Hello from Honda HQ in Torrance, CA! The Rebel gets it’s 500 mile service, and I get a tour.
I hate to sound ignorant but why did you call them squids? Back in high school 20 years ago in my part of town squids were the people they call goth today. Ps. Your blog is awesome!
No worries, we can’t all be on the up and up with these confangled new terms. Squid is used when talking about an inexperienced rider. Generally the term came from the fact that squids go fast in a straight line but are slow around corners. They generally think themselves invincible, and don’t wear proper protection.
The definition according to the oh-so-reputable Urban Dictionary:
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.
Interesting how motorcyclists are automatically is referred to as a “he” or “him” there…. haha!
And PS, thank you for the compliment!
Posted on September 9, 2011 in Motorcycles by Alicia Mariah Elfving