Newbs arrggghhhh!
Madame Moderator
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 25,140
Likes: 12
From: The Peach State
I'm not sure I really see a distinction. I know alot of the guys on here started out on dirt bikes and rode them for years and not a few did motorcross. Certainly those guys can ride the **** out of their street bikes. Now, it you're talking about someone like me who rode dirt bikes as a kid/teen and then didn't ride anything on two wheels other than a bicycle until they got a motorcycle then you might have a point. The two experiences were years, okay, I admit it, decades apart and yes I had alot to learn and made no bones about it and initially refused to put myself in situations beyond my comfort zone.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
they say "we'll I have been riding dirt bikes for...." Okay stop I don't care how long you have been riding dirt bike, Ive been riding a bicycle since I was six DOES that qualify me to ride a motorcycle, NO! And neither does riding a dirt bike. The terrain is different the obstacles are different, and there are many moving object ready to put you in this earth. So stop trying to add experience and skills to you motorcycle.
Have you ever ridden a dirt bike? I can't believe you could make the statements you did and have ever spent even 5 minutes on one.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,228
From: In your head rent free
My rant was and is not about discredit dirt rider. My rant is about people who how claim to be riding for years and you later find out they are on there first street bike and do not know how to ride the city roads safely. Some of the stuff you do on a dirt bike if you ever tried it on a street bike you would high-side and be eating pavement. Both dirt and street ride have interchangeable skill, but there is some skills you can only get being on the road. By overstating their experience they not only put them self in danger but everyone they are riding with to, special in a group ride.
Don't like it, don't ride with them.
Not comfortable around somebody, don't ride with them.
Some people learn by riding, some learn by crashing.
Everybody had a first day on a bike.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Rochester, NY
I'd have to say my racing motocross for 10 yrs has made me that much better of a road rider. Something about banging bars with 20+ other riders that are more than willing to put you on the ground for your position kinda makes your more aware of your surroundings among many other things.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,949
Likes: 6
From: My house
Toypuller said it well,,, I do disagree with the OP, truthfully my motocross and hare scramble racing days saved my **** on my Harley one day, I told the story here before of having to go down a long steep graveled rutted dirt road, major pucker factor and no way around it I had to go down this hill,, if I didn't have my dirt bike experience for sure my bike would have hit the ground, damn near did.
Really you/we as experienced riders should encourage and help anyone wanting to ride or learning to ride no matter what their previous experience is,,, we all have to start somewhere,, at one point none of us could even crawl or walk could we?
Really you/we as experienced riders should encourage and help anyone wanting to ride or learning to ride no matter what their previous experience is,,, we all have to start somewhere,, at one point none of us could even crawl or walk could we?
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: SW Louisiana
Riding motocross, enduro or any other dirt sport gives a person bike handling skills that can be applied to the street. I would bet that a person riding strictly on the street would not perform well on dirt.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Sorry going on a rant...
Okay they introduce themselves, they ask you how long you have been riding. You respond and ask the same and they say "we'll I have been riding dirt bikes for...." Okay stop I don't care how long you have been riding dirt bike, Ive been riding a bicycle since I was six DOES that qualify me to ride a motorcycle, NO! And neither does riding a dirt bike. The terrain is different the obstacles are different, and there are many moving object ready to put you in this earth. So stop trying to add experience and skills to you motorcycle operating ability that you clearly do not have.
Okay they introduce themselves, they ask you how long you have been riding. You respond and ask the same and they say "we'll I have been riding dirt bikes for...." Okay stop I don't care how long you have been riding dirt bike, Ive been riding a bicycle since I was six DOES that qualify me to ride a motorcycle, NO! And neither does riding a dirt bike. The terrain is different the obstacles are different, and there are many moving object ready to put you in this earth. So stop trying to add experience and skills to you motorcycle operating ability that you clearly do not have.
I suppose, rather than you ranting on dirt bike riders having so much more experience than you, instead, you should be honest with them and admit you *only* have half the experience, having limited yourself to just street bikes.
Last edited by MidnitEvil; Nov 5, 2009 at 08:31 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Pa.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
Wow, somebody touched a nerve! Why rant, or worry, if they count it as experience, congrats to them, if you don't why get upset? Your experience is yours, I don't know what you have faced in your saddle or on your feet, but you do, learn from whatever you can, enjoy life and ride with the experience you have and learn from each new day, road, track, dirt or even in a cager, God forbid!
