Motorbikes more dangerous, campaigner warns

[Str8 Jacket]

I was reading through Stuff this morning and came across this article:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3722442a11,00.html

IN FULL:
The recent rise in motorbike sales would inevitably mean a big increase in road deaths and injuries, a car magazine editor and road safety campaigner said yesterday.


Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of car buyers publication the Dog and Lemon Guide, said Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ) figures showed motorcyclists were 40 times as likely to be killed or injured than a person driving a car.

Motorbike registrations rose for the 27th consecutive month in June when 758 bikes were sold, according to LTNZ figures.

There was a 45 per cent increase in motorbike sales since January, compared to last year, the figures showed.

"High fuel prices mean there's a natural temptation to switch to two wheels but people really need to realise the risks they are taking when they ride a motorbike," Matthew-Wilson said.

"In Britain, motorcyclists represent 1 per cent of traffic but 20 per cent of deaths and serious injuries."

LTNZ spokesman Andy Knackstedt agreed and said the risk of injury and death was higher for a motorcyclist than a car driver.

AdvertisementAdvertisement"There's no arguing with that.

"It's basic physics. I mean if you're in a car you have got two tonnes of steel surrounding you, you've got airbags, and you've got seatbelts and everything else.

"If you're on a motorbike, I mean even if you are doing everything right as the motorbike rider, if somebody pulls out in front of you and you are involved in a crash the only thing you've really got protecting you is your helmet."

Matthew-Wilson said many of the people who were switching to motorbikes were young, inexperienced riders with little understanding of the risks they were taking.

He said he was particularly concerned about the "mini chopper" scooters popular with young men.

The height of these scooters meant they were largely invisible when travelling behind many higher vans and 4WD vehicles, Matthew-Wilson said.

He said he thought it should be much harder to get a motorcycle licence than to get a car licence because of the higher risk riding a motorcycle posed.

"The least safe car is still probably 40 times safer than the safest motorbike.

"You can't simply allow young people to hop on to motorcycles after a couple of days training because the consequences are likely to be tragic."

Mr Knackstedt said it took about 18 months for someone to get a full motorcycle licence.

"You do have to sit a skills course and pass a practical test."

But he said LTNZ also encouraged people to do more than the minimum that was legally required.

"We encourage people to do safe riding courses, because the more you can do to protect yourself the better."

Mr Knackstedt added that motorcyclists were not allowed to ride a motorbike with a large engine size straight away, but had to progress from a smaller one first.

Matthew-Wilson – a former motorbike enthusiast – said he understood bikes could be "irresistibly enticing" and had a cool image.

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.

However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said.



This last paragraph kind of surprised me! Im also glad that they mention that Mini Choppers are dangerous... Do you guy's reckon that the figures they include in this article include scooters? If so why do they not list them as mopeds or scooters or are we always going to be grouped in with the scooters?

[Pumba]

The scooter thing is a major concern. He says it only takes 18 months to get a bike licence, what he fails to mention is a large scale of these "motorcycle" sales are actually scooters which need no specific licence, apart from a car, to ride. And from my observations riding and driving around auckland scooter riders apear to skimp on important safety equipment as well.

Easy answer, make Motorcycles a regerstration class and Mopeds/scooters another and then we will see what the stats say.

[Str8 Jacket]

Why cant they say there were xxx amount of moped/scooter registrations and xxx amount of motorbike registrations. Or they could even do it by the cc rating 59cc and under and 59cc and over?

[Motu]

Scooters ARE motorcyclists,so are those wankers racing around on sportsbikes in the weekends and crashing everywhere.I'd like to divorce myself from them too....but we are stuck with the people who can't ride to their ability having ''accidents'' and bumping up statistics.Live with it - I see nothing wrong with the article.

[Str8 Jacket]

Scooters ARE motorcyclists,so are those wankers racing around on sportsbikes in the weekends and crashing everywhere.I'd like to divorce myself from them too....but we are stuck with the people who can't ride to their ability having ''accidents'' and bumping up statistics.Live with it - I see nothing wrong with the article.

I see nothing wrong with the article either. My original question was do they include mopeds in the numbers for motorbikes and yes they obviously do as you say. I also have nothing against scooters, cruisers or any other type of "bike". I was just asking a question as I wasnt sure how they grouped us "motorcyclists". I was more amazed that the media actually admit that car drivers cause the majority of accidents which was more the reason I posted the story. Yes I know motorbikes are dangerous, but thats also part of the charm!

