Top cop says bikers are incompetant and pissed

[Bass]

Not quite. The actual Road Code requirment is to be able to stop in half the clear distance on a one lane (no centre line) road, but only in the clear distance on a two lane (or more ) road. The rationale being that on a one lane road the thing you have to stop for may itself be tootling toward you (so you can't have the whole distance , it needs some to stop also),whereas on a two lane road anything moving SHOULD be on it's own side (Hah. Hah) . So you only need consider non moving obstacles (or very slow moving , like a cow). And thus may have the whole distance for yourself.

Thanks for the clarification Les

Is this whole "born agains can't cope with the technology of modern bikes" thing a nonsense anyway ?

I think that the "born again" thing is a crock of shit!

With respect folks, I disagree.
But then I am bound to because, as it turns out, I am the absolute epitome of the "born again" biker.

I got my bike licence on a 50 cc moped and while I had dabbled across a fair section of machinery, I never spent significant time on anything bigger than a 250. After 30 years of non ownership (and almost no motorcycling in any form) I bought an RF 900.
I have been fortunate in that one of the early lessons that life taught me was that there is no substitute for experience and in this instance I had none.
So I rode accordingly.
I got 13,000 km out of the first back tyre and it wasn't new when I got the bike. I got 10,000 out of the second and about 8,000 out of the rest. They were exclusively the same model Metzelers - Z3's I think. I did an RRRS course 2up because early on, Nicky decided she liked it on the back, but I had the machine for nearly 2 months before I would let her ride with me. It must have been at least 6 months before I gave it full noise and after 18months I went out to a "controlled testing day" (basically a public track day) at Pukekohe.

Now, some 90,000 km later, I suppose that I may have got the front wheel off the ground a few cm occasionally, but it has never been deliberate. I have no confidence in my ability to deal with the possible consequences if I do pull a wheelie.

So I think you could safely say that I have been careful and methodical about learning to ride, but I still figure in the bin statistics. I had an off and I had it because the bike could get me into more shit than I could get myself out of, before I even realised I was there.

I joined Ulysses and I saw several people who had done the later return to 2 wheels thing. I also saw a few of them push it with the inevitable results.

Anyway guys, this is just my opinion and as we all know, opinions are like arseholes. If you want some more qualified opinions than mine, can I suggest that you ask John Baker insurance as they insure heaps of old farts like me and MAY have some data on the "recently returned to riding" accident statistics

[doc]

Fair comment. I can't be bothered attempting a diplomatic approach any longer.

With your attitude, you seem to be anti most KB'r type comments. Isn't about time you looked at perfing or something.
Not picking on your but you attitude comes across as what we grizzle about the most.

[RT527]

"An appalling weekend road toll has police pleading for drivers to pay attention.

Waikato road policing manager Leo Tooman says it appears drivers were on the wrong side of the road in at least two crashes in his area over the weekend.

Mr Tooman is also worried about a series of motorcycle crashes. He says a large number of "born-again" motorcyclists are coming down from Auckland to cruise Coromandel and Waikato roads.

Mr Tooman says technology has moved on a bit since they last rode. He says that, coupled with stopping at the odd cafe to enjoy a beer, can be a recipe for disaster. "


He clearly states that drivers were on the wrong side of the road in 50% of the incidents, then mentions beer, without providing any facts about any alcohol being involved in any incidents.

The septic tank theory works well here.
Only the biggest turds get to the top.

I can confirm that at least one of those head ons did not involve Alcohol, leaning more towards the driver being tired behind the wheel....
And thank god for air bags,

[spudchucka]

With your attitude, you seem to be anti most KB'r type comments. Isn't about time you looked at perfing or something.
Not picking on your but you attitude comes across as what we grizzle about the most.

I'm anti bullshit in regards to police matters and most of what you lot whinge about is ill-informed BS.

[mstriumph]

that's a bit exclusive, surely?

