Are all sports bike riders utter knobs, or is it just the ones that I know?

A tricky question. I'm not sure.

But a couple of years ago a couple of them were chatting about their latest crotch rockets in the office. They knew I was a scooter commuter.

As I passed one asked "what does yours do?".
I immediately responded "around 90". [pause] "to the gallon". And walked on.
Left 'em speechless.

I live in Kent near dover and down here the attitude is worse from the big chopper riders and the sports bikers, the maxi riders and commuter bikers are good.

majority of them are knobbers

They seem to be an endangered species these days...and not just cos so many of them wrap their bikes round the nearest tree!

I was behind one the other day - typically, rode even faster than me through a 30 limit, but was ridiculously cautious about overtaking! Followed him for a few miles and when we got to a slow bit, he was doing the usual sportsbiker thing of flexing his hand and finger muscles due to the discomfort!

MrGrumpy wrote:They seem to be an endangered species these days...and not just cos so many of them wrap their bikes round the nearest tree!

I was behind one the other day - typically, rode even faster than me through a 30 limit, but was ridiculously cautious about overtaking! Followed him for a few miles and when we got to a slow bit, he was doing the usual sportsbiker thing of flexing his hand and finger muscles due to the discomfort!

I love the way they weave back and fore to "warm their tyres up". One did it after overtaking a van I was driving then shot off into the distance at about 80 in a 40 limit. About 1/2 a mile on we saw him tumble into the heather off a nice sweeping right hander.

MrGrumpy wrote:They seem to be an endangered species these days...and not just cos so many of them wrap their bikes round the nearest tree!

It's pretty expensive in money and time. High cost machined, expensive insurance, new £150 back tyre every 3,000 miles, 35mpg if they are not ragging it too much, short range, wet feet etc. Then you have to spend a day not touring or getting anywhere for a reason, but just for 'fun' - i.e. time out to whizz about. Then the manufacturers wonder why bike sales decline - Duh!

I can understand racing but hooning about on public roads with the articles of death so close and the law so heavy just seems a waste to me. I'd (far) rather be on a C90 in the Alps than an R1 on the north circular.

I guess that's why I like touring or adventure bikes best, Although I'd not be averse to a CBR250 for the odd summer days commute

I come into contact with quite a few of them and yes,some are complete knobs.Some do nod to me on my scooter but not many.I rarely nod to anyone because I'm a miserable bugger

It does make me laugh when I see them weaving to warm up their tyres and once as I approached a large roundabout a twat on a GSXR600 went round it hanging off the seat.I almost fell off for laughing.

Normally once the sun comes out and the temperature exceed 15 degrees they come out in force. There doesn't seem to be that many down here so far this year though. Seen a few out on sunny weekends but never when
theres clouds in the sky.

Usual behaviour though - excessive speeding, overtaking on blind corners, tailgating etc. Worse when in groups
as then they all try to outdo each other or take risks to keep up.

One thing I noticed is they tend to ride to a gathering spot where they then all hang about gloating about the stupid things they've done today. 'I did 150mph down the bypass!' The gathering spot nearest to me is West Bay. Usually during 'riding season' most bikes will be heading towards West bay, then head away from it later in the afternoon.

I once brought a bike mag. Can't remember it's name for I was having my scooter serviced and I was bored. It had a review on the then new Honda VFR1200 which is why i got it. One thing I remember though was it moaned about 600cc's now costing as much as 1000cc bikes. The fact the 600cc's weighed a little more than before was also one thing I remember being moaned about. Personally I think a 600cc sports bike is more than enough for road use over a 1000cc sports bike.