Our own worst enemy

[JMemonic]

I believe there will always be idiots on bikes who do dangerous stuff for the thrill of it. No-one else will ever change these dicks. That change will have to come from inside them ... be it from growing up ... considering their family ... getting a severe wake-up call or whatever.

I'd suggest all we can hope for is to show the general public (and those with the potential to make biking more expensive) that the bulk of us are sensible and that we have the same disdain for the idiots amongst us that they do. Unfortunately that can't be achieved just by us going about our business quietly as by it's very nature, that behaviour doesn't get noticed.

We have to do something more than just talk in forums or all behave ourselves as individuals if we want to remove the growing public perception that we are all idiots. We need to DO something that will be noticed...

Unfortunately Oakie the general public fail to notice good behaviour, its not just motorcycles where this occurs but some of us might be doing something right I have noticed more of the caged population this year moving over to give room for bikes to pass.

This is where a national organisation with bikers interests and the ear of the politicians could help, hell fisherman and hunters formed a political party to get a message across, sadly no such organisation exists, and when it did some areas were no more than drinking clubs with a motorcycle problem (from my understanding), mind you with kb here and the ability for all opinions to be viewed who knows?, hope is eternal.

[dangerous]

with your grammatical prowess, insinuations and accusations I do hope that there is no hypocrisy on your behalf, and that you consistently ride to the conditions, to the speed limits of our roads, and save your racing and fancy maneuvers for the track days .......... or rally's ...........

I asume as you have not quoted anyone that you are talking to me?

If so then...
I am not the best speller, nor at grammer, but that doesnt have much to do with my riding. Insinuations & accusations: these are real situations i see everyday, not just wild imaginings. I ride a lot so get to see a lot.
Yes sometimes I do exceed the speed limit, i dont deny that. BUT the conditions of the time determine how I act, if it is busy I dont. I attempt to never cross the centreline, cos it really is the simplest way to die (as well as simplest way to avoid dying) on our roads, by hitting something coming the other way.

I do race on the track, where everyone understands the 'rules' so to speak... we expect fast & close passing, but the road is not the place for it. If I am concerned by people cutting corners, imagine what grandma and mums/dads with kids feel?

What is it that the Christians like to say?

"Let he/she who is without sin, cast the first stone" Amen, John.

I dont quite agree... we all have some blame BUT if we dont discuss it and simply brush it off, then by the same token we are condoning it... accepting that it is just what we have to live with when we ride.
We dont and shouldn't have to accept that it is just something that some people do.

[fireliv]

Yip, a rant thread...
I 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.

Completely agree with you on most of this D, and the Akaroa GP is a typical place where a lot of crap riding occurs (as seen over chirstmas). My only thing seams to be that the deaths are the group 2 riders over the young guys on sports. From what I have seen young guys on sports crash more but old guys seam to kill themselves more.

[scumdog]

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...

I do look down on it - and I'll tell them to their face (and no, not just when I'm working).

The life you save may be your own by telling somebody in a polite but to the point way how their riding is not the safest.

If it is a genuine unarguable criticistm only a loser will deny it/argue back.

[scumdog]

What is it that the Christians like to say?

"Let he/she who is without sin, cast the first stone" Amen, John.

Sadly John some riders just plain don't realise they are 'sinning' - or the danger of said 'sin'

[scumdog]

with your grammatical prowess, insinuations and accusations I do hope that there is no hypocrisy on your behalf, and that you consistently ride to the conditions, to the speed limits of our roads, and save your racing and fancy maneuvers for the track days .......... or rally's ...........

Ya go trouble decyphering/understanding Dangerese or something???

[Oakie]

Unfortunately Oakie the general public fail to notice good behaviour.

Exactly my point (well one of them anyway). We need to find a way to shove in their faces that most of us aren't the idiots they perceive us to be.

[slofox]

Not every "born again" rider rides like a lunatic...some of us buy bikes that suit our abilities and take it easy as we get used to the new technology...some of us have a social conscience that allows us to think what we could do to others - and not do it.

[chester]

There seems to be a few bad people in bike clubs these days, mainly on Harlies and Triumphs.

Its not just people on Harlies and Triumphs.

[dangerous]

Its not just people on Harlies and Triumphs.

No its not, and mabe more so in Nelson... but for Chch I can say that the increase in harleys and Triumphs has increased dramaticaly.
From what I see (and remember I ride with SEVERAL triumphs) theres a group on these bikes that fancy themselves as wana be bad arses... by this I mean dressed in black on black bikes with a open face black lid and black scarf with black glasses... and there attude and ridding skills or there part lack of is "fuck the rest of yous"
It seems that they are middle to later aged men reliving god knows what... the post earler from mikeey01 (post #13) is a excelent axample I see that shit evey day.
This was also most of the group I had issues with yesterday.


btw I ride black bikes and black riding gears

[scumdog]

btw I ride black bikes and black riding gears

Phew!

Thought you were getting at me D.!!

[chester]

I ride a black triumph and wear black gear and are in my thirtys, what are you getting at? Have I bought the wrong bike? Now im being branded with having a bad attitude,cos the way I look? I still feel you need to include all types of riders and styles of bikes in your rant.


Not every "born again" rider rides like a lunatic...some of us buy bikes that suit our abilities and take it easy as we get used to the new technology...some of us have a social conscience that allows us to think what we could do to others - and not do it. How true that is......


my 2c

[dipshit]

I ride a black triumph and wear black gear and are in my thirtys, what are you getting at? Have I bought the wrong bike? Now im being branded with having a bad attitude,cos the way I look? I still feel you need to include all types of riders and styles of bikes in your rant.

No one has any problem with people wanting to play dress-ups to look bad ass.

It's people that ride with "I'm a bad ass" attitude that cause problems.

[Lazarus_sv]

Have to say I agree that unfortunately there are a few dickheads out there who get all of us a bad rep, but it isn't any one age group or bike type thats to blame - you often hear about ricers and italian bikes being chasen by the cops at speeds up to and above 200km/h, although I also witnessed some very scary riding recently by some guys on Harleys in Central Otago overtaking on doubly yellows through the Kawarau Gorge near Cromwell. i think this is because most bikes have so much power just a twist of the throttle away. I often get a second look from the police even when minding my own business cruising along at the speed limit - presumably purely coz I'm on a bike as I'm certainly not doing anything stupid (usually).

[Tony W]

with your grammatical prowess, insinuations and accusations I do hope that there is no hypocrisy on your behalf, and that you consistently ride to the conditions, to the speed limits of our roads, and save your racing and fancy maneuvers for the track days .......... or rally's ...........

Did you mean "manoeuvres" and "rallies" by any chance ?
Sure bad English can get annoying...but...
check your own inadequacies before giving anyone shit about theirs.

How embarrassing is that...?

DANGEROUS, that is a good post.