What makes a squid?

[kkim]

Originally Posted by JaeL

Nah, my point was it doesn't matter what walk of life you come from people of all types use bad judgement.

I agree completely.

[AnarchoMoltov]

That dude Sakis is riding like an idiot, but he got mad SKILLZ!!!! I said it..

[JaeL]

Originally Posted by AnarchoMoltov

That dude Sakis is riding like an idiot, but he got mad SKILLZ!!!! I said it..

word

[Cedilla]

That last video is painful to watch, and its not the speed that gets me, although they are riding a bit fast for that road, its that guys form, it looks so counter intuitive, he slides his butt way way off the seat, but yet keeps his upper body inline with the bike. Also he is all over the brakes at all the wrong times, it also looks like they have never been on that road before, which makes those speeds go from a bit, fast to ridiculous.

[headshrink]

yellow lines.......

[shadow]

holy bad form batman...ive seen little kids ride better on bicycles than the idiot in the 4th video. He's well educated though, seen every YouTube Squiducation video out there. Leans WAY too far over, keeps his torso upright and twists his shoulders all kinds of bad, melds "bike leaning" with i dont know what. Its like, motard mixed with...super..sport-touring?......but no real form from either. He's obviously afraid of leaning with the bike. Plus, he brakes like a total n00b. Yes, you can "trail brake", but all the way through the corner? While leaning the bike that hard and staying upright that much?!..AND that high up on the bike?! Its just asking for it >.<.
As for the first vid...
*in Yoda voice* This one is Strong with the Force, yes. But he has fallen for the Dark side, become a Squid Lord, he has... Powerful he may be, but corrupted he is...hmm...

[CZroe]

In the first video, that looked like he went right by a bike cop on the first vid (3:27-3:38). It's like there are no stop lights in Greece!

The guy in the second vid needs to fix his speedometer! Nope, that isn't KPH either... it's just WRONG.

The view in the fourth video looks much lower. Is that bike lowered?! Riding like that in the mountains requires handling which, I'm told, lowering sacrifices. Perhaps that's why he crossed the lines so often. Oh, and wnd why are there so many cars on the side of the road?!

[Cammotwin]

I was in Greece for two weeks this spring and the first cab ride was quite a shock for just how crazy they drive and how it's like there aren't any traffic laws whatsoever. You pull up to a light and a mass of bikes come flying up between cars. They stop and wait where it should be a crosswalk then race off to the next light and do the same thing. Stop signs were completely ignored and stop lights seemed optional.

We reneted a car and learned quickly to be aware of the food delivery guys with bixes on the back of the bike. They were the worst at passing you on the left only to cut 90 degrees across you to a stop at the curb whether its a parking lane or the lane you're moving in. HOLY SH!T

They have these large mailbox sized mini churches all over along the roads. I asked a local what they were for... someone either died or had a near death experience. They would line roads like rural mailbox setups. CRAZY.

[Apex]

I need to show these to my wife. In a few quick minutes, she'll think I'm the best rider around.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Apex

I need to show these to my wife. In a few quick minutes, she'll think I'm the best rider around.

Excellent plan....

[bdavison]

That last one has to be the lousiest demonstration of canyon carving Ive ever seen.

Aside from the lack of gear....what the heck was he trying to do with his body position, get butt down? His upper torso looked like something you would see in a circus contortionist act.
And those were the lousiest lines Ive ever seen through corners, that wasnt trail braking...that was "oh sht" braking.

Somebody take his bike away...

[revstriker]

Originally Posted by bdavison

That last one has to be the lousiest demonstration of canyon carving Ive ever seen.

Aside from the lack of gear....what the heck was he trying to do with his body position, get butt down? His upper torso looked like something you would see in a circus contortionist act.
And those were the lousiest lines Ive ever seen through corners, that wasnt trail braking...that was "oh sht" braking.

Somebody take his bike away...

+1 That guy was awful!

[bdavison]

Im thinking we should do a thread with pics of proper riding position. Its time to get my camera busy.

[kyl18b]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[03slime250]

Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, and Imminently Dead.

[road_rascal]

(Squ)ished K(id).

[Big_Guy]

"squid (skwid)
n., pl. squids or squid.

Any of various neanderthal sportbike EDIT: Motorbike & possibly Scooter owners that ride carelessly & use poor judgement, consistently demonstrating a lack of common sense & similar to the motions of a real squid they are fast then slow, fast then slow (Fast in the straights & slow in the twisties...)."

OR THIS:

Stupid
Quick
Underdressed
Imminently
Dead

Agree or Disagree? and why?

(definition/acronym provided by http://www.rc51.org/)

[kkim]

yep, that's part of it, but not all.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23124

[Snake]

All except for the sportbike owner part. I have seen many cruiser owners that can be defined as squids.

[Big_Guy]

whatdya think about the edit now? lol

[backinthesaddleagain]

From a safety standpoint alot of scooter riders could use more gear, or gear in general. Many wear nothing but sunglasses, shorts, shirts, and some sort of footwear.

[Big_Guy]

why dont we try to find the perfect definition of a squid... hmm? any one pitch in and agree/disagree with the changes!

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Big_Guy

why dont we try to find the perfect definition of a squid... hmm? any one pitch in and agree/disagree with the changes!

Arsehole on a motorcycle.

[Big_Guy]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Arsehole on a motorcycle.

please, do explain! details if possible lol

[Snake]

CC always has the best one liners.

[backinthesaddleagain]

^ +1

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by Snake

CC always has the best one liners.

Must want to be the next and better arnold schwarzenegger lol

[Flashmonkey]

Lousy squids...parking all wrong and what-not!!

[Big_Guy]

is that real or photoshopped lol

why would someone put a squid in a parking space..

