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What Makes A Hard Core Rider?

9K views 66 replies 34 participants last post by  LEE 
#1 ·
What characteristics make a hard core rider. I only asked because a friend of mine today told me I was a hard core rider and I honestly never thought of myself as one. I would like to hear your thoughts on what makes a hard core rider.
 
#3 ·
eigen funny you should say that ...the friend has been riding for years as well and does not own a car. He rides every day. I do consider him a hard core rider. He is also a throw back to the sixties. He is building a house or ...I think they call it an earth ship...I saw a few of them on the outskirts of Taos when I was up there riding with Hidesert...
 
#6 ·
Since moving to NM....I ride year round. But even here with the huge elevation changes you have to be prepared for extreme weather and changes in temperatures.. I would not attempt going though certain ranges in Nov. ice and snow can be a great equalizer even for hard core riders.
 
#8 ·
Modesto...I know certain areas of Cal.. are great for riding...on my big trip nothern cal..oregon and Washington nothing but steady and heavy rain....:Dat the time I was not grinning..oh and strong winds as well. I had the rain gear and luckily a heated vest as well.
 
#14 ·
being prepared for weather and I left out mechanical difficullties.
On one of my rides on the Rocket the kuryakyn iso grips broke and it was sliding off ...I used electricl tape to fix it for the remaining miles ... Now the surgeon I work with is a two bike guy and he barely rides one...while he is a great surgeon and person when it comes to riding not so much. I met him at his ranch this morning waiting to have a great ride into work...he wasin his car...reason was there was a 40 % chance of rain....:D Invigorated...I like that but for me it comes from a feeling of testing myself...in the twisties or the distance and just enjoying the scenary and the environment I am in...except in New Jersey....lol
 
#19 ·
Ride most days and use the bike as an everyday workhorse.

If it's pissing down with rain or the temprature is below about 15F I sometimes get in the car. I also use the car when it's more convenient to carry stuff instead of trying to get it on the bike. No point in being stupid about it. 500 mile days are OK most of the time, but I don't do them for pleasure - only when I have to make the trip anyway.

I notice that doxiedog is from CA, where it's a bit easier to ride every day than in the UK.

I'm definitely not hard core.

Rob
 
#22 ·
Ride most days and use the bike as an everyday workhorse.

If it's pissing down with rain or the temprature is below about 15F I sometimes get in the car. I also use the car when it's more convenient to carry stuff instead of trying to get it on the bike. No point in being stupid about it. 500 mile days are OK most of the time, but I don't do them for pleasure - only when I have to make the trip anyway.

I notice that doxiedog is from CA, where it's a bit easier to ride every day than in the UK.

I'm definitely not hard core.

Rob
Rob I would agree with you I would also add riding when it is over 110 degrees and the black top temp is even hotter. I road home from NJ and it was unbearable with the hear...I would have stripped down to my briefs if I could have...it sucked the body fluid right out of me...I was drinking water and gator raid in massive amounts and it still was not enough...it was one of my worse trips ever and it was only two thousand miles in two days....I cam close to stopping several times.
 
#20 ·
I've held a motorcycle license for 52 years, raced for about 25 years, but I'm just a guy that likes riding.

In my opinion this is the definition of hardcore:



John McGuinness. Holder of 19 TT wins, and the fastest lap record to date.
 
#24 ·
I'm not sure what a hard core rider is anymore.

A guy who rides everyday? Might be he just wants to save buckage on gas and has the right kind of weather.

A guy who pounds his liter bike on the weekend, every weekend, but parks it the rest of the time?

A guy who has lavished time & money on the same bike for over 20 years, refining his ride to exactly the way he likes it and refers to it as Old Paint, but doesn't have the life that allows him to ride much anymore?

All these guys I might consider hard core.... or none of them.

Point is all these guys still ride. I'd put a point in for longevity.
 
#27 ·
Q. Hardcore rider?

A. An extremely explicit rider who leaves nothing to implication. A clearly expressed rider who is readily observable, and a rider that can't be defined in court (excepting local standards) but we know one when we see one. A sometimes shocking rider that under-age minors aren't allowed to view for moral considerations and is banned from public libraries. (and this forum too, I guess)

In other words, a rider you have to pay extra for, to get on cable.

You know... wears a kilt,


and chaps!





And he (or she) stays thirsty my friends.
 
#30 ·
I think hardcore riders are those who ride in all conditions, ride long distances or do both. I'm softcore, sort of like Cinemax after midnight.

TT riders, to me, are a level above hardcore. They're so hardcore, I can't even think of an analogy to finish this. That's how hardcore they are.
 
#32 ·
...I'm softcore, sort of like Cinemax after midnight...
That was awesome Lefty!

Hardcore is a moving target, different things to different people.

I mostly commute on bike, ride on weekends, multiple helmets, tons of riding gear/accessories so to most of the people I know I'm hardcore but to someone like Dog, I'm Cinemax along with Lefty.
 
#31 ·
Riding in the rain from Niagara Falls to Key West, in the rain, LOL. 4 days of rain so far, in Charleston, SC tonight, forecast for tomorrows departure to Florida-more rain. My feet are dry for the first time tonight, at my daughter's house, and sleeping in a real bed.
 
#35 ·
Riding in the rain from Niagara Falls to Key West, in the rain, LOL. 4 days of rain so far, in Charleston, SC tonight, forecast for tomorrows departure to Florida-more rain. My feet are dry for the first time tonight, at my daughter's house, and sleeping in a real bed.
I road for over four days in heavy down pours in Northern Ca., Oregon, Washington and when I got to Maine. I felt like a freaking prune. The heated vest helped alot...it did not rain in Keywest for me but the humidity was unbearable...I was rank by the time I left key west. lol I also appreciated a shower at the end of each day...as did those who came with in a close distance of me....

thread hijack...


same here Lee on both counts


still in transit unfortunately - I think I have about 20 hours yet to run :(

sorry, back to normal programming
Well have a safe trip my friend. In a couple of years I may be tracking all of your country once I finish with the artic circle and Canada.....
 
#38 ·
A few years ago we bought Mrs. Irish a Rebel 250 from a older couple near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He had a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 and she had the Rebel 250. The summer before she had ridden the Rebel 250 from their home to Niagra Falls and back and then to the Sturgis rally and back. I thought that was pretty hard core for a little old lady on a 1986 Rebel 250.
 
#39 ·
LIAR!

That isn't possible with anything lesser than a Tiger 1050. EVERYONE knows that.
 
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