Topic: How Many Years Riding/Miles Ridden Makes You A Road Warrior?

[no718.com]

I hear stories of guys riding for 30+ years still learning new tricks. Just wondering what you guys and gals think qualifies a rider as being seasoned?

[campbmic]

I think its probably more of a "things that have happened to you" while on the road on a bike sort of deal. I'm sure someone could ride 5 years without ever having someone merge into their lane. I know, I've been through hell and back on a motorcycle and have only been riding for about 7 years. Most of the trips to hell and back have been me pushing the bike by the way 

[lone*X]

Read my signature line.  Lot of years there, lot of miles.  Not my primary mode of transport now, but I still ride often.  Bikes have changed dramaticly over the years.  Some say they have become much safer, but they have become much more powerfull and faster.  The day you stop paying attention and stop learning is the day you die.  No body knows it all, although some think they do.

A "Road Warrior" as you are using the term has to be someone who adapts his riding style to the conditions around him every time he straddles a saddle and lives to ride tomorrow, next month, or next year.  You can't do that if you stop learning.

[cameron]

10 summer.
1 winter.

[no718.com]

Insightful stuff there LONE* Wow 48 years, much respect. I think we found the warrior . . .

[SohRon]

I think a better indication than years ridden would be the number of scars you have... I know I'd qualify for a fairly experienced rating, and that's just the stuff from the waist up!    

I think it's more of an attitude you develop between the bike, yourself and the road... During my early twenties I spent nearly three years without any other means of transport than a Honda CL350. You learn pretty quick how to ride a motorcycle in that situation, or else you kill yourself trying. While I haven't been on a bike since those days, I never lost the thrill for the acceleration, for the feel of the open air, or for the sense of the road going on forever as it passes by so close beneath your feet.

I think there are likely those out there who have ridden for 30+ years who still don't get it (I see them every day entombed within their two-wheeled RVs with so many bags, boxes, fairings on top of fairings, GPS, USB, COMSAT and other devices and protuberances that the rider almost becomes invisible), and those who may have ridden for only a few months for whom a motorcycle has become an extension of their bodies. You're always going to encounter new experiences, it's how you deal with them that makes the difference.

My $.02  

[Bob750]

I bought a CT90. Rode it around and had it stolen by the City of Long Beach, because it had no current registration. I had to let the tow yard keep it or pay like $800 in back fees to get a sticker. Lesson 1 learned: Make sure your reg is good to go when you buy.

When you first started riding motorcycles, did you notice how many other motorcycles there suddenly were out there on the road? That's when you realized that all those other car-drivers DO NOT SEE YOU. It's like we're wearing the Invisibility Cloak of Elvenkind.  Lesson 2 learned: watch the #$%* out.

Against my parents' wishes, I bought my CB750 K4 in 1994 from the original owner. He'd put 16K on it and let it sit for 10 years, UNwinterized in car-port because he felt safer in his Porsche after moving out from upstate NY to Lakewood CA. Freeways scared the #$%* out of him. It's now at over 37K all Freeway. I used it as my only vehicle for several years, commuting between Long Beach and El Segundo CA 5 days a week, rain or shine. That's 48 miles round trip every day on the 405 freeway. You've probably heard of it. Definitely not open road riding. So I actually feel safe on the FWY; I know the tricks and the crazy #$%* comatose drivers do at 80 mph on the grooved pavement. Dodge and burn. Sometimes the throttle saves you when the brake would have killed you. So many riders panic and use the brake. (Ever notice someone who's already in an intersection decides to STOP when they realize they've entered the flow of traffic at the wrong time? Why can't people realize that's the time to floor it and go straight, so I don't have to lock it up and hope I don't T-bone you.) I've learned to A) never panic, so I can B) effectively evade death by lanechanger, or random swerver, or braker for no f_cking reason. Otherwise it's panic and toss the cards up in the air to see if you'll make it to the next mile marker. Lesson 2 re-learned.

I kicked the door of someone trying to change into the offramp lane. Would have put me into the rail. They were RIGHT NEXT TO me and just started merging, like Hey this is our exit, nevermind the rider next to us. Boom goes my foot into the passenger door panel! And the hands go up saying "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" They had no clue! And missed their exit. I survived but couldn't sleep for hours after that 1AM incident. Adrenaline is weird stuff. Lesson 2 re-learned.

