Biker down in Jackrats patch

**doc** · 11th March 2005, 18:29

This is word for word from Franklin County news 10 Mar.

"A motorcyclist on Awhitu Rd in Waiuku had his right foot partially severed and his pillion passengers foot was also seriously injured in a collision with a four wheel drive on Sunday. The two riders aged in their 60's were in Waiuku from Hastings visiting friends. Constable Neil Phillips of the Counties Manukau serious crash team says the bike travelling north and the 4 x 4 going in the opposite direction were involved in a side-swipe collision on Awhitu Rd between McGowan Rd and Tahuna Pa on the evening of March 6. He says the crash ripped off the handle-bars and front pedal of the bike severed the motorbike rider's foot and caused serious injury to his female pillion passenger's right foot. Both riders were taken to Middlemore hospital with serious injuries, and the road was closed for some time. Following the crash police said they believe both the motorbike rider and his passenger had to have parts of their right legs amputated"

Phew that took some typing but this is what pissed me off earlier in the week on kiwibiker forums the 4 x 4 was altering his radio or something and it affects our ACC premiums. And the road gets closed again I always thought it was for fatals.

**Ixion** · 11th March 2005, 18:33

Bastiges.

Maybe we should declare war ? Bikers versus 4x4s (only problem is I've got one myself. But I'm not a bastige like them. And it's a real old workhorse 4x4. And it actually gets properly dirty. So I reckon that doesn't count). I'm all in favour of a nice little war, myself

Only thing is "the crash ripped off the handle-bars and front pedal of the bike" ?? WTF, pedal ? . Presumably means footpeg?

**saiko** · 11th March 2005, 18:49

Those 4x4 fuckers are a menace when your driving a car too. The 4 x 4 women I find especially aggressive.

**Skyryder** · 11th March 2005, 20:10

Originally Posted by saiko

Those 4x4 fuckers are a menace when your driving a car too. The 4 x 4 women I find especially aggressive.

I'm a 4x4 driver and I agree not that I'm a menace but the woman..............use to notice their agressive behavour when driving busses. They can bad mouth with the best too...............as did to me on numerouse occasions.

Skyryder

**Jackrat** · 11th March 2005, 20:21

I know the bit of road it happened on very well.
Sad to say,i'm not supprised how it happened at all.
The locals treat the road like they own both bloody sides of it.
I lost a wing mirror on a car up there a few years ago and if I hadn't done the big swerve it was going to be a full head on.
It makes for a very dangerous road so any body riding it be extra carefull please.
Stay away from that white line,Just about every local up there cuts the corners.
Even when their not changing bloody stations

**inlinefour** · 12th March 2005, 01:30

Originally Posted by Ixion

Bastiges.

Maybe we should declare war ? Bikers versus 4x4s (only problem is I've got one myself. But I'm not a bastige like them. And it's a real old workhorse 4x4. And it actually gets properly dirty. So I reckon that doesn't count). I'm all in favour of a nice little war, myself

Only thing is "the crash ripped off the handle-bars and front pedal of the bike" ?? WTF, pedal ? . Presumably means footpeg?

Get plenty of toots and thumbs up from riders when they see the "Be aware of motorcyclists" and the KBer stickers on the back.
Too many arseholes own one but can drive em for shite. Reckon they need to do a licience class for them, which involves intense driver training.

**jazbug5** · 12th March 2005, 04:54

Now THAT is a bloody good idea, Honda!
Cars are often bad enough, but 4X4s are in a special class of their own. As in 'shpeshul'. Funcking wankas.
But anyway, I couldn't agree more- there should be a special license for driving them that you have to renew by resitting the test every year, (maybe allowances made for people who actually use them on farms etc) and even then they should have 'I am a gas guzzling, selfish tosser' on them in huge da-glo letters on the side.
But apart from that do we know any more about the riders yet? Perhaps another sympathy thread is in order?

