To be blunt...

[duckonin]

What concerns me is who going to address the comments made? While the District Commander was technically correct with some of what he stated, the statistics are taken completely out of proportion to the crash stats provided by NZTA.

My questions is? Where are BRONZ or Ulysses standing on this?

Again there is a clear lack of leadership from each of these organisations IMHO. Each should be putting their hand up and demanding a right of reply; either prearranged when an article is being written, or immediately after. Who is going to hold NZ Police to account for the continued ridiculous comments around motorcyclists, which are always out of perspective and stop short of false or misleading information.

There are individuals on here, brave as buggery, bitching and moaning, but here is not the domain to address or represent motorcyclists.

Rant over!


Yet again

TECHNICALLY correct if you believe in that then u still believe in santa clause

[Rogue Rider]

Well, alot of oldies that have the dosh, return to there youthful lust for riding bikes again, the only difference is that bikes have changed alot from the 30+ years since they last rode.
For example, some of them have 100+ hp more, and weigh a heap, some handle like shit, and others have instant octane at the twist of the throttle which can leave you in a mountain of trouble if you not up to parr.
People should excersize discretion when getting on a bike, it not about speed and power, its about survival. The aim is to enjoy the wilderness on the open road, and to experience something much bigger than ones self. By being a dick, you merely risk the lives of others, and it's them that carry the scars in the long run.
The speed limit is 100km per hr, yet we all seem to buy rides that do 200+, even harleys do that now lol........ (yet they don't really have the ability to perform or handle without a good deal of knowlege)

I have witnessed first hand, people who cannot handle their bikes in corners, any monkey can go fast on a straight road, but really, missing lines and cutting corners is dumb, and risky. Learn to ride, learn to feel how your bike handles, and play it safe. If you want to race, do it on the track, or on an airfield.

Ride safe guys, if not for yourselves, for the victims of your stupidity.......

[rustic101]

TECHNICALLY correct if you believe in that then u still believe in santa clause

Part of what he said is correct - Most of us older chappies have more disposable income and can afford nice bikes.
Thats where I stop with the 'technically correct' bit.

However, it is the younger people (pc) on bikes from 50 to 250cc's which are the highest risk and crash statistic.

P.s you better be joking about Santa

[_Shrek_]

I hate to say it but fighting ain't gunna do shit.

By setting about improving the way motorcycling is perceived and thereby attracting more and more people to it is the only way we have a chance of seeing motorcycling surviving. Only with the numbers behind us will we have a chance to scupper the governments plans.

well me & Mrs shrek have down our bit 11 kids some of which ride & some to get their licence, 13 gradkids so far & most want to ride coz their poppa does

[peasea]

Kinda sums it up well, I find my bike just right for ME, torquey, thrifty, smooth and comfortable for long rides. - and I forgive you for the tassle comment.!

It was highly unlikely that would have lost sleep had I not had your forgiveness, your holiness.

[gilly]

Is the article negative or stating the facts.
Two mature riders on big bikes rode on the wrong side of the road and caused accidents.
And yes, bad news sells newspapers. A paper full of happy happy joy joy would never last.

When I was 15 I took my 2min motorcycling test in Sydney. I wrote off my 100cc bike a year later and got a car.
Now some 40+ years later I am legally entitled to walk into a dealers and purchase a 1000cc+ bike and ride it home.
The fact that I wrote off my 250cc cruiser last year is proof that I was riding above and beyond my limits.
This year on a 750cc cruiser I took a corner half a metre over the centreline, only the skill of the oncoming 4x4 doublecab ute driver saved my life (he missed me).

Many returning riders have the ego of a 20 year old with the reflexes of a 50 year old.

Slow down and relearn.

[rustic101]

Is the article negative or stating the facts.
Two mature riders on big bikes rode on the wrong side of the road and caused accidents.
And yes, bad news sells newspapers. A paper full of happy happy joy joy would never last.
Many returning riders have the ego of a 20 year old with the reflexes of a 50 year old.

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

The motorcyclists who were dying on the region's roads were predominantly in their late 30s to early 50s and from other regions, he said.

Unfortunately Supt Knowles needs to go and check his facts as they are completely incorrect for his District. More so when put into perspective with the the actual crash stats.

What has happened is sad however lets talk facts not a Superintendents opinion or antidote evidence.

[Swoop]

I've also been a fan of the harley look since I was a kid. Absolutely love the look of the new Sportster too, but the shite handling and ground clearance (and insane price for what you actually get) put me right off.

