You do not drive a motorcycle

[datter]

You drive a car.
You drive a golf ball.
You drive your insurance premiums up.
You drive your significant other up the wall...

...but you ride a motorcycle.

Just a pet peeve I needed to point out.

datter

[trbig]

I agree with you... but what's the distinguishing difference?

Tod

[manshack_one]

I'm going to play devils advocate here and say:

You RIDE a car, but you DRIVE a motorcycle.

I feel there is so much going on when you're operating
a motorcycle that it deserves a more proactive verb than 'ride'.

[Incubus]

I would say that riding, as opposed to driving, indicates a more active role on the part of the operator. When you ride something you have to balance your weight to your mount and react physically to its movements to achieve success. When you drive something you just steer it or point it in the right direction. You ride a horse; you drive cattle.

My bikes, I ride. My truck, I drive.

Patrick

[Dragonrider]

I don't ride or drive my motorcycle.

I pilot it.

[Dsxs11]

When I put my 6 year old son on the tank and let him have the controls and I take my hands off the grips. He tells the wife he droved the motorcycle. So when I tale the bike I now Droved the motorcycle.
So I droved mine.

[mason79]

i prefer ride over drive but if someone uses drive i would get what they mean i wolud not bother to correct them, unless, the rest of their english is bad, then i go away, life too short to be around people who can't commuinicate.

[fredintoon]

vehicle operating terms

"I pilot it". sez Dan.
Gee Dan,
airplanes and river boats are piloted.
Motorcycles and indeed anything the operator sits astride of, like a horse, are ridden.
Cars and other multi-tracked vehicles the operator uses a seat on, are driven.
Strong words on SCT re whether you ride or whether you drive a motorcycle & sidecar or a trike but I say Fred's "like a horse" analogy rules.
Messerschmitt Kabinenrollers are in a class of their own.

[fredintoon]

Datter sez:-
You drive a car.
You drive a golf ball.
You drive your insurance premiums up.
You drive your significant other up the wall...

Hi Datter,
here's a question for you:-
If you can beat eggs and you can whip cream, why can't you milk chocolate?

[Dragonrider]

Re: vehicle operating terms

Originally posted by fredintoon
"I pilot it". sez Dan.
Gee Dan,
airplanes and river boats are piloted.
Motorcycles and indeed anything the operator sits astride of, like a horse, are ridden.

I pilot it.

[fredintoon]

Ever see "Phantom of the Paradise"?

Hi Dan,
love your sketch. (your drafting skills have improved btw). Betcha a Honda Valkyrie has the same glide angle as a house-brick.
Quoting "Beef" from that movie:-
"I can tell drug-real from real-real, I'm a profethional!" (Beef lisped)

[Incubus]

That jet looks like it's due for a tuneup.....

[Dragonrider]

Re: Ever see "Phantom of the Paradise"?

Originally posted by fredintoon
Hi Dan,
love your sketch. (your drafting skills have improved btw). Betcha a Honda Valkyrie has the same glide angle as a house-brick.

Art is by Ron Lee. It's an illustration out of one of my books.

Glide angle? Heh...anything can fly with enough horsepower. Look at 747's!

[xschop]

pilot

yeah. I pilot as well. I trust my xs11 before I trust any plane....the airlines cut maintenance costs to make a profit, don't kid yourself....

[mason79]

Re: Re: vehicle operating terms

Originally posted by Dragonrider




I pilot it.

i wouldn't argue with pilot, as a competent motorcyclist is call upon to have more input and attention, to stay upright, and when a bike performs as commanded then i would think pilot may apply