Peer Pressure?

[dransy]

Hi
I was woundering what you all think about peer pressure and how it affect people on motorbikes and there test.

Alot of young kids that are my age * 17,18 * are doing there cbt then going in for the test and getting a big powerfull bike.
Its just i dont know if i should go in for my test or not as i dont know if it is me or peer pressure making me want to, as i see loads of people my age on bigger bikes getting more respect as im on L's and people just look down on you.

Another example is when chicken stripes get invovled and people take the pi$$ out of some one because theres are better or something.
Anyway i dont know what im going on about its just something i thought of and woundering if peer pressure does affect us?

Marc
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Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[Zoffo]

Fook em mate. You biking career has just begun and I'd love to be in your position. I've had over 25 years on and off bikes and I can tell you the first years are the best as you progress SLOWLY form one machine to a bigger one and get that thrill of throwing your leg over something with much more grunt that you've ever had before. If you rush in and get something too big to start off with you'll miss that and it one of the best bits about biking
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https://hyperbikes.forumsplace.com/

[Flip]

What Zoffo said.

F*ck the world and his mates. When you're ready you'll know. 'Til then, f*ck 'em.

[houlsby]

fuck what your mates say dude. im 17 and on an rs when all my mates are eith in cars or catching buses. people give me shit all time bout my bike but i dnt care. even tho its worth less than my shirt (with the state its in, its even an 04 plate im just skint lol) it will still waste most other cars from the lights. my next bike is an rs250 me thinks, might even keep the rs and tart it up for sundays/sherburn/posing! fair doos do ur test, it will make it legal for you to mod an derestrict but if you jump too quick what will you tel your kids/grankids about your experiences.

" ooo u know in my day i used to ride a 125 bike held together by bodges, tape, tieraps! an it still went like buggery"

or would you like to say

"when i was a youngen i had a big bike, only had it a week an was in hospital/worse. thats why im in this wheelchair."

p.s please dont flame me for saying this but its my own opinion and from my experiences in life (my boss got a 600 when he was 17 an was in hospital within the hour) hence why i still go fast but i learn from how i ride.

sorry for sounding like an old man

[stinkwheel]

Do your test if you feel you can.

Then it is over and done with and the world is your oyster. Just because you have passed your test, doesn't mean you have to buy a big fast bike. Just means you can if you feel you are ready.

I passed my test 9 years ago and still thoroughly enjoy riding my 98cc 2-stroke. I can get the most out of it.

Ride what you enjoy riding, to hell with the rest. Mate of mine derives great pleasure from riding his 1950's panther 650. It is a very physical experience to ride the thing and comparativley speaking it isn't that fast. All the same, I see exactly where he is coming from. He knows his bike, when everything comes together and the ride just flows round you, it is the best feeling in the world.

I once overheard the same guy having an animated discussion about how he could be a proper biker when he rode such and old and slow bike, his reply was to take the other party outside and ask how he thought he could be a proper biker when he couldn't even start an old Panther. They called a halt to the challenge after three attempts before the guy hurt himself.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[priller]

Do you really care about respect from people you dont even know. Do your test, at least you can get rid of the L plates, ride your bike legally ( full power ? ).

By respect do you meen people nodding? I get plenty of nod's on a 125, never had a problem with snobbery. Just ride what you want and ignore what others say.

[Annabella]

I do understand how peer pressure can effect someone's riding.


Particularly on group rides one always feels the need to try and be the fastest. I, for one, made the mistake of trying to *impress someone beyond my limits - and it was at that point I found my head in contact with a nice shiny new roadsign.

It's not worth trying to ride any way other than how you feel comfortable. With time, if you so wish, the chicken strips will go and you will find yourself able to keep up with the others, but let that happen naturally. As soon as you are not enjoying yourself and feel out of your capabilities - slow down or stop; take a break, then when you get back on remember you are only riding for your enjoyment.
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I did Cadwell!
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[instigator]

I think most of this peer "pressure" is off the internet, yes? Do people actually mock you, in public, to your face, about your chicken strips? Or do they actually ignore you when you go over to talk to them etc etc etc?

I;m thinking that you yourself are making the situation worse by making out that every non nodding rider is looking down upon you. And that everybody on here that laughs at chicken strips actually mean what they say.

Perhaps I'm just garbling out any old rubbish because it's lunch time and I have no money but I think it makes sense.

Just remember....no such things as a "proper biker"...there's no secret initiation tests before you can become a "proper biker". It's just people's opinions you're reading off the net. I suggest you don't listen to any of us here....well....take things with a pinch of salt. Most folk on here don't know what they're typing...tey usually wouldn't say it in real life.

