Public perception.

[Squiggles]

I haven't had any purposeful physical aggression towards me from motorists, and I haven't dished any out, so I dunno where you're getting all this negative "public perception" from.

Go read the last issue of craccum, theres at least one taking a shot at us in there, and the letter that spurred it wasnt even aimed by a biker...

[Mom]

And that's the saddest fucking post I've ever read from your hand.

I have requoted my post. You tend to edit peoples words mate to reflect your message. Sure I said "I can not change a damn thing about how people perceive motorcyclists". I cant, I ride as I do. Dont remember ever getting the fingers from a car driver for my inconsiderate riding, certainly given a few of them the message.

I also said "Each of us can bring kudos to riding a bike, and perhaps we can do that best when we are using two feet, not so much two wheels".

I do take personal responsibility for my riding, and my actions on the road. I also take responsibility for what I post on here, I really hate it when you selectively quote my words out of context.

Smile? On his face? He is dead dude. The undertaker has either taken pity on the family and sewed a fake friggen horrible lip sealed smile mask on him or he looked like that anyway in repose.

Frankly I hate the saying "he died doing what he loved". He is dead, no matter how it happened. I only used it to get you to bite a bit harder.

I can not change a damn thing about how people perceive motorcyclists. I wear the mask of ATGATT, unless you spot my ponytail out the back, you would have no idea I am female in my gear when I am riding, or have any idea who I am. I ride as I do. If I get lumped with the irresponsible riders out there, so be it.

The only change I can make is actually when I am off the road. The looks on some faces when I tell them I ride a motorcycle is priceless. Each of us can bring kudos to riding a bike, and perhaps we can do that best when we are using two feet, not so much two wheels.

[MadDuck]

Fuck, you must live a sheltered life.

Oh yes I do. They only let me out of the nuns living quarters Tuesday to Friday.... but as i ride a motorcycle the public perceives me as being an absolute ass. Well in the world according to Katman

[Ragingrob]

Go read the last issue of craccum, theres at least one taking a shot at us in there, and the letter that spurred it wasnt even aimed by a biker...

Oh yeah? I didn't get the last few issues ay, do you still have it? Can have a read tomorrow. Go on msn you lazy Suzy!

[James Deuce]

How many more cars are on the road in NZ than bikes? The few people who have this "negative public perception against bikers" must surely feel the same when a car cuts them off or the like. Are they gonna start hunting down every car on the road now? With your logic, yes.

Come on mate, you know it doesn't work that way. 99% of the populace, including most motorcyclists relate to the car as a vehicle positively at best and with antipathy at worst, but all of us can relate to, or at least understand what a car is about.

I reckon 90% of the population are utterly clueless about motorcycles and attitudes range from benign ignorance to violent loathing. Cars don't need positive PR. They're as common as soap. Possibly more common if that bloke in the lift today is anything to go by. Our society would struggle to function without cars.

Bikes are pointless though. The perceived negatives outweigh the positives hugely. You know yourself that there are sod all negatives, but all Aunt Nancy sees is a vehicle that allows the rider to ignore a bunch of traffic regulations, makes a lot of noise, can't stand up by itself, and indeed gets blown over sometimes, can only carry two people (at least in NZ. In Thailand a Cub 90 can carry half a tonne of chickens and 17 relatives), and lots of people seem to die just because they rode one. They have to fall down to go around corners for goodness sake!

[Katman]

Well in the world according to Katman

I'm honoured you feel so connected with my world.

[MadDuck]

I'm honoured you feel so connected with my world.

So you should be!

Problem is I dont know why you think I have connected with your little world. Therefore I retract what ever post made you think I did.

[Ragingrob]

Come on mate, you know it doesn't work that way.

Yeah I know it doesn't work that way, that's his logic!

If a bike cuts me off people may say "Fucken biker".

If a car cuts me off people may say "Fucken Holden (Insert car brand here) driver".

It's all down to how you specify and generalise things.

If a Maori kills their baby, people may say "Fucken Maori"

If a Katman acts like a tosser, people may say "Fucken Katman", or with his logic, "Fucken bikers!".

[Katman]

So you should be!

Problem is I dont know why you think I have connected with your little world. Therefore I retract what ever post made you think I did.

My world has just inexplicitly collapsed.

[Katman]

If a Katman acts like a tosser, people may say "Fucken Katman", or with his logic, "Fucken bikers!".

Not the most intelligent of responses.

[MadDuck]

Not the most intelligent of responses.

Ohhh really ?

And that's the saddest fucking post I've ever read from your hand.

Fuck, you must live a sheltered life.

You poor deluded fuck.

Now wheres that pot and wheres that kettle

[Paul in NZ]

There is little you can do to change popular perception in a very short time unless it's for the negative...

The real question is not however, what do motorists think of us, it is rather what do we think of ourselves? I say that because for as long as we act out our biker fantasy in real life we are doomed to be that tragic figure.

As an observation - and as an observation ONLY....

I have NEVER had a frown or a cross word when on the ancient triumph - in general the world smiles at me, gives me room, is glad to see me and treats me with courtesy. Its the chrome effect.... I seldom get a frown on the Moto Guzzi, even though it is louded and more annoying than a hedgehogs mating call at 2pm on a still night, once people realise what it is they generally smile. People come up to us and want to talk about the bikes and when they were young etc etc etc. MY conclusion from this is that the average joe LIKES motorcycles and wants to see you having a bit of fun - it's a question of degrees....

[Ragingrob]

Not the most intelligent of responses.

When was the last time you actually made a response to any opinions on the topic? All I see is immature name-calling and lame comebacks.

Do you have an example of when a biker has been harmed due to purposeful actions taken by a car driver who has in the past been annoyed by a different biker?

[Katman]

Do you have an example of when a biker has been harmed due to purposeful actions taken by a car driver who has in the past been annoyed by a different biker?

Like I've said , "you have got to be joking".

[Number One]

When was the last time you actually made a response to any opinions on the topic? All I see is immature name-calling and lame comebacks.

Do you have an example of when a biker has been harmed due to purposeful actions taken by a car driver who has in the past been annoyed by a different biker?

He'll just tell you to "not worry your pretty little head"