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515
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6/15/2015
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Whittier, CA
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Permeance_Flux
4/5/2018 11:58am
4/5/2018 11:58am
Edited Date/Time
4/6/2018 12:31pm
A few weeks when I was at the dealer buying my new bike, I overheard some guy scoffing as he told his son, “who would pay that amount of money for a bike you can’t ride on the street?”
A little over a year ago I applied to work at a small motorcycle dealership. I told the interviewer how I’ve been riding since I was 5 years old, and motocross has always been a passion of mine. He was more concerned about my experience with streetbikes. I told him that stories about road accidents scared me away from them. That led to me being lectured about how streetbikes being unsafe is a common misconception, and that I can be just as easily hurt while in a car accident.
Not trying to paint with a broad brush and label all streetbikers as having an elitist mentality, but just curious if anyone else experienced this type of behavior.
A little over a year ago I applied to work at a small motorcycle dealership. I told the interviewer how I’ve been riding since I was 5 years old, and motocross has always been a passion of mine. He was more concerned about my experience with streetbikes. I told him that stories about road accidents scared me away from them. That led to me being lectured about how streetbikes being unsafe is a common misconception, and that I can be just as easily hurt while in a car accident.
Not trying to paint with a broad brush and label all streetbikers as having an elitist mentality, but just curious if anyone else experienced this type of behavior.
Same with douchebags and their fast cars. Yes you look cool weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour but you would be severely humbled on a road course, as would any street biker or guy who thinks he's a great rider because he shreds fields with his friends and can do a poppa wheelie really well. Put them on a track with the goal of going as fast as you can for a set amount of laps and it will paint the picture really quick that they aren't as good as they thought they were.
Contrary to my above statements, that fish out of water bit doesn't apply to actual road racers. Those dudes are THE Gnarl. My opinion is the MotoGP guys are the best 2 wheeled racers on the planet. The precision it takes to slide like those dudes is unbelievable.
The Shop
Picture of me losing the rear end at Jennings T-12, on the street I would have been off the road by the time I got it gathered back up.
concerning the gps.
When I had my short stint on the street, I had someone try to tell me that dirt experience doesn't translate to the street. He couldn't fathom that I might have better control of my bike when breaking traction than he would even though he had never experienced it. There's a lot of stupid people out there, and it seems the dumbest of the dumb just love to open their mouths and expose themselves.
I could never figure out why you would think you're better than someone else because of displacement, brand, or bike type.
Met plenty of Harley guys that think MX and sport bikes are toys but their V-Twin Laz-y-Boy is a perfomance machine.
We're all on two wheels and we love it for the same reasons...it's a shit-load of fun.
Street riders do have an elitist mentality and it drives me away from riding on the road. All too often i see people my age(early 20s) talking big and bad about how fast they go and they have no skills on the bike.
Also dont get me started on harley riders.
For anyone who hasnt rode on the road.. road riding is the easiest thing in the world. It doesnt hold a candle to riding a dirtbike - even in your yard. If youre any good on a dirtbike youll be dragging knee on a supersport in 2 months.
They are definitely not worth it, not good investments, and way overpriced, sure I overpaid for my Harley Road Glide, but I didnt get one until I was older and could afford it, and I can sell it or trade it for something at anytime. Do I get more bang for the buck on a bike I can ride on the street? For sure, no doubt about it. Will I ever stop riding dirt bikes, probably not until my body tells me I cant. However, I have not and dont ever plan on buying a new dirt bike. Its just ridiculous how much they are asking. I have been lucky finding a few year old bikes used and getting them for .40 on the dollar.
Said the instructor was saying how skilled and comfortable on the bike i was because of all my years dirt biking when i was out doing the obstacles to the rest of the class.
There is s group of stunters here on super moto and crotch rockets, and while they are kind of a side show, nothing scares me more than these harleys who drop them on the ground, and when they turn, the fuckin back tire comes off the ground when the stupid suitcases hit the ground and then you have a guy doing donuts in the middle of the road sometimes taking out 2 or more others.
Hardly no one on a cruiser harley has any skill at all. Im shocked more dont get killed.
Pit Row
I road dirt bikes from 5 yrs old until my mid 50’s. Just got tired of having to load up the truck n gear and travel to the nearest track and dealing with just as many practice day nuts as I deal with nutty car drivers.
I’ve been street riding for the last several years and absolutely love it. I currently ride a KTM 1190 adventure bike that handles like a road racer and yet I can buzz down a fire road when I come across one. My favorite thing about the street riding is I can throw on my helmet and gloves and be out on a bike within minutes of getting the urge. Last weekend I went on a ride that took me from the ocean, up into forest land and then desert and back to the ocean. It was spectacular scenery and a absolute blast. Dealing with cars helps keep my senses sharp and boredom never comes into play on the road...too much to look at and watch out for.
BTW assholes/elitist come in all shapes n sizes and on any vehicle made. Some people aren’t open to others choices for entertainment
The dealer needs people who cater to the customers that contribute the most to their bottom line, simple as that.
As far as the rest of the discussion... After a decade and a half of racing everything from motocross to desert to arenacross, then buying a Harley recently, its very true. I was never fast in the grand scheme on a dirtbike, I wouldn't say slow though...
What you really have to think about is how you ride a dirt bike. Even when I was out on practice days or carrying the mail across the desert, I liked to push it, go fast and try to be faster than the buddy you were out with that day. When you are out on the street, you have to obey laws, so for the most part you have to ride within those limits. Those who have saddle time on the road probably have minimal time "pushing" it.
Not to mention a motocross bike is infinitely harder to ride than a street bike. I'm not talking about that niche practice day sport bike guy who is dragging knees... I am talking about the average rider. You have to exert a bunch of energy to go even remotely fast, and generally control the machine more. Once you have done that on a 450 around Glen Helen, hoping on a Harley and cruising the Ortega seems like a cake walk.
And I can’t think there was any law I obeyed. That hp is like crack.
One bad day and you are dead.
My 525 does about 8km of street duty a year. Who knows what is going to happen in life.
But this life time has filled it’s need of getting cut off by old men with hats and fat broads trying to light their cigarettes making left turns in front of you.
And I missed the cellphone era, happy for that.
The hp is juicy though!
Salesman’s attitude probably has to do with a two year old left over new MX bike in the corner and making $.
Motorcycling is so fun, the last thing I would care about is what someone else thought. So beautiful when you pull that lid on, you are free.
I’ll tell you one thing, when you are a young lad, many a pretty girl will say,
“take me for a ride on your bike”. I found them to be quite a meal ticket.
No good now, married...the woods are calling.
I’m dirt all the way, but if a person said, hey, try my Hayabusa on the TCH I’d be, “hold my license”.
He would get smoked down the straights and blow right past them on the corners..
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