Another wee rant about scooters

[Flatcap]

The Wop - you talk perfect sense.

[Grahameeboy]

There are two problems here. Firstly, the general public who buy scooters do not always get good advice (or are not always given all the information). The stereotypical cool, good looking Italian guy or gal (with little protective gear on) is what most scooterists think of and aspire towards. So when buying their gears, they buy what is legal and cool looking, not necessarily what is safe.

I commute daily on my *gasp* Vespa and upgraded from an open-face to a full-face in little time, now also wear a proper jacket and gloves. This was after attending a great safety course run by BRONZ, that taught me LOADS!

The second problem is that, surprise surprise, the majority of the scooter clan to not even know about Kiwi Biker, let alone the useful and informative forums that dot the place (like this one). Basically, you are preeching to the wrong folk.....

Adding to MrD's comments, I know someone who lost a leg on a motorcycle. He was wearing full protective gear at the time. Had he fallen over and slid on the tarmac, he would have been fine, thanks to his gear. He didn't, was hit by a car and hit the ground too hard, and no amount of Kevlar, long pants, boots or other gear could save that leg.....

I agree but surely it is obvious to scooter riders that they should wear protective gear......I mean do they really need to be told......

At the end of the day protective gear will not protect you in certain situations.....but then the same goes for a car.....however, the question is what other injuries would your friend have sustained if he had not been wearing the gear.......just like not wearing a seat belt?

[The Wop]

You are right, that wearing safety gear appears to be a no-brainer, but like smoking, unless you are confronted with the dangers, you don't seem to think about what it could do to you.

The problem is also fueled by the whole Moped rule (that is how I got into riding). You can go into a shop, not know the first thing about riding anything with 2 wheels, and as long as you have a car license, ride out on a 50cc death trap. You don't know the first thing, and you don't imagine that you might get hit. You ride oblivious to the dangers....

[magicfairy]

I used to be a nurse in another lifetime. Worst (as in time it took to heal and the mess it made) motorcycle injury I ever saw (and I saw a few) was a middle aged guy who went to the corner dairy on a Nifty Fifty in shorts and jandals. Lost it in some gravel, low speed crash - no other vehicles involved.
Ground all the flesh, muscle, tendons off his ankle. Left a huge whole you could fit your hand in, you could see all the bones.

After lots and lots of skin grafts and many months in hospital he never really regained the use of that foot.
He used to give all the young guys in for broken bones from motorbike accidents lectures about wearing safety gear. One look at his injury and they got the message.

[Big Dave]

Whether it's you guys that are wearing the shit gear or your adds that are showing others wearing it, the mag is still portraying an image that it's OK to wear very little gear or shit quality gear.

The Vespa adverts are a David Cohen Design production and have nada to do with KR other than booking and paying for the space.

Both myself and the Piaggio Corporation are comfortable with the imagery.
She is legal and riding safely.

[DougB]

Today I scooted about Hamilton on several errands
and observed six motorcyclists. Only one was in full gear.
The rest were in short sleeves, two in shorts and sandals.
One scooter rider I saw was also dressed thus but the another, on a 125cc machine, was wearing full battle dress.

After reading this rant I am thinking about a fullface. I have been riding bikes for fifty years and, when wearing
helmets became law, we only had open face then so I have stuck them.

I saw a helmet like my first, called a Corker, on
display in a vintage collection. No I dont feel old!!!

I have just bought my eleventh machine, a Suzuki
125cc Epicuro and am enjoying it alot. Its big wheels
alow it to counter steer and handle like a bike. Sadly my motor bike is sitting in the shed, I cant, on a pension, afford to register two bikes. I have always had a bike since 1953 - everything from a Corgi second world war paratroop scooter to a Moto Guzzi. A heart condition stopped me heaving the Guzzi around so I now have a 350 Aermacchi - rare in NZ.

I am enjoying this group alot.

[far queue]

Today I scooted about Hamilton on several errands
and observed six motorcyclists. Only one was in full gear.
The rest were in short sleeves, two in shorts and sandals.
One scooter rider I saw was also dressed thus but the another, on a 125cc machine, was wearing full battle dress.

After reading this rant I am thinking about a fullface. I have been riding bikes for fifty years and, when wearing
helmets became law, we only had open face then so I have stuck them.

I saw a helmet like my first, called a Corker, on
display in a vintage collection. No I dont feel old!!!

I have just bought my eleventh machine, a Suzuki
125cc Epicuro and am enjoying it alot. Its big wheels
alow it to counter steer and handle like a bike. Sadly my motor bike is sitting in the shed, I cant, on a pension, afford to register two bikes. I have always had a bike since 1953 - everything from a Corgi second world war paratroop scooter to a Moto Guzzi. A heart condition stopped me heaving the Guzzi around so I now have a 350 Aermacchi - rare in NZ.

I am enjoying this group alot.

Welcome aboard DougB, enjoy your stay, watch out for the nutters. I bet you've got some interesting stories to tell.

[far queue]

The Vespa adverts are a David Cohen Design production and have nada to do with KR other than booking and paying for the space.

Both myself and the Piaggio Corporation are comfortable with the imagery.
She is legal and riding safely.

OK, so you produced them, not the mag, but that doesn't alter the fact that the mag is still portraying an image that it's OK to wear very little gear or shit quality gear. The mag still has the choice of what it will print.

[Ixion]

I saw a helmet like my first, called a Corker, on
display in a vintage collection. No I dont feel old!!!

Oh, did you have one of those too. I had a "Corker Skid-Lid" . That's what it was called, a pudding-basin. My mother kept insisting I wear it and sometimes I couldn't get away without her noticing. Felt a right prat.

[Big Dave]

The mag still has the choice of what it will print.

The publisher makes those decisions at any magazine - not the editorial staff.

Anyway - that run is over - I got some chics in bikinis we could use next :slap:

[far queue]

Anyway - that run is over - I got some chics in bikinis we could use next :slap:

mmmm really, well post 'em up here then, I'm sure we're all only too happy to critique them for you

[Flatcap]

Anyway - that run is over - I got some chics in bikinis we could use next :slap:

Now THAT is some safety gear everyone can appreciate

[MSTRS:Me]

.... Aermacchi - rare in NZ.

Well, they are since Helen sold 'em!
Welcome to the greatest show on earth. Have a seat & the icecream girl will be around soon....

[ZeroIndex]

GRRRR stupid Scooter salesmen, and scooters... and cages and politicians... ok, i'm going now