| Author | Message | ||
     Midknyte |
Been reading some posts here and elsewhere, from people feeling singled out for how they look, what they ride, or who they ride with. Stories of plates being run in situations that may or not be warranted. So I'm wondering, as I get geared up for summer, what impressions I might be up against. I know, actions [should] speak louder and I'm not _really_ that concerned what anyone else things as long as _I'm_ enjoying my ride. Just curious how would you view the following, on a first impression basis (actual riding behavior aside - what do you think of first when you see...): 1) Sportbike, Tshirt, no helmet. Squid Not a Squid Just stupid 2) Sportbike, regular/leather jacket, helmet Squid Not a Squid 3) Sportbike, Armored Jacket and/or pants, helmet, boots Squid Not a Squid Please note your perspective with your answers (i.e. I'm a biker, I'm a LEO, I know a LEO who...). Thanks. For the record, I fall into category 3. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
As an aside, I have noted when I am wearing my kneesliders, even though they aren't scuffed (none of the roads have warrented needing to scuff them but wear them just in case the need arises) I get long looks from the constabulary. But if the velcro panels are empty, I get a glance and thats it. | ||
| M1combat |
1) Squid 2) Not a Squid 3) Not a Squid I just think if you aren't wearing a helmet you're a Squid. I ride with a '66 Triumph TR6 (no helmet) and a '76 sportster (no helmet). Both are hand made rigid choppers. Basically... MY definition of squid is someone who has a high chance of increasing my insurance premiums. I fall into category two and three. To and from work - Cat 2. Any other time - Cat 3. I ride about 2 miles to work in a small town. | ||
| Blackbelt |
i am gonna agree with M1, squid not not I fall into Cat 2.. cause i dont' have the money to buy the armored stuff.. or need.. but you have to add a 4th.. for the states w/ helmet laws.. 4) Sportbike, Tshirt,shorts, deck shoes, helmet. Squid Not a Squid Just stupid SPUPID SQUID! | ||
| Glitch |
I've seen squid in full gear, so you can't always judge a rider by his cover. | ||
| Dueller |
Around these parts the sport bike crowd has evolved into two basic categories: Guys in shorts, tshirts and sandals (SANDALS!!! fer chrissakes) with their full face helmet propped on top of their head OR The guys who are in full race leathers (usually looking absolutely showroom new) even on a hot as friggin' Africa summer day. Only occasionally do you see sport bikers in reasonably safe attire appropriate for the weather/riding situation. | ||
| Midknyte |
I've got to thinking here, I posed my question wrong. I was really curious as to which of these tend to draw un-due or more attention from law enforcement based on looks. I'm a 3 because I wanna live, but I'm doing it on a budget. Look for a dude on ebay running under the account VDiscount for some nice prices on gear. I got a back protector from him and almost got a jacket but he was out of stock for my size. Picked up a really nice Joe Rocket armored (summer) net jacket up at Nielsons on 83 (for those in the Chicago area) on sale for about half price. They've got a couple of other armored textile jackets on sale right now in the $125 range. | ||
| Xb9er |
I just think if you aren't wearing a helmet you're a Squid. No, not really. A majority of the Harley riders I encounter around here don't wear helmets. If you aren't wearing a helmet, you are just uninformed, stupid or ignorant, not necessarily a SQUID. And there is nothing wrong with someone who chooses not to wear a helmet! My first impressions would be: 1. Just stupid (actual riding behavior aside) 2. Not a squid (actual riding behavior aside) 3. Not a squid (actual riding behavior aside) From the perspective of an XB rider who has taken the MSF rider training, read up on sportbike riding, and learned from experienced riders and put the knowledge to good use and still having loads of fun. Mike. | ||
| M1combat |
"I just think if you aren't wearing a helmet you're a Squid." I stand behind that statement because how you ride has no bearing on whether or not your head will stay intact when bashed by a bumper/window/deer slayer/mirror/rock/tree/mailbox/other bike/etc... Have you ever had a bike go full throttle on you with no way to roll it off? Have you ever had a sports car come FLYING around a blind corner 1/2 in your lane? It doen't matter if you ride a sport bike or not. Shtuff happens. "If you aren't wearing a helmet, you are just uninformed, stupid or ignorant, not necessarily a SQUID" We had a discussion a while back about exactly what a squid is and your statement is correct (based on popular belief), but I see anyone not wearing a helmet and they are a squid. I see anyone riding through town on one wheel, they are a squid. I see anyone riding down I-40 at 150 Mph, they are a squid. I see someone in flipflops, a t-shirt and shorts, they are a squid. I almost didn't get an XB12R due to insurance rates and I ride reasonably safe. I guess I'm a bit jaded or something. It's all good  . | ||