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Article on the front page of the NZ Herald this morning. Same story really...still good to get a bike story on the front page 2 days in a row.
May be some one at the AA and LTSA will figure we are a significant group of road users ( and growing all the time ). However a bitch, how come 99% of the riders of pitbikes / minichoppers I see on the road have next to no safety gear and ride with their lights off ? Hell they're the smallest things on the road, are they all invincible or something ?:scooter:

[Motu]

I was more amazed that the media actually admit that car drivers cause the majority of accidents !

I don't admit car drivers cause ''accidents'' - that's a cop out,we need to vastly improve our riding skills and stop blaming other people for our own mistakes.

[James Deuce]

I'm with Motu here, but I am EXTREMELY dubious about the credentials of man who imports a Hindustan Ambassador as his private vehicle and then proceeds to lecture everyone via the Dog & Lemon guide about what car they should buy.

[Str8 Jacket]

I don't admit car drivers cause ''accidents'' - that's a cop out,we need to vastly improve our riding skills and stop blaming other people for our own mistakes.

For sure, but this morning while riding to work in the rain a 4WD tried changing lanes into my lane while I was riding in the lane right next to him! This kind of thing happens all the time to me and while I accept that I need to improve my riding skills I get sick of going to brake everytime I go past an intersection with another driver waiting just cause they might pull out in front of me.

[Ixion]

Matthew-Wilson – a former motorbike enthusiast – said he understood bikes could be "irresistibly enticing" and had a cool image.

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.

However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said.


So, by his own admission, an incompetant squid who crashed,injured himself and decides that "motorcyclies are dangerous". Not surprised he drives a Morris Oxford, he's found his level of competance.

[Ixion]

For sure, but this morning while riding to work in the rain a 4WD tried changing lanes into my lane while I was riding in the lane right next to him! This kind of thing happens all the time to me and while I accept that I need to improve my riding skills I get sick of going to brake everytime I go past an intersection with another driver waiting just cause they might pull out in front of me.

Why? I always do, it's not a problem. No might, they WILL pull out in front of you. Just think of it as a challenge, like those computer games. I count 'em up as I ride to werk, haha , seven of'em tried this morning, mwahhah, you all failed sort of thing.

[Lou Girardin]

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.



This explains a lot. It must have been head injuries.
NZ's self-appointed 'road safety' expert, who used to drive a Morris Oxford that he retrofitted airbags to. "It was much safer than modern cars because it was so strong".
It says it all about this country, that they give this guy credibility.

No-one has mentioned an increase in fatals for us though.

[Finn]

I bet they were up all night thinking of that one.

[Str8 Jacket]

Why?

Cause I am an angry person, cause I get pissed of that other road users dont look, cause I get easily stressed, cause I wish that I could carry a gun on my bike.....

A year ago I had never even driven a car on the road (bar once when I was 15). Before then I had never experienced road rage and inconsiderant drivers/riders now having been on the road less than 11 months while teaching myself to ride and learn the road code etc I have developed a major case of Road Rage! I never realised how many idiots (drivers and riders) were really out there, I reckon travelling around town is one of the most stressful things you can do, even more stressful than my job. I would just really love to be able to go out and just ride from A to B just concentrating on what IM doing not what the car up the road, in front of me, reversing out of that carpark or turning vehicle is going to do. Not to mention kids playing cricket in the middle of the road, but thats a whole different story!
Me, I just look forward to the weekends when I can get as far from town as possible and just RIDE!

[James Deuce]

Hels - give it away. That attitude will kill you.

[Str8 Jacket]

Hels - give it away. That attitude will kill you.


Im just pissed that I was almost killed on the way to work twice this morning while travelling at 30KPH! I had to ride up on a footpath just to avoid being run over by a 4WD. Put the shits up me it did, hence the "mood" this morning....

[Motu]

[QUOTE]
Matthew-Wilson – a former motorbike enthusiast – said he understood bikes could be "irresistibly enticing" and had a cool image.

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.

However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said.



So, by his own admission, an incompetant squid who crashed,injured himself and decides that "motorcyclies are dangerous". Not surprised he drives a Morris Oxford, he's found his level of competance.

I thought the Dog and Lemon Guide was pretty good,a view taken from my side of the fence....but once he got ''famous'' then he made his own agender.Has a few accidents,blames them on cars and gives up bikes as too dangerous - NOT the sort of spokesman were want for our cause.

Air bags in an Oxbox - faaaaark?!!!!!

