What's unusual with this photo?

[nudemetalz]

Actually, it raises another question.
How do you know that the "end" pillion isn't a lady-boy....?

[Ecclesnz]

Has anyone else seen the Top Gear episode where they ride bikes in Vietnam?

Yes, they get Clarkson on a bike after he has a huuuuuuge tanty

[MarkH]

Has anyone else seen the Top Gear episode where they ride bikes in Vietnam?

Yes, they get Clarkson on a bike after he has a huuuuuuge tanty

I liked near the start when he didn't know how to kick start the thing - the pretty blonde lady (might have been a crew member) showed him, then as he rode off she said "Sh*t he's gonna die!"

[Burtha]

pushing bike.... in kitchen ... blow job.... multi tasking ...

of course,
well i'm a guy

Wot would you fuckers do without us, eh !?!

[Kemet]

Waking up this morning and reading perfectly logical answers like this, I sigh in mock surprise,
saying to myself "OMG, there really ARE intelligent KB'ers!"



But then my faith returns with these KB-as-usual comments:







...Although when I really think about it, Headbanger and MadDuck probably give us more honest, perceptive and reasonable comments than anyone else.




Winner to be announced later today. This thread needs at least 24 hours to ferment.

So am I intelligent but less honest??!!

[Kemet]

Junior will grow up big. Note how is arms are bigger than his mums.

Hell... Juniors boobs look almost bigger than his mums!!!

[Kemet]

Has anyone else seen the Top Gear episode where they ride bikes in Vietnam?

Yes, they get Clarkson on a bike after he has a huuuuuuge tanty

Missed it. Just Youtubed it... is it the episode where this happened?

[kasper]

And that is why you wear at least basic armour.
No a tailored suit does not class as armour. Nor does Velcro elbow guards.

[Kemet]

He did put elbow guards on after that....

[Solly]

Whats wrong with this....????

Nothing......there's still room for another 2

[Radar]

A month has passed since I started this thread, I have had plenty of time to contemplate all of the comments, and maybe many of you have now seen last week's Top Gear TV programme when the Fearless Three went to Vietnam and rode bikes / scooters.

My original question about the photo was "What is the one unusual thing?"

It would be fair to ask me "What was my intention behind posting this thread?" So let me reveal all...

First of all, there is not really just ONE thing unusual or wrong in the photo. I just put that there to make it more of a challenge, more interesting. I - Radar - may find one thing unusual but who am I but a person with his own unique experiences, their own perceptions, own judgment?! Most likely my views will be different than someone else's perceptions.

To be honest, the first thought for me was that the rider was actually wearing a helmet. I have been to Thailand (and other Asian countries) several times over the last 20 years and most bike riders or pillions do not bother to wear helmets. But times are changing in these 'emerging economy' countries, with new laws:

In Thailand, where 70-90% of all crashes involve motorcycle, after enforcement of a helmet law, helmet-use increased five-fold, the number of injured motorcyclists decreased by 33.5%, head injuries decreased by 41.4%, and deaths decreased by 20.8%. There is considerable evidence that mandatory helmet laws with enforcement alleviate the burden of traffic injuries greatly. For low and middle-income countries with high rates of motorcycle injuries, enforced, mandatory motorcycle helmet laws are potentially one of the most cost effective interventions available.

For us in law abiding and safety conscious NZ, there is more that is 'unusual' in the photo. Let's see what other KB'ers found...

He's wearing a helmet. Looks like it might be on backwards... but still, highly unusual.

The bike actually have wing mirrors, at least they haven't lost it completely and so have stowed them for reduced wind resistance.

Mikkel saw what I did, and made his reply a few minutes after I posted. The photo was actually taken by my son, who was in Thailand three years ago, a few months after I was there. At that time it was unusual to see helmets, but now it is more common. Some laws are not strictly enforced in most Asian countries and many families cannot afford helmets for everyone on a bike.

My guess is that the mirrors are turned in for better filtering through congested traffic. Normally bikes with families on them don't get up to high speeds.

Well for a start, Like Mikkel said he's wearing a helmet, albeit one of those nice plastic jobbies. His wife and kid....na they'll be right.

Secondly, he shouldnt have ventured out when there is clearly room for at least 3 more family members to come along for the ride.

Thirdly, his choice of footware......not too clever. But hey
when in Rome...

The weather over there is HOT and HUMID, like a sauna, so there is no way cordura or leather can be worn. When I was in Thailand and in Laos, I rented small 120 cc bikes. The helmets were too tight for my fat head and gave me a headache so I rode with no protective gear at all, although at least I had a pair of shoes and not jandals. After hoofing it for two months, riding a bike was an exhilarating, liberating experience - especially without protective gear. I rode on the motorway for awhile at 80 - 90 kph and after shutting out thoughts of binning, happily went on my way.

I have seen 5 passengers on a bike. 3 on a bike is common. My bet is that if any of us lived there, working as they do, earning what they do, having a family as they do - we would ride the same way, probably with helmets and shoes but not much else.

There looks to be another helmet tucked down in front of the rider.. a purple one.. must be there.. "just in case there is an accident"

Yeah, it could be a helmet. Hard to tell. I guess the helmet law in that part of Thailand at that time was not enforced.

The only thing I see wrong with the photo is the invasion of privacy by some self indulged safety nazi while a struggling, but content family try to get on with their lives.

Am I wrong?

Whoooaa... is Finn correct? Well, there certainly ARE safety 'nazis' on KB, those that come across in a self righteous manner. To tell the truth, I had them in mind when I created this thread. I find them interesting in a way. I wonder if they (like me) often are annoyed at having to put on all the protective gear, spending all the $$$ on it, then (unlike me) getting pissed off seeing another biker enjoying their ride without the gear?