The day I passed my Class M cone test etc, making me legal, I laid my bike down in the DMV parking lot on the way out. Not hot-shotting it, just riding, over a grease spot as it were, and the rear came around and there I was on the ground and the bike chugging uncomfortably on it's side. WTF? Lesson 3: #$%* can happen anytime.

Then there was the time it had been raining and I'd made it all the way, 30 miles, on Christmas morning, and I laid it down again on the off ramp. Thought I was slow enough, and I was except for the undulation in the pavement which stole the grab from my downshifted (not braking) rear tire and there I was on the ground again. Luckily not run over by the 4-Runner behind me. Lesson 4: 100 times exiting safe at this off-ramp=no guarantee.

Still, it started and got me home, bent bars, broken brake handle, and all. Lesson 5: it's a Honda.

[no718.com]

Great stories keep em coming! I'm learning good stuff here.

[BLUE71TURBO]

  I believe this should be in the open forum..........

[luckysubie]

I'm sure someone could ride 5 years without ever having someone merge into their lane.

Man I wish that could happen to me.  I've been merged over on and nearly merged into all in one night.

[754]

 I learned to drive when I was 21..!

 But I rode since I was 16.. a lot at the beginning.. not much in the middle, but now again..

 But life changes & I have had absences, of over a decade.. but you dont forget how to ride.. I can get back on , after years of missing riding & still knock off 600 miles + a day..

 I had one of my best runs in decades,.. lately.. 270 + rides in under 10 months.. on a buddies bike..

 But  yet , I still learn.... its an ongoing thing..

 Have fun out there, and dont worry about what everyone else thinks...

[scottly]

  I believe this should be in the open forum..........

I agree.

[kslrr]

Lately in Vegas, I've been getting merged into at least twice a day riding 30 miles from Centennial Hills (North West Vegas) to Maccarren Airport (new terminal project) and back.  It was never that bad when I was living and riding those 30 years in Orange County, CA.

[faux fiddy]

I rode the "hotter  than hell 100."

I never rode the Local "Iron Butt."

I did some weeks on a bicycle where I did 500+ miles back in those days.

I rodeto and across a good part of Texas in the winter, when it was so frozen up that I could not get water at the local gas station, and had to go 30 more miles to Wichita Falls to fill my water bottles.  It took all day to do those thirty miles because the headwind finally changed to 30+ in my face.

I  Pit crewed a f-1 ducati in CMRA races, and at one time being reprimanded by officials for push starting it on the track a couple seconds after the start gun.

Rode a moped a bazillion miles on a foxi Gt moped as an legal under age driver, but now I do not have a MC cert/endorsement. (No Drivers Licence since we invaded Iraq as a hypothetical moral issue along with other reasons).

Spent  days on the road with a 'bagger" pedal  bike, finding abandoned in nowhere  farm houses full of hay  to use as accomidation. Ate Soy beans for a main course.

Watched a track bike continue to pedal itself on a 60 foot trajectory in the air after a Chevy Nova turned left  in front of me, landed on my feet after a judo-sort of roll. A half dozen contacta with cars/drivers in the wrong.

Talked last night about the difference  between a "biker"  like goes to Sturgis and a "Motorcyclist," as well as the safety difference between a black shield and actual eye contact with other vehicle drivers.

Nice that people on bikes wave at each other sometimes, but  proving that someone is a 'road warrior'  is still vague while they are sitting at a computer!

[dave500]

yeah im with sohron,a motorbike is a two wheels and an engine,i for one dont need as many electronics as you can squeeze onto your cycle,maybe these people need this stuff for the long haul,,what did we do in the old days?oh my god the gps is broken,were are we?then again some people like gadgets and feel naked without them,now wheres my electronic beer holder?ahh,gulp,gulp.as far as having people merge into your lane,DONT BE THERE,stay out of any big car or truck or pick up or bus or any cars blind spot,dont pace in the same spot next to any vehicle,get in front of or behind,dont ride a bike like you drive a car,get seen,get away from staying in the same spot,i often flash high beam ,to wake up these thick heads just to make myself safer,ive sounded the horn at phone users,this is being a road warrior,its not years,but then it is,its not scars,but then again it is,i think its bike sense,a time learned and natural sense of hidden danger,the soccer mum with 2 or 3 cute kids in her suv may aswell be an improvised explosive device,you can easily lose a leg or be killed with either of these b---tches.stay alert,every car thinks your fair game,this is where the warrior part comes in,escape them.

