Well meaning cage bound people.

**Buickguy** · 04-02-2010, 02:14 AM

You folks ever get the well meaning, never ridden a day in their life, full of advice people telling you how to ride?

It happens to me quite a bit. I know they mean well and all, but wow, they have some really bad information about bikes.
Some of the stuff I've heard, just this year:

1, "You know that it is illegal to ride that in February. My cousin's friend's brother in law said that he can't ride his bike in December, January and February because it's against the law!"

I try to explain that the guy they heard about most likely dropped his insurance for storage but I keep mine insured and plated year round and my plate, just like theirs allows me on the public roads.

2, "Don't you have to pull off the road when it rains? I see that all the time where people will be on bike under a bridge in the rain. I guess that's in the law, huh?

I try to explain that the first part of a light rain can make the road slick but after the junk washes away it is not as slippery. It's not illegal to ride in the rain but not everyone enjoys riding in the rain.

3, "I saw you the other day on the road and when you took off in the left turn from the light your foot was up even before the bike was moving!
You should drag your foot through the turn in case there are rocks and you slip. That way you can catch yourself. You need to be more careful!!"

WIth this one I thank them for their concern and promise to be very careful when I ride.

4, "I heard that Harley guys go out and beat up people on Hondas. My friend said his nephew had it happen to him and that it happenes all the time. Has that happened to you? "

I tell them No, that has never happened to me. Everybody I've ever met while riding was pretty nice. I've never known that to happen to anyone. I've ridden in groups with all different brands of bikes. Aside from some good natured kidding, I've never seen anyone cause trouble about what someone else chooses to ride.

5, "Your tires are different sizes! You can't rotate you tires to get the most wear out of them that way!"

I try to tell them that this the way bike tires are designed to work.

6, "Where is the gas guage on that? How do you know when you are getting low? Aren't you supposed to have a gas guage?

I tell them about the reserve tank and keeping an eye on how many miles you have traveled.

7, " I don't understand why theyu would put the clutch in your hand and the shifter for your feet. That's just backwards.

With this one I tell them that its better to have the clutch as a hand control in case of a cross wind where both feet might need to be on the ground.

8, "You know you don't use the front brake, it will just flip you over the handlebars!"

I used to explain it in detail but that usually resulted in glazed over eyeballs. Now I just thank them for the advice and tell them I will be very careful.

9, "I don't understand why they don't make motorcycles have seat belts."

Here is where I tell them that the gear we use is the best for the application and a seat belt wouldn't be the best choice of safety equipment.

10, "They shouldn't let just anyone buy a bike and ride. They ought to have a special drivers license for that."

I always answer, They do. You need a cyclist endorsement on your license to ride legally.

If it happens to you, how do you all handle these things?

JunkyardDog · 04-02-2010, 03:55 PM

I just tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine. Jerry.

**flitecontrol** · 04-02-2010, 08:01 PM

If they seem like they might be open to a non-threatening reply, I try to educate them and explain whey their opinion/misconception doesn't agree with my view.

**Fridgitator** · 04-03-2010, 04:57 AM

If there's a reasonable chance that they may be capable of absorbing information, I try to respond to questions like that with sincere answers, as I would if asked by a child. The only real difference is that a child will listen to your answer and think about it, rather than discount it because their former neighbor's brother once knew someone who's cousin once told him that he met someone who drowned because he went swimming after eating lunch.

**twocoolgliders** · 04-03-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buickguy

You folks ever get the well meaning, never ridden a day in their life, full of advice people telling you how to ride?

It happens to me quite a bit. I know they mean well and all, but wow, they have some really bad information about bikes.
Some of the stuff I've heard, just this year:

1, "You know that it is illegal to ride that in February. My cousin's friend's brother in law said that he can't ride his bike in December, January and February because it's against the law!"

I try to explain that the guy they heard about most likely dropped his insurance for storage but I keep mine insured and plated year round and my plate, just like theirs allows me on the public roads.

2, "Don't you have to pull off the road when it rains? I see that all the time where people will be on bike under a bridge in the rain. I guess that's in the law, huh?

I try to explain that the first part of a light rain can make the road slick but after the junk washes away it is not as slippery. It's not illegal to ride in the rain but not everyone enjoys riding in the rain.

3, "I saw you the other day on the road and when you took off in the left turn from the light your foot was up even before the bike was moving!
You should drag your foot through the turn in case there are rocks and you slip. That way you can catch yourself. You need to be more careful!!"

WIth this one I thank them for their concern and promise to be very careful when I ride.

4, "I heard that Harley guys go out and beat up people on Hondas. My friend said his nephew had it happen to him and that it happenes all the time. Has that happened to you? "

I tell them No, that has never happened to me. Everybody I've ever met while riding was pretty nice. I've never known that to happen to anyone. I've ridden in groups with all different brands of bikes. Aside from some good natured kidding, I've never seen anyone cause trouble about what someone else chooses to ride.

5, "Your tires are different sizes! You can't rotate you tires to get the most wear out of them that way!"

I try to tell them that this the way bike tires are designed to work.

6, "Where is the gas guage on that? How do you know when you are getting low? Aren't you supposed to have a gas guage?

I tell them about the reserve tank and keeping an eye on how many miles you have traveled.

7, " I don't understand why theyu would put the clutch in your hand and the shifter for your feet. That's just backwards.

With this one I tell them that its better to have the clutch as a hand control in case of a cross wind where both feet might need to be on the ground.

8, "You know you don't use the front brake, it will just flip you over the handlebars!"

I used to explain it in detail but that usually resulted in glazed over eyeballs. Now I just thank them for the advice and tell them I will be very careful.

9, "I don't understand why they don't make motorcycles have seat belts."

Here is where I tell them that the gear we use is the best for the application and a seat belt wouldn't be the best choice of safety equipment.

10, "They shouldn't let just anyone buy a bike and ride. They ought to have a special drivers license for that."

I always answer, They do. You need a cyclist endorsement on your license to ride legally.

If it happens to you, how do you all handle these things?

Just smile at them

Cookie

JunkyardDog · 04-03-2010, 06:54 PM

Actually, just have pity on them, and walk away. Cagers who do not ride are not capable of understanding anything about riding, at least I've never seen one that was. For those who ride, no explanation is needed. To those who don't, no explanation is possible. Jerry.

**Buickguy** · 04-07-2010, 04:43 PM

Thanks guys.

Jerry, I think I liked your first answer best

Seriously, I guess a bad day talking bikes beats a good day talking work.

**Twister** · 04-08-2010, 11:25 AM

Just last week an old lady told me "You know your not supposed to ride on the interstate, it's not safe" I explained her that once on the interstate, outside city limits its a lot safer than the city streets or loop; since there are no intersections, cagers pulling up infront of you as they leave a parking lot, etc. She even told me: "It kind of makes sense"!

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