[JackTrade]

On the “Squid” derivation, my favorite apocryphal origin story is that when sportbikes as a type were first coming out in the 1960s, they were popular with military personnel (as they are now), particularly with sailors stationed in California. Riding training being a lot less available then, there were tons of novices on the streets with fast machines, few skills and a lot of testosterone.

Those with military backgrounds know that “squid” is a derogatory term used usually by the Army to refer to Naval personnel. And in the wild, real squids can travel very fast in a straight line, but have trouble turning (they have to slow way down)…kinda like an unskilled rider. Couple the two, and viola…”I was putting the surf boards on top of the Country Squire, and this damn squid nearly ran right into the car!”

[eon]

I knew there were multiple theories as to the origin of squid but I didn’t know there were so many. Seems everyone has a different explanation here. The first one I heard ties into the FF helmet and no gear gear type. After a crash all that is left is a big head and limbs everywhere. Have to admit that mental image made me laugh.

Also enjoyed another persons signature line
“Squids don’t last long on dry land”

[owlie]

Thanks.

[megaspaz]

No it doesn’t. Hanging off is not putting a knee down or dragging knee or whatever-knee. You hang off to change the combined center of gravity of you and the bike to achieve taking a turn at a given speed with the bike more upright. The knee has nothing to do with hanging off. As a matter of fact you can drag knee without hanging off.

[zeppelinfromled]

Fair enough

[eon]

Hack: Sidecar

[megaspaz]

brain bucket

L.E.O. (Law Enforcement Officer)

Performance Award (speeding ticket)

Off, Get off

Can (Exhaust slip on)

Farkle (Motorcycle bling)

Junkie, Track Junkie, Track Whore (someone who’s addicted and goes to the track a lot)

[JackTrade]

How about:

‘Busa – short for Hayabusa, the alternate designation for the Suzuki GSXR 1300. The notoriously fast, virtually uninsurable, every mother’s worst nightmare supersportbike that every internet Nicky Hayden claims to own or at least to have ridden, most often at triple digit speeds on public roads. (see “squid”)

[owlie]

Road Snake – The tar stripes that occur wherever they have sealed cracks in the asphalt. Alaskan roads look like quilts in some places…

[Munch]

WOT= Wide Open Throttle

[SafetyFirst]

Great post!

The LEO picture made me crack up.

[WeaponZero]

The way I heard it back in the 90s was that SQUID was an acronym for Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, Inevitably Dead.

[Author]

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