How to become a Test Rider

BobPA wrote:

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more...

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more average Joes out there riding than fringe national riders. I think companies could benefit from an average B rider who has a good basic understanding of how to setup a bike. All these test I see are based off of an ex-pro riding in SoCal moon dirt. Completely irrelevant to an east coast jabroni. The east coast is so much different than the Cali tracks it is almost pointless to watch the bike shootouts anymore.

 

Having said that I am available. I can provide Vet A speed for one lap, and then cruise moderately for however long they want. Although I can confidently say I cannot feel the difference in torqued linkage bolts....Because it is a load of crap. 

quadzrulebro wrote:

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance...

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance envelope to feel the differences.  For example, I used to do track days pretty frequently.  I was always one of the faster guys in the A group, but I was still 10 seconds off the track record set by Matt Mladin.  Road racing is really all about traction, and front end traction especially.  Even though I was normally in the top 3 lap times of the 100+ guys that were there for the track day, I never once felt my front end push or chatter because I wasn’t capable (or ballsy enough) of pushing my front end hard enough for that to happen.  This means that I’m not capable of testing chassis parts for street bikes.  That is why you need to be a fast guy to effectively test a motorcycle.

As far as the east vs west coast testing, that just comes down to time and money.  The majority of the industry is based in CA.  

steveloyer wrote:

Be really fast, live in California, be a good writer, grind for free for a long time.

Wouter27 wrote:

What's the definition of "Really fast"?is it close to pro riders speed or just faster than pro-am racers?Unfortunately, I live in South Africa so the part...

What's the definition of "Really fast"?
is it close to pro riders speed or just faster than pro-am racers?

Unfortunately, I live in South Africa so the part about Living in Cali. is out xD

Just need to fix some grammar issues then I am half way there.

Thanks for the response

BobPA wrote:

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more...

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more average Joes out there riding than fringe national riders. I think companies could benefit from an average B rider who has a good basic understanding of how to setup a bike. All these test I see are based off of an ex-pro riding in SoCal moon dirt. Completely irrelevant to an east coast jabroni. The east coast is so much different than the Cali tracks it is almost pointless to watch the bike shootouts anymore.

 

Having said that I am available. I can provide Vet A speed for one lap, and then cruise moderately for however long they want. Although I can confidently say I cannot feel the difference in torqued linkage bolts....Because it is a load of crap. 

quadzrulebro wrote:

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance...

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance envelope to feel the differences.  For example, I used to do track days pretty frequently.  I was always one of the faster guys in the A group, but I was still 10 seconds off the track record set by Matt Mladin.  Road racing is really all about traction, and front end traction especially.  Even though I was normally in the top 3 lap times of the 100+ guys that were there for the track day, I never once felt my front end push or chatter because I wasn’t capable (or ballsy enough) of pushing my front end hard enough for that to happen.  This means that I’m not capable of testing chassis parts for street bikes.  That is why you need to be a fast guy to effectively test a motorcycle.

As far as the east vs west coast testing, that just comes down to time and money.  The majority of the industry is based in CA.  

BobPA wrote:

You're missing my point. I'm never going to push my bike to the limit, why would I care how it reacts while being there? If you are...

You're missing my point. I'm never going to push my bike to the limit, why would I care how it reacts while being there?

 

If you are selling a product for the average Joe, wouldn't you be more concerned about how the bike reacts with the average Joe on board...at an average Joe pace? A 145lb national test rider has little in common with the guys who are buying most aftermarket products....

 

PS: being fast does not mean you are automatically able to feel every half mm of adjustment. That is a hilarious misconception to me.

BobPA wrote:

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more...

I find it funny that companies always go after the "ultra fast" bros for test riders. The way I see it, there are a lot more average Joes out there riding than fringe national riders. I think companies could benefit from an average B rider who has a good basic understanding of how to setup a bike. All these test I see are based off of an ex-pro riding in SoCal moon dirt. Completely irrelevant to an east coast jabroni. The east coast is so much different than the Cali tracks it is almost pointless to watch the bike shootouts anymore.

 

Having said that I am available. I can provide Vet A speed for one lap, and then cruise moderately for however long they want. Although I can confidently say I cannot feel the difference in torqued linkage bolts....Because it is a load of crap. 

quadzrulebro wrote:

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance...

The thing is, even though all us vets on Vital swear it isn’t true, you really need to be near the limits of a bike’s performance envelope to feel the differences.  For example, I used to do track days pretty frequently.  I was always one of the faster guys in the A group, but I was still 10 seconds off the track record set by Matt Mladin.  Road racing is really all about traction, and front end traction especially.  Even though I was normally in the top 3 lap times of the 100+ guys that were there for the track day, I never once felt my front end push or chatter because I wasn’t capable (or ballsy enough) of pushing my front end hard enough for that to happen.  This means that I’m not capable of testing chassis parts for street bikes.  That is why you need to be a fast guy to effectively test a motorcycle.

As far as the east vs west coast testing, that just comes down to time and money.  The majority of the industry is based in CA.  

BobPA wrote:

You're missing my point. I'm never going to push my bike to the limit, why would I care how it reacts while being there? If you are...

You're missing my point. I'm never going to push my bike to the limit, why would I care how it reacts while being there?

 

If you are selling a product for the average Joe, wouldn't you be more concerned about how the bike reacts with the average Joe on board...at an average Joe pace? A 145lb national test rider has little in common with the guys who are buying most aftermarket products....

 

PS: being fast does not mean you are automatically able to feel every half mm of adjustment. That is a hilarious misconception to me.

bens 152 wrote:

There is definitely an audience for ‘Average nobody testing parts’. Start a page, I’ll follow you. YouTube shorts/videos or Instagram clips, hell even Tik Tok. You would...

There is definitely an audience for ‘Average nobody testing parts’. Start a page, I’ll follow you. 

YouTube shorts/videos or Instagram clips, hell even Tik Tok. You would be amazed at how many views you can get in a short time. Can be short (for the ever decreasing attention spans) and write a caption in more detail. 

Bike shoot outs too. People are interested what the average Joe can notice between bikes. Legit bike shootouts are good when they include your average rider. 

nocturnalmotors wrote:

For the couple powersports manufacturers I've worked for, the development engineers did a fair amount of their own testing. Become an expert in suspension, chassis, or...

For the couple powersports manufacturers I've worked for, the development engineers did a fair amount of their own testing. Become an expert in suspension, chassis, or engine development. The "test riders" were farm boys who could take a beating. They mostly put hours on the machines and looked / limped around like they were shot most of the time.

Robgvx wrote:

Who you know, not what you know. 

Herr Lich wrote:

Who you blow, not what you know. 

Robgvx wrote:

Who you know, not what you know. 

Herr Lich wrote:

Who you blow, not what you know. 

NotCore wrote:

We need a better blocking system.  Herr Lich should disappear altogether.

Herr Lich wrote:

Who you blow, not what you know. 

NotCore wrote:

We need a better blocking system.  Herr Lich should disappear altogether.

Herr Lich wrote:

Hey RotCore, did your girlfriend GuyB put you up to this? Perhaps he even typed out your response while you were sitting on his knee?