Accident in Akaroa (6 January)

[Katman]

You lift your hat when you see a funeral procession, do you not?

Ahhhh, no?

[dipshit]

You know dipshit, you could've choosen another username and nothing would've changed, you'd still be a dipshit.

Username? Crap, I thought that was the box for sexual preference!

[Ixion]

Ahhhh, no?

Then you ought to. It is a gentle and mannerly grace, the wilful neglect whereof condemns a man as ill bred or a barbarian.

[MoNk]

I'm curious... so you'd rather have people who ride sensibly be the ones to draw the shorter straw? Or...?

Strange way to interpret my post. In your mind I'd rather have sensible people die? ...

Obviously dangerous driving/riding endangers others lives as well as your own. Also any accident involving dangerous driving giving bad press to bikers can't be good.

[vifferman]

I got to thinking about this this morning, and tbh I disagree with what you say. Motorcycling to me is more than a means of transportation, it is my love, my lifestyle, it is what drives me. Now when I explain that to non-motorcyclists, they just don't get it. But talk to another motorcyclist and they will understand perfectly. So there is an understanding amongst motorcyclists that goes further then even amongst mates you may get together for a beer with occasionally etc. So when a motorcyclist is killed on his or her bike, I do stop to think about them momentarily. Sure I don't know them, nor their families etc. I don't know whether they were s great person or a scum sucking leach. But I do know they also understood the joy of motorcycling, and died chasing that experience. So I will express my feelings of sadness at a strangers death. Because of the understanding we shared.

Yeah, I *do* get all that. I may not be as good a motorcyclist as your goodly self, Mr OAB, but I feel the same, except for the "I will express my feelings of sadness at a strangers death" bit. Expressing my feelings on a public forum may help me feel better in some small measure, and show people that I'm a wonderful caring fellow biker, but ultimately helps no-one apart from myself.

Yes, I feel sad, and there is a bit of the "there but for the grace of God, go I" thing too. However, in my opinion there's something unwholesome, maudlin and pointless about these threads, that smacks of the same human character that causes people to gawk at accidents as they drive past.
That is what I object to. You have every right to say whatever you want, and I recognise that right, and I sincerely hope it helps you. It's just the long line of people posting glib little messages personally irks me, and so I'm bleating about it, as that's what KB is for (?)

At the end of the day / in the final analysis / when you think about it / what it all boils down to, is that my post was in fact more worserer than all the posts I was bleating about, as I was neither kind nor sympathetic, and added nothing (0) to this poor sad event.

Carry on...

[Virago]

...It's just the long line of people posting glib little messages personally irks me, and so I'm bleating about it, as that's what KB is for (?)...

Yes indeed.

But time and place, people...

Start another thread about it, don't turn a Biker Down thread into yet another shit-fight.

Respect...

[TonyB]

Yes indeed.

But time and place, people...

Start another thread about it, don't turn a Biker Down thread into yet another shit-fight.

Respect...

Exactly. Someone start a thread, and we'll all debate it there.

[trump-lady]

My dad from CHCH says he was told it was an american on a hired bike and the rider was on the wrong side of the road. This is a very easy to do coming from American roads to here. I still to this day have a hair tie on my right brake lever to remind me where the middle line should be as (not often now) I had this problem when I first came home.

If this is true I have heard similar storys...cars and bikes and perhaps more empahsis should be placed on this being a very real problem when foreigners arrive in our country. A wee band on the bike similar to what I have would help alot.

As for the shit throwing, I tend to agree with both sides but if you read the past RIP post alot of family members and friends of lost ones come to the site to read them and almost always it helps them in some way. How do I know? because many have joined KBer so they can publically post saying so and give thanks. Surely those greiving find some comfort in reading all the kind things and condolences strangers and friends alike have shared and perhaps it is for them most of the people who post in these threads, do so. Perhaps also it helps them understand why their loved one loved to ride......

If I died tomorrow in a bike accident I would hope that a thread would be started for me and that in some small way the world stopped for some, to acknowledge my death* leaving their mark for me online.

PS this is the first RIP thread I have ever posted on.

[pritch]

Is it just that 'we' are nosy, and actually secretly enjoy bad news,

Hmmm a bit hard.

