Why We Ride

[seedy]

Good video, thanks to a well-known BKK poster on another forum.

It got me thinking ...

There is a group of posters who are on this sub-forum with great regularity. For the sake of Argument, let's call them the Soi Dogs.

Their ages - I do not know for sure, but would guess 30 - 45.

Bikes ridden - seem to favor the head-between-legs, knees-in-the-armpit, a**-in-the-air models.

Many posts on this forum asking for help, advice. Invariably these posts are met with derision by the Soi Dogs. Comments like "Sell it and buy a ...." If it does not meet their strict criteria as to what a motorcycle is/should be - the post starts by making fun of the poster, questioning his knowledge. In short acting like a pack of Soi Dogs when someone invades what they consider their personal space - the bikes THEY ride.

People who ride Harleys seem especially favorite targets, but most any unusual bike is fair game.

Almost never are their posts coming from the viewpoint like - "Well I have found ... In my experience ..."

Most always it is "Do this, do that, ride this, don't ride that ..."

But this is a public forum, and these things happen.

The Soi Dogs have forgot the one main thing ..

It is Not How You Ride, When You Ride, Where You Ride, or What You Ride

It Is that you RIDE

[RubberSideDown]

I agree with your sentiments to a point, but note that in a post about dispelling prejudices, you posted 'Bikes ridden - seem to favor the head-between-legs, knees-in-the-armpit, a**-in-the-air models'- based on that alone, I have a pretty good idea of what you ride, and what your own prejudices are.

For me personally, it's not 'that you ride'- I feel no affinity with the average local buzzing around on his scooter, or the person who rides strictly as a commuter to save on gas/parking/whatever. If you like to cruise at a fairly slow speed and enjoy the sights, more power to you and I respect your right to do it, but I have no particular desire to ride with you.

If I pull into a parking lot and there are two groups of bikes- one with sportbikes and the other with cruisers- I'm going to join the sportbike group every single time- I know their bikes, they probably know mine, and we speak a common language- I tend to gravitate toward what interests me as far as motorcycles go.

If you post on this forum asking for advice, you're usually going to get a mixed bag, but in the end you will generally get the info you need- if you ask for opinions, well, if you hear something negative or you get flamed, you pretty much asked for (not that you necessarily deserved it).

Yes,this is predominantly a sportbike board, and that's where the bias will always lie- frankly, if I owned an HD, I wouldn't post here nearly as often- I'd find a board with more like-minded riders.

There always has been a bit of animosity between cruiser rider and sportbike riders as yes, we all ride, but we rarely ride together except on large group rides (for charity or a bike week or something similar)- I can see the appeal of a cruiser to a degree and there are certainly talented, knowledgeable riders on them, but only rarely do our interests intersect beyond the fact we're both on two wheels.

I don't think this board is as bad as you make it out go be- most people that get piled on (regardless of what they ride) ask for it in one way or another.

So, basically, I have to say that sometimes it is indeed what you ride- it's about context- I'm in a particular sub-group, and will always be prejudiced to some degree by that fact.

[Jerry Cornelius]

It Is that you RIDE.

Well said and that's the crux of bike ownership for many but not all. For some it seems to be just about ownership.

As far as the "why" goes. I ride because I like to. It doesn't matter what I'm riding at any particular time; whether it's a small bike locally or a bigger bike on longer trips. I enjoy the experience every time.

If some-one had reason to ask 'why I enjoy it' they would never understand the answer.

Jerry

[papa al]

"Biking and motorcycles in Thailand forum. Post and read here about trips, modifications and accessories for motorbikes, questions about anything motorbike related."

[cornishcarlos]

I will be riding my Wave from Phuket to Suratthani again on Thurs, why?

Because I can and its safer than a minivan..

I will be walking like John Wayne when I finally get there but will have a big smile on my face

You can collect a lot of goodies in your basket on a 5hr Wave ride...

[seedy]

"Biking and motorcycles in Thailand forum. Post and read here about trips, modifications and accessories for motorbikes, questions about anything motorbike related."

Thanks.I see on this forum a great variety of posts - riding Honda Waves, Chinese bikes. No one style over another in my mind.

Brings to mind the old adage ...

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

[A1Str8]

I ride coz it's FUUUUUN!!!!!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[seedy]

I have a pretty good idea of what you ride, and what your own prejudices are.

You are assuming that I have a prejudice against sportbike Riders - not so.

You state that this is primarily a sportbike forum - it is not.

I have a prejudice - as I stated in my post - against people who have the attitude that anyone who does not think as they do is an idiot.

