British Attitude to Scooters

[Dac]

I'm not in UK but anyway...

This nod thing is interesting. Me and my GF travel with all the equipment which looks serious (like real bikers! Lol), travel speed is pretty good and I guess X8 is a bit rare and not easy to recognize. So when we meet a "real biker" I can literally see that moment when he realizes that he just gave a nod or lifted his hand - to a scooter driver. Like a bee sting or something. Oh well.

There were some positive examples. I remember a french guy on Ducati Monster, he overtook us but before that he was riding along for a few minutes. Guess it was too slow for him, us two on a maxi and all we could carry - yeah, not so sporty. So he came to our side, waved and showed thumb up. Aaand he was gone

[Data]

It's an interesting thread. Still being pretty new to the maxi scooter world, I'm coming to terms with biker attitudes towards us. But generally, more and more I've found bikers to be positive and inquizitive about the scooter. For example, and this is absolutely true, when I took my Burgman 400 for it's first service at Orwells, Ipswich (good dealer by the way) the forecourt there is fairly large, but was completely full of bikers when I arrived. It's quite a gathering place at certain times and riders not only swarm around inside the spacious showroom, but spend time outside drinking coffee, talking, and admiring each others bikes. Fairly typical stuff. There was no space for me to park and immediately some of the bikers sprang to their machines to move over to make room for me to park. Initially, I thought this was so they could bludgeon me to death in a convenient place, and the blood would just run into a nearby drain without making a mess! My fears were initially well founded, I thought, as when I got off the Burgman, a swarm of bikers surrounded me, some wearing hells angel outfits. One of them said "Oi mate, is this thing yours"! Nervously I said..."Yes, don't hurt me, take all my money"! They retorted, "relax dude, just admiring your ride, aint seen one up close before" (said with slight American accent). "Tell me about it". They seemed genuinely amazed and surprised at the size, design and performance. Many were enthusiastic to try one and I believe at one of them did get test a ride on the 400 demo that day.

Anyhoo...I've got a new bunch of mates now. If any of you need someone beating up, just let me know!!

[gn2]

Is that the Ipswich chapter of the Black Widows?
Do they drink at the Blue Oyster Bar?

[Sylar]

Most of the places i go iam the only Scooter rider there, I always have conversations with people on bikes(as i said i'm the only scooter there) ifind most are interested in the Silverwing, and usually i have a laugh and a bit of banter about thier bikes. Nobody ever blanks me, or makes me feel unwelcome.

[Turisu]

I couldn't give two sh*ts and a f*ck what people think about what I ride; bikers or otherwise. I'm anti-social and extremely happy with that! :p

[Sylar]

Now you mention it, Meldrew when i rode Motorcycles, with other Motorcyclists, none of us would ever leave anyone behind, it was something you just did not do. Maybe thats the main differance between the groups

[MrGrumpy]

I couldn't give two sh*ts and a f*ck what people think about what I ride; bikers or otherwise. I'm anti-social and extremely happy with that! :p

Bet you're a Slipknot fan!!!

[Turisu]

Bet you're a Slipknot fan!!!

If I knew who they were, I might well be.

[MrGrumpy]

Bet you're a Slipknot fan!!!

If I knew who they were, I might well be.

I think you ought to find out....they are a US metal band consisting of nine very angry masked men from Iowa. Their most (in)famous song is a little ditty called 'People = Shit'. Not easy listening......

[Earl]

Mr Grumpy did you google that, there's only 8 members after Paul Gray died in 2010. And their biggest hit was 'Wait and Bleed' off the album of the same name, also a favorite of mine is 'Surfacing'