Spring's here, time to die

[FJRider]

I often say that I think people should have to ride a scooter for no less than 6 months and that they have to do an certain amount of km's on it prior to being eligible for a drivers licence. In my opinion it would make the majority of people more aware about what is going on around them and teach them to respect the road and other users, or Darwin's theory kicks in.

Good theory ... but the increased death rate would see scooters (motorcycles ??) banned ... and back to square one with cars ...

[Str8 Jacket]

Good theory ... but the increased death rate would see scooters (motorcycles ??) banned ... and back to square one with cars ...

Maybe, maybe not. Just a thought. Imagine NZ with less idiots on the road, no matter how it happened....

[FJRider]

Maybe, maybe not. Just a thought. Imagine NZ with less idiots on the road, no matter how it happened....

So ... we'd have less idiots ... by accident ... you mean ... ???

[Crasherfromwayback]

Crasher, How does ABS go off-road on a bike?

Fucking useless.

That can't be a bad thing for road bikes though....even if you are uber vigilant and mindful of your situation as the learned mr Katman espouses. Anything that gives you the edge or a help when you grab a fist full of brake has to be good news.

That said, would it then make a generation of riders who don't know how to modulate brake pressure for the conditions?

And just like that another lid parts with a can..... would someone please get a broom for the worms before they make a mess.

I'd never buy a motorcycle with ABS. Each to their own though. It certainly helps certain people out without doubt.

Would you ride a bike with ABS?

Have done many times.

[Genestho]

Maybe, maybe not. Just a thought. Imagine NZ with less idiots on the road, no matter how it happened....

A bomb? We could call it "fireworks".... Oh, whooooooops, wrong channel!! As you were

[Genestho]

It's the sort of responsibility I have to assume, because it's that level of stupid stuff that is most dangerous to me. I'll avoid the jack-knifed B-train sliding toward me, but half an orange tossed casually from a car traveling in the opposite direction will interface with my front tyre and the tarmac at precisely the moment I gently touch the brakes to avoid running too close to the car in front, causing me to lose the front, slide testicles first into road-side furniture where I can have a ringside seat of my bike cartwheeling to destruction before finally mounting the rear of an SUV and entering the passenger space resulting in a careless misuse causing injury charge for me, which will attract the maximum penalty, just because.

Crikey Jim!! There's better things to be doing with oranges than falling testicles first off yer bike!!! But yes, point well made!

It hasn't always been as involved to get a pilots licence or a motorbike licence in the past though. Aviation, due its critical nature and skills needed etc, has evolved considerablly. Having said that, the latest pilots licence available is a Recreational one and is cheaper and less complicated to get than the standard Private one. TPTB have weighed the risks and worked out the factors needed to make it as "safe as possible".

Also, the stages to a full motorbike licence certainly wasn't like that originally. It has evolved as well just like the need for a Serious Crash Unit being created.

Yeah, I've seen a bit evolution go down, we've certainly come a long way

[GTRMAN]

Fucking useless.




I'd never buy a motorcycle with ABS. Each to their own though. It certainly helps certain people out without doubt.



Have done many times.

Ergo if ABS became mandatory you would never buy another bike?

[Katman]

Would you ride a bike with ABS?

As with Crasher I've ridden many bikes with ABS.

Would I own one?

I don't think there's any 30 year old bikes that had ABS.

[pritch]

This is true. But we have a lot of very trainable flexibility. We didn't evolve to play the piano, either, but it's amazing what humans can do if they put their minds to it.

Can imagine a lot of bad piano playing, but haven't heard of any fatal piano crashes being caused by that.

Then again, I'm not sure what the neighbours will make of my Strat? evil2:

[Crasherfromwayback]

Ergo if ABS became mandatory you would never buy another bike?

Well I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I don't have to own road bikes to ride 'em. But if I had to own my own...I'd not own one with ABS, and would get it disconnected if it was fitted with it.

But I'm happy doing my vintage moto-x thing for now...and they all have abs. Fucking near impossible to lock the front on 'em anyway!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Would I own one?

I don't think there's any 30 year old bikes that had ABS.

All old Harleys! Like my VMX bikes...you could squeeze nearly as hard as you like without fear of locking 'em up! (not quite...but you know what I mean).

[GTRMAN]

Well I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I don't have to own road bikes to ride 'em. But if I had to own my own...I'd not own one with ABS, and would get it disconnected if it was fitted with it.

But I'm happy doing my vintage moto-x thing for now...and they all have abs. Fucking near impossible to lock the front on 'em anyway!

So what's the issue with ABS? - serious question.

[Katman]

So what's the issue with ABS? - serious question.

It's a gimmick for the dumb masses.

[GTRMAN]

It's a gimmick for the dumb masses.

So something that aids in maintaining traction under heavy braking in adverse conditions is a gimmick?

[Crasherfromwayback]

So what's the issue with ABS? - serious question.

For me personally...it's having the choice of actually locking a wheel when/if I want to taken away from me. And I can't have that. I've only ever once put a bike down due to accidently locking the front. And I was only 18 then and have learned a lot about front brake vs grip levels since.