As John Donne put it,
"Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind."

Although with the world the way it is it wouldn't pay to think too much about that, or one 'd likely end up shot full of tranqs.

[James Deuce]

This is the time and place and TBH I'm getting tired of every Tom Dick and Harry posting RIPs for people they've never met, and were never likely to meet.

There is a time and a place and it is sharing grief with family and friends for someone you miss now and will miss forever.

The RIP threads are as creepy as the movie "Crash" IMO, unless they are started by someone who knows what's going on, knew the person, and has respected the waiting period for official confirmation before confirming the death of someone known to us.

I've seen RIP threads started on KB for Gang Members who've stolen bikes and then killed themselves running away from cops when they hit the first corner, FFS.

[dangerous]

I got to thinking about this this morning, and tbh I disagree with what you say. Motorcycling to me is more than a means of transportation, it is my love, my lifestyle, it is what drives me. Now when I explain that to non-motorcyclists, they just don't get it. But talk to another motorcyclist and they will understand perfectly. So there is an understanding amongst motorcyclists that goes further then even amongst mates you may get together for a beer with occasionally etc. So when a motorcyclist is killed on his or her bike, I do stop to think about them momentarily. Sure I don't know them, nor their families etc. I don't know whether they were s great person or a scum sucking leach. But I do know they also understood the joy of motorcycling, and died chasing that experience. So I will express my feelings of sadness at a strangers death. Because of the understanding we shared.

I hear ya man and agree aswell... however unless I know them I wouldnt 'express my feelings' on line, but i will give them a thought to myself, with out a doubt.

This is the time and place and TBH I'm getting tired of every Tom Dick and Harry posting RIPs for people they've never met, and were never likely to meet.

There is a time and a place and it is sharing grief with family and friends for someone you miss now and will miss forever.

The RIP threads are as creepy as the movie "Crash" IMO, unless they are started by someone who knows what's going on, knew the person, and has respected the waiting period for official confirmation before confirming the death of someone known to us.

I've seen RIP threads started on KB for Gang Members who've stolen bikes and then killed themselves running away from cops when they hit the first corner, FFS.

nice Jim well put, but the PC do gooders in this country will still argue with you.

You lift your hat when you see a funeral procession, do you not? Out of respect for a total stranger.
So what is wrong with showing the same respect to a stranger with whom you had at least one thing in common.

No... I think poor fucker (unbike related)

Then you ought to. It is a gentle and mannerly grace, the wilful neglect whereof condemns a man as ill bred or a barbarian.

I dont wear hats man.

[Joni]

I think they just copy and paste such crap from one week to the next.

Except the one last week was about a dear friend of mine (really), and a few of the words in that thread meant a lot to me... so maybe it means something to someone else the next time round.

[Shadows]

This is the time and place and TBH I'm getting tired of every Tom Dick and Harry posting RIPs for people they've never met, and were never likely to meet.

There is a time and a place and it is sharing grief with family and friends for someone you miss now and will miss forever.

The RIP threads are as creepy as the movie "Crash" IMO, unless they are started by someone who knows what's going on, knew the person, and has respected the waiting period for official confirmation before confirming the death of someone known to us.

I've seen RIP threads started on KB for Gang Members who've stolen bikes and then killed themselves running away from cops when they hit the first corner, FFS.

For the record I started this thread as an objective statement of fact as it was news and maybe others did not have the information coming through on email. It wasn't intended as the start of another RIP thread for an unknown person - however, this is KB so I really should have known better!

Never mind, what ever spins ya wheels I guess....

[Ixion]

Stuff has an update.

The American tourist, believed to have been in New Zealand for just a day, lost control of his hired motorcycle, fell off and slid across the centreline into the path of an oncoming four-wheel-drive vehicle on State Highway 75, near Hilltop, about 2.30pm.
..."A preliminary report would suggest he's lost control of the motorbike in his lane, fallen off, crossed the centreline and gone underneath an oncoming vehicle."
The motorcyclist was riding a hired Honda machine.

[Ghost_Bullet]

these constant reports of motorcycle tragidys haunt me. and that they will bite us in the bum sooner than later, wether we are in the rite or wrong. never have I posted on a rip thread.\
though i think of the loss. I think of those that live. be good on the road....