Ray Shearman - whaaaaaaaaat?

**Ixion** · 29th December 2008, 22:05

No. Not really. It's only 18 months to be able to ride a ER6 or SV650, Those are hardly slow! (maybe make it 800cc twin to let the crusiers in a bit more). I'd been riding for 40 years before I rode bikes with more horsepower than that.

It's an interesting commentary (and probably highlights the problem) that bikes with nearly twice the power to weight ratio of a Meridan Bonnieville are dismissed thus. It still allows a 19 year old to ride a thou. Personally I'd go further and say that you couldn't get a 6A until 25 years old .

EDIT: It's actually more lenient than the present schem , cos you could ride a 400 after only 3 months (but don't forget that much tougher BHS test). And a very respectable bike after only 21 months. But , remember also, the bit about going backwards if you stuff up : sorry, sell the 650, you're back to a 400 for another 18 months. Best not to stuff up, eh. In fact that logic could be extended across the board.

**James Deuce** · 29th December 2008, 22:15

Originally Posted by Ixion

Personally I'd go further and say that you couldn't get a 6A until 25 years old .

I'll join BRONZ now, just because you said that.

**riffer** · 29th December 2008, 22:24

25? Try 35...

Seriously though, why don't we have BRONZ in Welly?

**James Deuce** · 29th December 2008, 22:32

Originally Posted by riffer

Seriously though, why don't we have BRONZ in Welly?

Because the last bunch of c**ts that ran it down here were about making a name for themselves, not representing motorcyclists. The sort of people who would come to a bike club meeting and then let the cops know where you were meeting up so they could turn up and do WoF and rego checks. People who would organise a toy run, demand money up front for badges and then not turn up on the day.

You know: Politicians.

**Mikkel** · 29th December 2008, 23:51

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I see blokes and blokettes standing out in the middle of an airstrip in all conditions giving up their sundays to help people ride safer.

I see volunteers giving up their evenings to prepare submissions to ACC.

I see the same bunch of sincere and well intentioned folks turn up at the meetings and do what they can to try and make the vehicles and their governance safer and fairer.

And quite a lot of others grizzling about it (don't mean you Mikkel) . Bring back Lou!

If that is indeed the case, that is awesome. Big kudos to anyone putting in a volunteer effort to improve anything for anyone!

However - and that could be living in Chch perhaps - the only incarnation of BRONZ I am familiar with is the column in Kiwirider magazine and that is what my comment was based upon.

Originally Posted by The Stranger

I can only hope you will get off your arse and ensure BRONZ presents itself to your high standards.

Not very likely so don't get your hopes up:

1. I am an anti-social arsehole.
1. I do not have the patience necessary to do committee work.
1. I am not really concerned by the general state of affairs at the present time.
1. I have no standards - or so I have been informed by others on here.

Yes that's four points starting with "I", which is logical if you see point 1. And I suspect that the vast majority of other people out there riding motorcycles feel pretty much the same way, if they dare admit to it - which is why the situation is as it is. And that will always be the problem with any group consisting of people hell-bent on individual freedom.

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th December 2008, 23:59

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Not very likely so don't get your hopes up:

1. I am an anti-social arsehole.
1. I do not have the patience necessary to do committee work.
1. I am not really concerned by the general state of affairs at the present time.
1. I have no standards - or so I have been informed by others on here.

Yes that's four points starting with "I", which is logical if you see point 1. And I suspect that the vast majority of other people out there riding motorcycles feel pretty much the same way, if they dare admit to it - which is why the situation is as it is. And that will always be the problem with any group consisting of people hell-bent on individual freedom.

Sure, pretty much as I expected. So just shut up and grab your ankles.

**Big Dave** · 30th December 2008, 00:34

I don't like age restrictions.

I'd already been riding more than 10 years when I was old enough to get a licence.

Skill and training based.

**DEATH_INC.** · 30th December 2008, 04:41

Originally Posted by Kickaha

My opinion is contrary to yours, I think they're the most ignorant, aggorant pack of road users out there

Hmmmmm, I tend to agree. Take a step back and have an honest look at yourself from a cage/ general public point of view.
We lane split, speed, pass in short spaces, cut people off, roll up to the front of cues and sit in front of them, don't keep left on m/ways, ride in big groups, make noise, do wheelies and stuff, go round corners fast, do skids, blah, blah blah..... all the stuff we roast boy-racers for. There would be very few who aren't guilty of at least a couple of these things
I drive hillsborough road every day, outta the 7-8 regular bikes I see, only 1 fits in and goes with the traffic, ALL the others pass up the median at well in excess of 50k, or at least into oncoming traffic.
I know this is just one example, but the hundreds of cages sitting there see it every day, and will prolly form an opinion based on this.
Bikers have done this stuff for as long as bikes have been around, and prolly always will, it's very much part of being a non-conformist, which is really what riding bikes is all about, isn't it?

**oldrider** · 30th December 2008, 08:14

Just back to Ray Shearman for a minute.

I am not affilliated to bike racing in capacity except as an interested spectator.

I had never heard of Ray until he made his radio coments the other day.

Thanks to this thread and other media, I now know a lot more about him.

On reflection, I think Ray was hoodwinked into making his radio comments in the vane that the "interviewer" wanted him to proceed.

At one stage he made a comment that suggested that he did not even know that he was live on air!

Based on the radio interview, my comments were valid.

Knowing what I know now I would appologise for my comments and the cunt reference would be leveled at the media.

I think he was stiched up. Bastards. John.

PS: If BRONZ was disestablished, who would be the motorcyclists alternative voice?

On that alone, I say "YES" to BRONZ.

**Salival** · 30th December 2008, 09:45

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Look - this is all good, we are talking about it at least.

I put up some recent data in a thread a while back and mentioned I had coffee with these folks. They seemed genuine in their concerns and I think would respond to proactive action.

Does anyone have some sensible suggestions on how to reduce motorcycle accidents and injury rates? Please note I don't care a fig for blame here but rather I'm interested in laws or schemes that could work.

What about a graduated license scheme for those returning to riding?

What about power to weight ratio's?

What about a special license for bikes over 120bhp based on extra training?

What about an acc / insurance rebate for non accident periods?

Would there be a way of creating a requirement for more safety equipment to be worn?

As I understand it, at the moment you have to wear a helmet. That's it. And if I had a dollar for every time I've seen someone on a 'busa in a t-shirt and shorts...

I read an article a few years ago that basically said the strategy for reducing road injuries in the future will actually involve more crashes, but at a lower speed (think roundabouts rather than traffic lights). In a minor drop, a lot of skin could be kept on the body if people were wearing proper safety gear, or at least jeans and a jacket of some sort. Might not make a difference in a major, but if more accidents are going to occur at low speed, safety gear would make a significant difference to the severity of injuries suffered.

If there was an 'all skin covered' law, or something similar, that would really help.

**Swoop** · 30th December 2008, 12:40

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

What about a graduated license scheme for those returning to riding?

Quite simply, less "paper" based stuff and more practical.
If a licence changes back to a "P", will the rider take any notice of this?

Sensible courses (RRRS?) to start with, that are officially recognised and are not simply a "track day" situation.
Possibly a recurrency training situation? ALL riders to do this every XX years?

**smoky** · 31st December 2008, 08:25

So what I’ve been hearing is; we all want the nanny state to tell us how to ride and impose more regulations on us because we’re useless unsafe bastards on the road.

**Swoop** · 31st December 2008, 08:28

Originally Posted by smoky

So what I’ve been hearing is; we all want the nanny state to tell us how to ride and impose more regulations on us because we’re useless unsafe bastards on the road.

That is the path that katman is dragging us down...