Moped v Motorcycle

[Fatt Max]

I was riding home from work last night having spent most of the day bored and posting serious drivel on the site (JD knows what I mean) when an observation / question catapulted itself into my small lardy brain.

This time last year, I was phut-phut-phutting along on my Jog CV50 communting between East Auckland suburbs and town. I cannot remember a single instance involving a car pulling out in front of me, un-annouced U turns, hoons in their XYZ's cutting me off, people walking out in front of me, getting cut across and general experinces of what so many KB'rs rant and rave about on this site.

Fast forward to now, I am on my 250CC and almost daily come across some kind of idiot trying their best to make me one with the tarmac.

Now, in my humble opinion, I believe that I am a much more careful rider now that there is a wee bit more power to play with. On the 50 I used to cut and duck in and around the traffic jams, shoot up the inside of a line of cars and generally behave like a mad Japanese communter with a pizza to deliver. Now I prefer to sit and wait for the line to pull off and the 2 second rule is my mantra and chant....ommmmm..

I also never used to wear a high vis vest on the 50 where as now I am wearing it day and night, rain or shine.

So my friends, why do you think it is now that I am seeing more of the rubbish that we have to deal with each day, I would be interested to know what you guys think.

...of course, a 130kg bloke on a 70kg scooter is a fearsome sight, maybe these people felt sorry for me, but whatever....

Over to you for comments / observations / general piss taking etc etc...

[mdnzz]

...of course, a 130kg bloke on a 70kg scooter is a fearsome sight, maybe these people felt sorry for me, but whatever....

Over to you for comments / observations / general piss taking etc etc...

Maybe they didnt feel quite so sorry for you but perchance the scooter??

[Usarka]

I also never used to wear a high vis vest on the 50 where as now I am wearing it day and night, rain or shine.
.

Ditch the shiny vest in shiny conditions!

There's a school of thought that would suggest ditching the shiny vest total - you used to look scary albeit on a scoot, now you look like marvin on his way to the office to eat pies and play with your pocket protector. Ie. you're not a threat to the drivers anymore.

[Eng_dave]

Maybe when you were on you the scooter you were leaving all the troubles behind you, IE getting ahead of the pack, because the pack is stupid and dangerous. Try riding the 250 like you use to ride the scoot see if you notice a lesser danger level.

[cheshirecat]

My current bike is bright red and headlight and indicator hard wired and I still get every tom dick and harry pulling out etc. They seem not to like this christmas tree behind them though.

[BigG]

Ya need more power to pull a heavy weight, have a thought for the little scooter.

[The Pastor]

Ive never noticed this "cars are tying to kill me" thing. Sure there have been some stupid drivers doing stupid things - but no more than when i am in a car or walking or push biking it.

[Maki]

Ditch the vest. They are trying to kill you because of it...

Seriously, I think what you are experienceing has everything to do with your attitude while you are riding. If a driver detects the slightest sign of fear or hesitation, then he or she WILL take advantage of it and pull out in front of you. Ride like you own the road and you will find that drivers will not get in your way.

[fireliv]

Maybe as a scooter rider you were the danger to others ((like you say weaving round traffic etc) and now that you ride resposibly you see all the other dangers out there.

[slofox]

If a driver detects the slightest sign of fear or hesitation, then he or she WILL take advantage of it and pull out in front of you. Ride like you own the road and you will find that drivers will not get in your way.

Unless the driver genuinely does not see you - in which case riding like you suggest will ensure your fucktedness chop chop......

[Maki]

Unless the driver genuinely does not see you - in which case riding like you suggest will ensure your fucktedness chop chop......

Fear leads to the dark side...

All I am saying is that people will take advantage of you if you ride like a pussy. By all means take care, just don't ride like you think you are going to get your "fucktedness" chopped on a regular basis...

[Lord Derosso]

Maybe when you were on you the scooter you were leaving all the troubles behind you, IE getting ahead of the pack, because the pack is stupid and dangerous. Try riding the 250 like you use to ride the scoot see if you notice a lesser danger level.


Perhaps we could reason that he wasnt going fast enough on the 50cc to come up against those FWits whom pull out in front of you. They had enough time to see him, have frontseat sex, go through the drivein Macs, eat their meal, see him coming and be at the lights hence why he got to weave in between the traffic in front of him.

But I have to admit that I have seen a number of scooter riders in central Wellington that ride like they are already committed to getting killed but they seem to get away with moves I wouldn't dare attempt on any reasonable sized bike.