[James Deuce]

You've got to drop it. Anger and fear are two emotions that focus the mind. A bad thing on a motorcycle because when you are really angry you lose peripheral vision and you target fixate on the object you need to kill or run away from. You also stop breathing long enough to affect the way circulation works, a big chunk of your body goes into anerobic respiration as your aerobic capacity gets overwhelmed by your adrenalin fuelled large muscle groups. If the event doesn't get you, the aftermath can because for a time after an event like that you are running at less than optimal.

Fear or anger also should indicate to a motorcyclist that they aren't expending enough energy on situational awareness. Riding, even in town should be a Zen affair. Negative energy is a lot more lethal on a bike.

[The_Dover]

Just have a joint before you ride to work.

You'll be calm and relaxed and in no hurry, waaaay safer.

[Squeak the Rat]

Who is this plonker.

"He said he thought it should be much harder to get a motorcycle licence than to get a car licence because of the higher risk riding a motorcycle posed."

"However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said."

So car drivers cause the crashes but their training and skill levels should be at a lower standard...... Hmmmmm.

I've erased everything else he said from my memory. More room to think about beer and food.....

[Str8 Jacket]

Yep, I know what you are saying Jim... I usually ride with a clear head and enjoy it however this morning I was riding along quite happily when a 4WD's front wheel almost hit my front wheel, I had braked but before I knew it they were just about to run me over so I had to go for the footpath where I came to a standstill and he just drove off. Less than 100 metres up the same road another 4WD tried doing the same thing but they were ahead of me so I blasted my horn and flashed my lights onto full and they went back to there lane... So I was more than a little angry/shook up when I got to work and then I read this article....

[Squeak the Rat]

You've got to drop it. Anger and fear are two emotions that focus the mind. A bad thing on a motorcycle because when you are really angry you lose peripheral vision and you target fixate on the object you need to kill or run away from. You also stop breathing long enough to affect the way circulation works, a big chunk of your body goes into anerobic respiration as your aerobic capacity gets overwhelmed by your adrenalin fuelled large muscle groups. If the event doesn't get you, the aftermath can because for a time after an event like that you are running at less than optimal.

Fear or anger also should indicate to a motorcyclist that they aren't expending enough energy on situational awareness. Riding, even in town should be a Zen affair. Negative energy is a lot more lethal on a bike.

I really just quoted that in case some people didn't read it the first time. Wise words Jim.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Motorbikes more dangerous, campaigner warns

Nope. Motorcycles are safe. As long as no dumb shit hits you or you do something silly to fall off.

Have you ever noticed when a car and a ike are put in a racing situation. There seems to be alot more car related deaths than motorcycles?.
Its because in a racing environment you haven't got a 80 year old blind woman behind the wheel of a 5 ton SUV.



Matthew-Wilson – a former motorbike enthusiast – said he understood bikes could be "irresistibly enticing" and had a cool image.

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.

However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said.

So if its the car drivers causing the accidents, How about teaching those stupid fuckers to drive. Rather than tryingto teach us to be super human and be able to avoid every situation.

[James Deuce]

So if its the car drivers causing the accidents, How about teaching those stupid fuckers to drive. Rather than tryingto teach us to be super human and be able to avoid every situation.

Always remember that the lowest common denominator is practically subterranean and you'll be mostly fine. If you can think of something really stupid someone is doing it right now.

[Str8 Jacket]

Always remember that the lowest common denominator is practically subterranean and you'll be mostly fine. If you can think of something really stupid someone is doing it right now.


LOL! Cheers for the laugh Jim, first of the day and much needed!

[Squeak the Rat]

Damn, busted.

[Goblin]

Who is this plonker.

"He said he thought it should be much harder to get a motorcycle licence than to get a car licence because of the higher risk riding a motorcycle posed."

"However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said."

So car drivers cause the crashes but their training and skill levels should be at a lower standard...... Hmmmmm.

That bit got me too! How the fu*k did he work that one out? Car driver's should be made to ride a moped or scooter for one year before they are allowed to graduate to a car. I'm sure that would make all drivers more aware of motorcyclists on the roads. It should be MUCH harder to get a car licence and there should be some sort of motorbike "Awareness" training in there somewhere.
My 2c.

[ajturbo]

Im just pissed that I was almost killed on the way to work twice this morning while travelling at 30KPH! I had to ride up on a footpath just to avoid being run over by a 4WD. Put the shits up me it did, hence the "mood" this morning....

get ya self a BIG LOUD HORN... :angry:
steel capped boots ( you know, the ones that you got to parties wiv.) :angry:
a steel bar ( to smash windows):angry:

take it easy down there matey... i DON'T want to have to come down an photgraph more bruising....:blip:

[Str8 Jacket]

get ya self a BIG LOUD HORN... :angry:


I have two air horns on the KR, which is why I was not run over by the second 4WD....