[Calflash]

Long enough (45+ yrs.) to know I don't know it all, haven't seen it all,  and never will.

[MJL]

The day I passed my Class M cone test etc, making me legal, I laid my bike down in the DMV parking lot on the way out. Not hot-shotting it, just riding, over a grease spot as it were, and the rear came around and there I was on the ground and the bike chugging uncomfortably on it's side. WTF? Lesson 3: #$%* can happen anytime.

Then there was the time it had been raining and I'd made it all the way, 30 miles, on Christmas morning, and I laid it down again on the off ramp. Thought I was slow enough, and I was except for the undulation in the pavement which stole the grab from my downshifted (not braking) rear tire and there I was on the ground again. Luckily not run over by the 4-Runner behind me. Lesson 4: 100 times exiting safe at this off-ramp=no guarantee.

Can you really learn a lesson more than once?

Lesson #3 should include pay attention to what you are about to ride over. I've laid a bike down more than once because I hit gravel and the front end washed out.  But, you are right, things do happen for no apparent reason. The last time I dropped a bike, I had stopped for a red light, checked traffic, when it was clear I turned right. Slow speed turn, right?  I remember two things, starting to go, and laying in the street wondering what happened while the light changed and cars drove around me. I even  looked around and saw nothing in the road that would cause that.

Lesson #4 should include don't get cocky. I too went down on a highway off ramp a few weeks ago. I'd overestimated my speed and underestimated the braking and cornering of the bike. the ramp curves to the right away from the road, a short straight, and then hooks to the left. It was on the short straight (100 yards maybe) that I realized I was going to fast, I was on the brakes as hard as I dared, and ended up going off the road before sliding sideways and laying down. Fortunately I was not hurt and neither was the bike.

[CBJoe]

Lesson #3 should include pay attention to what you are about to ride over. I've laid a bike down more than once because I hit gravel and the front end washed out.  But, you are right, things do happen for no apparent reason. The last time I dropped a bike, I had stopped for a red light, checked traffic, when it was clear I turned right. Slow speed turn, right?  I remember two things, starting to go, and laying in the street wondering what happened while the light changed and cars drove around me. I even  looked around and saw nothing in the road that would cause that.

This happened to me earlier this summer..... Normal left turn at a stop light as soon as the light turned green.  On my back with the triumph on it's side in the middle of the road.

Closer look showed wavy asphalt with wet road grit/sand in the lower troughs.... On my back in the blink of an eye.

Joe

[Bob750]

The day I passed my Class M cone test etc, making me legal, I laid my bike down in the DMV parking lot on the way out. Not hot-shotting it, just riding, over a grease spot as it were, and the rear came around and there I was on the ground and the bike chugging uncomfortably on it's side. WTF? Lesson 3: #$%* can happen anytime.

Then there was the time it had been raining and I'd made it all the way, 30 miles, on Christmas morning, and I laid it down again on the off ramp. Thought I was slow enough, and I was except for the undulation in the pavement which stole the grab from my downshifted (not braking) rear tire and there I was on the ground again. Luckily not run over by the 4-Runner behind me. Lesson 4: 100 times exiting safe at this off-ramp=no guarantee.

Can you really learn a lesson more than once?

Lesson #3 should include pay attention to what you are about to ride over. I've laid a bike down more than once because I hit gravel and the front end washed out.  But, you are right, things do happen for no apparent reason. The last time I dropped a bike, I had stopped for a red light, checked traffic, when it was clear I turned right. Slow speed turn, right?  I remember two things, starting to go, and laying in the street wondering what happened while the light changed and cars drove around me. I even  looked around and saw nothing in the road that would cause that.