| Torqer |
A squid, for the record, is a rider who drags his tentacles behind him as he leaves the parking lot. | ||
| Country |
1)stupid 2)not 3)not all could possibly be squids though. To go with Midknyte's question, appearance does have something do with the way everyone looks at you. Not just LEOs. Just think, how do you think about others and the way they look. Probably not tooo far off from what everyone else is thinking. Including they person you are making the judgement about. | ||
| Sarodude |
1) just stupid 2) need more data 3) need more data I'm just a motorcyclist. -Saro | ||
| Zip |
OK... so how many SQUID/POSERS are there out there. (percentage wise) | ||
| Bomber |
not sure that "squid-hood" is what I would think of first . . . .certainly: 1, wouldn't ride with them 2, wouldn't rule out riding with them 3, wouldn't rule out riding with them I find myself gettin more choosey about who I will ride with . . . . some grear (helmet, jacket, jeans) indicates that the person in question is at least able to form complete sentances, and perhaps would be a safe riding partner . . . . . although I do know some full gear folks (number 3) that I won't ride with at all . . . .it's more about behavior than appearance, but you'd already identified that | ||
| Lgpch |
The bar I go to is three blocks from my house. I know that you should always get geared up for any ride but I am willing to roll the dice. The streets are in a residential neighborhood and the speed limit is 30mph. I often go with just a shirt, shorts and shoes. The ocean is also three blocks away so I will often check the surf the same way. I never ride without a helmet. I never ride under the influence. Any other trip, I wear full gear. I look at a squid as someone who is out in traffic without gear on and/or someone who is riding irresponsibly around other vehicles. Motorcycles are an awesome form of power and I think they often betray what kind of person is operating them by how they ride. As the saying goes, there are old riders and there are bold riders. However you don't see many old bold riders. | ||
| Bykergeek |
To me, squidliness is measured more in rider behavior than rider apparel. A squid frequently exercizes poor judgement and rides stoppies in a crowd of fellow riders or other stunts where bystander riders or anyone else could be hurt by a mere riding mishap. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If you don't want to get hassled by "the law" then ride reasonably, and hang out around others that ride reasonably. It has worked for me for probably 30,000 miles now, no tickets, actually no stops even yet. I have blown by cops a number of times at 75 in 65 mph zones, but when I did it I was in reasonable gear, was keeping reasonable distance between me and the car in front of me, was signaling for turns, and was obviously aware of my surroundings. They did not seem to mind. I have gone by cops in a group ride, and never been hassled. But we were not in t-shirts on gsxr-10000-yamasuki-rocketblades. It was a Cyclone, an 85 Suzuki cruiser, another old Suzuki 1000 cc (Z1000?) with turbo - PM wheels - straight pipes (170 hp plus, loud as hell), a Harley electra glide, and a mint 86 Nighthawk. If the cop was going to pull us over, it would have just been to see what time we can come back by to see if he can tag along after his shift on his newish Vstar (or whatever). We would have welcomed him. Works for me. For squid ratings, I look for "T's". T shirt... one point Teva Sandels... one point Temp Tags... two points You would be amazed at the number of "4 T'ers" I have seen on 600 cc inline fours. | ||
| Aesquire |
1) Stupid & likely to get due LEO attention (NY is a helmet law state ) 2)unknown if squid. Should get normal LEO 'tude. 3)unknown if squid. Gets more LEO attention than deserved, space man scary image freaks local police, I've noticed. 4)Squid. Strangely ignored by local police until ready for skin graft. Go figure. | ||
| Curtyd |
Actually I only judge squid by the ratio of crashes to years on the road, anything higher than 1 to 1 is squid, just like I was when I started. I think I was 3 to 1 the first year on a big bike. NO squid is when the ratio goes to 1 in 5 years of riding if not higher. I have to admit I have been out on shorts and tennis shoes, but I always try to put my riding jacket with it and always gloves and full face helmet. | ||
| Xb9er |
