To be blunt...

[Headbanger]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3731...g-bikers-lives

Just like every boy racer is responsible for anything that happens while they are in control of their vechile, The same goes for everyone on a bike, irrelevant of cars that don't look, patchy roads or whatever else everyone blames.

[Deano]

Crikey - its like it was scripted by an ACC spokesperson.

[Crisis management]

Wasn't me mister, I might be old and bald but I only ride a little bike........

[Katman]

Just like every boy racer is responsible for anything that happens while they are in control of their vechile, The same goes for everyone on a bike, irrelevant of cars that don't look, patchy roads or whatever else everyone blames.

And whether that be right or wrong the fact is that that is exactly how the public perceive it.

[Gremlin]

They only see the negative side...

I've covered thousands of kilometres a year, in the South Island (ie, out of town) without a single drama. But then, his opinion doesn't take that into account huh?

[Headbanger]

They only see the negative side...

I've covered thousands of kilometres a year, in the South Island (ie, out of town) without a single drama. But then, his opinion doesn't take that into account huh?

Its about people crashing and dieing, so yes, Its from a negative viewpoint, Notice they aren't suggesting people not ride, just that they ride a bike that suits their ability, in manner that suits the roads/conditions. The second you put yourself over the center line the game has changed.

There are endless ride reports available that show the positive side of being on bikes (though sure as shit a road death would change the perspective of any participant).

The world isn't rose coloured, And denial helps nobpdy.

[Spearfish]

They only see the negative side...

I've covered thousands of kilometres a year, in the South Island (ie, out of town) without a single drama. But then, his opinion doesn't take that into account huh?

And that's something to be proud of, but we are all painted the same colours by the same brush.
Who would read stories about the thousands of bike runs completed without a hitch?
not even some bikers!?!
Fuck ups and/or fuck offs are the general flavour for most conversations.

[Genie]

tragedy and death has always been newsworthy, anything 'good' and positive is not often even mentioned.

What i'm concerned with is the high rate of motorcycle accidents in this district compared to the rest of the country. What's with that?

[Ender EnZed]

police say more and more out of town people riding high-powered motorcycles are dying on the region's roads.

"We are getting more and more people coming to our district who are riding Harley Davidsons

[CookMySock]

"What we are finding is that it seems to be a middle-aged man thing," Mr Knowles said

Methinks its more about "middle-aged man can't steer properly thing."

Bikes are counter-intuitive to ride quickly, and they are so tempting to twist the loud handle. So thats what ya get.

Steve

[PrincessBandit]

..............
The world isn't rose coloured, And denial helps nobpdy.

But but but.....denial is so comfortable!!!! You would think so from lots of what you read on kiwibiker anyway.

[schrodingers cat]

Fraid to say I think the individual riders DO need too have a lookat themselves.
Returning to motorcycling after 10 years off, yes I bought a big powerful motorcycle. And rode it like a 250cc machine initially. I maybe use 400cc worth of it at the moment.
Sure I'm enjoying racking up miles around the twisty bits but if I get stuck behind a slow car on a favourite bit then thats life. If someone want to ride faster than me I let them go.

So for once DB I agree wholeheartedly. Mid life crisis, cc rating whatever. They need to give themselve the time to get the skills and take is easy until they do.

[slofox]

What wouldya rather have? All of us old buggers wiping ourselves out on bikes or all us old buggers lingering on for years and years sucking up pensions and health benefits?

Cheaper if we wipe ourselves out on overpowered lunatic murdercycles...

[ukusa]

I was up in Nelson for work & drove home on Saturday arvo. Saw only 2 cops, first one was north of Havelock, parked up on the only piece of straight road for several kms that was suitable for overtaking. I overtook a car here that had been travelling at 70 - 85 kph for the previous 10 - 15kms. As I was on the outside of the slow car, I caught a glimpse of the cop tucked into bushes on the left, quick look at speedo (105 kph) & carried on. Didn't have to go too fast luckily as the other driver was going so slow. Why the cop didn't didn't target the slow vehicle I don't know.
Second one I was not so lucky, but a similar scenario, that is the cop was on a perfectly straight piece of road just north of the 3 fords north of Kaikoura. This prick got me for doing 112 (my 1st speeding ticket ever!). No Traffic in sight, perfectly straight road, nice sunny dry day got the too fast lecture etc etc. I left & eventually cruised all the way home doing similar speeds. Their road policing appears to be re-active rather than proactive. How many crashes is this sort of policing really going to stop?
Anyway, seems these latest crashes all happened on bends, both were local riders in these instances as well. Sounds like they were riding beyond their capabilities. What do the Nelson/Marlborough cops want to happen, everyone avoid their nice sunny region or something? Shit happens, no matter how many tickets they issue, it will not stop this type of carnage.

[monkeymcbean]

Oh dear another hammering by the media in stuff.co.nz site today!


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3731...g-bikers-lives

The media are definetly finding motorcyclists a interesting subject to write about.