ATGATT vs SQUID ?

 


    All. The . Gear .All .The . Time. VS  Squid riders ?  Ok ATGATT makes sense  but what is a squid ? Well  you could say to be polite  anyone who doesn't  wear proper gear. Now we are all guilty of  doing this ,self included . Years ago when I use to ride my 1948 Panhead  I  use to be the biggest squid . Didn't I have  good riding gear ? Yes !  But it was too hot two ware  the jacket  , my jeans  were good enough  and  tennis shoes  were  comfier then  boots . Yip that was me then lol . So what has  changed for me now ? Well  this time around my 22 years older  and  ponder my invincibility  a lot  more lol. I believe  we should be confident when we ride but also  realistic as well . If we watch  world super bike races we see some of the vary best riders in the world . And yes the go down form time to time . Here is the scenario  ,  Ride on  track  bails on  the  hairpin   , bike  slides  500 feet ,  rider bounces tumbles a few times  then slides into the hay bail . He gets up pounces around  shaking his fist in the air  , walks to the  bike  cursing  and kicking the bike , He's Ok !  So what saved  him the  gear ,  yes  track riders do get  hurt  but there odds  are less  with the better gear. Now lets look at Mr Squid ?  Here's the  scenario  , GSXR 600 750 or 1000   shoes  shorts  wife beater  T-shirt   cheap helmet $550  riding  gloves . 1200rpm  dump clutch  4 foot  wheelie  cat walk  for 7kms  ant 220km  nice ,  boy can ride ! Then  wipes out at 30km at the  next light   turning   left , bike slides  75 feet  ,  guys  slides 120 feet . Road rash head to toe  ext .

    THE WORST OFFENDERS ?  Ok now I'm  not going to name names here lol .  some groups seem to be worse then others.  Id  say  the top  offenders  are  Harley  riders , I use to be one  so cant  tell me different , although there better then they were 20 years ago lol.  The GSXR riders  seem to be in second .  Most  cruiser  riders  are middle of the road. Moped  riders  guilty , ALL  !  The  best at ATGATT ers  are  sport touring  and  adventure  bikes .  Most super sport  riders , WHO WANTS TO BE A POWER RANGER ? ME! lol .  Heavy touring  bike  riders seem 50-50.  So  please don't  be mad at me if your not one  of these  squid types. Its just to get people to think  about there safety .

  The argument : You will hear a lot of excuses  for why  people don't  gear up . Just tell them this . Would you rather sweat or  bleed ?  Or  cover up what you are not willing to lose . And the most important  of all arguments .  There are those who have  been down  and those who will go down! Enters  moto GP  rider   best rider in the world  , crashes at hair pin. Ride safe all.