- This topic has 21 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by gitchy42.
If a Squid……
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June 14, 2010 at 11:53 pm #4044gitchy42Participant
If a Squid is a ‘kid’ on a ‘sportbike’ in flip flops/tennis shoes, a t-shirt, shorts and a helmet(maybe)…..what do you call a 40+ accountant on a 1800 Harley wearing a t-shirt, jeans, deck shoes and a beanie/half-shell?
Just curious…..
June 15, 2010 at 1:30 am #27025AParticipantAFAIK, there is no age criteria for being a squid… nor a poseur..
June 15, 2010 at 1:48 am #27026Gary856ParticipantThat well known South Park episode will answer your question.
June 15, 2010 at 2:30 am #27027TrialsRiderParticipantpaste this into your browser and lol:
June 15, 2010 at 2:55 am #27029madjak30ParticipantThat’s pretty rediculous…and I don’t mean it in a good way! What an idiot…How about a squid with his son on the back being a Jr. squid…Dad about 30ish, son about 6ish…tank tops shorts and flip flops both…atleast they were wearing helmets…
Welcome to Sylvan Lake in the summer, they are everywhere…lol
June 15, 2010 at 3:13 pm #27038JackTradeParticipantJust like in the wild, squids come in all sorts of varieties. Based on the fauna I observe locally:
Sportbike squid – super expensive, racer-replica helmet, sometimes decent gloves, but tank top/billowing shirt, jeans and at best high-top sneakers, but often flip flops.
Cruiser squid – half-helmet at most, t-shirt with bike company logo, jeans, fingerless gloves, and bad-ass shades.
Touring squid – similar to cruiser squid, but with 3/4 helmet and often with shorts.
Standard squid – clothing appropriate for any activity other than motorcycling, since bike is just for commuting to work, store, mall, etc.
Scooter squid – same as standard squid, just less of it, including no training or license or registration required.
Interestingly, I’ve never seen a dual-sport squid.
June 15, 2010 at 8:44 pm #27040Jeff in KentuckyParticipantHere it is no helmet, maybe a doo-rag over your hair, no gloves, no jacket, maybe shorts, and maybe sneakers. The excuses- it is too hot to wear protective gear, and there is no helmet law.
A friend at work just bought a Harley Ultraglide, and is selling his Honda Goldwing- more money for a less comfortable bike, but he fits in with about 3 out of 4 riders here with Harleys, especially older guys with more money. I wonder if he will drink the koolaid for no protective gear as well.
June 15, 2010 at 9:29 pm #27043TrialsRiderParticipantis the guy who dumps his bike in a river crossing, takes the time to get some photographs of his drowning motorcycle before getting it upright, only to return to his toxic spill bike and discover it wont start because the engine is full of water.
June 18, 2010 at 3:47 am #27069owlieParticipantOkay- typical jeans, Harley t-shirts and tennis shoes… Add on full-face helmet hanging off the sissy bar as he cruises down the highway…
June 18, 2010 at 12:04 pm #27071CBBaronParticipantI always love the squids dodging city traffic at insane speeds with their helmet firmly attached to the back of the bike. ????!!!
Seeing a cruiser rider around here with a helmet or jacket is a rare sight. Though fingerless gloves and black boots seem to be part of the image.
Craig
June 18, 2010 at 1:34 pm #27074Joseph HannaParticipantI’ll flip the coin here I went to a demonstration by the CHIP several years ago. I believe it was billed as the Olympics of Motorcycle riding or California Motorcycle Olympics or something along those lines.
By and large the Police issue helmet is not full faced. Some don’t wear gloves and some wear the highly made fun of fingerless gloves. They have highly recognizable knee high black boots of course, but in general no one would consider them “all geared”. I challenge anyone to match those guys skills. Borders on the unbelievable.
I’m not here to advocate anything except making sensible, informed decisions about what is the correct choice for each individual rider. By and large I never ride without full face, boots and gloves with the rare exception of days I dawn a Davida helmet. On the other hand I find it difficult to judge others based on my personal opinions of proper gear.
That said of course, it’s safe to say there are new riders here and all over the country that are geared up to the n’th degree and still represent a danger to themselves and others. Conversely there are California Highway Patrol guys and gals that although not totally geared up are undoubtedly among the safest, most talented motorcycle riders on earth.
It’s of course obvious there are some pretty bad riders out there and some of them aren’t wearing enough gear to hedge their bets. Natural Selection ultimately settles that score.
Gearing up however, in and of itself, does NOT make anyone a talented, informed or safe motorcyclist.
June 18, 2010 at 2:22 pm #27075JackTradeParticipantI’d hate for a newbie to think that gearing up makes it okay to treat their neighborhood like a racetrack.
I think what’s really behind squid discussions like this is correlations. It’s not that gear makes one automatically safer, but rather that wearing gear often correlates with increased safety, both b/c it directly protects you, but also b/c it’s indicative of a certain mindset.
I’ve seen utterly dangerous squids fully geared up, and I’ve seen masterful riders wearing cotton windbreakers. But they’re outliers, and statistically anyway, not wearing the proper gear is positively connected with worse outcomes (one of the big findings of the Hurt and other reports).
To be sure, all of us to some extent compromise on safety (except for perhaps Eternal and Megaspaz, who I always think of as riding around in full leather race suits with the aero hump on the back), but there does seem to be a baseline for basic safety…I’m just guessing here, but I imagine what DMVs usually recommend for gear (which is pretty basic) is the level at which if you go below, you’re going to have significantly worse outcomes.
I think for law enforcement, the decrease in safety by their lack of gear is compensated for by their skill/experience/training. There are probably many situations where we’d lose it and crash with injuries, but a motorcycle cop wouldn’t.
I’d bet overall, law enforcement accidents tend to be much fewer in number than civilian, but with more injuries when they do happen.
June 18, 2010 at 6:30 pm #27076ranetteParticipantI read somewhere the reason that most police departments stick with half helmets is because they are less intimidating to anyone they might pull over. The difference between being pulled over by Officer Friendly and Darth Vadar. Another reason might be whenever a police officer comes into contact with any unknown person, including traffic stops, I do believe they are supposed to keep their eyes on them at all times. You never know when an innocuous situation can turn dangerous in a fraction of a second. This would be nearly impossible with a FF as there is a moment or two when you’re taking the helmet off that you are essentially blinded. Don’t know for certain if either of these factor into gear decisions for police departments or not, but they might. Of course, the latter could be alleviated with a modular.
June 18, 2010 at 7:04 pm #27077madjak30ParticipantIt’s not the level of skill of the rider that would be in question…I think an inattentive driver could change lanes just as easily into a skilled rider as a newbie, especially if it is a quick lane change to “not miss” an exit ramp…I’m sticking to my gear…if I have to take a tumble on the shoulder of the road, I would rather be wearing my gloves, jacket and full face helmet. The police around here wear gloves and a helmet, but just a short sleeved shirt on the hot days. As for the DMV requirements…a helmet is required, and they suggest pants and long sleeves…the only gear is the helmet.
Of course the rider training class advocates ATGATT, and enforces it…if you show up for the class without the gear, you are asked to leave…you can go get your gear and come back, but you can’t participate without…boots over the ankle, gloves, DOT helmet and jacket (minimum jean, but recommend leather or riding jacket). They also recommend bringing rain gear, just incase…the courses run rain or shine…I was lucky!
Later.
June 18, 2010 at 7:04 pm #27078eternal05Participant“…except for perhaps Eternal and Megaspaz, who I always think of as riding around in full leather race suits with the aero hump on the back…”
Priceless.
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