HOW SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT ARE YOU, COMPARED TO OTHER RIDERS? Over the years, non-motorcycle riders have asked me to express common traits among motorbike riders that I’ve observed. But I’ve been hard pressed to identify truly universal common rider attributes – other than a love of motorcycles and riding. Perhaps you know of some that you might add in the comments below?
Regardless, as I’ve thought about this from time to time (well, factually, I’ve not thought about it too much at all), it occurs to me that at least one common trait among “successful” motorcycle riders (those that have been riding for many years), would have to be their awareness of the road, and especially their awareness of other drivers on the road. Although such awareness cannot guarantee long-term rider survival, I would say it’s a factor that would separate out temporary, or short-term riders, from long-time riders.
Stated more directly, it’s certainly possible that a rider can be taken out, in spite of a pretty acute driver awareness, since it’s common for motorcycles to be smashed by automobiles that have violated the biker’s right-of-way.
Acute Rider Sensitivity to Road and Drivers
Having said that, if a rider does “not” have an acute sensitivity to on-the-road situational awareness, he/she is almost guaranteed to be taken out by an inattentive driver, sooner or later.
Stated another way, show me a motorcyclist who maintains a similar degree of situational awareness on a motorcycle that many drivers are accustomed to in a car, and I will show you a short-term rider. A motorcycle rider simply does not have the luxury of being as inattentive as may be observed among many drivers we share the road with.
On the other hand, show me any motorcyclist with a whole bunch of miles and riding experience under their belt, and I’ll show you a rider who has an unusually acute sensitivity to what is happening moment-to-moment in front of, and behind him/her, on the road.
(Conversely, show me a motorcycle rider who also drives a car, and I’ll show you an automobile driver who is more aware of their driving environment than the vast majority of other drivers).
Acute situational awareness of one’s riding environment means being able to avoid quite a number of potentially bad riding circumstances by foreseeing drivers moving into your right-of-way, and simultaneously changing your course, to get out of the way.
Even short-term riders soon learn that it doesn’t matter who is legally right or not, in terms of the laws of the road, since motorcycle riders get the short end of the stick in most confrontations with 4-wheeled vehicles.
From my view, acute situational awareness simply equates to a greater control of one’s self, environment and future, which I would argue, equates to a greater control of one’s life.
Well, OK, that may be stretching things too far, but at least I could more confidently argue that it equates to a greater control of one’s riding and motorcycling experience and staying alive. If you want to stretch that further to consider it also means greater control of one’s non-motorcycle life, I’ll leave that up to you.
Common Motorcycle Characteristics?
The more I ride, and the more I speak with other riders, the more I am aware that there are as many different rider personality characteristics as there are riders. Therefore, at least at this moment, I can not seem to come up with any other “common” characteristics among riders.
But maybe you can.
What would YOU say are common characteristics among motorcycle riders you have become acquainted with? (Add your comments below).
It’s nice to read a thread without all the “my type of bike is better than yours” comments, well, mostly. Leaning into an uphill curve rolling on the throttle is a universal experience to all riders. If you ride you know exactly what I mean. It doesn’t matter what’s in your garage. Riders that manage to stay alive ride within their bikes capabilities and have excellent situational awareness. They know their bikes limitation and know the proper position they should be in on the bike in any given situation. And they know they want to do it tomorrow and for that they need to be alive. Afterall, we’re most alive when we’re in the wind, right?
Throttle cracked open
Accelerating through curves
Seeking perfect lines
Nowhere else matters
Mindful of nothing but here
Meditative bliss
To some I seem crazy
Grinning, I let their tapes play
My truth won’t change them
They dream of safety
Couches soft and cages safe
But I crave the wind
i would agree with the love of adventure and drive for results. riding my motorcycle, especially for trips is an awesome adventure, riding for a few hundred miles, going through the Rockies or the hills of the Ozarks is truly amazing! i think another mutual trait is respect. riding by another motorcyclist, waving to each other in passing, wishing them well in their travels.
Sport bikers are thrill seekers. “Harley riders” (low speed cruiser riders) are image seekers.
