Whatever happened??

[JimO]

What happened to biking in NZ?

Here goes another "when I was young preamble" but WTF.

I got my full bike licence her in NZ when I was 15 years old. There were no restrictions then and you didnt even need to wear a helmet, unless you went on the so called "motorway".

Bikes were cheap, society tolerated us as we were only kids and the cops busted our chops if we were caught being naughty.

There were thousands of us. Symonds Street was one long bike park. Wherever you went you were bound to run into kids out enjoying themselves, on bikes. There was beach racing, road racing, trail rides, trial events and all manner of sports events all over NZ. We had our 'bikie gangs" that were the bad boys. We had our hoons who just loved to speed and play around. We lived the life. Rides were very inpromptu and we didnt really know where we were going or when we would get back. It didnt matter what you rode as long as you rode.

Get back to NZ after 30 years and it has all changed.

Bikes are bloody expensive, we are looked upon as oddities by the rest of the motoring crowd and the cops now come down on you like a ton of bricks if you put the slightest foot wrong and get caught.

The thousands have become hundreds, rides are organised, you dont run into other bikers as often. Off road events for bikes are getting scarce almost to the point of non existant The hoons nowadays are in cars. The whole culture now seems to be more about what you ride rather than riding. Money rules the mindset.

Thirty years ago the speed limit was 70 mph (112kph) now its 62mph (100kph) and on average most bikers stick to the speed limits. A few brave souls take dire risks and go hell for leather, but only for short bursts. Have we, I say we as I am as guilty as everyone else, become so afraid of the powers that be, that we only dare rebelling where we think no one else is watching other than our peers.

I dont feel as though I am really getting down in print what I am trying to say.

Maybe I can sum it up by asking the following.

Where have all the rebels gone, where have all those persons who pushed the limits dissapeared to. Have we become a bunch of boring old farts desperately trying to capture the thrills of our youth without any of the danger?


Rant over.

Vilify me if you have to, I dont really give a shit. Red reps gratefully accepted on the condition that you actually mean what you say. Death threats taken on board in the acknowledgement that to recieve one it must mean I am alive and I do so much want to be just that.



Mr


by name, by nature

back then the govmt hadnt worked out speed kills.....or pays well

[JimO]

What happened to biking in NZ?

Here goes another "when I was young preamble" but WTF.
ent on the so called "motorway".

Bikes were cheap, society tolerated us as we were only kids and the cop

Get back to NZ after 30 years and it has all changed.

Bikes are bloody expensive, we are looked upon as oddities by the rest of the motoring crowd and the cops now come down on you like a ton of bricks if you put the slightest foot wrong and get caught.

The thousands have become hundreds, rides are organised, you dont run into other bikers as often. Off road events for bikes are getting scarce almost to the point of non existant The hoons nowadays are in cars. The whole culture now seems to be more about what you ride rather than riding. Money rules the mindset.

Thirty years ago the speed limit was 70 mph (112kph) now its 62mph (100kph) and on average most bikers stick to the speed limits. A few brave souls take dire risks and go hell for leather, but only for short bursts. Have we, I say we as I am as guilty as everyone else, become so afraid of the powers that be, that we only dare rebelling where we think no one else is watching other than our peers.

I dont feel as though I am really getting down in print what I am trying to say.

Maybe I can sum it up by asking the following.

Where have all the rebels gone, where have all those persons who pushed the limits dissapeared to. Have we become a bunch of boring old farts desperately trying to capture the thrills of our youth without any of the danger?


Rant over.

Vilify me if you have to, I dont really give a shit. Red reps gratefully accepted on the condition that you actually mean what you say. Death threats taken on board in the acknowledgement that to recieve one it must mean I am alive and I do so much want to be just that.



Mr


by name, by nature

back then the govmt hadnt worked out speed kills.....or pays well