M1combat said- "I stand behind that statement because how you ride has no bearing on whether or not your head will stay intact when bashed by a bumper/window/deer slayer/mirror/rock/tree/mailbox/other bike/etc..." Agreed. "Have you ever had a bike go full throttle on you with no way to roll it off? Have you ever had a sports car come FLYING around a blind corner 1/2 in your lane? It doen't matter if you ride a sport bike or not. Shtuff happens." No, Yes, Agreed "I see anyone not wearing a helmet and they are a squid. I see anyone riding through town on one wheel, they are a squid. I see anyone riding down I-40 at 150 Mph, they are a squid. I see someone in flipflops, a t-shirt and shorts, they are a squid." Yes and No to all these. Midknytes question as I took it and as he later clarified, was referring to which of these tend to draw undue or more attention from law enforcement based on looks.. He also specified they were on sportbikes. That's where my answers came from. Here's how I see it: The Squid World is a subset of the Sportbike World which is a subset of the MOTORCYCLE UNIVERSE. The Uninformed, Ignorant or Stupid Rider World is a subset of the MOTORCYCLE UNIVERSE. The Sportbike World and the Uninformed, Ignorant or Stupid Rider World intersect. The Squid World falls completely within the Intersection of the Sportbike World and the Uninformed, Ignorant or Stupid Rider World. That's the logic behind my answers. I know that squid is short for squirrely kid, but I don't know when it originated. I do believe the term has evolved over the years. As it is most often used by riders and non-riders I know, the "modern" definition of squid specifically refers to riders on sportbikes. We basically agree, but your definition of squid is broader than mine. I guess that's because there isn't a word for idiots riding bikes other than sportbikes. I like to call them Dregs (Main Entry: dreg Pronunciation: 'dreg Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse dregg; perhaps akin to Latin fraces dregs of oil 1 : sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated from it : LEES -- usually used in plural 2 : the most undesirable part -- usually used in plural 3 : the last remaining part : VESTIGE - dregˇgy /'dre-gE/ adjective). In the end, I guess the responses to this topic prove that you can't always tell a squid by looks alone. Mike. | ||
| Midknyte |
Squidishness for me is entirely defined by behaviour. Hence the clarification of my question. Heck, I was just phishing out of curiousity & other peoples experiences. Myself, I've never experienced un-due attention. Now and then I'll get tailed thru a speed trap, but same goes for the same locales when I'm in the cage. | ||
| Jwz7 |
after reading all these post.i guess i'm sorta a squid.i live in phx and hotter than hell here!we're talkin 120 and even hotter sitting in traffic in mid june/july.there's no way i'm going to wear a hot leather riding jacket comuting back and forth to work on a bike.i always wear a helmut t-shirt and shoes(boots)so,i guess i'm a squid sorta.i dont ride like an idiot and am always aware of my surrondings and i do know my own limitations as a rider | ||
| Swampy |
Now for the last time!!!! Squid is not a behavior! A Squid is the form you take when you do something out of control. Typically laying on the ground with your arms and legs splayed out in unnatural directions. As in "Look! is that a Squid laying in the road?" or "Daddy, why is that man laying on the ground funny?" Me: Son, when you grow up I don't want you to become a Squid. Big Kid: Dad, Whats a Squid? Me: Its sort of like a Snow Angel. But on concrete. Big Kid: Oh, OK, Thanks Dad! Does anyone need a picture? | ||
| Socoken |
I am 21 years old(young) seldom/never wear a helmet wear my leather only when weather dictates often ride in a spirited manner DO NOT consider myself a squid. squid comes from squirrely kid, under experienced young riders on bike thats performance is way out of their capabilities. if you ride around thinking that everyone not wearing a helmet and full leathers is a squid, all i can say is, wow. If this turns into a helmet thread, i will reach my "cyclone" posting status in no time. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm 44 always wear a lid, always wear leather jacket & boots & usually leather trousers as well, am I a squid? yes/no I also ride a bike that far exceeds my capabilities, am I a squid? yes/no I know these things & ride accordingly, am I a squid?????????????? As regards wearing leathers in hot weather, I'd rather have a heat rash than road rash!  | ||
| Jwz7 |
mr grumpy, i respect that!having a heat rash instead of road rash is better.except it would be more like heat stroke instead.but it is true a leather jacket would be better. | ||
| Smoke |
i live in hot and humid lower louisiana. leather jacket, helmet, gloves, boots, jeans dec-apr. mesh jacket, helmet, gloves, boots, jeans may-nov. full helmet if i'm on the buell some times. squidley is as squidley does. i started wearing gear after i slid my honda 50 down a gravel road at 45mph in 1968 in fla. do as you see fit. its only really hot when you stop moving. p.s. drink lots of water to prevent heat related distress. tim | ||
| Southernmarine |
I thought a Squid was someone in the Navy  and that anybody acting stupid on a bike, not wearing a helmet, no gloves, wearing shorts, flip flops, tank top, or no shirt was just plain stupid and lacks gray matter between their ears. As far as I'm concerned, anyone acting like that deserves attention from law enforcement. edited by southernmarine on May 30, 2004 |