Luckily you also get a type of bike that is favoured by theives to supply the parts market with...

[Spearfish]

I scrape both sides of my chubby W/g with monotonous regularity, but only just. I know how far it'll go (safely) and yes, there's more speed to be had by twisting the throttle but there's not a lot of point if it's not gonna make the corner, right? On top of that, it'll do a couple-a-hundred k's flat out but with forward controls you're riding like a parasail, so why bother with that either? It's a comfy ride with gobs of torque, great for touring and it suits my see-bones. It's a fine tool for the job and I don't blame it for anything.

Your in full control though.

[monkeymcbean]

I believe it's the governments intention to eventually be rid of motorcycles. If we're lucky they may allow us to all run around on mopeds.

I see it happening as a two-pronged attack. They are trying to legislate and price those, not fully committed to motorcycling, out of motorcycling and at the same time they are setting about turning public opinion against us thereby guaranteeing plenty of support as they bring in more and more draconian methods to be rid of us.

Make no mistake - if we don't sort our shit out soon we will eventually be kissing goodbye to the motorcycling liberties we're all so fond of.

These are the very same sentiments aired in bike magazines from Australia and the United Kingdom.

So where do you start to change these views about motorcycling? is it up to the individual motorcyclist?

Or for me a more mature government to look at motorcycling as a mode of transport that won't go away, and so bring in a whole new attitude towards motorcycle awareness in driver training, motorcycle training.
I will admit ive only had my motorbike licence for three years, the license obtaining was a joke, now wonder 250cc motorcycles in a recent look at the injury statistics are the most likely cc rating
bike to be involved in accidents.

[monkeymcbean]

:
i'm in a mid life chrisis so I'm going to be a menace for another 3 years

I'll be watching out for you big boy!... ha ha...

[MarkH]

So, does everyone that gets into biking (or back into biking) at around 40 automatically qualify as having a mid-life crisis? If I was injured in an accident while riding would they just assume I was a mid-life crisis rider?

I know I got back into riding at 40 after around 20 years since I last rode a bike, but honestly it was driving a car in Auckland's fuckin' horrible traffic that drove me to riding, not some crisis due to my age. I did consider starting with an old GSX-R 750 which I could have bought for half of what I paid for the AN400, but I was scared of either killing myself or losing my license within a couple of weeks. I think it is a bit silly to assume that all bikers that start out at 40 are in a mid-life crisis - some just couldn't get into biking at 30 due to family commitments, but at 40 the kids are working or at Uni or at least have a license and their own cars, which opens up biking as an option.

It would be nice if instead of charging more ACC levy to bikers the government could be a bit more positive & helpful. Instead of trying to tax us harder they could subsidise rider training courses - but that shit ain't gonna happen is it!

[Spearfish]

So where's the thread slagging him off for piss poor riding? sorry forgot for a moment he's riding a motorbike so he only deserves sympathy



That's because a poor craftsman has poor tools

Or the tool was fine just used in the wrong way. Simplest and the first rule of the road is to keep left, anything caught out on that one has a high penalty count.

Your a LEXX fan? I thought Helen Clark was a lot like Giggerota.

[peasea]

Or the tool was fine just used in the wrong way.

Yes, that's more like it.

[Ixion]

Well, alot of oldies that have the dosh, return to there youthful lust for riding bikes again, the only difference is that bikes have changed alot from the 30+ years since they last rode.
For example, some of them have 100+ hp more, and weigh a heap, some handle like shit, and others have instant octane at the twist of the throttle which can leave you in a mountain of trouble if you not up to parr.
..

I'm not taking a shot at you personally, but I assume you weren't around in the 80s and 90s , because the "returning riders can't cope with modern bikes" argument is pure crap.

There were plenty of bikes with over 100bhp in the 80s (1980 GSX1100, 100bhp, BMW K100 about the same). And a shit load more by 1990 , which is a more probable date for a 40 year old to have begun riding.

100bhp seems pretty comparable to a modern Harley.

As for modern bikes being heavy and not handling, compared to the wallowing buffalos of the 80s , you have to be kidding (and I ride those old bikes regularly).

Add on modern stuff , like brakes that actually work, ABS, traction control - "can't handle the technology of modern bikes" - on a Harley? Bullshit. (And as for "instant octane at the twist of the throttle" - never ridden a big two smoker, have y')