[marty]

i just bought a new SUV - there's plenty of those mini choppers where i live....i might get lucky yet :)

[Macktheknife]

Cause I am an angry person, cause I get pissed of that other road users dont look, cause I get easily stressed, cause I wish that I could carry a gun on my bike.....

A year ago I had never even driven a car on the road (bar once when I was 15). Before then I had never experienced road rage and inconsiderant drivers/riders now having been on the road less than 11 months while teaching myself to ride and learn the road code etc I have developed a major case of Road Rage! I never realised how many idiots (drivers and riders) were really out there, I reckon travelling around town is one of the most stressful things you can do, even more stressful than my job. I would just really love to be able to go out and just ride from A to B just concentrating on what IM doing not what the car up the road, in front of me, reversing out of that carpark or turning vehicle is going to do. Not to mention kids playing cricket in the middle of the road, but thats a whole different story!
Me, I just look forward to the weekends when I can get as far from town as possible and just RIDE!
Hey str8,
I can understand where you are coming from but you need to think about this a bit more IMO. the bit bolded above is the only bit that troubles me, this is exactly the kind of attitude that many cagers have, they dont think about the kids, traffic, other road users thats why they cause so many problems.
You need to accept that cagers are stupid by nature and they do stupid things, then you can stop stressing about it and just deal with it. It is the responsibility of ANY road user to consider the environment in which they travel, including kids, trucks, bikes, idiots of all types, and road conditions, that is what you are supposed to do. The fact that you are doing it is great, just remember not to be pissed off about it, you are doing what you are meant to do.
As for the Dog and Lemon guy, well seriously what can you expect from someone who contradicts themselves in only 3 sentences and drives a 40 year old car because it's safer! Why be upset with someone like this, pity the poor man who has not got the courage to live his life without wrapping himself in steel and airbags because he is so fearful!
Today you took action to protect yourself from idiots and you were very successful...twice. Congratulate yourself on what you have done and recognise that you are becoming a better rider because of it.
Cheers
Mack

[Sparky Bills]

Its the same old story. Nothing changes, and nothing ever will!

Let people make up their own mind, if they dont want to ride, thats cool.
What ever they do, ill still be on my bike most weekdays and weekends.

Im never going to stop riding!
They can raise the acc levys, tax us more, pick on us on the roads. Its not going to stop me!

[Str8 Jacket]

Today you took action to protect yourself from idiots and you were very successful...twice. Congratulate yourself on what you have done and recognise that you are becoming a better rider because of it.
Cheers
Mack

Mate, I fully agree with everything you, Jim, Motu and Ixion have all said. I usually dont have a problem with avoiding other road users and do accept that most of them just dont see us. Anyone that knows me knows that I have escaped many many many situations purely just by being aware of what is going on around me. Ive watched as a car has pulled into a lane in front of a car in front of me and braked only to have the two cars crash right in front of me and had I not had braked I wouldve crashed right into them... I had an old guy literally walk out of the shadows (dark night) straight into my bike, I stopped in time to save his head while thcar tailgating me managed to avoid me. Just about everyday a car pulls out in front of me or changes lanes on top of me, I manage to avoid an accident at least 2-3 times a week. Last month a taxi driver opened his door right on top of me while a 4WD'er was coming straight toward me on my side of the lane and I managed to stop without doing to much damage to the taxi door. Trust me I know about being aware and usually I just get over these things. However somewhere along the way this morning while riding in the pissing rain with my hayfever persistently letting me know it was there and after those 2 drivers tried killing me then getting to work only to have to fix other numbnuts problems I snapped after reading that article!

The thread was supposed to be purely about that article but obviously went of track by my own doing...

[Macktheknife]

Well then.... carry on! lol
Hope you get to feel better today hayfaver in this weather isnt much fun. enjoy the rest of the week anyway
Mack

[Str8 Jacket]

Well then.... carry on! lol
Hope you get to feel better today hayfaver in this weather isnt much fun. enjoy the rest of the week anyway
Mack

Cheers mate, I feel heaps better after a vent. Dont know if my workmates liked it though.... I feel crappy and want to go to bed but to be honest im probably alot safer just staying at work!

[Bend-it]

That's the spirit Sparky!!


Motorcycing is not a hobby, It is a way of life!

Just gotta keep it a way of life more than a way of death is all... ;)

[Fatjim]

And that includes motocyclists. We don't often learn untill we're "punished" in some sort of way. That may be a lack of skin on your thighs from an off, your kid drowns because you weren't watching or you get electrocuted when you stuck the keys on the power socket. Hence the saying "you'll only do that once won't you?"

