what is a squid?
i've heard it before but in a military context. its a derogatory term for a sailor in the navy.

If memory serves it's a motorcycle rider with no "shell"

Shell being protective gear.

deja vu  

As Kerry would say:

"Do a search on squids and it will return many threads devoted to the topic of describing said rider type. If that does not satisfy your needs, try typing just squid in the subject line and you may find more threads."

er, well, he would have said something like that at least.  :mrgreen:

This was written by a member/mod on another board.  It's the best explanation I have found/seen.  Hope this helps.

The real meaning of SQUID

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Back in the "day" we called inexperienced riders,.. Squirrels. Why? Because real squirrels are erratic...never run in the same direction or speed twice, and they look scared all the time. This is much the way newbies ride their bikes.
Over a period of time someone made the connection that squirrels are usually kids...and put the two words "squirrels" and "kid" together and came up with "squid".
To us old timers.....if you continue to ride raggedy, wear flip flops and t-shirt when you are riding, do a wheelie away from every traffic light, and rev your engine to get attention,....you will always be a squid.
However if you get smart and wear the proper riding equiptment, and we find out that you are actually trying to aquire some skill and ride the bike in the manner for which it was designed,....you no longer need to concider yourself a "squid".
B. H.

Quote from: ghettoriggedAs Kerry would say:
[...]
er, well, he would have said something like that at least.  :mrgreen:

Well done -- Thanks for filling in!  

Looks like I got part of it right.   :lol:

QuoteBack in the "day" we called inexperienced riders,.. Squirrels

Whose day?  I've been riding and reading the enthusiast rags since the GS450 and have never been conscious of a time when squids were called squirrels.  I do remember the term   squirrelly handling mostly to describe worn tires and soft suspension.

Furthermore, I don't recall squid used before the nineties.  Think the Internet had more to do with popularizing the term, but would need to check back issues to verify my memory.  :dunno:

Quote from: Gisser

QuoteBack in the "day" we called inexperienced riders,.. Squirrels

Whose day?  I've been riding and reading the enthusiast rags since the GS450 and have never been conscious of a time when squids were called squirrels.  I do remember the term   squirrelly handling mostly to describe worn tires and soft suspension.

Furthermore, I don't recall squid used before the nineties.  Think the Internet had more to do with popularizing the term, but would need to check back issues to verify my memory.  :dunno:

The person who originally posted this is from one of the northern climes, maybe it was a geographic thing.  The only squids I remember growing up were the ones we threw on the ice at hockey games,
I just found his description to be the best one I have seen to this point.

I know I'm a squirrel,    hope I'm not a squid.  

I've read that the term started from the way noob sport-bike riders would accelerate real quick then slow down for the turn and then repeat the process again and again. A real squid supposedly does the same thing. Hence the term "SQUID". Seems plausible...but I do love Le Enfant G and the forum dedicated to her.

C.......

SQUID = Stupid Quick Unprotected Immanently Dead

Quote from: cernunosI've read that the term started from the way noob sport-bike riders would accelerate real quick then slow down for the turn and then repeat the process again and again. A real squid supposedly does the same thing. Hence the term "SQUID". Seems plausible...but I do love Le Enfant G and the forum dedicated to her.

C.......

I've heard something similar.  Squids in nature apparently go fast in one direction.  Squids on bikes do the same thing, but usually on one wheel.

personally, i just call them dipshits.  but hey, that's me.

Zara, why do I get the feeling that you would survive quite well in a post-apocalyptic "Mad Max" world? I can see it now...you drivin' the tanker truck, Ed on top with a quad .50 set-up and Casi runnin' interference in a dune buggy..."die squid, die..." :lol: Love this little cycle and the forum.

C.......

ok.  whether its for navy dudes or unprotected show-offs, i guess it is still a negative term.  i'm going to just try to keep doing my own thing and hope it doesn't make me a squid or a squirrel.