Let's have a good bitch about incompetent 4x4 owners

**Coldkiwi** · 5th September 2003, 16:55

This was partially inspired by the thread on the concerns over poor riding gear (good topic kiwistorm!) and partially inspired by a conversation I had with a mate about stupid looking SUV's (sports utility vehicles) but more correctly known as UAV's (Urban Assualt Vehicles) given the way they are generally driven in metropolitan areas.

The reply I received from him following a tirade about Suzuki X90 UAV's (look 'em up on the web if you don't know what they are.. they're UGLY) and another particularly stupid looking peach UAV on Shortland St in Auckland was this....

*****************I think that there should be some kinda regulations on buying those things.

"So, sir, why would you like this mid range, 2nd hand, rugged as completely unpretentious SUV?"

"Well, I own a 25foot boat that I have to tow, I have a family of 6, and I live on a farm...."

"Congratulations... you're the new owner"

*next customer*

"And you Miss... why are you after a brand new not dirty and completely w*nk SUV

with more functions that you can ever hope to know how to work, and, I notice,

is an automatic which apperently does 0 - 100 in a reasonable 12.4 secs... but

has the torque of the average BMX powered by an 11 year old?"

"Well, my husband is really rich, I live in Remuera, and that b*tch from across

the street just got one, but it only cost $130,000, whcih is why I need this

$145,000 edition one... and in red to match my nails...."

"Uh, would you mind steeping a few paces to the left....... that's it.... one more..... thanks"

*pulls lever, Mr Burns style - trapdoor opens*

"AHHHHhhhhhhhhh......"

"Excellent"

**georgedubyabush** · 5th September 2003, 19:39

My last car got taken out when one pulled out of a driveway across my path on turntable hill just north of Moerewa. Unavoidably hit his right rear wheel area. My impact speed probably about 80, as he lumbered across the road. My car was shortened pretty much up to the A pillar and ended up facing the opposite direction in the opposite lane. His beheamoth spun across the road into the ditch.

Fricken hurt. Seatbelt stretched enough for my chest to thump on the wheel, and my head to crack the windscreen. Couldnt move my neck so nice little ambo ride and xrays etc. Turned out to only be severe whiplash which was lucky I guess. Neck in a brace for 2 weeks.

Turns out guy was a 14yr old high school dropout, his parents let him drive to work. I'd Never had insurance, so after 6 months of crap, youth aid, family conferences and generally wasting my time, he starts his 20 dollar a week reparations.

Lessons learned? Dunno, insurance wouldve saved a crap load of hassles. My bike would've made the desperate swerve to the left... maybe. An 87 Toyota Levin holds together quite well considering.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 5th September 2003, 20:00

fucking hate them! my mother wanted one last year when she decided she needed a new car, made her buy a brand new corolla instead, a)more her size/driving capabilities, and b) one less on the road to show my middle fingure to

.

well i had a funny thing today, wanker in a big toyota MPV, like a Previa i think, msuta been brand spanking new, some random no.1 haircut... anyways traffic was stopped @ a stop sign, i went down left of about 5 cars.. he was infront, i was just inside on left, then as there was a gap i shot ahead of him as i knew his auto wouldnt accel as fast as me, and actually didnt think hed take the gap, he did but anyway.. he tailgated me HARDOUT! in the friggin pouring rain, i couldnt bare to take my eyes off the mirrors as i was just waiting for the *bang* as he hit my rear of my nice VFR

but luckily not.. yet he kept *almost* trying to overtake me, like riding up the right hand side of me ffs, and @ a small roundabout way out west here when i turned left i slowed right down to like 5kmph as i watched to the right incase any cars were coming.. he even had the nerve to friggin jamm on his horn! fucking wanker, i mean, okay i was a little bit slow but at least i didnt come to a stop, and like im not the best rider in the world and take hard raining wet as conditions on new bike on slow speed left handers carefully!... just yet another general wanker out there.. but sorry no kool ending.. he followed me so clsoe so long but then coming down atkinson road rather fast i seemed to loose him by my right hand turn... unfortunate in a way.. was thinking if he had the nerve to follow me allllll the way home... woulda been fun to see what he wanted to make of it

but then again, im only a pip.. oh but wait, the Dry rider gear i must admit does make me feel big and special :P

anyways i say ban the friggin things from central!...

**bluninja** · 5th September 2003, 21:48

I dunno, a 4x4 looks nicer than a hiace van, and I can pull 3 bikes, 2 riders other than me, and all the gear......and it's got a big rear mounted tyre to put some advertising on. That's my excuse, feeble as it is.

I personally prefer a 'normal' car to the 4x4 as they handle and stop better...and my kids don't chuck up in the back on long journeys.

Still as with any vehicle with 2 or 4 wheels, it's the pilot that is the saint or sinner.

TTFN

**Big Dog** · 6th September 2003, 01:15

Well, I hate the fucking things if you want a ute get a ute, if you want to go off road get a off roader but don't kid yourself that any car can do both safely.

But i have too laugh a couple of penis envy types have had the nerve to follow me after cutting me off.

Funnily enough if standing up after getting off the bike does not get them skidmarks on the the road taking my helmet puts some in their undies

**Kwaka-Kid** · 6th September 2003, 08:04

haha hsot bigdog!

you see for apip like me the tactic is to NOT have to reveal whats beneath all that protective bulk-up gear

hehe

**mangell6** · 6th September 2003, 11:09

Travelling along the m'way in Wgtn some of the SUV and 4X4 drivers like sitting right on your tail. I always leave a bigger and bigger gap in front of me when they do this. They seem to think that they can out brake a bike.

SUV and 4X4s are killers in an accident check out the statistics. People have this belief that they are just like a car.

