NZ Herald: no wonder bikes have their "downside"

**Str8 Jacket** · 6th July 2006, 11:23

Originally Posted by snuffles

You make a GN look good.............................................. .......

Well I tried, unfortunately the thing still almost looked brand new afterward!

I was gonna start my own "GN modification service" however some people wouldnt have found it funny... Remember, GN's are bikes too...

**Milky** · 6th July 2006, 11:31

I opened the paper and thought the same thing - made me send this off earlier this morning

Editor,

Being an avid motorcyclist myself, I am heartened to see an increase in motorcycle registrations helped along by the current fuel prices. I believe that being a motorcyclist teaches you greater awareness, safety and consideration for other road users. The larger number of aware drivers there are on the road, the safer it will be. There is one thing that concerns me though, and the picture included in your article of July 6th - 'Cheap motorbike travel has dangerous downside' - illustrates this. Many new motorcyclists spend their cash on a bike and helmet, but neglect the other important safety gear. Picking gravel out of grazes or needing skin grafts after an accident is not pleasant, and a quality jacket and pair of gloves go a long way to save riders and hospital staff the trouble. If Ms Griffen needs help financially to get this important safety gear, I am willing to assist her. Good gear saves lives.

**kickingzebra** · 6th July 2006, 12:14

Injuries be damned! Aint it a bit cold to be riding along in a tshirt??

Although, when the wind blows your shirt around a bit.....

**Harry33** · 6th July 2006, 16:53

Maybe the photo was staged so we could tell it was a woman, not defending her or anything , or maybe she's fashion conscious and wants to look pretty.

**pritch** · 6th July 2006, 17:52

Originally Posted by marty

i ride my scooter in shorts and t-shirt all the time. it's my skin. mind your own business.

If my ACC levies go up to pay for needless injuries to retards it is my business.

**Oakie** · 6th July 2006, 18:04

Originally Posted by Quartida

Even more telling - the little top right-hand corner box says:

2003: 6772 regos, 761 injuries (well, reported injuries anyway!), 28 fatalities.
2004: 8869 regos, 721 injuries, 34 fatalities.
2005: 12789 regos, 903 injuries, 36 fatalities.

Which, as a percentage of regos for that year, is:

2003: 11.2% injury, 0.41% fatalities
2004: 8.1% injuries, 0.38% fatalities
2005: 7% injuries, 0.28% fatalities

Interesting percentages. (Playing with statistics helps me pay my mortgage so I just can't help myself when I see this sort of stuff). What I'd really like to see now are the 'regos vs fatalities' percentages for cars and then the 'fatalities' numbers for pedestrians

**Mr. Peanut** · 6th July 2006, 18:24

Originally Posted by Quartida

ARGH!

Opened up the Herald to page A5 and what do I see?

"Cheap motorbike travel has dangerous downside"

And with what picture?

A girl on a Ginny 250 with NO GEAR apart from helmet.

No bloody wonder it has a "dangerous downside" then, I say. I'll tell you what will happen to her "downside" if she falls off...

I saw that @#@&~!~^% on her 500 dollah GN.
WTF???? WHY IS THIS ARTICLE??? WHAT ???? RELEVANCE????? WHY DONT YOU JUST POST A PICTURE OF PEOPLE IN A CAR WITH NO SEATBELT AND CALL IT :

EXPENSIVE TRAVEL HAS A DANGEROUS DOWNSIDE????

**skidMark** · 6th July 2006, 18:29

shes got boots on too

**Da Bird** · 6th July 2006, 18:57

What confused me was that it said she had only had the bike 2 months, she had already fallen off once and here she was riding around with SFA on. She obviously doesn't plan on falling off again... (as you do)

BC.

**skidMark** · 6th July 2006, 19:11

as any biker with half a braincell knows...it's not if you fall off it's when just because it's happened once doesn't mean it won't happen again...

that women deserves a gold star sticker for being special needs i feel sorry for the ambo that has to scrape her off when shes not so fortunate next time

**Bonez** · 6th July 2006, 19:18

I hope more GNs get sold due to the article......................

**kickingzebra** · 6th July 2006, 19:29

Originally Posted by markauckland

as any biker with half a braincell knows...it's not if you fall off it's when

A debateable point. On the road, if you fall off, some fault at least must be attributed to the rider. Therefore, in some way, every crash is avoidable.

On the track, as a different environment, it is a different story.

**skidMark** · 6th July 2006, 20:09

cagers pull out without looking as ive learnt sometimes there is just no where to go

**adam666** · 6th July 2006, 20:28

the latter I believe!

moaning about helmet hair, i bet she wouldnt even wear the helmet if she didnt have to!

and already had an off?!
some people are just plain stupid which unfortunately means we do end paying for there stupidity one way or another

I choose leathers all round, so as not to leave my skin on the ground

Originally Posted by Harry33

Maybe the photo was staged so we could tell it was a woman, not defending her or anything , or maybe she's fashion conscious and wants to look pretty.