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by drsketch

I mostly think of squids as those who ride beyond their skill level, take unnecessary driving risk, and ride without a helmet.

Are you sure you don't mean ride beyond your level? How do you know what their level is (unless they crash)?

I would think that everyone that does not wear a helmet is not a squid.

Does driving and riding fall under the same category?

[2011Ninja250R]

Alright- what exactly makes a squid? Can it be based soley on attire/gear? Or does it require some idiotic, menacing demeanor as well?

I ask because I see lots of remarks about people being squids when they are riding without the proper gear or clothing (shorts, flip-flops, etc.)

I have been riding sport bikes for 15 years now and, occasionally, I jump on the 250R to run a short errand in tennis shoes, jeans and a t-shirt. Now by no means am I out there hard leaning turns or blasting down the highway.

On track days or "harder riding" days. I will gear up and hit it hard.

So, if I am seen heading out in my jeans and t-shirt, are there other bikers out there thinking "what a squid!" ?

[ducducgooseit]

Originally Posted by 2011Ninja250R

Alright- what exactly makes a squid?

A mommy and a daddy squid. Exactly.

[CynicalC]

I googled it for you. Here are my results.

1. Squid

A young motorcyclist who overestimates his abilities, boasts of his riding skills when in reality he has none. Squid bikes are usually decorated with chrome and various anodized bits. Rear tyres are too wide for their own good, swingarm extended. Really slow in the corners, and sudden bursts of acceleration when a straight appears. Squids wear no protection, deeming themselves invincible. This fact compounds intself with the fact that they engage in 'extreem riding'--performing wheelies and stoppies in public areas. Squids wreck alot. Derived from 'squirly kid'

also see stunta
We were suddenly passed by a chromed out R1 and then when we rounded the bend, we saw the squid wrapped around a tree, he'd probably be alive if he was wearing a helmet.


2. squid

An extremely rare animal with a short lifespan. Usually a new sport bike enthusiast with the reasoning of a lunatic, whom you might see thrashing on an R1 wearing sandals, shorts, and a tee.
When found lying motionless on the pavement, this creature transforms itself into a stream of blood, exposed flesh, and broken limbs. Hence the squid moniker.

Stupid
Quick
Underdressed
Imminently
Dead
Did you see that guy leave the showroom on the R6? Did you see what he was wearing? What a moron. That Squid.


3. squid

a US Navy Sailor. derogatory
Marine: Man, there are a lot of squids in here.

Sailor: Maybe it's because you're on a ship, jarhead.


4. squid

'Squid' is a contraction of "Squirrelly Kid", and comes from So Cal racers who were also involved in the Surfer culture.

Though the term is now widely used to describe street riders of questionable cornering skill, questionable judgement in demonstrations of horsepower and braking, questionable judgement in the protective clothing worn, and very questionable judgement in his/her friends, the meaning was actually developed at the racetrack.

Back in the day before trackdays (an organized event to allow anyone with a motorcycle and the price of admission to gain familiarity with a racetrack and learn to ride faster, more safely than on the street) were common and new racers frequently had no track experience - hence their unpredictable behavior and unsteady lines led to them being labelled "squirrelly", as unpredictable surfers (or surfing conditions or surfing equipment) were also called.

From there, the term made it to the canyons of Southern California (a popular means to risk one's hide while demonstrating riding skill at speeds well over the posted limit), then out to the rest of the world that reads about So Cal in magazines and apparently strives to be just like So Cal.
"I really hate dealing with the street squids riding over their heads in the 'A' group at Buttonwillow."

"That trackday org is all about getting money from the squids who don't know better."

"Yeah, there was another squid taken off Palomar in an ambulance this morning."
racer surfer trackday protective gear lines


5. squid

A young man on an incredibly over powered motorcycle, wearing nothing but a helmet.

The term derives from what is discernable from his corpse:
A helmet with stringy fleshy bit dangling from the bottom.

Also see calamari
Frat-boi + GSXR1300 + sandles = squid

*1st & 3rd variables are not required.


6. SQUID

One who buys an R1 as their first bike, and logs onto a non-stunting sportbike forum asking how to wheelie said bike.
Porchito: Hey guys I just bought this R1 (Don't worry I'm not a squid, I'm mature my car has a v-8)... anyways how do I wheelie this thing?
noob young inexperienced deadly expensive


7. Squid

Originally derived from the manner of movement of a squid...shooting off at speed, almost stopping to turn and then shooting off again, similar to a inexperienced motorcyclist.
"I was trying to pass the squid, but on corner exits he just stood it up and blasted away."

[alex.s]

this is just me, but when i think of squid, i think of reckless disregard for themselves and those around... i wouldn't count casually driving 2 minutes down the road.

edit: unless you're not wearing a helmet... in my book helmet is required. even a 15mph stop drop and roll can bust a skull open

[DarC]

[adri99an]

Here you go....2 squids going at it....if you click on the pic-...you won't be disappointed

[Snake]

This thread from a while back asked the same question. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54615

[SSR]

CynicalC pretty much just summed it up.

[adri99an]

Momma and Papa squid will make baby squid

[greg737]

Being a squid is a psychological state (how they dress when they ride motorcycles is just a symptom).

The thing that "makes a squid" is: Not having the imagination necessary to see the possibility of a negative outcome to anything they might do. They can see other people getting hurt doing exactly what they plan to do but they don't/can't imagine that it will happen to them. It's like having the mental version of a blind-spot.

You can show them mountains of statistics about crashes, hours of pictures and videos of road-rashed bodies, and you can describe the pain involved in recovery from those things. But there's a mental wall between this reality and their view of themselves. All that information doesn't apply to them because something inside the squid's brain tells him that accidents only happen to other people. This leaves him completely worry-free and capable of trying just about anything.