NOT GOOD, Worst deaths in 19 years

[old slider]

I'd argue that it all comes down to personal responsibility. I mean, who else are you going to leave it to?

I agree.
Give that man a DB.

[Blackbird]

I'd argue that it all comes down to personal responsibility. I mean, who else are you going to leave it to?

Touche! You'd have to wonder though with the blame culture displayed on KB

[FJRider]

So what more exactly do you want to learn about riding or need to learn? If you can state that then I would be able to say yes or no as to whether I have learnt that myself.

I think he refers to the principal of the old adage ... Experience is something you get ... right after you need it.

Basically ... just when you think you've seen/experienced all the stupid maneuvers another motorist can perform near you on a public highway ... another motorist will show you something new. Or at least a variation of an old one.

[FJRider]

Foresight is not the sole domain of women.

Sorry to disappoint you.

She has 20/20 Hindsight ...

[WristTwister]

Bringing it even closer to home, how many have actually taken road-based training courses to get rid of those bad habits which inevitably creep in? How many make a point of upskilling periodically to stop the inevitable slide in skills?

The biggest hurdle is actually getting off your arse and doing something about it. Most of it comes down to personal responsibility.

The police Superintendent in the news article points to macho culture as a problem factor. Do Macho riders take responsiblity, avoid taking silly risks or do any training to improve their roadcraft? Probably not. Probably never will because they have an ego in the way.

[FJRider]

But my point is not all "situations" as you put it develop in a slow enough motion to brake or swerve. I guess if you have never been in such a "situation" you will never understand what I am on about.

If that IS your belief ... then it is you that needs more training. Recognition of "potential" trouble ahead is a starting point.

The belief that every vehicle within 50 meters of you is capable (in some way) of doing you serious harm ... can help you spot that harm and start taking steps to avoid it. You may get a few "false alarms" ... but you will still be alive. And being "In the right" wont save you.

[FJRider]

Agreed. However, when said conditions are hidden by water, sun etc. they can still be a problem.

When riding in those different conditions ... you look for problems those conditions hide.

[Blackbird]

The police Superintendent in the news article points to macho culture as a problem factor. Do Macho riders take responsiblity, avoid taking silly risks or do any training to improve their roadcraft? Probably not. Probably never will because they have an ego in the way.

Most likely spot on . There are lots of other riders though who could improve their skills and reduce risk. SW Barnett mentioned not knowing what you don't know. I was definitely in this category and it wasn't until I had an assessment by Philip McDaid from Riderskills against UK Police Roadcraft measurable criteria that it was brought home pretty dramatically just how much scope there was for improvement. Six years down the track, I'd like to think I'm a much better rider than I used to be and the other important benefit is that I enjoy riding so much more.

[Berries]

motorcycle** =

-All Dirtbike's
-All Farmers Quads & trikes & mudbugs etc
-All Kids bikes (two, three & 4 wheel powered vehicles)
-All Road Bikes, peddle assist, moped, scooters, some mobility scooters the lot!



...so how many warranted & registered road legal motorcycle deaths have we had on our roads again Mr Revenue collection officer and Ever quick to judge media??

Well 13 off road bikes including a couple of quads, one moped and the rest were all road bikes. Harleys made up 13 of them, five Suzuki, four Yam, three each of BMW, Buell, Ducati, Honda and Triumph and then two Kawasakis. Seeing as you asked.

[nzspokes]

It's all very well to argue about statistics and pinpointing root causes but I reckon that it's a bit more straightforward than that. Several of the posters have mentioned seeing poor skills displayed by riders on a regular basis. Bringing it even closer to home, how many have actually taken road-based training courses to get rid of those bad habits which inevitably creep in? How many make a point of upskilling periodically to stop the inevitable slide in skills?

What I'm trying to say that there's a lot we can all do as individuals to reduce personal risk and the motorcycle road toll without blaming cagers, statisticians and god knows who else. The biggest hurdle is actually getting off your arse and doing something about it. Most of it comes down to personal responsibility.

Agree. Sad part is those that need wont.

I have a recent experience of a group ride which reminded me of this. Was scary bad and no surprise when I came across one of them in a bank.

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[old slider]

Reading through these posts it becomes pretty clear to me that Bike riding is as much a thinking game as it is a skills game.

I will keep working on my "what if" game, and a big part of my mental plan is looking for escape routes or a possible way out of a situation as I am riding, for when a pleasant ride may turn into a potential painful one.

[Katman]

Was scary bad and no surprise when I came across one of them in a bank.

Let me guess.....

Was it a faulty sidestand spring?

[ellipsis]

Maybe crusiers should be banned from NZ roads due to their inability to handle tight NZ bends. Sports bikes are not the safest either as the crouched down riding position reduces periferal vision. The most dangerous observation I notice on weekends is the number of group riders making multi vehicle overtakes in an effort to "keep up" There was a death on the Rumitukas a year or so ago from a guy doing an overtake and it was reported in the media his mates said he was a "Good Rider" and a guy posted on here a few years back that all his mates who were better than him were now in the cemetery. He is the better rider in my opinion.

...I have made a conscious effort to refrain from reacting to your pig headed way of looking at life from inside your 'experiences have shown me', resolutions...but I don't have the strength of will...I took you off ignore...you are now back there... that wasn't too bad, not even one expletive...

[nzspokes]

Let me guess.....

Was it a faulty sidestand spring?

Only if you worked on it.

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[nzspokes]

Reading through these posts it becomes pretty clear to me that Bike riding is as much a thinking game as it is a skills game.

I will keep working on my "what if" game, and a big part of my mental plan is looking for escape routes or a possible way out of a situation as I am riding, for when a pleasant ride may turn into a potential painful one.

You got it. Look for training in your part of the world.

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