Speeding and lack of riding skills

[Fat Tony]

Hey Tony - have you been to NZ before? If you haven't, you're going to be in for a RUDE shock when you see what the roads are like!
Think of the roughest, most potholed 'C' road you know, widen it to two lanes, and you have the equivalent of State Highway 1. And they go downhill from there. The motorway is slightly better, - but there's not much of it...

Yeah I've been over mate, and can't wait to get back.

The roads around Yorkshire aren't much different to those you describe these days mate... it seems the only time council's get round to making repairs is when compo claims for damage caused by potholes gets higher than the cost of repair At least NZ roads don't have to cope with the same volume of traffic

Still... potholes, horse shit, gravel etc keeps you on your toes

[steveb64]

i lowered the bike because i liked the look , and it rides well for what it is. They also recommend that i lower the bike because i have pushed the rear tyre to the max size , 240 to a 280/35 and it has ridden better since i have done this.It rides well for the size of bike and i am not interested in how fast i can take a corner , just enjoy riding this beast at a cruiser pace. Got back into riding for a stress release, but feel now that i am not welcome on the roads, even if i do ride on two wheels. It may just be my age but i enjoy viewing the countryside when i riding, and thats what i wanted to ride for to forget the bull and stress of work and have a bit of fun.The guy's that i have met on here and i ride with are a good bunch

Jeez - 280! Bigger'n the tyres on the Pajero! Fair enough. And I can relate as to the stress release. The wife ORDERS me out on occasion - I always come back in a much better frame of mind!

I only joined here recently, but have been dropping by for a read, on and off for a couple of years now... Been on one KB ride - a Northland one - meet at Paparoa, then through to Whangarei/Maungatapere, across to Dargaville then through the forest.

"but feel now that i am not welcome on the roads" - IGNORE that feeling. It's called paranoia. Or it's being caused by cagers masquerading as bikers...

IMO - it's much better to get OFF anything resembling a SH asap - into the back roads. Less cars, less cops, and less bikes - and more room for everyone to pass or be passed.

[Deviant Esq]

I see you cropped off my "with consideration for others' safety..." bit mate

Spotted it, just wanted to make the point a bit louder, is all. I know you're not that kind of rider! I'd have never gone pillion with you otherwise! Ah, the shit we got up to... fun times

Have to disagree with your comment about accident cause. If a biker is taken out by any other careless driver (car or bike) it gets my back up far more than hearing about somebody overcooking it, having a lapse of concentration, misjudging a turn etc... we've all done that

I agree with you there, but my point is we should be far more annoyed about it - a biker taking himself out - than we are. Because a biker like that can quite easily take out other innocent people, since naturally they've lost all control over the direction they / their machine are going in and in what manner. Not getting into that situation in the first place, or limiting the amount of "ooops" by knowing your limits... A lapse of concentration, an "oops" moment for you or me might be pretty minor given we're not prone to overstepping the mark and if we do only by a little... but an "ooops" moment for someone taking bigger risks? That's what I mean, that's why we should be more annoyed.

[Fat Tony]

but an "ooops" moment for someone taking bigger risks? That's what I mean, that's why we should be more annoyed.

Ahhh, I'm with you now. Sorry, it's early

[bmz2]

Jeez - 280! Bigger'n the tyres on the Pajero! Fair enough. And I can relate as to the stress release. The wife ORDERS me out on occasion - I always come back in a much better frame of mind!

I only joined here recently, but have been dropping by for a read, on and off for a couple of years now... Been on one KB ride - a Northland one - meet at Paparoa, then through to Whangarei/Maungatapere, across to Dargaville then through the forest.

"but feel now that i am not welcome on the roads" - IGNORE that feeling. It's called paranoia. Or it's being caused by cagers masquerading as bikers...

IMO - it's much better to get OFF anything resembling a SH asap - into the back roads. Less cars, less cops, and less bikes - and more room for everyone to pass or be passed.

here's a sample of the beast , it's pure stress release

[Fatjim]

If you run 10 psi in the tyres,remove the balance weights,fit STUPID HIGH HANDLEBARS,you could make it handle even worse.

Or better yet, increase the size of the rear tyre to the Max just so it looks cool.

Never mind the fact that you look a tool on it.

