To be blunt...

**CHOPPA** · 24th May 2010, 15:47

Originally Posted by peasea

Couldn't agree more. I shook my head at the article's inference that the riders are heading here on high-powered motorcycles and that the 1000cc Harley Davidsons were deemed to be such. I can't recall when HD made a 1,000cc machine: Currently it's 883, 1200, 1150, 1450 and all the rest but 1,000cc's was last seen on the old iron head Sporty's was it not? Hardly 'powerful' and not what I'd tour on, that's for freakin' sure. The perception that large displacement bikes are powerful is based on ignorance, something the mass media has in bucketsful. Is it possible Knowles is in the same class?

Being on the wrong side of the road is just plain dumb (unless the rider was skidding on something etc) and I doubt that engine displacement had anything to do with it.

I think they mean they were riding Harleys and other high powered 1000cc road bikes. I dont think anyone would mistake the Harley for a high power MC

**peasea** · 24th May 2010, 15:50

Originally Posted by Genie

tragedy and death has always been newsworthy, anything 'good' and positive is not often even mentioned.

What i'm concerned with is the high rate of motorcycle accidents in this district compared to the rest of the country. What's with that?

High rate of motorcycles per capita for a start and there's the born-agains who want to come and see what we have down here. They get off their smooth-as motorways, onto what are loosely termed'highways' on the Mainland and soon discover that we have pea-metal in the corners, lumpy, wallowing bends, poor repairs (when there any repairs at all) and some very sharp coners; but isn't the scenery great? Look at that view!

Crash.

**ukusa** · 24th May 2010, 15:51

Originally Posted by firefighter

I blame the in-breeding

It's got to be pretty hard to ride with webbed hands.

I thought it was Nelson region, not Waimate

**PirateJafa** · 24th May 2010, 15:51

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

Well some motorcyclists are not doing the rest of us any favours, some of the riding I observe daily by young kids on crotch rockets is enough to make me cringe at being associated with the label motorcyclist. The media as always will focus on the negative, and there are a lot of people in positions of authority who are very happy to reinforce the stereotype as it suits their agendas.

Apparently it's you old bastards giving US a bad name. Fuckin' senile ol' hooligans.

**peasea** · 24th May 2010, 15:53

Originally Posted by yungatart

Face it though, a motorcyclist pootling along minding his/her own business and obeying the road rules is never going to be newsworthy.
Only bad news sells papers!

Quite right. There were a shitload of bikes out yesterday despite the inclement weather and everyone I know made it home ok. We tootled down to the Owen River, had some lunch and tootled back. No tickets, no off's and no bad press. Mind you, we did stay on our side of the road.

**monkeymcbean** · 24th May 2010, 15:53

Maybe the policeman saw the "South Park" TV series espisode 'the f word' next thing the media will be calling us 'fags'

**Dooly** · 24th May 2010, 15:53

Dunno about you guys but nearly all bikers I see out riding are over 40, or at least 30 plus.
Nearly everyone I've ridden with in the 4 years since I started my mid life crisis and got a bike has been an old bastard.
I find it's rare to see many young fullas on bikes now.
Well where I am/go.
And boy, can some of those old bastards ride well, and fast.......................and madly.
I'm only talking for the sprotsbike riders who I've seen or the various groups/folk I ride with.

So I guess if there is a lot of mid life crisis dudes/dudess's riding, they will figure a lot in crash stats, for that reason.
Thats the way it is, just keep on riding is my theory, k, si ra blah, blah.

**peasea** · 24th May 2010, 15:54

Originally Posted by ukusa

I thought it was Nelson region, not Waimate

Yeah! We might have six fingers but they aren't webbed.

(Play banjo music...)

**Maha** · 24th May 2010, 15:57

Originally Posted by monkeymcbean

Yes, not good for the families at all, very stressful.

But is it that bad? that the media are creating with the public a whole negative focus on motorcycles....or do I only notice this because I have a bike, and these sort of articles attract my eyes
?
I mean do these articles have a effect on your riding? Im not sure if they are to make you feel a idiot for riding, owning a bike, or a idiot for having a accident.

I would feel a idiot for having a accident for sure, if its anything like what I feel when dropping a bike.

There is a bit of that (the highlighted bit) in anything media pertaining to bikes yes.
Storm in a tea-cup most of the time.
Mr and Mrs General Public wouldn't take to much (if any) notice of tid bits about motorcycles (unless they own one)

I spoke to quite a number of people at a gathering about two weeks ago (all non bikers) about that crash involving the cop? only one person knew of the incident.

**peasea** · 24th May 2010, 15:58

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

I think they mean they were riding Harleys and other high powered 1000cc road bikes. I dont think anyone would mistake the Harley for a high power MC

ACC does. Anything over 600cc is in their eyes isn't it?
It's the way it's worded; it kinda lumps them all together like 1,000cc AND HD's are powerful and deadly yadda yadda yadda. The cop needs a brick stuck in his face.

**ukusa** · 24th May 2010, 15:58

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

I think they mean they were riding Harleys and other high powered 1000cc road bikes. I dont think anyone would mistake the Harley for a high power MC

So to avoid being labeled, get a 600cc sport bike.

**Katman** · 24th May 2010, 16:00

Originally Posted by Maha

I spoke to quite a number of people at a gathering about two weeks ago (all non bikers) about that crash involving the cop? only one person knew of the incident.

That's the trouble when you hang out with people who watch Neighbours rather than the News.