**Jantar** · 13th March 2005, 08:55

Originally Posted by jazbug5

Now THAT is a bloody good idea, Honda!
Cars are often bad enough, but 4X4s are in a special class of their own. As in 'shpeshul'. Funcking wankas.
But anyway, I couldn't agree more- there should be a special license for driving them that you have to renew by resitting the test every year, (maybe allowances made for people who actually use them on farms etc) and even then they should have 'I am a gas guzzling, selfish tosser' on them in huge da-glo letters on the side.
But apart from that do we know any more about the riders yet? Perhaps another sympathy thread is in order?

Apart from my bikes, my only other vehicle is a 4x4. I need it for our property, to get around in our winter conditions, and for towing our horse float. Please explain why 'I am a gas guzzling, selfish tosser'. Also please tell me what other type of vehicle will suit my needs. And please also explain why that makes my wife and I "Funcking wankas"

We rural people often get this this type of comment from city dwellers who have no conception of life in more remote areas.

From our point of view the great majority of accidents that we see in our area are caused by city drivers coming to the country, or by foriegn tourists. Maybe we should have a special class of licence for city drivers who want to drive their Honda accords on dirt roads.

**Sniper** · 13th March 2005, 09:07

You get some real arseholes in this world. You can find a few of them behind the wheel of the 4x4. I dont take a dig at people with 4x4's except that those that have them in the city for the simple reason that maybe one day, just one day, they may venture onto a gravel road.

Now not all 4x4's drivers have a 4x4 to compensate for a lack of penis (or in womens cases, lack of getting laid) but those who own a 4x4 and ALSO own a bike are gods because they know what its like on both counts. Full marks to them you guys

But yea, to sum up my theory (Proberbly wrong)
4x4 in city never to be used on dirt = Idiot with a tiny penis
4x4 in city used regularly on dirt= Intelligent idiot
4x4 in country= Useful and practical
4x4 owner who also owns bike= GOD

**saiko** · 13th March 2005, 09:09

Originally Posted by Jantar

Apart from my bikes, my only other vehicle is a 4x4. I need it for our property, to get around in our winter conditions, and for towing our horse float. Please explain why 'I am a gas guzzling, selfish tosser'. Also please tell me what other type of vehicle will suit my needs. And please also explain why that makes my wife and I "Funcking wankas"
.

Hi Jantar,

I don't believe anyone meant any disrespect to those living in rural areas, and using your 4x4 as a work-related vehicle.

The problem seems to be with those living in the cities, who prefer to drive a 4x4 rather than a normal sedan etc. This, by & in itself is ok, after all you can't legislate who should drive what. But I think the point here is those city drivers using 4x4's are particularly aggressive, & the vehicles themselves are also dangerous - e.g. stuck in behind you can't see past the vehicle to determine what's in front, whether the traffic up ahead is stopping etc.

Also I'd hate to be hit with one, even in my car. The stats show that yes the 4x4 driver will be better off in an accident, but: the normal car owner will be WORSE off in a collision. Hence I would agree that special licensing or driver instruction should be mandatory for these owners.

Now consider this, if this seems too harsh - apart from special braking & turning needs, why do truck drivers need a HT licence - maybe so they learn to control their rigs, & thereby not endanger the public. So why not 4x4's? :spudwhat:

**Ixion** · 13th March 2005, 09:48

Originally Posted by Sniper_CBR

.. those who own a 4x4 and ALSO own a bike are gods because they know what its like on both counts. Full marks to them you guys

But yea, to sum up my theory (Proberbly wrong)
4x4 in city never to be used on dirt = Idiot with a tiny penis
4x4 in city used regularly on dirt= Intelligent idiot
4x4 in country= Useful and practical
4x4 owner who also owns bike= GOD

The soccer moms buy them because they claim they're "safe". In fact , I think a lot of SUV's are bought as a sort of channelled violence thing. "If I have one of those I can carve people up with impunity". Silly thing is, a lot of the later SUVs, the "safer" thing isn't true. It was in the early ones like mine, because they were built like trucks, proper chassis and so on, and heavy steel to take off road pounding. But once the accountants and soccer moms started buying them, the manufacturers started making them lighter and flimsier.

Now a lot of them are really just high cars. So actually less safe than a "normal" car.

I agree that there should be a special licence, and it should include a mandatory off road section. I'm sick of stupid Asians buying them, having no clue at all how to drive them, and either getting stuck, getting rural folk mad at their crappy behaviour, or killing themselvs through incompetance. Their behaviour means more areas get closed to 4WDs (and to trail bikes ).