[steveb64]

Yeah I've been over mate, and can't wait to get back.

The roads around Yorkshire aren't much different to those you describe these days mate... it seems the only time council's get round to making repairs is when compo claims for damage caused by potholes gets higher than the cost of repair At least NZ roads don't have to cope with the same volume of traffic

Still... potholes, horse shit, gravel etc keeps you on your toes

Hmm. We were over there in '96 on bikes - but not through Yorkshire... other than on the A1 - and in Doncaster, for a few hours, at the hospital, after my mate totalled his TDM850 into the back of a Mercedes on the offramp from the A1 to the M1.... Favourite bits were the Lake District (Looove those 'sudden crests'), and Scotland - particularly the road alongside Hadrians wall ('severe dip'), and down past Balmoral (more 'crests') . In fact, of all the roads we travelled (15,000 km) through Europe and the UK, the closest roads to NZ were in Scotland!
Did some more (near end of '01) driving around Hastings, and through to Taunton (New Forest was cool) and back - trying to do as much as possible on back roads... Still better than NZ! And the traffic volumes here are growing almost exponentially - one of the biggest problems is that they're letting bigger and bigger trucks on the roads, but not building the roads to a suitable standard for the trucks...

So - any idea when you're likely to be over?

[Fat Tony]

And the traffic volumes here are growing almost exponentially - one of the biggest problems is that they're letting bigger and bigger trucks on the roads, but not building the roads to a suitable standard for the trucks...

So - any idea when you're likely to be over?

You've just put me off moving

I'll PM you mate... going a bit off topic here ay?

[steveb64]

here's a sample of the beast , it's pure stress release

HOLY CRAP! Haven't seen one of those before! Do you have to watch out for bridges with weight limits?

Ok - joking... Not my style, 'cos I need to ride 'lean forward' due to a stuffed back, but as far as I'm concerned, anything with two wheels and an engine qualifies as a bike - and therefore worthy of being on the road...

[steveb64]

You've just put me off moving

I'll PM you mate... going a bit off topic here ay?

Hmm sort of rambling - tho the shite roads just exacerbate the whole topic of the thread... If they were better, then the speeding and lack of skills wouldn't be quite such a problem.

But drop us a line by all means!

[Patch]

Hmm sort of rambling - tho the shite roads just exacerbate the whole topic of the thread... If they were better, then the speeding and lack of skills wouldn't be quite such a problem.

But drop us a line by all means!

Don't quite agree with you there Steve. It doesn't matter what condition the roads are in, nor the wheels you choose to ride/drive. Its more about the lack of or inability to make a good decision. Some people lack the vision, or just plain don't give a shit that their actions affect those around them.


Why is it? that when a "faster rider" comes upon a "slower rider" on the road, that the "faster rider" feels the need to pass. Why?
What the hell is wrong with sitting with them and enjoying the ride.


To me, it doesn't make stiff all difference what you ride, if you're an idiot - thats it, you're an idiot.

A good rider can ride any bike fast, it takes a mature/responsible rider to know when to do so.

[BMW]

Once again, it's a case of the few ruining it for the majority.

agreed! Most bikers I meet are nice people that are not idiots.

[BMW]

Why is it? that when a "faster rider" comes upon a "slower rider" on the road, that the "faster rider" feels the need to pass. Why?
What the hell is wrong with sitting with them and enjoying the ride.

nothing wrong with joining others in their ride. Sometimes it is nice to stare at her bum on a bike! hehehe

[Patch]

Exactly.

Attitude is a big part of "doing the right thing".


I'm so sick of hearing, so an so passed, and scraped their knee - blah blah blah blah, and I have to beat them under brakes to get past - blah blah blah.


Thats what race track is for. The road needs to be respected and those upon it.

[swbarnett]

Why is it? that when a "faster rider" comes upon a "slower rider" on the road, that the "faster rider" feels the need to pass. Why?
What the hell is wrong with sitting with them and enjoying the ride.

Some cruise, some ride fast. It's all about everyone being able to ride their own ride. The faster rider should not be in a hurry to pass to the point that they pass dangerously - respect the other rider's choose to cruise. At the same time the slower rider should expect them to pass so that they can enjoy their blat. It's all a matter of sharing the road and respecting each other's right to be there and ride their own ride.