I have to also admit in saying this that one of my workmates sometimes leaves his V400 home in lieu of his echeapo scooter he recently brought just for "fun and excitment". He reckons its a completely different experience getting to work. I have thought about trying to save up and getting a small 150cc just for commuting. Sick of the crowded buses and its not far enough to justify the hassle uncovering and covering the VN every day. Funny though, since I brought the big Fat Boy HD lookalike, cars seem to keep a reasonable distance from me. Could be the heavy leathers I wear?

[slofox]

Fear leads to the dark side...

All I am saying is that people will take advantage of you if you ride like a pussy. By all means take care, just don't ride like you think you are going to get your "fucktedness" chopped on a regular basis...

I think we are trying to make the same point Maki - taking care and being prepared to avoid or evade is paramount IMO....but this does not mean being indecisive which I assume is what you mean.......
In the last six months I have lost count of the number of times some discretion on my part has proven to be the better part of valour.....just this morning some dork in (you guessed it) a 4x4 juggernaut decided not to stop (or even look) when entering a roundabout that I was already occupying.....but because I had seen that he was not checking the traffic I was ready for him not to stop.....in the end he DID stop - belatedly and half way across my lane.....I took vast pleasure in slowing wayyyyyy down to a crawl, eyeballing him and holding him up for as long as possible.....ht. ht. ht.

PS Overall I would have to say that most cars do give way to me, often when they could quite reasonably have proceeded without undue risk. The percentage who don't is actually quite small. It is easy to lose sight of the considerate others on the road and concentrate down onto the loons. Given the amount of adrenalin that the loons tend to release into our bloodstreams, this should not come as a surprise. But, just to encourage them, I always acknowledge those who do wait and show consideration...it's called "behaviour modification"......

[Maki]

Agree 100%. Some drivers out there are so bad that you need to have your wits about you, or you will get hammered.

[slofox]

Agree 100%. Some drivers out there are so bad that you need to have your wits about you, or you will get hammered.

It was one big mother of a 4x4 as well........:ar15:

[McJim]

I had a bastard pull out in front of me at 7:30am when I was on the way to work on my AD50. Problem is that I'm used to Brembo brakes and Marzocchi USD forks which can pull me up from 50kph pretty quickly and safely.

On the Scooter the front wheel locked, the suspension bottomed out and the chinese plastic tyre let go on the wet road dumping me on the tarmac to slide to a stop on my arse.

People HEAR me on the Ducati. They don't pull out in front of me but on the Scooter I really am invisible.

[MIXONE]

I agree with you mcjim.People HEAR you so no doubt at all the LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.

[McJim]

I agree with you mcjim.People HEAR you so no doubt at all the LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.

D'you mean like this one? :2thumbsup:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mUp_dCZIYd4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mUp_dCZIYd4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[MIXONE]

Fark that's so loud it cracked the concrete!!
I bet it sounds good when you give it the berries.

[Forest]

A scientist in the UK did a study where they fitted bikes with electronics that measured the distance that passing motorists gave them on the road.

More details here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208.stm) and here (http://www.bhsi.org/walkerstudy.htm).

One of the interesting results from the research was a set of measurements that showed that passing motorists gave cyclists less road clearance when they were wearing bicycle helmets, and more clearance when the cyclists were wearing female wigs.

The implication being that motorists react to the appearance of cyclists and make safety judgments based on their appearance.

Perhaps the same thing is happening when you ride your motorbike? I would suggest that motorists around you are seeing you as being more experienced than a moped rider, and are reducing their safety tolerances.

[slofox]

.....but on the Scooter I really am invisible.

That's what happens when you ride a wind up bike......:D

[slofox]

A scientist in the UK did a study where they fitted bikes with electronics that measured the distance that passing motorists gave them on the road.

More details here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208.stm) and here (http://www.bhsi.org/walkerstudy.htm).

One of the interesting results from the research was a set of measurements that showed that passing motorists gave cyclists less road clearance when they were wearing bicycle helmets, and more clearance when the cyclists were wearing female wigs.

The implication being that motorists react to the appearance of cyclists and make safety judgments based on their appearance.

Perhaps the same thing is happening when you ride your motorbike? I would suggest that motorists around you are seeing you as being more experienced than a moped rider, and are reducing their safety tolerances.