Anyhow, there is a big point I'd like to spout off about, and will do so in a separate post, just below this one.

I go to Thailand often and it all looks pretty normal to me.

I'd like to see any "must wear gear" nazi try wearing full leathers in Thai heat without passing out from heat stroke.

EXACTLY.

the mirrors are the wrong way round ...

Am I right ?

Yes, you are correct - there are no 'wrong' answers here. Its up to our own perceptions, what each of us finds unusual compared to riding here in NZ.




[QUOTE=SpankMe;1976988]I think so, but many don't bother in the country. It tends to be more enforced in the cities. But the helmets they do wear are pretty useless. Many who do wear full face helmets often don't put them on fully. They have their face still sticking out the bottom.[/QUOTE


I found if I did not take things too seriously when traveling in Asia, things like you describe are funny as hell..!

And I think you got the wrong end of the stick.

What's the bet the unusual aspect he is alluding to is the rider went against local practise and is wearing a helmet. I doubt Radar is judging anybody,He is well travelled and aware that they do things as practical in their own regions, Its just this forum is about the most cynical place on earth.

I'll wager $5.

Spot on. When creating this thread I was really curious how the cynical crowd here on KB would respond.

I think the answer he is looking for is "everything", when actually nothing is wrong with it when a combination of excessive heat, traffic and shity income make it impossible to have a vehicle that is safe for all the family.

Spot on again. Summed up perfectly - as far as my own perceptions and analysis would judge it.

Clearly the unusual thing is this guy is wealthy, and humble.

He’s set his mirrors to get a better look of his face as he rides and his lady can also peek at his beauty.

He rides a custom chariot with gold plated rims, rear shocks and front brake lever.

He’s even had the custom go fast rainbow installed.

His son is fed like a king. Look at the size of him.
The basket out front is designed to carry 12 bottles, one in each hole. And junior has already drunk 11.
The loyal wife carries her mobile at the ready in case junior polishes off the last drop of milk.

So why has he got a chrome helmet instead of gold you ask? Well actually the helmet is worth more, being platinum plated titanium. Note this is not a motorcycle helmet but one associated with his role as an honrary military officer.

Being an honorary general he rides with the fashionably shortened Army Khaki pants with horizontal mobile phone pouch but has enough taste to wear his and hers matching T-Shirts.

And of course to let people know he is coming he turns on his Xenon head light.

They have on board communications. Her with the headset and mouth piece that leaves the right ear clear to listen to junior. Sadly she has to ride with her head turned this way. But she does it because of her love for her family. His comms are in the plastic mouth piece sitting out from his cheek.

Junior is dressed in fashionable red top and red topped shoes.

Junior will grow up big. Note how is arms are bigger than his mums.

But none of this is unusual. What is unusual is the thickness of the concrete blocks in the background on the far right.

No wonder their buildings fall over in earthquakes.

Top marks for creative writing.
OMG, the construction of some of the buildings in Asia are shocking! I would not want to be in or near one of them during an earthquake.

Has anyone else seen the Top Gear episode where they ride bikes in Vietnam?

Yes, they get Clarkson on a bike after he has a huuuuuuge tanty

That was a terrific episode, funny and interesting. Compared to what the locals were riding, those three bikes were pieces of crap. I think most of the bikes in Asia are Chinese and as far as commuter bikes go, they zip along nicely.


==============

AND THE WINNER IS... SpankMe

Finn and Headbanger get Honourable Mentions.

The 3 of you can collect your cold beer prize next time you are in Masterton, Or when we meet in a pub sometime at the end of a ride...

[Radar]

I wrote above: Anyhow, there is a big point I'd like to spout off about, and will do so in a separate post, just below this one.


OK, here I go...

Some of us used to ride many years ago, 30 years or more. We remember when helmets were not compulsory and the only protective gear was a leather jacket - but that really was not worn for protection, it just looked good, as leather still looks good today.

It was back in the days when no one gave a toss about seat belts and did not mind if their mate, or father, drove drunk. Smoking and drinking while pregnant, cars that were death traps, hell -even testing nuclear weapons... it was different back then. Not many people cared, mainly because they were just fkn ignorant, unaware.


So what's this have to do with us KB'ers, and the photo that I posted at the top of this thread?


I see it like this: TIME CHANGES THINGS. Thailand and other Asian countries are behind the time (compared to Western countries) regarding economic growth and safety laws. We have our own Safety Nazis here on KB, those that yell and whine about ATGATT. My message to these Safety Nazis is this: Yes yes you are correct, we should wear ATGATT... When a rider takes a bin and winds up in hospital, there is no argument about ATGATT... but...



But here is something for you Safety Nazi's to think about: What gear are you not wearing? Do you have proper custom made ear plugs, shin and knee guards, chest and back protectors, elbow protectors? No, I did not think so. Call me a hypocrite, or a self righteous bastard, or whatever, but in another decade or two I think most bikers in developed countries will be wearing more protective gear than what we have now.



So yes, you Safety Nazis ARE correct, and we all need reminders to ride safe.


But hey, some of you might tone things down a bit and may I suggest that you go over to Thailand to live for awhile, and do some riding over there?!!

That's my rant. Take it or leave it.

[Ronin]

'Tis rigged I tell you

[Radar]

One bike carrying EIGHT people. 3 children, 2 men, 2 women and a baby on 1 motorbike.

[Krayy]

He's two-finger braking with front drums...send him on the RRRS course and he should be okay.