The same goes for cage drivers. I agree they should have a higher standard of training than motorcyclists because they are less likely to learn the hard way when they pull out in front of someone. Whereas a motorcyclist learns the hard way every time they ride. What if the minimum age of a driver is a year older than a motorcyclist, then they would be more likely to start as a motorcyclist.

I also agree in the steal caps. A good kick to the door after the shite that Str8 goes through, (and she's been knocked off more I can remember) not only saves her but the rest of us, from that idiot the next time they start texting/talking/eating/smoking while driving.

I'm a fan of DFWM. Don't Fuck With Motorcyclists.

[Swoop]

Lets b h0nest here guys motorbikes are gay no matter what shape or form they come in. im not kidding, look owt ur window, its raining, mmm thats tempting 2 go for a ride. not. whats worse than wearing leather??? wearing wet leather! im just staring 2 realise how much better cars are! i mean a roof!! that genius!! why cant bikes have 1 of them? oh thats rite, bikes are gay.
Poor attempt at a troll, too obvious.
2/10.

See me after class.

[Korea]

...I also agree in the steal caps. A good kick to the door after the shite that Str8 goes through, (and she's been knocked off more I can remember) not only saves her but the rest of us, from that idiot the next time they start texting/talking/eating/smoking while driving.

I'm a fan of DFWM. Don't Fuck With Motorcyclists.
Who gave you exclusive rights to damage other people's property?
What if the shoe was on the other foot? Eg/ Bike pulls out on a car, or splits dangerously in moving traffic? Should car drivers take revenge on us???
I can see the car forums now:
"Yeah, bikers need to be punished or they'll never learn. Keep a steel bar with ya and clothesline 'em, or when one splits lanes, knock him off the bike with your car"

Dude, one revenge just begets another revenge. If not against you, then against another poor rider.

Think about it ~ if you were in a car and did something silly, would having a biker smash your door in or smashing your mirror off make you see the error of your ways???
"Oh, thank you for roughing up my property - I've really learnt my lesson now. Sorry Mr. Biker! I'll be more careful next time..."
Yeah, right.

Maybe you don't really ride around with a steel bar, but there's probably plenty of impressionable KBers on here who might take you seriously and get some silly ideas of their own.

Wise up to dealing with car driver's daily moronic episodes; it's part of the riding gig.

Safe riding all...
*rant over*

[SPman]

This explains a lot. .................
No-one has mentioned an increase in fatals for us though.
She said 19 motorcyclists had been killed this year, compared with 24 at the same time last year.

ON THEIR BIKES

2003: 6772 new motorcycle registrations, 761 injuries and 28 fatalities.

2004: 8869 new registrations, 721 injuries and 34 fatalities.

2005: 12,789 new registrations, 903 injuries and 36 fatalities.

[Rashika]

interesting stats.
So although the number of bikes has gone up hugely the injuries is only moderate and the fatalities minimal. That seems to fk up their theory of major increase in accidents just a little.
The bit that still gets me though is that they do lump all the 2 wheeled motored vehicles together, even though as said on other threads scooter riders only have to have a *licence*, either car or bike....so a lot of scooter riders prob dont have bike licences. Seems little point in making a bike licence harder to get if they dont need it in the first place.
So I guess out there at the moment, there are probably an awful lot of ex-car drivers just figuring out that there are a lot of wanker car drivers out there too... :blip: ahhh now THAT thought is quite nice.
Unfortunately it probably wont be the *average* driver who does convert over... just all the broke ones, who could never afford a great big hulking killer 4WD anyway!

[hsvboy06]

It should be MUCH harder to get a car licence
and car drivers should be limited to 250cc for the first 12 months!

[sunhuntin]

str8...not a dig at you ok. but just my thoughts...

way i see it...there heaps of stuff out there that can seriously injure or kill one of us every day.....whether its white paint in the wet, or a sparrow flies into us, or a car comes out of nowhere and sends us flying, or we come off and go through that cheese grater shit thats everywhere.... we cant get rid of the bird or the cage anymore than we can erase the white paint or up root the cheese cutter.....the last two are a permanent part of our surroundings, we know they are there, so take extra caution.
we dont know what the cager is going to do...so we just assume the worst and take more caution. ive had cagers pull some stupid shit on me as well....underpassing, driving so close i literally cant see much more than the grill in my mirrors, overtaking on the highway and forcing me out of the lane to do so, pulling out of a stop sign and connecting with me, putting me on crutches and then refusing to pay.
the amount of moped riders i get in my job wearing little more than a helmet, i just shake my head and hope darwin goes easy on them. 99% are young [ie, high school] and wouldnt have a clue....they ride in clusters, all over the roads and some even on the footpaths. ive even seen kids on scooters towing kids on skateboards. if a learner car is looking to get out on a scooter, then they should have to apply for something similar to a motorbike license but that would not permit them over 50cc.....like car learners 101 kinda deal...just an extra stamp and some indepth training...maybe as a school course, run by AA or something. i would have done that course if it had been avaliable at school. one class did do car driving lessons...which i refused to do.