I nominate Forest for this week's "Master of the Arcane" award....on the strength of this post and the stuff he put up on road surfaces earlier.....seconder please?

[Artifice]

i've never in my life heard a bike come up behind me loud pipes or not, whether in the cage or on the bike. however i've had the bejeezus scared out of me when a bike with open pipes has passed me too closely. the only place i could see loud pipes being a bonus is if a cage is pulling out of a side road on a blind corner, just maybe they'll have the window down and the sterio off. honestly i think you'r better off wearing a wig and day glo helmet. a pastel coloured race suit with some fancy serif and maybe a bit of padding in front would certainly make you more noticable than a loud pipe.<_<:love:

[MIXONE]

Have to disagree.Whilst riding the Summit Road in Chchur one day I had a stupid german tourist step out in front of me because she didn't see or hear me.One slip on later and I see people ahead looking around for the source of the noise.That's just one example of many over the 40 odd years I've been riding.

[kermit63]

I ride both my Daytona 675 and my wife's Aprilia 250 scooter.

675 sports bike - sports riding position, full face helmet, power to scare me s**tless, so I'm a very safe and sensible rider and sit in the line of traffic unless it's stopped and there's plenty of room between the lanes.

250 scooter - sitting upright + open face helmet = loads better visibility and time to see things happen. Also, I find the power more manageable round town and I am one of those hoons chopping in and out of lanes, charging up to the front of the queue etc, etc. No one is more surprised by this jeckyll and hyde transformation than me - it is fun though.

Either way, I've never noticed people being "out to get me". When I go out cycling however, it's a completely different story. Then I feel exposed and got at.

[Fatt Max]

Blimey, some great observations and comments you guys.

Thanks for taking the time to write on this one, appreciate as always the wise words.

Behaviour, attitude and appearance seem to be the things to work with.

Right then, it's beer O'clock, go the Kiwis in the league.....:Punk:

[dpex]

Don't know what all the fuss is about. A 250cc is just a SLIGHTLY BIGGER scooter.

[Pogo2]

Ive never noticed this "cars are tying to kill me" thing. Sure there have been some stupid drivers doing stupid things - but no more than when i am in a car or walking or push biking it.

The best tool is "situational awareness". Just because a bike with "fit in there" doesn't mean its a good place to put it. I'm sure some riders look ahead as far as the beam on their headlight and don't spend alot of time searching for trouble.

Lack of indication and lane changes seem to be the most common offence I see.

[slofox]

Lack of indication and lane changes seem to be the most common offence I see.

Failing to cancel indicators ranks high as well......asking for trouble that.....easy to do as well......am guilty myself on occasion.....:wacko:

[rie]

this time last year there were probably far less motorised two wheelers on the road. now we're like the scenic backdrop.

[3L4NS1R]

I would have thought there being more two wheelers is a good thing... instead of being few and far between, there are now plenty to keep the drivers on thier toes looking for bikes as well as cars.

I'm just convinced the general driving skills of the population is degrading. Vote me President or Dictator, and I'd see to it that a compulsory practical driver training program is set up. Anyone on a bike is free to ride though. Because I'm not biased. At all.

[rie]

I'm just convinced the general driving skills of the population is degrading. Vote me President or Dictator, and I'd see to it that a compulsory practical driver training program is set up. Anyone on a bike is free to ride though. Because I'm not biased. At all.

Land Transport Presidentials Vote = DONE. :headbang:

[Harvd]

wow this is exactly what i was thinking the other day.
i spent 10 months on a scooter doing stupid shit and in t shirt and shorts and stuff and now im on a motorbike ive had more close calls in 4 months then i ever had, always at low speeds in traffic when this never used to happen. my mates still got 1 and somehow hasnt crashed yet and hes the biggest idiot ive seen on a scooter. maybe scoots are safer? meh hu gives a shit theyre slow

[CookMySock]

All I am saying is that people will take advantage of you if you ride like a pussy.Yup. Get a brighter headlight, mean-looking helmet with tinted visor, dress yourself in black/grey carbon fibre, and make a hell of a racket and weave around like a fucking lunatic. There aint no way they will pull out in front of you now unless they want to die, and if they do, aim straight for center of their fucking drivers' door and watch their eyes go wide as they mount the roundabout to evade you. End of problem.

Bikes will take control! :sunny:

Steve

[Usarka]

Never seen a gang member with a bright headlight, and fuck me if most people don't give way to those guys........