Comments | britefox: The squids are out!

britefox

The squids are out!

Mar 16, 2004 16:04

Oh yes, oh yes. Squid season has started. For those who don't know, a "squid" is a person who rides a motorcycle - I refuse to call them a "motorcyclist" -- usually a fast, new and shiny sport bike, without very little gear. They will wear shorts and tennis shoes and no gloves. The only thing they do wear is a helmet which usually is as equally ( Read more... )

Comments 15

thejessicka March 16 2004, 16:21:03 UTC

hee hee, i never knew they had a technical term. well, besides "idiots".

origin of squidliness britefox March 16 2004, 17:49:56 UTC

There's a few explanations on the origin of the word "squid" for these kinds of motorcyclist. I tend to believe the one that it started back when Top Gun came out and Tom Cruise rode around on his motorcycle... then all these Navy guys started doing it (and without a lot of safety gear and being basically stupid). Since Navy sailors are often called squids, I think the name just stuck :)

simokon March 16 2004, 16:22:00 UTC

What do you call the guys on ultra-noisy Harleys wearing wussy beanie helmets?

(Besides wankers, that is.)

ex_eightysix128 March 16 2004, 16:34:05 UTC

midlife crisis?

harley guys britefox March 16 2004, 17:51:18 UTC

LAff!
Well yes to wankers and yes to midlife crisis :P
Those helmets are often referred to as "brain buckets" and more kindly, chili bowls.

ex_eightysix128 March 16 2004, 16:36:04 UTC

you're giving me an identity crisis. i don't wear motorcycle boots! but i also have an old bike. it is 24 years old!
will i be a squid if i purchase a honda NT or GT 650?

fuck!!!

britefox March 16 2004, 17:54:52 UTC

I can't believe you don't have a pair of black boots of even the combat variety? hahaa
Old bikes are cool... My GPz is 20 years old as well.
Squidliness isn't so much about the bike as it is the lack of safety gear within the sport bike genre. Harley riders tend to not wear much gear but *usually* they do not ride squidly (i.e. going 100mp on the freeway and doing stupid lane splitting at high speed while lacking gear)... but then, I've seen some Harley riders do some stupid shit before too.

kylekyle March 16 2004, 16:41:56 UTC

AGGGHHHHH.... I admit it, I've been a squid before!!! accept both my bike and helmet were just average, not bling... and no tribal tats.... I just got these terrible urges to go in my tshirt .... I wore gloves though!

britefox March 16 2004, 17:56:47 UTC

Please please get a proper jacket! My jacket saved my arm when I was hit last year going 35mph on the street and fell on the rocks. I totally understand the urge to go around in your t-shirt, believe me I think about it sometimes, but it isn't worth it. I can't lecture too bad though as I still just wear standard pants/jeans when I ride and not protective overpants. So see I've got a touch of squidliness too ;)

moonvision March 16 2004, 16:43:13 UTC

ahhh... the "Rides of March"...

I've spotted gaggles of squids around downtown where I live too!

britefox March 16 2004, 17:58:39 UTC

HAHAHA...
So when one passes me doing his squid bid'ness, I will yell at him "Et tu Brute?!"