[Str8 Jacket]

Ok, so most have taken my thread completely the wrong way. It did not start out as a dig at other road users or about my anger problem. I was just simply interested in the facts etc of the article and what others thought about it. The fact that I had almost been run over twice this morning prompted me to post it out of general interest. Yes I have bad luck while riding sometimes, but I dont usually get as worked up over it as I did today. This morning it was pissing wth rain and I was feeling like shite only to get to work to find out I had to fix other incompetentness (new word?) so yes I did get worked up in some of my posts but I dont usually get so worked up, I usually laugh about it....

[Goblin]

and car drivers should be limited to 250cc for the first 12 months!
1200cc's would do, with no mods.

[number33]

Look, anyone who takes notice of the mealy-mouthed tosser knakstid, well, they deserve to fall off their bike. Cocky's are breaking their necks arsing off 4-wheelers, so lets hammer motorcyclists in the pocket for it. That's their mentality. Lets suck off another few billion bucks into the ACC slush fund. Any retard who rides a motorbike deserves to be robbed blind. Isn't that right? Don't give me the "oh, but ACC levies have dropped" crap. It's just temporary bullshit. They'll hit ya next year with a double whammy. No different than a drop in petrol price for 2 fucken days.

Who the fuck is this other queer bastard with the hyphenated name? What's his fucken story? What the fuck does he know? Full of shit no doubt at all. DOH - motorbikes are dangerous in a crash. So??? What's your fucken point? These toads and their fawning, cocksucking followers are the arseholes who are gonna eventually piss over all motorcyclists with more and more and more bullshit rules, taxes and regulations. When we're all sitting in cotton wool wrapped up in fucken nappies - then they'll be happy.

[SPman]

When we're all sitting in cotton wool wrapped up in fucken nappies - then they'll be happy.
No they won't - they'll just fix their sights on their next victims - kids on skateboards probably!

[speights_bud]

Lets b h0nest here guys motorbikes are gay no matter what shape or form they come in. im not kidding, look owt ur window, its raining, mmm thats tempting 2 go for a ride. not. whats worse than wearing leather??? wearing wet leather! im just staring 2 realise how much better cars are! i mean a roof!! that genius!! why cant bikes have 1 of them? oh thats rite, bikes are gay.

The above post was not made by me, it appears that my user name has been auto logged into by somebody else on their computer, no doubt some prick from school.(who i may happen to know). This is most likely because i am the only motorcyclist at school they are all clearly jealous and don't know what they're missing out on. (that and i stole his mates ball date:blip: )
Sorry for the inconvienience. Password has now been changed...

[Wolf]

Always remember that the lowest common denominator is practically subterranean and you'll be mostly fine.
So you're saying a lot of people out there are troglodytes...

[James Deuce]

Yes.

(10fc)

[Lias]

Cause I am an angry person ..... cause I wish that I could carry a gun on my bike.....
~Hey man you know I'm really okay
The gun in my hand will tell you the same
But when I'm in my car
Don't give me no crap
Cause the slightest thing and I just might snap
When I go driving I stay in my lane
But getting cut off it makes me insane
I open the glove box
Reach inside
I'm gonna wreck this fucker's ride
I guess I got a bad habit
Of blowin' away~

[Str8 Jacket]

Doh! I really was in a bad mood yesterday! Still feel crappy but took the day of today...

[yungatart]

Hope you are feeling better today:sunny:

[Str8 Jacket]

Hope you are feeling better today:sunny:

Yes thanks, I had a lovely ride down to the supermarket to get tissues and lemons. Trust me to be sick on a sunny day! Oh yeah, sneezing and helmets go together like laxatives and no toilet paper....