[dibbster]

I passed my test at 17 but didn't get a 600 till I was 20. I wanted to get my test done so I could lose the L plates and not have to keep retaking my CBT.

If you want to do it go do it.

I think that your insurance will be cheaper on the same bike with a full licence rather than just CBT.
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Suzuki RF 600 - The two wheeled Testarossa (Deceased)
Suzuki GSXR - Now stops on a sixpence; SBK3's
www.bikepics.com/members/dibbster

[Craig_]

A lot of the time its jelousy that makes you want to do your test and be like everyone else, this can also be a killer as often enough you'll then have more top speed without the cornering ability and often enough you may find yourself over cooking it into corners etc.

Moving up in steps is the best wy to go IMO, going 50cc, 125cc, 250/400cc, 600cc, 750cc, 1000cc. Not only do you get experience you learn how to prgress on bikes of varying power.

Although if you have the money to go for you test go ahead and do it, you'll find it mkes you a better rider, just because you have passed doesnt mean you have to get a bigger bike.
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VAG Cars - www.vagcars.co.uk - North East VAG Owners Club

[Andy99]

I think you should ride bikes for yourself not because other people are doing it. If you want to pass your test and get a bigger bike because you want to then do it,but if you do it because everybodys doing it then your doing it for the wrong reasons.
I went down the lots of smaller bikes route because thats what i wanted to do,i liked LC's and RGV's so thats what i rode.
____________________
Nothing gets the point across quite like a raised middle digit.

Just call me General Crazypaws.

[Method]

Pretty much agree with whats been said above,

Peer pressure does affect almost everyone of us at some point in your 'career', but its wether you let it actually influence you or not that realy makes any difference. At some point i think that everyone will feel like they should be going faster to keep up with their freind, or they should be pulling wheelies because their freind is, or that they should be riding a 600cc sports bike because their freinds got off their scooters 5months ago.

But in all fairness, you shouldnt be doing anything you dont feel comfortable with. If your happy on your 125 with L plates, and you are unsure about getting a 400 sports bike or what ever, then maybe you shouldnt be doing it. At the end of the day its your life, and your 'career', and if you decide to rush it then your not going to get the experiences that you may otherwise get.

Although saying that, i have always believed that peer pressure can be a good thing aswell. In certain situations there are times where you just need that little push, and sometimes the fact that others are doing it is enough to give you that little nudge. For example when at school you have the nurse come in to give you your nasty big injection... you need this injection, but your scared because its sooooo big. The fact that all your mates in front of you are going through with it and not complaining, could be enough to make you think "allright then, they can do it, i must be able to do it aswell", and therefore you manage to go through with getting your life saving injection.
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[dodsi]

[stinkwheel]

Also a point on "chicken strips". Consider. If someone is cornering to the extent they are using the tread right up to the edge of the tyre. What do they do when they see the corner tightening/ a drain cover in their path/ a horse shit in the road?

They do the only thing you can do in that situation which is fall off with as much pannache as possible.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

I would definitely do your test if you can.

Just because it's a useful thing to get out of the way, means you can legally rider derstrecited, get cheaper insurance etc.

When I passed my test I couldn't be bothered to take my L plates off for a week or two, as I didn't really care.

If you still enjoy your 125 and it does everything you want, then I'd stick with it - I moved up to more powerful bikes and just found I got bored with the power quicker and quicker.

Nods depends on what kind of bike you are riding - ie riding my TRX I get nods from most, while riding a newer sports bike it's more the sports bike fraternity, riding a trail bike less from sports bike riders, etc, etc.

[impaler]

[MalcolmT]

Take the test and fook the rest.
Don't forget grey haired bikers didn't get like that by luck.
Take it steady and you'll enjoy it for longer.

[Dom_]

If your having fun on your 125 and like it that way, then keep it until your bored. You can pass your test and get rid of the L's so that just when you feel ready, you can progress onto a bigger bike. Everyones different, some enjoy dangerous intensive riding, others prefer a steady cruising pace. Just do what you feel most comfortable with.

Dom.

*edit*
Pushing your bike and your own limits too hard won't impress anyone.

[dransy]

Cheers everyone think i will do my test buy keep my 125 as i do love riding it and get lots of enjoyment
____________________
Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[bazza]

[mrchips]

I passed my test on 29th of November at 17, but continued to ride my 125 until about 2 months ago. Wasn't that bothered about moving up to a big bike straight away until circumstances allowed plus didn't want to ride a shiney new bike I wasn't used to during winter.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[priller]