What do you do?

[Cornerman]

  [

I've been wondering about this. In this day and age of motorcycle racing how much (or what) do you do to promote yourself and your sport at the homefront. We have all seen the local hangouts of kids on a brand new r-6 showing off at the traffic light.(you might have done this already) ;D With his shorts/ sandals and maybe if allowed no helmet ready to go on green only to have a truck pull out in front of him and hurt himself or his poor r-6.
     Is it worth making our selves known to the local public of a safer alternative to street racing and unsafe riding habits. Or do we sit idle at the start?
    What do you do?


Like racing
Knowledge is a powerful thing.

[Protein Filled]

Promote yourself as a safer alternative? Not sure how you would do that. No matter how much you try, the 1% that are idiots will ruin it for everyone. How many times have you seen someone featured on the news for riding responsibly? Now, how many times have you seen reports about the killer sport bikes or the street stunters in your neighborhood, or as of lately, those dangerous pocket bikes!!


I just quit riding on the street... Yeah, I know this is not what you meant by asking this question, but I just don't street ride anymore. I used to ride daily to work, and I really mean daily. It all changed about 3 years ago. Not sure 100% why. Maybe a combination of the cars, the lightpoles and street signs, the oil spots and all that other stuff that kind of makes me stay away. I will dirt bike ride, Ice ride and road race to get my fix... but street riding just doesn't quite do it anymore. Maybe because I feel that to get a thrill I need to be pushing the bike and you can't do that on the street safely.

[boo181]

Edgar, i agree 100%. the street just doesn't do it anymore. i quite street riding because i couldn't afford a race bike and street bike. so it was easy. but i don't really miss street riding. i miss hanging out with my buddies, but if i really want to hang with them on fri/sat nite i'll drive down to where ever they happen to be parked at all nite. i'll take the track over the street everyday ;D

[lil_thorny]

I do it for the nookie..the nookie..so you can take that cookie and stick it your a$$!!!!!!
wuzzup homies!!!
I'm outtie
lil thorny

[cardzilla]

Cornerman, Cornerman.  If you mean that we should try to introduce these squids to roadracing... NOOOOOOOOOOO :o My experience has been squid on the street, squid on the track.  Some people just weren't meant to be on bikes (They are the ones who lower their bikes 5" for "better acceleration" and then wad it trying to take a corner at 30 MPH because the case digs into the curb).  In Jacksonville you can have your pick of wrecked street squid bike to go racing with any day of the week.  Anyway, these unfortunate souls are beyond salvation so it is our duty to protect ourselves from being drug down with them.

[Jeff]

I don't street ride much anymore either.  Every now and again I'll borrow a bike and ride a few hundred miles, but it's generally a cruiser or touring bike.

Promotion?  Well, at stop lights I will commend kids for their bikes and ask where there helmet is.  Doesn't do much good, but it's the point.

If they get right on my rear end, I'll wash my windshield for 30 seconds while flipping out cigarette butts that I light just to flip out (I don't smoke).  I become that "cager" that you HATE to follow.

I'm thinking about getting shirts & stickers that say "Wear a helmet Idiot!".   8)

[H-man]

I'm thinking about getting shirts that say "Wear a helmet Idiot!".   8)

Uhhh... JeF4y... please tell us the skirts aren't for you :o





Just messin' withcha ;D  I know you mean the wheel well ones fer yer truck ;)

  H.

[Super Dave]

Yeah, you can't really convert everyone.

When I started out, so long ago, I wanted to convert guys to racers to help me pay my gas money to the track...closest track then was 442 miles away...Blackhawk Farms at the time.

It's just not for everyone.  

I don't really street ride.  I can't get any kind of sustained feel of confidence and speed.  I'd much rather abuse my Sable with the AC on.  Occasionally, I like to ride a borrowed bike.  But I'd rather go do a dirt track or ride on the ice for fun.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Reality is that many street squids aren't race fans.  So, what you do really doesn't interest them necessarily.  You've got to continue on with your program, do what you do, take care of business.

If they recognize your program and see that what you do is neat...hey, then when they are up for those decisions...maybe they will buy that nice new Suomy helmet even when something else might be cheaper.

[KBOlsen]

Here in Chicago, there is a local sportbike bbs that promotes safe riding - it has attained a pretty substantial following and I know for a fact that "cross-pollination" has resulted in several new members to the ranks of CCS racers.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Here in Chicago, there is a local sportbike bbs that promotes safe riding - it has attained a pretty substantial following and I know for a fact that "cross-pollination" has resulted in several new members to the ranks of CCS racers.

Kim do you think "cross-pollinating" is a good term to use about Ken? ;D ;D

[Stinger562]

I won't give up street riding, racing helps me to be safer on the streets, as for promoting a safer alternative, if someone asked I might explain it to them, but I don't usually tell people that I race.  If we get more of those jack asses of the streets it will be harder to find cheap replacement parts on E-bay when they crash. :o

[Cornerman]

         Many thanks to all replies. I like all of the opinions.Esp. the get a helmet sticker/ t-shirt  ;).
         It is true you like racing or street riding but it hardley seems both are in combination. As a corner worker I do happen to witness the unfortunate( some bad and some very lucky). Advice is and always will be a take or leave situation.
          My angle is If these kids/ adults only knew how delicate the balance is between on track and off track they might think twice the next time.?. When I do finally get my own bike I  will take rider school classes becouse there is a lot that you can apply to street situations.
           Again thanks. 8)

VIR here we come!!!!