What are common characteristics among motorcycle riders I have become acquainted with? They love the “machine”, the idea of being connected to it. They love the ride, the simple unadulterated pleasure of kinetic motion, of going somewhere and the actual motion itself. I felt it first on a little dirt bike and was addicted from the start. I remember the first time I crashed that little dirt bike. It was scary and awesome all at the same time! I was going way too fast to make the little turn on our course and just laid it over into the grass and weeds on the outside of the corner. The wild sage and other green bits (some of which were cooking on the exhaust) left the most wonderful aroma – I’ll will never forget. Hot exhaust pipes, leaky fuel, motor oil and the green smelling scent of freshly crushed aromatic wild plants. Been riding ever since and I can tell you that it is with a smile that I mount my bike in the morning on the way to work and arrive feeling exhilarated and alive. The riders I know now still seem to have kept that same wide smiled, open-eyed joy for life and motion. Its not that don’t care for their safety, they do; its that they just love the open air more, to feel like your flying, that kinetic experience that I have now come to believe that some of us are born to crave and ultimately enjoy. Just look at all those old guys (of which I count myself one) who keep that gleam and an inner spark that says “where to next”? While at the same time never forget their first real ride. The one that made the “riders” – they simply cannot help it – they are who they are – a people on the move. What’s not to love?
These are all great responses. I’ll add, that I think the majority of riders may have an inner ear condition that sends pleasure signals to the brain when in-motion. A friend of mind noticed one that I constantly sway a little back and forth when I “sit still”. Then a Dr. asked me if my mother ever mentioned that I jumped a lot in the crib, and I had. So much so I jumped over the bars and on to the floor. She heard the thump and ran into my room, saw me on the floor with a stunned look on my face, but no tears. Also, I think there is a need to be in a state of full concentration, to have your mind full of only one thing, it’s like a calming effect, once you stop, then you can think about her again. Last I’d say there is a strong need to feel different, individual, self sustained, self governing, and unchained by fear, or “normal behaviors”. You feel like telling the cop, “hey that wasn’t reckless… wanna see me do it again?” Or “What?, trust me officer, that wasn’t speeding, if I was speeding we wouldn’t be talking.”
Well could it be sharing the same Love? Outdoors,wind other elements that come are way,as we swallow bugs. We all enjoy the adventure and who can forget the stories. Even the wildlife that cross our paths. We have the need to be different just like are bikes. camaraderie the spirit of the wild. Live on be free.
It’s fun! I get a rush – ‘butterflies’ in my solarplexis – when I drive my bike to & from work! I get to ride my bike 2 x per day 5 days a week! :>)
I like the Cadillac commercial with the cute chick driver saying, “When you turn your ride on, does your ride turn you on?”
I have used 7 different (bought & sold) bikes trying for the best commuter bike. Presently the best so far has been my BMW 1150RTP with full fairing. The other 6 were all ‘cruiser’ types.
If I drive my bike like all the other cagers in my traffic commute, cruisers are ok, except for lack of element protection.
The ’sport bike’ style allows me to drive like a bike should be driven in the commuting traffic – that is – drive through the pockets or gaps left by cagers and leave them all behing you!
I also agree with the author, “a motorcycle rider who also drives a car . . . is more aware of their driving environment than the vast majority of other drivers.”
My answer is: All of the above!
At the bottom of everything, in my humble opinion, is intelligence, which gives you the enhanced awareness of your surroundings, enhanced spatial perception, the strong will to do things ypur own way, the need to do things yourself and by yourself, to experience new things, etc.
In fact, as a sort of confirmation, I believe “stupid” riders don’t stay riders for long, hopefully they stop riding quite soon because they don’t see the fun of it. The rest are taken out by “sardine-can drivers”. Mind, this can happen even to the best of us, but I make every effort to use my brains riding “defensively”. Part of my “pre-flight” checklist is muttering the mantra: “Remember, every bloody fool is on the road with the single purpose of killing you!”. Excessive, sure, but it sort of puts you in the right mind-frame…
Enjoy your riding.
What I beleive most motorcycle riders share, is respect for other riders. A motorcyclists gets in trouble, who will stop to lend a hand, another motorcyclist.
Totally agree with the article. Situational awarness is No. 1. As a urban commuter bicycleist and bicycle traffic safety instructor for over 20 years I am strongly convinced that situational awarness is everything. I constantly teach people to: Mind your space and constantly be engaged in continuous learning. Pattern recognition is what its about.
Know this: Being in traffic on the road is the most dangerous situation on earth. Over the last 100 years cars have killed and maimed more people than ALL THE WARS during the same period. Period. Sincerely.
I’d say the sense of adventures…the need to try or experience new things…and the desire to do things well.
Although riding for only a short time, I believe a common thread between the riders I know is the ability and desire to get things done yourself and not to rely on others to do it for you. I believe we all are a self sufficient bunch, we pay our own way, don’t ask for handouts and love the freedom we have.
I have to agree with phill. The most common trait I’ve noticed is a love of life and a desire to experience it fully!
I think the common thread between my fellow bikers that I ride with is the gusto for life and what it bring’s to us. The freedom of the open road call’s us and the risk’s we take on the road wakes us up to everything around us