What's with the lack of gear?

[Dave_G]

OK, you want no more motorcycling at all (with or without gear)? No car driving either? No getting out of bed in the morning (you might trip up)?[/QUOTE]


The problem with you is that you regard this issue as something that only affects you and no-one else. The individual freedom bullshit was touted by the anti-helmet law brigade when they first came in as well. Likewise the opposition to the 250-cc learners limit, that too involved much bleating on about personal freedoms…blah blah. Its perhaps worth it for you to recognise that motorcycles make up 2% of registered vehicles in this country. That means 98% aren’t bikes, they are something else. Guess what, laws are generally passed to suit the majority, meaning the minority gets screwed (that would be us sport, people who ride bikes). When the majority get pissed off enough, they start passing laws to put the minorities in their place, so if dickheads keep running up avoidable medical and other costs for the rest of the public to pay, the next law will be aimed at stopping that situation e.g. compulsory approved protective clothing. When that doesn’t work it will be horsepower limits, then cc limits and finally bikes all together, that’s the way they think…dollars and cents, reduce their own costs by doing something that doesn’t cost them at all, it costs us. So extract your head from its current dark location and realise you are part of society and as such your personal freedoms also come with a hidden cost, its called personal responsibility. Either you and everyone else who is raving on about “personal freedom” starts showing some or the rest of society is going to deliver a message to you and every other rider, one that no-one wants. Given that I am one and I'd like to continue to ride the machine of my choice, I'd kind of take that very badly, particularly when its a minority of the minority that are the dickheads, if thats you, so be it.

[Usarka]

http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/...et-July-07.pdf

Percentage of accidents
car driver at fault: 38%
rider at fault: 26%
single vehicle (bike): 26%
partial/no fault: 10%

Bikers are responsible for 52% of all bike relates accidents.

For more serious crashes, the motorcyclist was more likely to have the primary responsibility for the crash. The motorcycle rider had the primary responsibility for nearly three-quarters of fatal crashes compared to about half for minor injury crashes.

can we all have a whinge about all the bikers that crash and how they add to our ACC levies?

[Oakie]

motorcyclists not wearing gear? not breaking the law, not your problem. FUCK OFF.

As much as it's everyone's right to wear what they like, it is also everyone's right to have an opinion. Now follow this next bit closely as this is hard to word:
It occurs to me that those here who abuse others for having an 'all the gear' attitude and wishing others had the same ... are doing exactly the same as those of us who have that safety attitude and wish it on others ... so neither party has the moral high ground as both sides are trying to force their values on the other.

And I won't fuck off. I was here first.

[Usarka]

It occurs to me that those here who abuse others for having an 'all the gear' attitude and wishing others had the same ... are doing exactly the same as those of us who have that safety attitude and wish it on others ... so neither party has the moral high ground as both sides are trying to force their values on the other.

And I won't fuck off. I was here first.

but the atgatt people started it

[Oakie]

but the atgatt people started it

But of course they started it. The 'Right to Road Rash' people couldn't just jump up and down in righteous indignation until they'd actually been provoked.

And in case anyone thinks they have me pegged,...no I'm not an ATGATT. For evidence of that you only need to go here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=53960&page=71 and check out post 1064.

[fergie]

Iv'e had road rash, it bloody hurts!i do not ride my bike without correct gear.full stop, end of discussion, no exceptions.

[Tank]

I think part of the problem that is causing all the arguments here are that there is more than one reason that people dont were safety gear.

First there is the "Freedom of choice" gang. Personally I dont agree with them - but they are big boys and girls so let them be and should they have an off - well they made the choice - they pay the price.

However Im sure if they get injuries that could have been averted with safety gear that they dont have a little "bugger - I wish I was wearing that stuff" thought or two.

The second group is where I believe the original posters comments were aimed at - New riders, just starting out. For them I believe that its not so much a matter of choice - or an individual statement of freedom, its the fact that they are new and have not thought it out.

Now some of them *may* choose not to wear gear (my neighbour is a case in point), but I believe if they had more training etc that they would at least think it thru and make an informed decision. Most people I believe would choose to wear at least 'more' protective clothing than the aforementioned pink g-string.

[jigyjig]

As much as it's everyone's right to wear what they like, it is also everyone's right to have an opinion. Now follow this next bit closely as this is hard to word:
It occurs to me that those here who abuse others for having an 'all the gear' attitude and wishing others had the same ... are doing exactly the same as those of us who have that safety attitude and wish it on others ... so neither party has the moral high ground as both sides are trying to force their values on the other.

And I won't fuck off. I was here first.

You misread, misunderstand and misinterpret.

I am not concerned whether you wear any safety gear or not, Ride in a gorilla suit for the little I care, (it would be quite amusing) When you feel its your solem job to go round telling people they are wearing / not wearing what is your idea of ideal safety gear, then I get annoyed.

do you tell every smoker you see they are ruining there lives and taking your tax dollars, do you post it on internet forums that you saw yet another person smoking today? same with drinking etc.

now fuck off your moral high ground and stay there. you lot are as bad as mormons

[HenryDorsetCase]

Who's to say what's stupid and what's not?

Uh, me. And when I am firstly King of New zealand then Ruler of the world, what I say will go. and if you dont like it you will be free to leave and find another world.

You wouldnt want to get on my list would you? the list of who is against the wall when the revolution comes.

and you will get on that list if I catch you doing wheelies in your pink G string again.

[jrandom]

do you tell every smoker you see they are ruining there lives and taking your tax dollars

Yup!



Now, can I borrow a durry bro?

[PuppetMaster]

[url]can we all have a whinge about all the bikers that crash and how they add to our ACC levies?

Yeah right. And if there were no bike accidents, those fees would be less, I dont think so small puppy......

Forget the no gear argument. Each to there own.
Someone should organise a nude protest ride against fully geared up bikers.

[Oakie]

You misread, misunderstand and misinterpret.

I am not concerned whether you wear any safety gear or not, Ride in a gorilla suit for the little I care, (it would be quite amusing) When you feel its your solem job to go round telling people they are wearing / not wearing what is your idea of ideal safety gear, then I get annoyed.

do you tell every smoker you see they are ruining there lives and taking your tax dollars, do you post it on internet forums that you saw yet another person smoking today? same with drinking etc.

now fuck off your moral high ground and stay there. you lot are as bad as mormons

Mormons! Funny you should mention them. Don't their missionaries wear like an all over underwear thing that's supposed to protect their virtue?

I've never actually told anyone they're wearing insufficient gear and I don't think I ever would without them first asking for my opinion. I can still think it to myself though and express a general feeling that people should wear it even though it is their right not to.

[Oakie]

Someone should organise a nude protest ride against fully geared up bikers.

Refer to my post about 6 posts back.

[jigyjig]

cool keep it that way. no one likes a preaching mormon. or worse those hari krishna's dressed in sheets that hand out books in cuba mall,

[Oakie]

cool keep it that way. no one likes a preaching mormon. or worse those hari krishna's dressed in sheets that hand out books in cuba mall,

Hari Krishnas. I bought one of their books on the street once just out of curiousity. Read about as far as the chapter that said people should have sex only when they want to make a baby and not have sex for any other reason or at any other time.
Yeah right! Even the catholics get to do it for fun!