Squids.......????

[sfarchie]

Let me ask you...here in the Philippines we meet up every tue for our reg bike night all ducs of course,it's usually not very far of a ride,i wear t shirt sometimes.Now would you call that a squid? i am a responsible rider and not the type that goes nuts on the road.:-)

I would say yes. Most accidents occur within 5 miles from your home. Weird. Perhaps it has something to do with people being more comfortable in their own hood and letting down their guard.

My own personal definition of a squid is all said above and anyone who puts themselves at greater risk of injury due to a lack of proper gear. A friend was recently in a slow fall. If he wore his gear, he wouldn't have that nice road rash covering his entire forearm.

[Mash]

I heard that the term squid came from how the paramedics would describe what an unprotected motorcyclist looked like after an accident. Guts all hanging out and stuff.....

[Desmo_Profundis]

I would say yes. Most accidents occur within 5 miles from your home. Weird. Perhaps it has something to do with people being more comfortable in their own hood and letting down their guard.

My own personal definition of a squid is all said above and anyone who puts themselves at greater risk of injury due to a lack of proper gear. A friend was recently in a slow fall. If he wore his gear, he wouldn't have that nice road rash covering his entire forearm.

This is a tough one for me. Yes, I do agree that putting ones self in more danger of injury due to the lack of proper gear is generally the definition of a SQUID but I think it can be taken a little far sometimes. Like for instance,, why then are ATGATT people not all driving cars all the time. Aren't cars much safer than bikes all the time regardless of leather, helmets, gloves, boots and the like? I always cover the essentials all the time. Boots that cover the ankles, gloves, helmet, and long pants. But if I'm just headed around town I will be lax and not wear a jacket.

 
I've had my share of road rash here and there and look as much disdain at the guys in flip flops & shorts as the rest of you, but you all need to face the fact that if none of us were willing to take a little risk with our hides then we would all be driving cars all the time. ACATT is not a group I want to be in.

 

The thing I hate the worst is when some rider lets a passenger on their bike without all the gear. You are responsible for deciding how much hide you're willing to donate to the sport but for sure you're responsible for every inch of hide on your passenger.

[Privateer]

I would say yes. Most accidents occur within 5 miles from your home. Weird. Perhaps it has something to do with people being more comfortable in their own hood and letting down their guard.

That's one theory, but also in the 5 miles around your house, you drive in that space a lot more.  Every time leaving and coming home, you're in that zone.

Like for instance,, why then are ATGATT people not all driving cars all the time. Aren't cars much safer than bikes all the time regardless of leather, helmets, gloves, boots and the like?

I don't think it's a question of eliminating risk, but minizming risk and mitigating the consequences.  I recently had a zero speed tip over (kick stand folded up on me) and my left ankle/boot took 100% of the bike weight.  I don't want to know what would've happened had I not had dainese boots on.

And yeah, ACATT is definitely no fun.

[sleeperbold]

Nice!

[He Man]

One thing id like to point out. what is considered half squid in america is normal in europe from what it seems. for a few reasons. they are more conscious of bikes over there, so cars know how to be around motorcyclists, and people dont go crazy riding them, thye are just a transportation device for most people.

If im riding around my area, within 2 miles, my minimum gear is gloves, long pants and helmet, and closed toe shoes. thats my bare bare minimum. If i know im going to be speeding, or i know im going to be lane splitting. its +jacket + boots. if im going out for serious riding its a 1piece with everything id wear to the track.

They say the more gear you have on, the more wreckless you are. Which is true. I wouldnt don a 1 piece to go around the block. My mentality at that point is Red Alert. Let cars pass, dont lane split, look both ways regardless and head check before turning. Can i guarantee i wont crash? No. But its a 99% chance i wont, unless a rogue driver comes running a red light and smashes into me. Which brings it to skilled city riding. I use cars as armor when i pass through intersections, and always look beyond your turn, and look at pedestrians face when they walk, if they are about to cross a street nad hesistate, then that means something is comming. etc. And beyond that, really, its just a leap of faith and where the road diverges between the ATGATT and the gear for the appropriate time.

[corndog67]

As for ATGATT, I say, ride your own bike.   I'm not going to bullshit you, I don't even have any leather pants, and I'm not going to buy any.    When I go to track days, I rent them.   I ride with a leather jacket, nearly always.  Boots usually, but not always.  Gloves, usually, but not always.  Shorts, never.  Sandals, never.  And the best helmet they make.   

Again, as Peter Egan put it, Ride Your Own Bike. 

Putting a label on someone because of what they wear when they ride is assuming a lot.   All you have to do is watch someone ride for 5 minutes or less, and you can tell if they ride well or not.  I know guys that don't wear anything but a helmet and jeans most times on the street, but race in the expert class at the track.  I  know guys with full leathers every day out on the street, but ride so crappy that I avoid riding with them.   So, I'll ride with people I've just met, whether they are wearing leathers or not, just stay the hell away from me until I've seen that you can ride worth a damn.   I've noticed that the older I get, the less I tend to label people.   

[w7ck7d]

When i go riding out on the city for some reason .i wear jacket, and jeans but knee pads underneath.and of course boots,helmet and gloves.No matter what the weather likes.I rather sweat than bleed.
But for the most part riding hills and twisties.Full leather is a must..And ride not faster than my gurdian angels can fly of course..

[Statler]

to me squid involves much more than gear.   There are fully geared squids and there are riders in jeans and a t-shirt who I would never call a squid.

It's not just about how you ride either although that is part of it (and it's not fast or slow that determines that).

Bike condition is involved.   not clean versus dirty, but actual condition...forks bottomed out badly, oil three years old and filthy, tires squared off to the point of almost uselessness, brakes so mushy from moisture/air in the lines, etc.etc.

but even then it involves attitude.   if you know you're on a beater bike gixxer thou that handles like shit because it lives outside and hasn't had any maintenance done or wear items replaced since it was new and you're running down to the store in your jeans....who cares.   if you are riding that bike showing off because you think it's the hottest thing in the automotive world...well...

and as a bad generality that I'm sure has plenty of exceptions, I have not run into anyone who is street squidly (in my mind) who spends any time on the track.   


oh...and no idea where it came from but I remember it in the late 80s.  anyone using it earlier? 

[BomberHead]

Nice!

looks like hes also riding on the shoulder.

[ute]

what i don't understand is why  riders in the heat don't at least wear a mesh jacket with armour ?

i always wear helmet,gloves,boots,kevlar jeans and either mesh / leather jacket ..this is my min


and i know what your saying about experience  vs looks i have a buddy who has ridden for 40 years owns a Busa but rides with jeans ,sneakers ,sweat,helmet,gloves ....now this guy can handle the busa he is 10 times the rider i am , but every time he goes out with me like that i call him squid boy ...


ans as for the 5 mile thing this same guy broke his pelvis and major road rash when his first busa axle snapped and he went down 2 miles from his house

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

wear what you want, I know im not rocking all that crap in 90 degree heat.
t shirt, helmet, jeans, boots, gloves.
theres teenagers zipping around the streets in scooters doing 35 plus in abocrombie and flip flops with NO helmets

[Popeye the Sailor]

wear what you want, I know im not rocking all that crap in 90 degree heat.
t shirt, helmet, jeans, boots, gloves.
theres teenagers zipping around the streets in scooters doing 35 plus in abocrombie and flip flops with NO helmets

FYI Beck and all.


Hot broads do *not* dig the road rash.


Think about it.

[LA]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squid

LA

[Statler]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squid

 

not bad