Lesson #4 should include don't get cocky. I too went down on a highway off ramp a few weeks ago. I'd overestimated my speed and underestimated the braking and cornering of the bike. the ramp curves to the right away from the road, a short straight, and then hooks to the left. It was on the short straight (100 yards maybe) that I realized I was going to fast, I was on the brakes as hard as I dared, and ended up going off the road before sliding sideways and laying down. Fortunately I was not hurt and neither was the bike.

The idea I was suggesting with re-learning a lesson, is that maybe the lesson wasn't quite learned in the first place. Sophomoric learning. Being a wise fool.  The see-and-be-seen mentality takes a while to master, more than one mishap or close call...  Aircraft pilots have a similar method for not running into each other in the sky: we call it "see and avoid."

There was nothing on the DMV motorcycle parking area pavement that would have been obvious. Accelerating turns, no matter how mild can become tricky on certain surfaces. I was lucky no one saw--they might have come out and reneged on the license I had just "earned"... ;-)

[Retro Rocket]

The day I passed my Class M cone test etc, making me legal, I laid my bike down in the DMV parking lot on the way out. Not hot-shotting it, just riding, over a grease spot as it were, and the rear came around and there I was on the ground and the bike chugging uncomfortably on it's side. WTF? Lesson 3: #$%* can happen anytime.

Then there was the time it had been raining and I'd made it all the way, 30 miles, on Christmas morning, and I laid it down again on the off ramp. Thought I was slow enough, and I was except for the undulation in the pavement which stole the grab from my downshifted (not braking) rear tire and there I was on the ground again. Luckily not run over by the 4-Runner behind me. Lesson 4: 100 times exiting safe at this off-ramp=no guarantee.

Can you really learn a lesson more than once?

Lesson #3 should include pay attention to what you are about to ride over. I've laid a bike down more than once because I hit gravel and the front end washed out.  But, you are right, things do happen for no apparent reason. The last time I dropped a bike, I had stopped for a red light, checked traffic, when it was clear I turned right. Slow speed turn, right?  I remember two things, starting to go, and laying in the street wondering what happened while the light changed and cars drove around me. I even  looked around and saw nothing in the road that would cause that.

Lesson #4 should include don't get cocky. I too went down on a highway off ramp a few weeks ago. I'd overestimated my speed and underestimated the braking and cornering of the bike. the ramp curves to the right away from the road, a short straight, and then hooks to the left. It was on the short straight (100 yards maybe) that I realized I was going to fast, I was on the brakes as hard as I dared, and ended up going off the road before sliding sideways and laying down. Fortunately I was not hurt and neither was the bike.

Lesson 5 should then be, get some lessons.....and learn the limitations of your bike before riding beyond its limits. Not trying to be an arse here but those type of accidents should never occur, i completely understand the gravel and have had some scary moments both with gravel and diesel spills but falling off because you didn't judge your speed and approach well enough just shouldn't happen..

Mick

[Bob750]

The day I passed my Class M cone test etc, making me legal, I laid my bike down in the DMV parking lot on the way out. Not hot-shotting it, just riding, over a grease spot as it were, and the rear came around and there I was on the ground and the bike chugging uncomfortably on it's side. WTF? Lesson 3: #$%* can happen anytime.

Then there was the time it had been raining and I'd made it all the way, 30 miles, on Christmas morning, and I laid it down again on the off ramp. Thought I was slow enough, and I was except for the undulation in the pavement which stole the grab from my downshifted (not braking) rear tire and there I was on the ground again. Luckily not run over by the 4-Runner behind me. Lesson 4: 100 times exiting safe at this off-ramp=no guarantee.

Can you really learn a lesson more than once?

Lesson #3 should include pay attention to what you are about to ride over. I've laid a bike down more than once because I hit gravel and the front end washed out.  But, you are right, things do happen for no apparent reason. The last time I dropped a bike, I had stopped for a red light, checked traffic, when it was clear I turned right. Slow speed turn, right?  I remember two things, starting to go, and laying in the street wondering what happened while the light changed and cars drove around me. I even  looked around and saw nothing in the road that would cause that.

Lesson #4 should include don't get cocky. I too went down on a highway off ramp a few weeks ago. I'd overestimated my speed and underestimated the braking and cornering of the bike. the ramp curves to the right away from the road, a short straight, and then hooks to the left. It was on the short straight (100 yards maybe) that I realized I was going to fast, I was on the brakes as hard as I dared, and ended up going off the road before sliding sideways and laying down. Fortunately I was not hurt and neither was the bike.

