Where is biking going, is the direction what we are prepared to live with?

[Conquiztador]

Mark my words - the next step will be compulsory flouro vests.

Only after cars have compulsory lights on and only day-glow paintjobs are allowed on all cages.

[Spearfish]

Only after cars have compulsory lights on and only day-glow paintjobs are allowed on all cages.

They have sort of started, look at all the ads about side airbags etc, technology replacing skill or even worse, responsibility.

In time I see bikes as being seen as so inherently dangerous to the point the cage fleet, with every conceivable safety device, legally/socially has a diminished responsibility.

Say: If airbags (and every other skill replacing device) become compulsory making cages safe as brick shyt houses (but the operator as safe as a shyt brick house) then if a cage knocks off a rider causing injury the injury component becomes the bikers choice not the cagers and not an aggravating component to the crime.
It think that mentality is fairly deeply entrenched already look at how ACC provide solutions and a certain police sarge admitted being defeated by the shyt driving standard/skill level that he suggested the cage driving so so bad governed scooters are unsafe.
I know many here disregard mopeds/scooters and like the police sarge see them as unsafe so their methodology is working well, small steps make it all easy to make something normal.
could bikes capable of over 200kph be seen as unsafe?
will everything get governors one day or certain class of bikes be unregistrable for the road as track only rides?
Katman can sound like he enjoys using vice-grips on nerve endings but unless biking backs up its claims and stance as the perpetual victim of circumstances or more simply grows up and stops fucking it up, we wont have any real control where biking is going.
Katman will say, probably with great regret, "I TOLD YOU SO".

[slofox]

Interesting view. And at the same time I have on KB stated that when petrol becomes $10/litre, when rego is $2K/year I will still ride. As only the dedicated will be on the roads there will be so much more space.

I still enjoy the riding as much as ever. It is all the stuff around the riding that gets to me at times. I just hate when a bit here and a bit there is chipped away. And it is done in such way that most do not even notice. Slowly we are herded in to a confinment and only when the gate closes will people wake up. But it will be too late.

Riding is my therapy. It's how I get away from the loony world and become sane..(some might argue it's the other way round but then they're just bastards anyway...)

There's nothing quite like winding into a corner, squeezing the throttle open a smidgen and feeling the horses surge forward - that's existence for me. I don't care if I have to wear ATGATT - I'd do that anyway. Fluro vests? I daresay that once I had it on I wouldn't notice any more. Even if I do think they suck at the moment. But nothing will stop me experiencing that moment of "flight" - that little piece of existence where the motion becomes the world. That's what I ride for. The rest I don't notice.

[R-Soul]

Things are changing. Bikes are changing. Rules are changing. The ones who ride are changing.

If we are looking to become mainstream, more accepted by society, then all is fine. Bikes are less noisy. They use less fuel. They pollute less. Noisy 500cc+ 2 stroke bikes are out. And 1500cc+ bikes sound like a Ford Fiesta (I remember first time I did IRL see the new Triump Rocket. There was 3 of them. I waited for ages for the owners to come out and start them so I could hear the mighty roar! When they started the beasts and took off in a "pffffttttt" I could not believe it!)

I am old skool. Black leathers and sunnies. Ride rain or shine when I want to. Can't be bothered with a bunch of high tech gear. Have a long oil skin as rain gear.

But I digress. Stray even...

Now electric bikes are coming out. 150km's radius. Who would ride only 150k's? And on something that has no sound?

I sit here with my gray hair, my JD and my Biggles goggles and recon that todays riders are missing the point. Group rides in dayglow below speed limit is not what it was about.

I remember reading a Sci Fi story some years ago about a group of bikers that had removed them self from society and the rules. They rode noisy smoking bikes. No dayglow. They rode because they wanted to, because that was their life. They were not dangerous to them selves or anyone else. But society and the rules deemed their look at things unacceptable. And so they were hunted.

At times I feel that this is what is happening. The ones of us who do not accept the rules that are bestowed up on us are getting labelled. We need to be erased. Taken out of the equation. Not because we are dangerous on the road. But because we do not fit in anymore.

At times I hate it all. The riding around making sure I follow all rules: lights on, speed limits, distance, helmets, max dB, numberplate in a specific way...

But I have no say. Being an individual is so old fashion. Like me I suppose.

Are you a fashionista or a rider?

FFS we all love riding. Some of us just have family to live for. Excuse us for trying NOT to be statistic...

What part of riding is it that you like? The sheer power and feel of the bike, and the zensualness of the twisties when taken in just the right way? The idea of us being brotherhood united in our passions for riding? These appeal to me.

Or the wild west image of bikers, and the idea of us being brotherhood united in our passions for posing? I dont care for the last one. I do my own thing and let others pose as much as they want.

[Katman]

Or the wild west image of bikers, and the idea of us being brotherhood united in our passions for posing? I dont care for the last one. I do my own thing and let others pose as much as they want.

http://lamoraenterprises.com/_wizardimages/fonzie.jpg

[Conquiztador]

Are you a fashionista or a rider?