The a** in the air comment was an attempt to inject some levity into the post. I have owned that style of bike.

Edited April 8, 2014 by seedy

[funcat]

I ride coz it's FUUUUUN!!!!!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I think ...all bikers do it for FUN...(some 'commuters' may be excluded)

[RubberSideDown]

I have a pretty good idea of what you ride, and what your own prejudices are.

You are assuming that I have a prejudice against sportbike Riders - not so.

You state that this is primarily a sportbike forum - it is not.

I have a prejudice - as I stated in my post - against people who have the attitude that anyone who does not think as they do is an idiot.

The a** in the air comment was an attempt to inject some levity into the post. I have owned that style of bike.

It came across as an attempt to differentiate yourself from a particular group (which is fine- I did the same thing- when it comes to motorcycles, that's a natural thing to do considering that the niches available to us are very specific).

If you want to cast your net wide enough you can find a lot of commonality, but considering that bikes are more-or-less purpose-built (of course with some overlap), you're also going to to find a lot of differences, and those differences are magnified in the anonymous fishbowl of a forum.

We're never all going to gather around a campfire and sing 'Kumbaya', but we're not going to leave each other stranded on the side of the road either (at least I hope not).

I see this as primarily a sportbike forum as a lot of members ride them, and that's what I take notice of- certainly it's meant to be a rider's forum regardless of bike type, and there's room for everybody- I didn't mean the forum's specific purpose was to be a sportbike community.

That said no one who likes cruising is ever going to see the real point of a sportbike, and someone who loves tight twisties is never going to intrinsically get the desire for a large cruiser- on a discussion forum, people tend to defend their choices, and things often get heated in a way they never would face-to-face.

Edited April 8, 2014 by RubberSideDown

[AllanB]

I agree Seedy...100%.

RSD states Yes,this is predominantly a sportbike board, and that's where the bias will always lie- frankly, if I owned an HD, I wouldn't post here nearly as often- I'd find a board with more like-minded riders. So the simple answer is, if you are not interested in a particular thread because it is about HD's or scooters, simply ignore it. We don't have to have your opinion about everything.

When I have asked for help, the vast majority of posters have been very helpful, but as you say there are a few that think they know everything and get upset if they feel you are not taking their "expert advice" as gospel, and of course the trolls.

I think many of these Soi Dogs do think this forum is exclusively for them and their own particular interests. They rarely reason their views logically, preferring instead to brag about their vast and extensive experience as a hard-ass biker.

I guess I am fortunate that I own a sports/cruiser cross ( I guess) and have no particular axe to grind with either, or indeed any camp. I have a friend who has a Harley, not my choice, but obviously his, but most importantly he a good bloke, at any rate I would happily ride with anyone and anytime.

Edited April 8, 2014 by AllanB

[seedy]

Yeah, I distrust people who mark boundaries and classify others.

I started on dirt bikes aged about 12 - learned to fall off in the dirt.

Street bikes at 14 - learned to fall off on pavement.

Raced motorcross, REALLY learned how to fall off in dirt.

Rode trials for a while.

Had fast street bikes, including crotch rockets.

Rode HD's and other cruisers.

Had a Gold Wing.

What category would I be placed in ???

Motorcycle rider.

[ll2]

OK, i eat the bait and lets say i am what OP describes as soi dog here!!!

OP, this is a free forum man, we have a chance to post whatever we like.

And it is all about a ride for a honda wave owner but for me it is a combination of what i ride, how i ride, when i ride, where i ride, which gear, physics of a ride, track, thrill, fun, blood, tears and many more!

You are swimming in the shallow waters if riding is just riding for you!

Edited April 8, 2014 by ll2

[RubberSideDown]

Edit- on second thought, I will refrain from further comment.

Edited April 8, 2014 by RubberSideDown

[H1w4yR1da]

I live for this sh*t!

I was counting off the points made in the OP and saying "Me, me, not me, me, me...".

Now if everyone thought alike and was ultra-polite to each other, it'd make for a very boring, sterile forum.

Sure I've had words to say about Hardleys in the past but weren't Hardleys designed to be made fun of? The riders are usually very nice people once you get chatting at rest stops.

But it's the guys who just pose or don't/can't/rarely ride and enjoy taking pot-shots at riders (and their bikes) who can and do, that gets my goat.

Coming onto a bike forum and slagging off big bikes, 'loud' pipes, wearing proper gear and riding over a certain speed simply because they're unable to ride anything other than say, a Forza, is just trolling and deserves a short shrift, IMO.

Maybe the Bike Forum should be split into sub-forums to make life easier. How about 'Scooters', 'Cruisers' and 'Sportsbikes'?