[snuffles]

Yes thanks, I had a lovely ride down to the supermarket to get tissues and lemons. Trust me to be sick on a sunny day! Oh yeah, sneezing and helmets go together like laxatives and no toilet paper....


so what do you do with tissues and lemons?????? dont tellme it will only excite Jim2

[Str8 Jacket]

so what do you do with tissues and lemons?????? dont tellme it will only excite Jim2

Jim likes lemon and honey drinks THAT much?! :blah:

[yungatart]

Jim likes lemon and honey drinks THAT much?! :blah:
Nah mate,its the tissues-all soft and fluffy like....

[snuffles]

Jim likes lemon and honey drinks THAT much?! :blah:

well he does wear a trench coat and a weird looking hat, wouldnt be suprised if he gets turned on by cold remedies.......

[Wolf]

Nah mate,its the tissues-all soft and fluffy like....
I don't even want to think of the use Jim2 would have for tissues...

:devil2:

[Str8 Jacket]

Not helping me feel better guy's!

[yungatart]

I don't even want to think of the use Jim2 would have for tissues...

:devil2:
Ummm.. blowing his nose?
Enjoy your lemon and honey drink SJ, I promise to be good now:innocent:

[aiki]

They need high stats of injury to maintain the excuse to keep rego higher than cars.
Scooters are very dangerous, most riders of 50cc don't consider proper gear, when they use their face as a break at 50km maybe they might start thinking fullface.
The dumb tits in parliment allow 50cc scooters to go around without WOF, what the!!!! You need a WOF for a trailer for cryin out load.
Scooter riders usually tear thru the traffic with no real idea of how dangerous their small wheels are on slippery roads, nor do the new breed have enuf experience to think defensivly{sp}.
The more mature riders main problem is to avoid the dumb fuck drivers from running us off the road.
Keep your wits about you, wear some decent gear and please if you are on those little scooters just slow down and remember you are a tiny fish in a big pond of sharks waiting to eat you:bash:
I used to have a larger scooter and it is the only bike I've had where I had a big wipeout, fullface protection luckily as my head was 1st to make contact. So I'm not against them, just the way some fools ride them.

[Lou Girardin]

Scooters are very dangerous, most riders of 50cc don't consider proper gear, when they use their face as a break at 50km maybe they might start thinking fullface.
The dumb tits in parliment allow 50cc scooters to go around without WOF, .

Scooters are safer than bikes.
Only mopeds don't need a WOF. That's less than 2.4KW. They're not much quicker than a bicycle.

[Rashika]

Scooters are safer than bikes.
Only mopeds don't need a WOF. That's less than 2.4KW. They're not much quicker than a bicycle.
most scooters scare the bejessaz outa me.... those tiny wee wheels, and having no real control using your body i.e. your legs to grip the bike....blah, would happily have a throw-ya-leg-over motorbike anyday.
My sis had a niftyfifty for awhile, but gave it up cos she felt so insecure on it after a couple of lowsides for no real reason, and got my old GN instead. :scooter:

[Lou Girardin]

Yeah, but fewer people kill themselves on them. Could it be that the perceived risk theory has something to it.
Maybe they should ban protective gear.

[Rashika]

Yeah, but fewer people kill themselves on them. Could it be that the perceived risk theory has something to it.
Maybe they should ban protective gear.
I suspect it may be more to do with the lack of warp factor 10 available to scooters.... ;) less likely to kill yourself at 50kms, altho just as likely to be run down by a car :yes:

[oldrider]

I was reading through Stuff this morning and came across this article:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3722442a11,00.html

IN FULL:
The recent rise in motorbike sales would inevitably mean a big increase in road deaths and injuries, a car magazine editor and road safety campaigner said yesterday.


Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of car buyers publication the Dog and Lemon Guide, said Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ) figures showed motorcyclists were 40 times as likely to be killed or injured than a person driving a car.

Motorbike registrations rose for the 27th consecutive month in June when 758 bikes were sold, according to LTNZ figures.

There was a 45 per cent increase in motorbike sales since January, compared to last year, the figures showed.

"High fuel prices mean there's a natural temptation to switch to two wheels but people really need to realise the risks they are taking when they ride a motorbike," Matthew-Wilson said.

"In Britain, motorcyclists represent 1 per cent of traffic but 20 per cent of deaths and serious injuries."

LTNZ spokesman Andy Knackstedt agreed and said the risk of injury and death was higher for a motorcyclist than a car driver.

AdvertisementAdvertisement"There's no arguing with that.

"It's basic physics. I mean if you're in a car you have got two tonnes of steel surrounding you, you've got airbags, and you've got seatbelts and everything else.

"If you're on a motorbike, I mean even if you are doing everything right as the motorbike rider, if somebody pulls out in front of you and you are involved in a crash the only thing you've really got protecting you is your helmet."