Mike

**georgedubyabush** · 6th September 2003, 14:23

Originally posted by mangell6

SUV and 4X4s are killers in an accident check out the statistics. People have this belief that they are just like a car.

Mike

Or, better than a car. But then if we took the design/purpose thing too seriously, then most of us would be on scooters wouldnt we?

**Big Dog** · 6th September 2003, 19:32

Originally posted by georgedubyabush
Or, better than a car. But then if we took the design/purpose thing too seriously, then most of us would be on scooters wouldnt we?

hahahah 1000 cc ducati scooters in wsb lol

**PZR** · 6th September 2003, 22:44

I get sick and tired of people whinging about 4WD vehicles. There have always been wankers that drive bigger machinery than others and use them to intimidate. If you ride a bike everyone is bigger and a potential threat. If you drive a Mini a Commodore is a bigger threat. If you drive a 4WD then a truck is a bigger threat etc. Most people on the road drive responsibly but we all make errors and sometimes those errors will result in an incident. And sometimes that incident will result in damage and or injury. Thats life.
We have 4 vehicles at present. One bike, two cars and a 4WD. The 4wd is a seven seater which no other vehicle can provide so we can use it to transport a lot of children around (not all ours) I have had 4 wheelers for years as I did off roading in a purpose built truck for 15 years so I like having a 4WD. If some one has a problem with that then tough shit, get a life. We drive it like a large vehicle not a sports car. If we hit something smaller then we may come out better off. If we hit something larger then we may not. Same chance everyone takes. Even truck drivers hit bigger things and die. Yes I know people do not know how to drive their 4WD effectivly but then plenty do not know how to drive their cars either. Some people cannot ride a bike real well, but bikes are a hell of a lot less forgiving than cars so most either learn quickly, die or move away from bikes.
It seems to me that if you are receiving a lot of aggression from other road users then you need to look at how aggressive your road user style is. We get back what we give out to the world. Be considerate to others and you will receive consideration back. Be an aggressive dickhead to others and you will meet lots of agressive dickheads. And before you all rave at me yes I know that does not work everytime but it does work as a general rule of thumb.
The old adage applies, "treat others as you would like to be treated yourself"
Try it, you might learn something about yourself and life

**Big Dog** · 7th September 2003, 16:01

If you read between the lines you will see that it is not the 4x4 that we are bitching about it but those irresponsible owners who own them as a power trip and use the additional size as a reason to assume they own the road.

Personally I would never own a specillist vehicle like a 4x4 unless I intended for it to go off road..... But then I wouldn't use a bulldozer to go and get the milk either, nor a grader to take the kids to school ( yes I know I might if it were snowing but thats not my point ).

If you feel offended perhaps you need to look at your own concience?

**wkid_one** · 7th September 2003, 19:13

Interestingly enuf - 4WD's are not as safe as one would think for those that own them ( and before any one bags me - I too have owned them for years having had a ex-wife in to equestrian!!).

The inherent lack of safety is due to two primary reasons:

1. Higher centre of gravity - this is the primary cause for rollover - in both cornering and in case of accidents - potentially injuring the occupants. Also, the higher centre of gravity decreases the effectiveness of the braking system of the vehicle - by allowing the weight of the vehicle to travel over the axles and effectively promoting the vehicle to slide/skid when braking hard.

2. Ladder Chassis - this doesn't allow for the normal crumple zones that passenger vehicles allow. The ladder chassis is designed from the vehicles non-road background - allowing a more rigid platform for suspension and towing etc. IN the event of a crash - a vehicle with a ladder chassis is more likely to transfer the forces of a crash to the occupants of the vehicle - meaning those supposed 'safe baby carriers' are in fact more likely to kill your child through impact forces than a standard car.

There are other hazards on the road tho - as a 4WD driver - nothing pisses me off more than seeing people tow with inappropriate cars. Eg towing a horse float with a family car.....ridiculous. Yes it may have the power to tow - but not the design/suspension/chassis/weight and quite often the correct certified tow bar.

Modern 4WD manufacturers are going a long way to improving there safety - air bag compatible safety bars, monocoque chassis, crumple zones, lower centre of gravity etc.

I think much of the concern over 4wd's is in the eyes of the person following.....in all honesty - we are probably cut off etc just as many times by cars etc than as by 4WD's (if not more) - we just remember them coz they are bigger than the average vehicle.

I find that couriers and taxi drivers are more a concern than 4wd's?? Shit, with all the power a bike has a 4wd should only be a problem to a bike if it is a Cayenne/Tourag/X5.

I think the trick is to not put yourself in a situation where other drivers become a problem.....remember your lane is 10 feet wide - that is about 3-4 bikes (or only one car) - plenty of room for a car and bike if need be - hardly a risk.

**Firefight** · 7th September 2003, 19:46

Wkid one makes an excellent point, for a long time some people have laboured under the misunderstanding that 4X4 are safer , in fact in many cases involving HSCI, the extraction process (that is the use of "Jaws of life"and other hydraulic rescue gear) becomes a long drawn out process, this means that the injured patient may not be transported to a medical/trauma center within the "golden hour".And of course if the accident occurs in a rural area the delay is longer.

**Dave** · 8th September 2003, 09:07

Theres always exceptions, but given a straight comparison i would rather be in my 4X4 than in a toyota corolla if someone crashed into me.

**marty** · 8th September 2003, 09:34

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mangell6
[B]Travelling along the m'way in Wgtn some of the SUV and 4X4 drivers like sitting right on your tail. I always leave a bigger and bigger gap in front of me when they do this. They seem to think that they can out brake a bike.

aren't you on a FZ1???? even my slow old RS250 can peel out a landcruiser......