Or in other words 'Hello Kitty Basket Bikes', 'Gay Bikes' and 'Real Bikes'!

The last line was a joke for the forum 'regulars' who need a dozen smilies before getting it.

[papa al]

'Real Bike' = my Schwinn, 0 cc.

[Cylon]

Cornishcarlos You are a brave man, riding a Wave to Surathani. Dont the big trucks and buses almost blow you off the road as they pass.

[H1w4yR1da]

I met a fellow called John (now sadly deceased) from the GT-Rider Forum at Chumphon Bike Week in 2007 I think it was. He had ridden to Chumphon from Phuket on a Honda Wave. Well-impressed!

'Real Bike' = my Schwinn, 0 cc.

It's more of a real bike than what some here (Lifan etc.) are 'riding'.

Edited April 8, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[cornishcarlos]

OK, i eat the bait and lets say i am what OP describes as soi dog here!!!

OP, this is a free forum man, we have a chance to post whatever we like.

And it is all about a ride for a honda wave owner but for me it is a combination of what i ride, how i ride, when i ride, where i ride, which gear, physics of a ride, track, thrill, fun, blood, tears and many more!

You are swimming in the shallow waters if riding is just riding for you!

See, you have just clarified the OPs comments...

I'm sure your smile is no bigger than mine after a few hours in the saddle, so shallow water ?? Mate I'm swallow diving into the deep blue

[Gweiloman]

I once rode my PCX from Bangkok to Yasothon. Took me over 10 hrs (including stops for fuel, food, coffee, cigarettes etc). I was fully geared up with a full face helmet, Komine mesh jacket and trousers, proper riding boots, gloves etc. It was fun if a bit scary at times when going over 100 km/h. Somehow, scooters are not that stable when going fast.

[cornishcarlos]

Cornishcarlos You are a brave man, riding a Wave to Surathani. Dont the big trucks and buses almost blow you off the road as they pass.

Yup..... Got run off the road by a small truck in Phuket, on the last 10km of my trip over last month

I knew it was coming though, so had an escape route planned.. Waves can handle a little off road now and again !!

[ll2]

OP is angry for being classified, in the meantime he has no problems on classifying people as soi dogs.

You now, some chase and some get their ass bitten. Rule of the world. Which one you are OP?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[properperson]

i'm, here cus i'm not all there.................

[wantan]

Having a real bike, doing real riding, being a real biker, being a real man ... fascinating simple world of male humans

[ZigZagMan]

Same same for the scooter category. The PCX contingent really has some attitude. No?

What do we call them? Soi puppies?

[seedy]

Same same for the scooter category. The PCX contingent really has some attitude. No?

What do we call them? Soi puppies?

Especially the guys riding the RED ones !!!

Soi Puppies 555

[papa al]

I've ridden all over Thailand (north of Samui) and Cambodia on bikes 100-135 cc.

Fun mak mak.

I recently went over to the "other side" a bit and purchased a CBR250.

We'll see how that works out.

Edited April 8, 2014 by papa al

[Familyonthemove]

I think most bike forums are very specialist - single make or for a specific use - such as the excellent TriumphRAT forum in the UK or AdvRider for adventure bikers or the very active CBR500R forum.

But on TV we're a group for all makes and all types of riders and it's driven by the naturally argumentative parent forum.

I've still had some excellent advice from the members - no matter what type of bike they ride. I've also had some bad tempered replies but put that down to a few people who seem to have personality disorders.

I also reckon we need to remember that some of us may be bikers living under circumstances that mean that we don't always ride the first bike of choice. Many city bound ex-pat bikers who owned sports bikes or heavy cruisers back home will choose a scooter or smaller capacity motorbike here for convenience, economy etc.

We're all still bikers though - we ride therefore we are.

[Ace of Pop]

Might be of interest to some. Years ago I imported a Kenny Roberts Replica 500.When I paid my Life Insurance some Jobsworth noticed the payment came from BKK Bank. They did their homework, found out I no longer lived in an E.U Country, and sent me a list of Tings that would increase my premiums. I found Sky Diving, Base Jumping,rather easy to give up,but Sell Me Bike, well, I did, as back was killing me anyway, just a heads up.Get a Mate at home to pay the Premiums .

[Gweiloman]

Same same for the scooter category. The PCX contingent really has some attitude. No?

What do we call them? Soi puppies?

What's wrong with the PCX contingent? Have not read many controversial posts from PCX owners.

Most of the questionable posts are from posters who don't actually say what bikes they are riding, just what they USED to ride.