Our own worst enemy

[dangerous]

Yip, a rant thread...
I have come to the conclusion that we the motorcyclists, are our own worst enemy... now of course I'm not saying we all are but the arse's out there end up getting us all tarred with the same brush.

I went for a quick spin this morning and was returning on the flat between the Black Tulip and Titapu... coming towards me over a few k's of road was a bunch of mainly harley's and Triumph's, I am asuming its a organised ride by the local HD shop Rolling Thunder.

I was accosted by fuck wits crossing the center line, bikes leaned well over the center and riders sitting on the center and none making an effort to move for the oncoming traffic (I was behind 2 slow going cages) for several bends, 2 bends out from where the fatal was at xmas which again was caused by ' riders' on the wrong side of the centre line. A Rocket3 came at me and the cars missing me by millimeters.

Now whats with this attitude in group rides were riders suddenly become bulletproof, the pack mentality sets in... hell why should any of them move over or at least get into 2 abreast not 3... christ theres more of them so why should they I suppose.

My point here is bike head ons is becoming very common and theres usually only one end result.
So when will we pull our heads in.. I expect it will happen only when insurances etc are so high we cant afford to ride, when the general public gets so fucked of with idiots that cant ride for shit and take on the stupidest passing manuovres.

IMO, I think its down to 2 different bereads of riders, 1st the young, on too powerful bikes for their skill level, they have always been there and always will till the GVT does something about licencing.

The other are born again riders, due to the economy being great over the last few years have had spare money to spend on toys and why not go back to there teen years and jump back on a bike, only bikes have more power, theres more traffic and they still think they are 25.

So all up I guess nothing will change and the motor biker will continue killing themselves... just prey they dont involve me in there fucked up riding habbits.

To date in 2009 every FIVE days a biker DIES

[Elysium]

There seems to be a few bad people in bike clubs these days, mainly on Harlies and Triumphs. I heared from a couple of riders in Otago that some members of the Ulysses club like to ride their bikes at around 180(on Harlies of all bikes ) and seem to act like maniacs at times. I know one guy who rode with them a couple of times and didn't like the riding attitude of some of the riders.

Don't get me wrong here, a lot of group memebers are safe riders but there are those that bring shame upon their fellow riders with stupid acts.

Most of all dam Harlies wont wave!

[Squiggles]

IMO, I think its down to 2 different bereads of riders, 1st the young, on too powerful bikes for their skill level, they have always been there and always will till the GVT does something about licencing.

The other are born again riders, due to the economy being great over the last few years have had spare money to spend on toys and why not go back to there teen years and jump back on a bike, only bikes have more power, theres more traffic and they still think they are 25.

Theres a third type too, those that believe there are only two groups who cause trouble.

[Ixion]

There seems to be a few bad people in bike clubs these days, mainly on Harlies and Triumphs. I heared from a couple of riders in Otago that some members of the Ulysses club like to ride their bikes at around 180 and seem to act like maniacs at times. ..

Fuck me! Up here the usual complaint is that they ride so slow that whole generations of spiders set up home in webs between their wheels and the road. Is why I've never joined up. 180 clicks, maybe I ought to join them after all.

[Katman]

just pray they dont involve me in their fucked up riding habits.

Amen.

(+10)

[dangerous]

Theres a third type too, those that believe there are only two groups who cause trouble.

If there is only 3... which group do you belong to then?

Or rather than answer that how about some constructive critasisem or do you like to be knowen as 'another crazy motorcyclists' as the Police said in a local rag?

May be I should have stuck this thread into the Akaroa GP thread, as it is kinda a continuation... this being after seeing the lack of riding ability today I can see why the public and police call us 'crazy motorcyclists' and 'us types'
I myself dont like that at all.

[Katman]

It's a sad fact that we now have to look out for the fuckwit motorcyclists on the road as well as everyone else.

[Macontour]

I have been thinking the same! Im a bornagain biker having been away from bikes for 8 years and have only had my Duc 3 months. I love the Thursday night Thrash....I mean ride and really enjoyed the Opononi trip but if we saw car drivers driving the way most of us ride, we would call them "boy racers" and recommend they get locked up!

We have more than enough power(usually) to overtake anytime however some of us still feel the need to pass on double yellows or around blind bends when if we waited another few seconds, the way would be clear and we could do it safely and reasonably legally.

I go out of my way to acknowledge any car driver who moves over for me as I hope that it somehow compensates them for the howl of carbon Termignonis in their ear!!!

We do need to look inwards occasionally and assess the way we are viewed by Mr and Mrs Public.

[dangerous]

thank you Macontour, that is more politley my point
good to see Im not actually alone here and want the general public to look at bikers in a more favoured light, and... for more of us to see another year.

[Squiggles]

If there is only 3... which group do you belong to then?

There are more than 3, Without a doubt many will look to the top right of my posts and put me in group 1

Or rather than answer that how about some constructive critasisem or do you like to be knowen as 'another crazy motorcyclists' as the Police said in a local rag?

Change will come about by a shift in perception among bikers, when such behaviour is frowned upon. There will always be some out there who'll do it anyway (just like drink driving) but the more we look down on such riding, perhaps the less it'll happen. Personally, i wont ride north on thursday nights...

[dangerous]

but the more we look down on such riding, perhaps the less it'll happen.

That being my reason for starting another grisley thread... if it aint said, nothing can/will change.

[Katman]

if it aint said, nothing can/will change.

I'm feeling all warm and runny inside.

[mikeey01]

Sorry I'm not a word smith, but........

At present I am seeing it almost every day over the summer months, I'm either on the bike or in the cage
I live near the start line for the Akaroa GP and listen to them going for it once they cross it!
I am a bornagain biker, know my limits aren't what they use to be, understand it and live by it. What I can't believe is what some riders are doing now on the road
I ride Pasta Machines (always have) If I wanted to have some serious fun I'd go to a track day and stretch the legs their, not on the god dam road!

Last week, the most recent...
A Hardley rider decided to take me on in a 60 area, pulled along side me, revved the clunker and took off... I thought to myself you must be jokeing... then his following three mates past me like a bat out of hell, with little room between us. Why I wondered...I'd given them most (80%) of the farken lane, was sitting a tad over 60 myself and when I rounded the corner they were nearly half way down the road, passed at least five cagers like they past me.
They obviously couldn't wait to start at the start line, as they were nearly at the Akaroa GP start line!

We do need to look inwards occasionally and assess the way we are viewed by Mr and Mrs Public.
+1 Yes I agree!

As for those mormon few I actually thought they started off funny but their latest vid is crazy..... mormon few cbr1000r test.. arr great I thought.. it'll be a laugh.. NOT!
Borrow a bike from a shop for a test ride, rape the fark out of it, scare goodness knows how many cagers, pop the odd mono around shops etc make a vid and folks think this is great?
I don't see the humour in that sorry, nor do I think it's entertainment. Take it to the track for christ sake before someone gets hurt!
Don't the bike shops around them know what they do / are doing?
I only hope that the ppl that need to know are aware of it and are taking notes....

What does shit like that do for us?
What does the local jerry have in store for us?
A big wide broom and tar all with the same brush?
How long is it going to take before someone says, enough is enough?
Rest assured if it goes on like it is, it'll end up affecting us all

[Daffyd]

Well said!

[mstriumph]

unfortunately, whilst the police have tunnel-vision about speeding being the great satan there'll be few resources to spare for the sort of sensible police-patrolling that would pick up and stamp on the fuckwits among us .......