We all talk about squids every once in a while. We say things like: Typical squid move, dumb-azz squid, etc... But what do we really mean. I have to think that most of us here look at the speed-limit signs as more of a suggestion than a hard and fast rule. Most of us have probably lifted the front wheel a time or two (maybe the back occasionally). We have probably all left a little smoke and rubber from a burnout every now and then. So are we all squids?
I think the answer comes down to when and where you do all of the above and the general attitude you have while you're riding. To whit:
I don't do wheelies in traffic or though neighborhoods. I don't drive over 100 mph frequently (obviously I do it occasionally, why ride a Busa otherwise). When I do speed it's in sparsely populated well-known areas. I generally try not to make a nuisance of myself and my motorcycle.
Today, however, I got to witness the full explanation of the word squid.
I'm driving home from the airport and I see in my rearview an individual on a sporty little R6 moped squirting in and out of traffic behind me on the highway. As he cuts in front of me he misses my front bumper by maybe six inches. After that he gets in behind a car and sits not three feet behind it as we cruise down the road. Then he gets in a drivers blind spot, the driver signals to change lanes. The kid doesn't back off, but when he nearly gets hit by the car he swerves over right next to it (like he could reach out and touch the car) and starts flipping the lady in it off.
After this we pull up to a stoplight. As we sit there I would swear the kid is having a seizure. He's jerking his head back and forth, he's jammin' through all the gears on his bike, he's slamming the bike from side to side, he's hitting the rev limiter. This is all while we are sitting stopped at a light.
Now I don't know if the guy was on crystal meth or what but he certainly showed all the drivers around us his azz. I'm sure they all have a much better outlook on sportbikers after his little display.
I think the answer comes down to when and where you do all of the above and the general attitude you have while you're riding. To whit:
I don't do wheelies in traffic or though neighborhoods. I don't drive over 100 mph frequently (obviously I do it occasionally, why ride a Busa otherwise). When I do speed it's in sparsely populated well-known areas. I generally try not to make a nuisance of myself and my motorcycle.
Today, however, I got to witness the full explanation of the word squid.
I'm driving home from the airport and I see in my rearview an individual on a sporty little R6 moped squirting in and out of traffic behind me on the highway. As he cuts in front of me he misses my front bumper by maybe six inches. After that he gets in behind a car and sits not three feet behind it as we cruise down the road. Then he gets in a drivers blind spot, the driver signals to change lanes. The kid doesn't back off, but when he nearly gets hit by the car he swerves over right next to it (like he could reach out and touch the car) and starts flipping the lady in it off.
After this we pull up to a stoplight. As we sit there I would swear the kid is having a seizure. He's jerking his head back and forth, he's jammin' through all the gears on his bike, he's slamming the bike from side to side, he's hitting the rev limiter. This is all while we are sitting stopped at a light.
Now I don't know if the guy was on crystal meth or what but he certainly showed all the drivers around us his azz. I'm sure they all have a much better outlook on sportbikers after his little display.
