slower paced rides

[John]

How about a "rate my riding" thing similair to the rep point style, only on a safety focus

for example we have choices

1/bloody lunatic dont ride with him
2/sometimes dangerous
3/fast but knows what he is doing
4/newbie needs help
5/safe as houses
and others ,have to think about it more

I dunno soething like that

And we all have a star rating out of 5.we have to earn a riding reputation as well as a general rep (which we have)
It wont stop anything but would at least show you what others think of you and your riding, you could attach a 3 star plus ride only , to organised events etc

I dunno Im to tired but you should figure what Im on about

That will only cause people to bitch about there rating though wouldnt it?

[Quasievil]

That will only cause people to bitch about there rating though wouldnt it?

Only if they cant accept a general concensus that they suck and are dangerous
might be something worth striving for.
Show people that other KBrs think they need to improve there riding for safety reasons.
could only be a good thing yes ?

[FEINT]

I think from a safety perspective, it is great. But the rating being on the forum and anybody being able to see it, everyone would want the SAFEST RATING and when they dont get it, there might be a little problem. Just like the problems associated with the reputation thingee (as john has mentioned).

[John]

Only if they cant accept a general concensus that they suck and are dangerous
might be something worth striving for.
Show people that other KBrs think they need to improve there riding for safety reasons.
could only be a good thing yes ?

I'm all for it! definatly.

But not to be stereotypical but some dorks on the sports 250's will bitch about there rating as they have, you know how we are all invincible etc, I'm all for maybe a toned down verson of that so you can decide on who you would ride with - or be honest and put it in your profile i.e.

Riding Style: Fast paced, some times over the speed limit.

or

Riding Style: Slow paced, always under the speed limit.

or

Riding Style: Medium paced, likes to play chicken etc.


That way you cant bitch about your rating as you make it yourself, obviously you would have to be honest about it.

[Skunk]

Why not put it in the profile...

[et al]

Some of this may have been covered before (sorry - I do not have time to read through it all) but here is my 10 cents worth. The thing to remember is that human nature being what it is, no matter how you group people there will always be someone in each group who "has" to be in front, and equally someone who does not want to be last - ego I suppose. I believe the best thing we can do is try to ride with like minded people who are willing to take turns at taking the lead and tail however often that will not work because someone inevitably will have a "rush of blood" and do something a little silly and/or succumb to peer pressure to keep up, pass that car so you don't get left behind, etc. I have had the privilege of introducing three of my sons (Stu_Dog, Gunner, Foz) to motorcycling and whenever one of them is with me on a ride I am thinking - if they are in front: should I keep up and if so then I make sure I do not push them too hard - if they are behind should I ease off a bit so they do not have to take risks keeping up with me. I guess the point I am trying to make is that if you are riding with someone you know and care about then you want to stay together without risking yourself or them - if someone sets a pace you are not comfortable with then let them go.

[pommie girl]

Talking of slow rides, surfchick and I are going to head out on Saturday (7th May) - aroundabout 11am - somewhere like SH22 or up north if anyone fancies joining us. Suggestions on routes gratefully received.

[zooter]

Somebody define "group ride" please and set it in stone without arguments, for all to understand and accept for all time. For this litttle dissertation I will define a group ride as one in which the bikes stay more or less together so that nobody pulls up more than 15 seconds behind the previous bike. Consider the following:

It is impossible for a group of bikers to stay as a group when there is maybe 5 times the horsepower difference between bikes UNLESS the powerful bikes are ridden "slow".

The road code for bikes directs that on group rides the leader is an experienced biker and shall be followed by inexperinced riders backed up by the rest of the experienced riders to give feedback pointers to those in front.

If the KB clan gets together there are bound to be a mixture of ablilities/HP/attitude to speed presenting themselves at the rallying point. If it goes as a simple procession then it can not truely be considered a group ride and is asking for trouble.

If Quasi's comments regarding riding style crash frequency are to be taken seriously then a typical KB ride is too bloody dangerous for anyone without a healthy measure of self determination and the willingness to be left behind.

I suggest KB needs to get its shit together and takes some responsibility for organising the rides into appropriate subgroups so that nobody is riding outside their intentions and abilities. If nothing is done the likelihood of fatal crashes due simply to "keeping up" remains high.

[Milky]

If Quasi's comments regarding riding style crash frequency are to be taken seriously then a typical KB ride is too bloody dangerous for anyone without a healthy measure of self determination and the willingness to be left behind.

I suggest KB needs to get its shit together and takes some responsibility for organising the rides into appropriate subgroups so that nobody is riding outside their intentions and abilities. If nothing is done the likelihood of fatal crashes due simply to "keeping up" remains high.

My stong opinion on this matter:

I say to you that if someone doesnt have the restraint to control their impules on a bike they shouldnt be riding, and will be dead soon enough if they do ride, whether it is with a group or on their own.

It is not the duty of the site to organise people into rides strictly based on speed. The rides that are organised here can be quick, but that is usually stated in discussion before the ride starts. If there is someone/a group of people who are significantly slower, in my experience, the faster guys do wait at intersections and make sure people are going in the right direction.

Blaming a death/serious injury on this site smacks of modern attitudes to accidents - Find someone else to blame. It wan't my fault. I wasn't specifically made aware that the road was wet.

To all those types:

Get a fucking life.

[John]

Going to agree with milky, self control if you dont have it you shouldnt ride sadly its a fact - If you have something to prove save it for a track....

[Biff]

Ditto to what everything Milky has just said.

We're all ,pretty much, adults here so we should be capable of knowing our own limitations.

Let's stop blaming everyone else. You and only you are untimately responsible for your own safety.

KB is just a gathering point for (mostly) like minded people. If a group of people in a pub decided between them to go for a ride, and one guy in particular decided where and when everyone should leave, why on earth should he be held responsible for eveyone else?

[Milky]

Here was me thinking I was going to be flamed for that... Good to see some others agree too.

[gav]

I think some of these young guys need to watch more motorbike racing on telly eg Supersports, and note there are no 250's racing with the 600's or in WSBK, be aware of what your bike and yourself are capable of. The other thing is, is make sure your bike is in good condition, the number of times you look over some young guys 250 and brake pads are worn right down, low on brake fluid, chain dry as and too loose, oil leaks, levers set in strange positions, bald tires or often new tyres but some dodgy looking IRC or Chen Shin eco special thingy. Track days are where you should be pushing the envelope not some backroad with traffic, indifferent road surface, a group of various bikes and riders.
And OK I'm sure someone like WT could probably lead most of us a merry dance on a clapped out Suzuki Impulse but I think you get the jist of my speil?

[Velox]

Mate! I'm feeling guilty for even owning a 250 after this thread!

[Ixion]

I always thought the thing about motorcycling was to enjoy it. Some of the best fun I've had on bikes has been on small bikes.

I think it's rather sad if the message that comes across to beginner riders is that if they don't have a big bike they're only "going through the motions".

There is a lot more to motorcycling than seeing who can go fastest through the corners.

Small bikes can be just as much fun as big bikes, Cruisers can be just as much fun as sports bikes.

The whole motorcyling thing should not be how fast you go but how much fun you have.