Lesson 5 should then be, get some lessons.....and learn the limitations of your bike before riding beyond its limits. Not trying to be an arse here but those type of accidents should never occur, i completely understand the gravel and have had some scary moments both with gravel and diesel spills but falling off because you didn't judge your speed and approach well enough just shouldn't happen..

Mick

You're right Mick. I'll go get some lessons. Thanks.

5 mph in a parking lot, can't find the slippery spot after searching for what put me down. But you're right it must have been my inexperience. I must have been cocky. Couldn't have been anything but that, you're absolutely right. I must need training.

The home offramp situation was after the rain. Been on that ramp don't know how many times. There's an undulation in the pavement. 25 mph on a 35 mph ramp. but it wasn't slow enough I guess. My training, had I had some would have prepared me for that no doubt. Maybe there was petroleum product on the ramp there too, conspiring to take my traction. Ten years of riding I guess hadn't prepared me for that moment in my motorcycling experience. Must go get more practice....

[Retro Rocket]

I hope my post didn't sound to arrogant because that wasn't the intention. Its just that i have worked in bike shops and ridden road bikes since i was 16 and funnily enough my first road bike was a K1 750. I have mates that have been Australian champions at road racing and have generally been around fast guys and bikes all my life and it still amazes me at what some people do on bikes that is just wrong. A few simple lessons with someone that knows their stuff can make riding a bike a much safer experience. Being stubborn and thinking that you already know everything will end up getting most people hurt or killed.
I am also a bit surprised at some of the questions on this board regarding handling issues and such, in a car its not as critical but on a bike it can be the difference between getting home in one piece and dying trying.
You can never have enough experience on a motorcycle....


Mick

[Bob750]

Okay Mick,

Maybe I picked up more arrogance in your post than was there.

I've never been a racer, don't intend to become one, I'm keeping my K4 (my first road bike) as close to stock as possible.

But maybe, just maybe, there's a situation that experience and training cannot prepare a rider for. If you think you've got all the training and are therefore safe, then you're fooling yourself.

That's what my whole post was about initially. None of us knows what's coming. When pros continue to die on the track, do we say they should have had better coaching or more dedicated practice? Or do we say that there's no way some accidents can have been prevented? Sometimes stuff just happens. The more alert we are to that possibility, the better able we are to avoid the fatal situation. Maybe my "experience" when I laid 'er down on the wet offramp is what allowed me to walk to my bike, pick it up, start it, and ride on, instead of having to be pulled from the ditch and hauled to the hospital.

Sorry if I got too indignant in my reply above, Mick. But I felt like I was being told like a child to go back to school. There's a LOT of stuff school doesn't teach.

[Retro Rocket]

But maybe, just maybe, there's a situation that experience and training cannot prepare a rider for. If you think you've got all the training and are therefore safe, then you're fooling yourself.

Of course there are going to be situations no one can control and really if you read my post it was in reply to MJL more than you. What i am saying is that there seems to be a lot of guys on here that have silly little spills that can be avoided with some simple training, there was a post the other day with a guy blaming a car he was following for indicating late to turn and the rider ran into the slowing car, that is not the cars fault, if you run up the arse of anyone then your not being aware on your bike and it will be a matter of time before someone gets you good and proper.  I am a very aware rider and my wife thinks that i am weird and often asks me how i manage to see everything i see when on the road,my answer is that i don't want to die because i had become complacent...I also see that the K4 is your first road bike, I have been riding for 31 years and owned over 30 bikes none smaller than a 550 and all were 750 - 1100cc bar one, i am just trying to pass on some good advice based on my experiences on motorcycles, i have had only 1 accident and was run into in the wet from behind and left for dead, i have never had an accident of my own doing and hope i never will. Sometimes advice can be a bitter pill to swallow, just like pride but i like and completely understand my mortality and what i need to do to maintain that when i ride, it isn't fool proof but it works for me..

Mick

[Bob750]

"I am a very aware rider and my wife thinks that i am weird and often asks me how i manage to see everything i see when on the road..." --Mick

I totally get you there, my friend.