FFS we all love riding. Some of us just have family to live for. Excuse us for trying NOT to be statistic...

What part of riding is it that you like? The sheer power and feel of the bike, and the zensualness of the twisties when taken in just the right way? The idea of us being brotherhood united in our passions for riding? These appeal to me.

Or the wild west image of bikers, and the idea of us being brotherhood united in our passions for posing? I dont care for the last one. I do my own thing and let others pose as much as they want.

At times it can be hard to get across what one is talking about in writing on a message board. So I forgive you. I thought I made sense. Katman, who is no fan of mine, understood and added his bit that I take as an approval of my statement.

But for you:
I ride because I enjoy riding. I care not re fashion statements, bling (even if I have been known to have bikes in shows), conforming to anything. For me it is a very selfish experience. I only ride because it makes me feel good. I could not care less what my riding does to others, or what others feel when riding.

My point was simply that I can feel the walls closing in on bikers. Bit by bit what we take for granted is chipped away. Often in such small chips that we dont even notice. We will all one day wake up and say: Shit, what happened, how did it ever come to this? If it stops at day glow vests and restrictors we can probably count our self lucky. But I have a suspicion that it will not stop there; I can see roads that do not allow motorbikes, no pillions allowed, huge insurance fees if we do not adhere to all regulations. Even to a stage where if we did not have a reflex on our wheel the insurance is void. I can se only factory bikes allowed (no individuality and customising. If you think this can not happen, Germany already has this in place). I can se no overtaking allowed when on bikes, yearly training to be allowed to ride, dayglow bikles only, cc restrictions (I expect 650cc), bikes that do not have latest brakes and bits not being allowed. I can also see each bike equipped with a chip that police can read to see if we did speed and follow by satellite to figure out where we been.

Am I dreaming? Nightmares these are. But sadly I think it is all coming just a question of when.

[Katman]

I could not care less what my riding does to others

Unfortunately, that's precisely the attitude that has brought us to where we are now.

[Berries]

My point was simply that I can feel the walls closing in on bikers. Bit by bit what we take for granted is chipped away. Often in such small chips that we dont even notice.

You listed lights on and helmets in your OP. All the other stuff like speed limits and dB levels affect all road users. Apart from the ACC issue what has been chipped away ? I only ask because Katman keeps saying the end is nigh and yet I can’t see it.

[Katman]

You listed lights on and helmets in your OP. All the other stuff like speed limits and dB levels affect all road users. Apart from the ACC issue what has been chipped away ? I only ask because Katman keeps saying the end is nigh and yet I can’t see it.

Do you have no imagination whatsoever?

Compulsory hi-viz vests?
Cap on horsepower?
Cap on cc rating?
Further registration increases?
Draconian impounding laws?

For anyone who says it could never happen - ask yourself who there's more of. Smokers or motorcyclists?

[crystalball]

biking is going towards 2000cc gliding above the ground with no wheels.

[oldrider]

Do you have no imagination whatsoever?

Compulsory hi-viz vests?
Cap on horsepower?
Cap on cc rating?
Further registration increases?
Draconian impounding laws?

For anyone who says it could never happen - ask yourself who there's more of. Smokers or motorcyclists?

You make me realise that I am getting toward the end of my natural life cycle Katman!

Three score years and ten! (plus 10% for neatness)

Posts like yours above make me appreciate that my generation, (in this country) have had the best that life could ever have offered anyone!

When I finally go I shall be wearing the biggest grin that has ever graced a human face!

Thank you for reminding me how lucky we have been!

Sorry about the mess we have left for all you guy's and guyesse's that are following behind!

I promise to mention your plight to the big fella, during my welcoming interview! Well.......yeah right! If you know what I mean!

[Berries]

Do you have no imagination whatsoever?

Compulsory hi-viz vests?
Cap on horsepower?
Cap on cc rating?
Further registration increases?
Draconian impounding laws?

I've got imagination and can come up with lots of possible examples like you have there - no pillions, leg protectors, daytime use only, neck braces, air suits, strobe light on your head etc etc. I was asking what else had been done that was chipping away at riding a motorbike. All the rest is just crystal ball gazing (no pun intended). The only place I have heard about compulsory ATGATT and hi-viz is on KB. That's one way of shitting in your own nest I suppose.

[Berries]

When I finally go I shall be wearing the biggest grin that has ever graced a human face!

And a hi-viz ?

[Katman]

I've got imagination and can come up with lots of possible examples like you have there - no pillions, leg protectors, daytime use only, neck braces, air suits, strobe light on your head etc etc. I was asking what else hadbeen done that was chipping away at riding a motorbike. All the rest is just crystal ball gazing. The only place I have heard about compulsory ATGATT and hi-viz is on KB. That's one way of shitting in your own nest I suppose.

Yeah, it's a bit hard to see what's happening around you when your head's firmly wedged up your arse.

[Berries]

Lucky helmets are compulsory then eh ?