How long...

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

After having a little debate with a friend about whether or not someone is a born again biker or not I was asked how long someone would have to have a break from riding to be classed as a born again when they buy a bike again. A tough question to be specific really but what are peoples general opinions on this? Thinking

XS1954 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Nov 2003 Karma :

Around 20 years. A work mate of mine has just got into bikes again after selling his last one in the 80's. I will base my argument on that one example. Laughing

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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

Yes after 20 years that would certainly be a born again biker but surely even if he got a bike 10 years ago he would still have been classed as a born again biker!

Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

Guess who the debate was with Wink

ok, have another for you Shaun...That guy at work (with the one arm, can't remember his name Confused

) would you call him a BAB if he does actually get another considering he had to stop riding for obvious reasons....after all, he will of been off bikes for quite some time, and then got back on two wheels??
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XS1954 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Nov 2003 Karma :

Yes I suppose ten years is long enough. I am guessing this is the timescale you gave as part of your argument/ discussion?
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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

Yes, although I seriously doubt he will manage to get back on a bike he may have to get himself on to a trike since he only has one arm, doesn't matter about the circumstances really, I would judge it on the amount of time he has been off a bike.

The person in question we were debating about had been on bikes back in the day when you could ride a 250 without having to do a test and has now got back into bikes, would people here consider this person as a born again?

Ant · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

Yeah i would!

And in a way even 5 years could be classed as a born again biker if you consider how quickly bikes are "Moving on"
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Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

it just depends, if they have remained interested in bikes the whole time then i would say not. if they have had no interest in bikes and are nor buying one purely for fun then indeed they are a born again biker.

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

True Ant, the rate bikes are being produced these days it wouldn't surprise me too much if in 5 or 10 years time 600 sports bikes are capable of what recent litre bikes have been capable of, ok thats a bit unrealistic but it has literally happened and then some if you look back down the line.

I would class myself as a born again if I was off the road for what ever reason for 5 or 10 years time and decided to buy another 600, the problem would arise if I thought I could still go as fast as I used to on roads I know/knew.

Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

So you are saying 5 years biking absence makes a BAB then? Is that the general consensus?
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Ant · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

With the rates that tecjnology is advancing recently and how quickly bikes change and how quickly people would forget the skills that became second nature to them I would say that 5 years is born again material.

Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

Scouse · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Karma :

Ok so it's as a rough idea (5 years). IMO you cant disagree with the term if they family or close friends because it still stands that they are.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

dibbster · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Karma :

I would say around a 10 year break would count as BAB.
5 years doesn't seem quite long enough, have bikes really evolved so much since 1999?
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

What if the person gets back on the same bike they had before their time off?

Still a BAB?

badlydamaged · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Karma :

I agree with DaFrostyOne, If theyve stayed interested in bikes (and kept in biker circles) then I wouldn't consider them a BAB, even if it had been 20 years or so before they got their new bike.
However, if someone road one as a kid, then passed car test and gave up bikes only to return to them in a midlife crisis then I would consider them a definate BAB.
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dibbster · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Karma :

I think the commonly held view of a BAB would be someone who got a bike not long after they were old enough, then moved onto cars and now at the age of 30 return to ride a 600 sports or similar.
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Born2bVile · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

BAB? Difficult to define, cos every single one has a different story.

Some had to give up the bike for the family and kids.

Some just gave up the rallying and partying (except when they could get babysitters) but still kept the bike.

I'm amazed at the number of people I meet who say 'I used to have a bike but........(insert excuse here)'

Bikers don't stop being bikers.

Maybe they don't get 'Born again'. Maybe they just get 'released'

Cheers,

Byrnie.

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Surely it's 'just like riding a bike'. Laughing

Seriously - I didn't drive a car for 4 years after moving to London and selling it in favour of the scooter. Then one day I hired one and drove it 500 miles to Aberdeen. Yeah, the first half hour I was a bit rusty, a bit unused to the size, my clutch control wasn't fantastic (didn't stall it though) - generally wasn't my old self. Couple of hours in, it was like I'd never been away.

Yeah, riding a bike is a different skill to driving a car. But not *that* different. If someone gets on after 5, 10, 20 years off and expects to instantly be back at the exact point they were before the time off then they're a twat. Hell, I didn't ride for a couple of months last winter and was aware that I was rusty and took it easy when I went out. But if you've done something enough, you KNOW how to do it and you'd be surprised how quickly knowledge can come back.

Once a skill is learnt, it's learnt. It just needs a polish if it's been getting dusty for a while.

Born2bVile · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :