i dont class the rd250's as small...to me)

so down to me biatches!!

im better than u!
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one day...

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

I have an R1 because thats what I wanted - Whether its slooow to some is irrelevant but I am sure that there are many people on very sloooow bikes that would consider it very faaaaast.

I have yet to exceed 110mph on it but I think I will always be impressed by how quick it gets to that speed.

it also has the ability to scare the shit out of me but not as much as it did. but thats part of the reason I bought it.

I like it and yet I have no intention of riding it on track days or exploring its full mph potential.

I must be a poser.

William

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Syfoon · TRUCK!!! Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Karma :

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thanks Bendy,

I would have to fall off before my cock would touch the floor Crying or Very sad

The R1 has a reputation (deserved or otherwise) and thats why I had to have one.

It was a bit of an eye opener as my first bike for twelve years but thats history now and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

You should come to Stockley sometime for a pose though, being fairly local and all that. Thumbs Up

Roo · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Oct 2003 Karma :

R1's are soooooo last year. Laughing

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Poking death in the eye with a pointy stick then running away

craigT19 · Jolly Green Giant Joined: 09 Feb 2002 Karma :

one i heard recently

"R1 riders"
"all the gear and know idea"

Laughing

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Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
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1945-2003

william · Nova Slayer Joined: 16 May 2004 Karma :

Thats great Craig but I just don't get it.

I don't expect / demand any respect - I have what I wanted an R1 and I don't care what others think.

I have been to Boxhill twice recently after a twenty year absence and my bike didn't warrant a second glance but it didn't stop me looking at other bikes.

Noone has to live up to a reputation.

William

Dirtyratfink · L Plate Warrior Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ho Hum..Same old shat! Fast is fun and crusin is for some. Whats the friggin big deal??? Relax & enjoy the ride!
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Kilroy was here.

tony532 · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 May 2004 Karma :

just looking at an r1 or a gsxr1000 scares the pants off me

my girlfriends dad had an r1 to get get some no claims bonus behind him then bought a gsrx1000

nothing wrong with riding them for the pose factor but at the end of the day when a subaru impresta wrx sti p1 whatever is driving up your arse after a race with you round the twisties then you are going to have to put the bhp into practice

just a thought.

lots of people in cars try and push you when you have a fast motorbike