Mini Bikes/Choppers?

**placidfemme** · 17th February 2006, 07:44

As mentioned in my previous thread about the HD rider that binned it, I mentioned a manager here at my work who rides a custom HD. He also owns one of those little 50cc custom mini bikes, and he is going to be selling it to one of our security guards...

The guard asked me where he could get a "cheap" helmet. I told him Motomail had opened a new store on College Hill (Just a 5 min walk from my work) and they sold cheap bike gear and that he could pick up a helmet up there between $100 - $200.

He responded by saying he'd rather buy an even cheaper one off Trade Me, perhaps even a second hand helmet. I tried to explain that buying second hand helmets is not a good idea because you don't know if the helmet is damaged or not... therefore it could be unsafe to wear and might not help at all in the event of an accident or bin... He laughed, looked the mini chopper and said "well if I got hit by a car on that thing would a helmet save me anyway?"

Personally I think those mini choppers "look" cool, but I think they are far more dangerous than normal road bikes (150cc - 1300cc). In my opinion scooters

are safer than mini choppers... They are seated higher up and therefor more visable to other road users...

Mini Choppers are low, close to the ground, and most of the ones I've seen arn't very noisy... which means... people in 4x4's can't see you... let alone most other cagers... they can't hear you... and too right... if you get hit while riding one of those... in theory wouldn't the cage just run right over you or similar?

I've heard so many people who don't ride bikes/scooters say "oh those are cool... I want one". I try not to ever put anyone off biking, but when people say that I bite my tongue...

Anyone else feel the same?

**bugjuice** · 17th February 2006, 08:13

gett'em off the road ffs..

**Madmax** · 17th February 2006, 08:59

seen one get backed over buy a car

**Colapop** · 17th February 2006, 09:04

The idiots that ride them give the rest of us a bad name. That's not to say that all who ride them are idiots. I don't believe that they should allowed on the road purely because of the safety aspect. The visual size of a full sized bike doesn't stop them from getting hit by cars, so how is a smaller shape going to be safer?

**scumdog** · 17th February 2006, 09:21

How come the mini-choppers cop the flack for being 'quite dangerous'? why not extend that to scooters because they are 'fairly dangerous' or full sized bikes 'cos they're 'a bit dangerous'?
Where does the demarcation line go??

They are really only dangerous to those that ride THEM, what happened to "Let the rider decide" logic????

Wouldn't have one as it would be no use to me but if I could see a use......

**Motu** · 17th February 2006, 09:34

So how come this forum isn't full of threads about - ''Another Mini Chopper rider killed''? These imcompitants on these dangerous bikes are only ''lucky''...is that it?

**Karma** · 17th February 2006, 10:53

Nah, not enough people riding them yet, and maybe not for enough hours... I mean, could you commute on a mini-chopper?

I personally think they're dangerous, in answer to scumdog, bikes in general are dangerous, but so is getting up in the morning, crossing the road, or sticking your face in a fan.... the deciding factor is which risks are acceptable.

If the rider understands the dangers of a mini-chopper and rides it anyways then that's fine by me, but don't try and say they are proper bikes (cough markauckland cough) and when they crash they should have their own ACC levies... after all, most of them seem to ride them on car licences.

**C_A** · 17th February 2006, 11:20

nope, not at all

I get round town on a ts50, mean visibility. yet traffic round here is still a bitch....
I'd never ride anythign lower than a scooter
mini chopper guys round here are stupid as on them in traffic.... fuck that

**Colapop** · 17th February 2006, 11:30

It's not that people are getting killed on them, yet, it's that there are an increasing number of people getting them who aren't able to ride in a manner that isn't likely to cause acidents etc. Because they're not full sized bikes the impression that these people have is that they're safer. As much as the Drawin awards need some new awardees I'd prefer not to see it happen

**scumdog** · 17th February 2006, 13:20

I guess the danger is their cheapness and 'fun' look, people that wouldn't normally buy a motorbike will want to try one, often those with zilch experience.
And the fact they're small = can't be too dangerous.
Sort of mentality of some people that use .22s

**naughtygirl** · 17th February 2006, 13:21

They r total and utter CR*P! They are impossible to get parts for, they r a motobike shops worst nightmare!

**skidMark** · 17th February 2006, 13:48

i voted dangerous because they are...after ive built my new frame i think ill sell it after recently noticing people don't try and kill you (as) much on a ..."proper bike"

the main problem with mini choppers is people don't see them...and there is no weight over the front wheel they lock up so easily it's too dangerous to ride one.

most have a flat back tyre and through a corner the whole tyre lifts off and they are on a small portion of sidewall....

youve gotta think about the fact...mass matters.....you see a mac truck coming down the road because it's got a big mass.....car drivers don't see bikes because the smaller size the bike is the harder it is to see due to a much smaller mass.... and being lower makes it even worse.

MA

**Flatcap** · 17th February 2006, 13:48

One of the few safety plusses of motorbikes is the extra height to see over cars (except those bastard SUVs) - you would have to be a lunatic or have no idea to ride a Minichopper - you may as well just lie down in the middle of the road

**skidMark** · 17th February 2006, 13:49

Originally Posted by Fairlie

One of the few safety plusses of motorbikes is the extra height to see over cars (except those bastard SUVs) - you would have to be a lunatic or have no idea to ride a Minichopper - you may as well just lie down in the middle of the road

but then they will just fit underneath cmon youve gotta have some sort of crunch noise if your gunna bother