I had yet another SMIDSY today

[shrub]

And it's happening too often. I was just heading down to the shops to get some bits. Travelling along in my lane, obeying the speed limit and this turkey pulls up at a side road, looks at me and pulls out leaving me with all four wheels locked up to avoid hitting the loser.

Yep, all four wheels.

I reckon I get more SMIDSY events in my car than I do on my bike, and I ride around 200 kms a week on my bike and 10 kms a week in the car. I would experience no more than half a dozen SMIDSY events a year on my bike, yet regularly in my car. I put it down to riding a noisy black bike and wearing black leather (threat) whereas my car is a grey box shaped thing that is easy to ignore (I ignore it). From there comes my hypothesis that people actually see bikes, but don't register them because they're (a) not a threat and (b) don't matter in the way a, say, child matters. Would Mary Pajero pull out in front of a child as happily as she pulls out in front of the kid on a 250?

I think we need Mr and Mrs Citizen to either be scared of us (silly) or recognise that when they pull out in front of us they could be killing a daughter, father, brother etc, and not only that, will cop a careless use causing injury charge at best with a lost license, big fine and reperation.

[PirateJafa]

Or we need judges with the balls to levy sentences to those who cause injury and loss to others that actually provides a deterrent to others.

[shrub]

Or we need judges with the balls to levy sentences to those who cause injury and loss to others that actually provides a deterrent to others.

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.

[twotyred]

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.

It's an admission of guilt,sadly it will probably never be seen that way in a court in NZ...

[CookMySock]

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.

They will get something thrown at them, thats for sure.

I ride around like I'm going to kill everyone. It polarises fuck out of everyone, but hey its 1.) safe. and 2.) fun!


Steve

[Bad Gixxer]

Noisy Yoshi's and a tinted visor is a good deterrent, and always ride around in a gear lower than necessary in built up areas so it makes even more noise. Tinted visor looks evil, no matter if you're wearing black leathers or not.

I got a theory about tinted visors and eye contact - wearing a clear visor, I've had heaps of near mises from car drivers. When they seem to be able to make eye contact, they think "Oh ok, the biker dude has seen me, he knows I'm gonna pull out in front of him, so it's up to him to slow down and let me in." I've rarely had that situation when wearing a tinted visor - you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you.

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

[CookMySock]

... always ride around in a gear lower than necessary in built up areas so it makes even more noise. ....you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you... a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

mwahhh! funny! It works though.

Steve

[Eyegasm]

I got a theory about tinted visors and eye contact - wearing a clear visor, I've had heaps of near mises from car drivers. When they seem to be able to make eye contact, they think "Oh ok, the biker dude has seen me, he knows I'm gonna pull out in front of him, so it's up to him to slow down and let me in." I've rarely had that situation when wearing a tinted visor - you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you.

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

Interesting theory, and actually makes sense.

Off to go and get tinted visor!

[Usarka]

Most sprotbike riders are skinny IT geeks who couldn't kick the arse off a beat up mkII cortina.

Oh here comes a man dressed like toothpaste

[sinfull]

"Wow, Great advise there DB."

[shrub]

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

Pulling up beside errant motorists and just staring at them from behind a tinted visor is incredibly effective. They look across, their eyes widen and then they snap their attention to the the road in front of them and you can actually see their knuckles tightening on the wheel. After a few seconds they take a quick glance, but you're still staring at them, so they turn to the front and pray to every deity ever created for a green light as their pulse races and their mouths get dry. The light turns green, and the big ugly Triumph snarls away with it's even uglier rider. Relief.

Pity I can't do that in my grey car thing. Very hard to look menacing in a battered bluebird with cobwebs all over it.

[neels]

I get it in the car more than the bike also, on 80k road people pull out in front of me and pootle up the road at 65. Look in the mirror and nope, there was nothing behind me. Follow them to the next 50k zone at 65, then slow down to 50 and watch them disappear into the distance still doing 65. I suspect even when I turn on the driving lights on the 4wd they still don't notice me behind them, my car must have some sort of invisibility cloaking device built in.

[Bad Gixxer]

Most sprotbike riders are skinny IT geeks who couldn't kick the arse off a beat up mkII cortina.

Oh here comes a man dressed like toothpaste

Yeah, but I'm a skinny EVIL looking IT geek that drives a beat up MkII Cortina - now I'm having an insecurity complex! I know, I'll tint the windows on the Cortina, problem solved!

[Hiflyer]

Had to ask, What is SMIDSY!?

EDIT: Wait I got it now.

[JR1]

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

iv just purchased my first tinted visor and there fucking awesome. its kinda like wearing you sunglasses at night, just a lil in intimidating but looks far less stupid.