And on road they *DO* need a different driving technique, in several respects. People shouldn't be allowed to do a test in a Honda City then jump into a Ford Explorer.

Incidentally, they are already a special WOF class.

Off topic, are there any trail riding areas left around Auckland now. Almost everything seems to have been fenced off nowadays. ?

**Jantar** · 13th March 2005, 11:02

Originally Posted by saiko

Now consider this, if this seems too harsh - apart from special braking & turning needs, why do truck drivers need a HT licence - maybe so they learn to control their rigs, & thereby not endanger the public. So why not 4x4's? :spudwhat:

Its over 30 years since I sat my HT, and I haven't had to resit it since, yet Jazbug5 is suggesting that 4x4 owners not only have a special test, but that they resit it every year.

4x4 s are not too much different to normal cars when driven on the road, they just have a slightly higher center of gravity, so must be cornered with a touch more care. In that respect they are no different from driving a 1950s Ford Prefect or Standard 14 yet no-one is suggesting that a special licence be required to drive a car if its more than 50 years old. There are no special road rules for them and none should be required.

However there are special road rules that apply to heavy vehicles. There are different speed limits on different classes of roads. There are axle weight limits, vehicle weight limits, length limits etc that all require additional knowledge.

Now driving a 4x4 off road is a different proposition altogether. I did a 4wd course many years ago, and then did a short refresher again last year. These coures are not compulsory, but most off road drivers who do venture beyond the end of the gravel find them beneficial.

When jazbug made her comments about 4x4 drivers she did state that "(maybe allowances made for people who actually use them on farms etc)", but still required us to "have 'I am a gas guzzling, selfish tosser' on them in huge da-glo letters on the side."

I object to this general assumption, and note that I am not asking for all city dwellers to paint "I am an idiot townie" on the side of their cars when they enter a 100 kph area.

**jazbug5** · 13th March 2005, 15:24

Jantar, I didn't express well what I meant.

As others have pointed out, the problem isn't with those who use them for work (I tried to say that but... well, is was rather early in the morning...) but with those who buy them for the image or for intimidation value, and usually they live in cities. I am from a rural based family in Scotland, and know full well how useful they can be when used as a work vehicle. My father drives one, and if he didn't they'd probably be snowed in for three months of the year!
But lighten up, mate- I was just having a jokey rant (perhaps I should start using those smileys or something). Come the revolution we shall spare you the indignity of having to have your vehicle daubed in Da-Glo. Honest.
(Might make you paint it a fetching shade of pink, though...)

**Wolf** · 13th March 2005, 17:44

Most of the 4x4's I encounter on the road (and have serious problems with) obviously haven't done a day's bloody work since they first rolled off the lot.

They are generally owned by "townies" who travel at 60-90km/h on the open road - and don't change that speed when they hit the 50k zone - toss-pots the lot. And they're not real 4x4's either - not Land Cruisers, Navarras and Landrovers, they're RAVs and RVRs (with the first R back to front 'cos toss-pots can't write either), Surfs, Wankers - I mean, Pajeros - and other such puke mobiles that no serious worker would use.

Juliet's dad used to own one of them and used to drive like a bloody fuck-wit well over the speed limit so I know for a fact they're capable of better than 90km/h - it's just the wanker driving that needs an upgrade.

I have no problem with the very few people who actually need them using them - they tend to drive them with skill (because they use the damn things, not park it in the street to show the neighbours that they're just as rich and stupid as everyone else in that suburb) - it's these morons who can't drive and buy them as 56k+ status symbols that I get steamed about - because they're doing 70ks either right up my arse in town or just around that bloody corner when I'm blatting around at the legal limit.

**Motu** · 13th March 2005, 21:55

I drive a 4X4 in the city and an off road bike on the road - it's not just because I've got a small dick,but I'm short as well,sitting up high makes me feel like a real person,kinda like sitting in a high chair at the table.

You need to come to Auckland to see real 4x4 drivers - they are mostly overweight Somoan's hauling around their overweight family at nice slow speeds they are comfortable with.