I'm just anti-'bullsh#t in general'............ irrespective of players or context

..... cause that gives everyone, plod included, equal opportunity to invoke my dark side ......

don't EVER suggest i'm not PC

[Swoop]

And thank god for air bags,

Why? There is no god, and airbags were invented by a human being.

[Usarka]

I'm anti bullshit in regards to police matters and most of what you lot whinge about is ill-informed BS.

at least most of us can post about more than one topic........

[spudchucka]

at least most of us can post about more than one topic........

Unlike most it would appear that I have other things in my life and can't be bothered reading 90% of the dribble that gets posted. I only reply to topics that interest me.

[Katman]

Lets not forget that 75% of Motorcyclist accidents are caused by Motorists.

No, 75% of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. Of that 75% only half are the fault of the other vehicle. Therefore, motorcyclists are responsible for about 65% of motorcycle accidents. And I still maintain that of that other 35% there would be a large percentage that could have been avoided by better rider management.

[Banesto John]

Have a look at the ride reports on KB about the Coromandel loop, the reported crashes, the reported "had a beer"s, and then wonder whether Toomath reads here, as well.

He also echoing observations by lots of members on this and other forums about born-again riders, as well as reporting what his officers tell him.

Doesn't it strike you that he must see and have reported to him a lot more of what goes on on the roads than any one of us does?

Leo Tooman is in charge of traffic in the area that kills more people than most. He has a handful to deal with. He got it wrong this time. I've just read the quoted article and I don't really see what the fuss is about. Yes, he is wrong to blame bikers for the recent deaths, clearly they are the cage drivers fault. But maybe his minions have had to pick up born again bikers who are in denial regarding their appalling speeds and riding behaviour.

Maybe if the fuzz would educate their own not to u-turn on a blind bend we'd have at least a couple of other people without injuries.

[spudchucka]

Misinformed at times

At times??? Its the KB way.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Going by what I have read on KB with how many bins have happened recently, how many accidents, and ... to me sounds like a lot of you are either incompetant and or pissed or ego driven rage. And thats not just the so called born again bikers.

[unhingedlizard]

couldnt be bothered trollinh through 9 pages of this stuff but has anyone mentioned that all these comment revolve around a story printed in the media? Any chance it could have been edited/misquoted to get the sort of reactions seen here?

Pinch of salt fellas.

[Quasievil]

I Havent read all the posts so dont know where the debate is going but I agree with Mr Tooman in many ways.

Fact is (and it is a fact) that every weekend there is shitloads of bikers coming down from Auckland onto waikato roads and shitloads of them crash
yes ....................shitloads, why is that?
here you go here are the reasons
1/ bigger egos than your skill set
2/ Bikes more capable than your riding skills
3/ Stupid dum behaviour by the riders
4/ Riders CONSTANTLY thinking the roads are race tracks
5/ The Riders that do stop and have a beer then most of the above gets inflated

He stated some facts born from data he gets on his desk, and has enough data to make such a comment, he didnt pull it out of his arse.

Many KBrs as well as other bikers need to pull their heads in when riding on the road, thats a fact.
I personally dont ride on KB group rides for the mere reason that many of you are dangerous and stupid within these rides and I dont want to be part of it, dont get me wrong, I think that 90% of KBrs are very good riders and very capable motorcyclists, but there would be at least 10% of you that havent got a fucking clue how to ride safely.
Since being on KB ive see easily 15 crashes on KB rides plus Two Fatalities , the record is 5 crashes on one ride no cars in sight either, I also been two 5 funerals in the last two years and carried two of my best mates "show off" arses to the grave

I suggest that you all consider that actually motorcylists are essentially responsible for there own demise and that Mr tooman and the police in general have every right to be concerned and they definately should be targeting bikers with some attention.

Thats my lot, you can start red repping me if you dont like the truth.

[Patch]

It seems some people find it easier to blame others, rather than looking in the mirror and being honest with themselves.

Fact is . . . the truth does hurt when it hits home.


Brett is right (again and again), a shame that those that need too, don't listen to the message.


Life is dangerous enough without living on the edge - those that do, do so at their own peril.









ban the rep system.