To be blunt...

[Katman]

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.

It is not the horsepower as such that is catching a lot out.

It's the speed that can be attained within a short straight between two corners.

These days a GSXR1000 can be doing 100kph faster at the entry to the corner than an 80's GSX1100.

Sure the capabilities of the bikes have improved to the point where maybe they can cope with that speed - but have the riders capabilities improved?

[Tunahunter]

This is what happens when cops patrol corners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTGg...layer_embedded

[doc]

It's not Harleys fault - there are Harleys with riders out there who can give most sportbike riders a hurry up.......I'd say it's more riders out of their depth ....ego's bigger than ability...and that's not a fault confined just to MLC riders....

Therin lies the problem. Anyone on a Harley giving someone on a sportsbike the learn, is at the limit on the ole harley. Comes down to an ego thing both sides . Harley rider going to show them and sports bike rider trying to get in front cos its a harley.

Sportsbike riders gotta toss off at the harley dudes who dont really care.

Bikers rights dont exist, the licence is a priviledge.

Katman is right tho, we dont look good to the majority of the voters out there.

[MarkH]

This is what happens when cops patrol corners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTGg...layer_embedded

Some riders don't even need to see a cop car for them to panic and fuck up.

[Tunahunter]

Ain't that the truth

[SPman]

Scariest rides I have been on is with Auckland Ulysses - the last one I was on I bailed up SH22 - I didn't want to be around if some twat wiped out himself and his pillion and anybody else in the neighbourhood.....watching guys on Blackbirds trying to pass everything into oncoming traffic, with Cruiser types saying "me too" doing the same and then wobbling around corners wasn't my idea of a stress free day! A Coro loop was a breeze, in comparison.....

[peasea]

This is what happens when cops patrol corners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTGg...layer_embedded

Lucky it was only a smelly sportsbike eh?

[peasea]

Therin lies the problem. Anyone on a Harley giving someone on a sportsbike the learn, is at the limit on the ole harley. Comes down to an ego thing both sides . Harley rider going to show them and sports bike rider trying to get in front cos its a harley.

Sportsbike riders gotta toss off at the harley dudes who dont really care.

100% correct. I couldn't give a flying fuck about people passing me on sportsbikes, good luck to them.

[GOONR]

There is a biker friendly editorial on stuff about the original article.

[Ronin]

It is not the horsepower as such that is catching a lot out.

It's the speed that can be attained within a short straight between two corners.

These days a GSXR1000 can be doing 100kph faster at the entry to the corner than an 80's GSX1100.

Sure the capabilities of the bikes have improved to the point where maybe they can cope with that speed - but have the riders capabilities improved?

I wish you would stop making sense. Someone asked me the other day when I was gonna get a bigger bike. I told him I already get to the corners just as fast as I need to. But then, I have no delusions of being Rossi.

[monkeymcbean]

Gawd! stop bike bashing.....get over it, and just get over what ever you have and ride.

[_Shrek_]

Therin lies the problem. Anyone on a Harley giving someone on a sportsbike the learn, is at the limit on the ole harley. Comes down to an ego thing both sides . Harley rider going to show them and sports bike rider trying to get in front cos its a harley.

Sportsbike riders gotta toss off at the harley dudes who dont really care.

Bikers rights dont exist, the licence is a priviledge.

Katman is right tho, we dont look good to the majority of the voters out there.

this is sad coz i have to agree with you old farts making sence whats going to happen next

[AD345]

Motorcycling is brutally Darwinian, if you fuck up - you can die. Not only that, but if someone else fucks up - you can die then too

Those that don't believe this to be true, or simply of academic interest, often prove the point.

However, this fact is morally neutral. Our modern need to find someone to blame does not, unfortunately, allow this state of affairs to go unremarked or untouched. Somehow, somewhere, someway something MUST be done to "fix the problem"

Which is a giant fucking pain in the arse

Combine that with others needs to somehow distort the notion of collective responsibility widely enough that all motorcyclists should bear some burden of guilt for others actions or have a requirement to "fix the problem" (see above) and it all gets quite fraught with angst, worry and general fear and loathing.

Fortunately for my own piece of mind I don't give a fuck. And when I'm out there on fine weekends on my very large dispalcement V-twin that I bought in my 40's with others of a simlar age and sizeI find that to be a not uncommon viewpoint.

People die - our friend died recently. It wasn't (in this instance) his fault and it sure as shit wasn't ours. What it was was heart rendingly sad, devastating for his family and traumatic for his friends.

What it was not was anyone elses fucking business. It was not a situation demanding a solution, there are more than enough laws in place to do what laws can only do - exact a remedy for their breach, laws cannot prevent anything.

Should I fuck up fatally - it is not your responsibility.

The reverse is true as well

[Bald Eagle]

Well said. Totally agree bling sent.

[Katman]

Should I fuck up fatally - it is not your responsibility.

The reverse is true as well

When you fucking up fatally adds ammunition to their efforts to get rid of us then it very much is my business.