Matthew-Wilson said many of the people who were switching to motorbikes were young, inexperienced riders with little understanding of the risks they were taking.

He said he was particularly concerned about the "mini chopper" scooters popular with young men.

The height of these scooters meant they were largely invisible when travelling behind many higher vans and 4WD vehicles, Matthew-Wilson said.

He said he thought it should be much harder to get a motorcycle licence than to get a car licence because of the higher risk riding a motorcycle posed.

"The least safe car is still probably 40 times safer than the safest motorbike.

"You can't simply allow young people to hop on to motorcycles after a couple of days training because the consequences are likely to be tragic."

Mr Knackstedt said it took about 18 months for someone to get a full motorcycle licence.

"You do have to sit a skills course and pass a practical test."

But he said LTNZ also encouraged people to do more than the minimum that was legally required.

"We encourage people to do safe riding courses, because the more you can do to protect yourself the better."

Mr Knackstedt added that motorcyclists were not allowed to ride a motorbike with a large engine size straight away, but had to progress from a smaller one first.

Matthew-Wilson – a former motorbike enthusiast – said he understood bikes could be "irresistibly enticing" and had a cool image.

But he stopped riding after several major injuries.

However, it was usually car drivers that caused the accidents, not motorcyclists, he said.



This last paragraph kind of surprised me! Im also glad that they mention that Mini Choppers are dangerous... Do you guy's reckon that the figures they include in this article include scooters? If so why do they not list them as mopeds or scooters or are we always going to be grouped in with the scooters?
This crappy article is in today's "Otago Daily Times" are they trying to run an "Anti Bike Campaign" around the country!
What a load of contradictory bullshit. John.

[iluvbikz]

My last trip down the tar on my back was caused by a car changin lanes on top of me, i have had 5 road accidents, no serious injuries, largely thanks to the skills i developed riding mx and enduro for about 7 yrs b4 i went near the road. But often i walked away due to dumb luck. All my road accidents have been caused by car drivers either failing to give way or changing lanes without looking properly.

[crshbndct]

You've got to drop it. Anger and fear are two emotions that focus the mind. A bad thing on a motorcycle because when you are really angry you lose peripheral vision and you target fixate on the object you need to kill or run away from. You also stop breathing long enough to affect the way circulation works, a big chunk of your body goes into anerobic respiration as your aerobic capacity gets overwhelmed by your adrenalin fuelled large muscle groups. If the event doesn't get you, the aftermath can because for a time after an event like that you are running at less than optimal.

Fear or anger also should indicate to a motorcyclist that they aren't expending enough energy on situational awareness. Riding, even in town should be a Zen affair. Negative energy is a lot more lethal on a bike.


so to summarise
fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hates leads to the dark side. (buyin a cage instead of a bike)

[James Deuce]

so to summarise
fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hates leads to the dark side. (buyin a cage instead of a bike)

Padawan of promise, great, you are

[Zapf]

Fear or anger also should indicate to a motorcyclist that they aren't expending enough energy on situational awareness. Riding, even in town should be a Zen affair. Negative energy is a lot more lethal on a bike.

Interesting... maybe thats why I wasn't scared jumping out of a plane earlier this year either...

[Insanity_rules]

Yep, I know what you are saying Jim... I usually ride with a clear head and enjoy it however this morning I was riding along quite happily when a 4WD's front wheel almost hit my front wheel, I had braked but before I knew it they were just about to run me over so I had to go for the footpath where I came to a standstill and he just drove off. Less than 100 metres up the same road another 4WD tried doing the same thing but they were ahead of me so I blasted my horn and flashed my lights onto full and they went back to there lane... So I was more than a little angry/shook up when I got to work and then I read this article....

Jeez Hels sorry to hear about your near misses. Yeah I get pretty mad too when you see these supposedly educated people mouthing off about motorcycle safety. I'd only really respect an opinion and data from a fellow biker rather than these fear mongers who wouldn't know motorcycle safety if it arrived in a taxi, waltzed up to them wearing a pink tutu, slapped them in the face and said "Hi! I'm motorcycle saftey".

[Swoop]

Interesting... maybe thats why I wasn't scared jumping out of a plane earlier this year either...
Why should you be? If you are wearing a parachute = no worries!:yes:
If you are not wearing a parachute... then it's time to be concerned...:bye:

[Wolf]

Why should you be? If you are wearing a parachute = no worries!:yes:
If you are not wearing a parachute... then it's time to be concerned...:bye:
Trainee: I don't think I packed my 'chute properly.

Instructor: I think you're just jumping to a hasty conclusion.