Police news release - "Matching rider skills to their bikes"

[23226]

No, they're right, it is your choice, and the outcome your fault.

I'm just saying you need to pay the bill for your own risk selection policy. As long as "they" pay the butcher's bill they figure they've got the right to dictate that choice.

They're wrong.

Whilst I am not seeking a floodlit racetrack like surface, I still think there is an inherent problem with specifying that we require more shit roads that fall apart, slump and generally require constant total resurfacing rather than paying more upfront and getting more durable less liable to subside roads.

So its essentially : user pays and likes it no matter the lack of standards or inconsistent adherence to them by the units purportedly responsible for road maintenance and improvement ?

Or think your riding to the conditions right up until you meet an untamed road anomaly ( caused by the above ) whilst getting three screens worths of bug build up and your eyeballs highbeam xenoned to death by a car , oh yeah and like it too as that was your choice as well.

[Oscar]

Why are they wrong?
I tend to agree with the "set your own risk level, but pay for the consequences" policy, but I've also always gone with the old "He who pays the piper calls the tune" thing.
So if I am to avoid hypocracy, as long as I am ready to accept ACC, I cede to them the right to dictate (at least some of) the rules

There is a bigger picture though.
It's "Motorcycles as a Public Health Issue" schtick.

It's where the authorities react to the perceived carnage on our roads with things like stricter licensing laws and horsepower limits. These are very likely in fact, as they have been applied overseas...

[Bass]

There is a bigger picture though.
It's "Motorcycles as a Public Health Issue" schtick.

It's where the authorities react to the perceived carnage on our roads with things like stricter licensing laws and horsepower limits. These are very likely in fact, as they have been applied overseas...

What I said about paying for the consequences, I meant in the widest sense.
Your comments are in line with what Katman has been preaching for ages and I agree with both of you.
However, there is an element in our ranks who just don't care about the consequences of their actions to motorcycling as a whole, who in fact strongly resist any thought of being held to account for it.
I think that stricter legislation is an entirely fair response to that attitude. I don't welcome it in the least, but then I have gone adventure riding, which on the face of it appears to be a much safer activity. Consequently I have some hope that the new legislation brought in to counter the shortsighted idiots, won't affect me too badly.

Sort of like the old latin adage "Coitus interruptus asbestos" - Fuck you mate, I'm fireproof

[Oscar]

What I said about paying for the consequences, I meant in the widest sense.
Your comments are in line with what Katman has been preaching for ages and I agree with both of you.
However, there is an element in our ranks who just don't care about the consequences of their actions to motorcycling as a whole, who in fact strongly resist any thought of being held to account for it.
I think that stricter legislation is an entirely fair response to that attitude. I don't welcome it in the least, but then I have gone adventure riding, which on the face of it appears to be a much safer activity. Consequently I have some hope that the new legislation brought in to counter the shortsighted idiots, won't affect me too badly.

Sort of like the old latin adage "Coitus interruptus asbestos" - Fuck you mate, I'm fireproof

The problem with preaching the message is that this assumes that we are a coherent group. We're not.

[davebullet]

My simple rule in all scenarios is to stay well inside your lane / to the left of the centre line.

It would be good to know out of the Waikato statistics, what the split of accidents was between:
1. No other vehicle involved (a lone bin)
2. Head on
3. Mechanical failure
4. Sudden road hazard

Dave.

[Swoop]

On the bright side does this mean if I stay away from the Thames- Coromandel and Hauraki District Council area I decrease my chance off an injury related accident by 50%

Yes.
You will also be sent a 50% refund of your ACC levy because you do not ride on those roads...

[cheshirecat]

I agree.

Often the equation goes: "In 1978, when I was 20, I sold my last bike, a CB500 Honda, so now as I turn 50, I'll get a CBR600 (because I can afford it."

Trouble is, his 500/4 made all of 35hp(?), whereas his CBR makes three times that. Of curse his reactions have in improved in the meantime...yeah right

As a returning oldie, I'd like to add my two cents or farthings. Aside from engine power and throttle response, some of the biggest changes are greatly improved handling, brakes which actually work in the wet and tyre adhesion. This may give an undue feeling of security and peaceful bliss when the old blunderbus would have unraveled every wire secured bolt and shaken you stupid at the same speed. I did get a VF500 before my VFRer and very pleased I did. My riding envelope is quite 'constrained' mainly because of the agricultural condition of the roads (state highway one is no more than a UK B road with a dodgy surface) and the inane give way to the right rules which defy all international road logic - I mean how on earth can an oncoming vehicle crossing the center line across you have right of way? That's why God invented traffic lights and roundabouts.

[Bass]

The problem with preaching the message is that this assumes that we are a coherent group. We're not.

Very true, not even vaguely coherent. However, I don't think that's a good reason for doing nothing and there are many groups out there that are doing something.
Bronz is at it all the time.
Last year, the Auckland branch of Ulysses received the annual LTNZ safety award for their work in the "Lookout for Motorcycles" campaign.
I think that you and I discussing it the way that we are in here and Katman on his soapbox in the corner, are just some examples of what the people who care, are actually doing.
The overriding concern is of course that it may not be enough because as KM has said, the politicians surely view us as a coherent group, regardless of the facts.
What else do you suggest that we do? (genuine question)

[Oscar]

Very true, not even vaguely coherent. However, I don't think that's a good reason for doing nothing and there are many groups out there that are doing something.
Bronz is at it all the time.
Last year, the Auckland branch of Ulysses received the annual LTNZ safety award for their work in the "Lookout for Motorcycles" campaign.
I think that you and I discussing it the way that we are in here and Katman on his soapbox in the corner, are just some examples of what the people who care, are actually doing.
The overriding concern is of course that it may not be enough because as KM has said, the politicians surely view us as a coherent group, regardless of the facts.
What else do you suggest that we do? (genuine question)

Frankly, I despair.
God knows I've done my bit in the past, through motorcycle clubs and rider training...

The fact is that no matter what you or I do in our own way, is almost inevitably doomed to be for naught when some testosterone fueled dickwad pulls a wheelie on the motorway or some hairy goit pulls the muffler off of a cruiser.

[Katman]

The fact is that no matter what you or I do in our own way, is almost inevitably doomed to be for naught when some testosterone fueled dickwad pulls a wheelie on the motorway or some hairy goit pulls the muffler off of a cruiser.

I think the very least we can do is be seen to be trying to bring about a change for the better by our own volition.

As the number that support the message grows, who knows what may be achieved.

If we sit back and do nothing though, we're fucked.

We have to try and get rid of the "I couldn't give a fuck what you think about my riding" attitude.

[wbks]

Katman, this isn't a dig, it's an honest question. What do you think will change if things carry on the way they are at this time?

[alanzs]

Seems like riding motorcycles is dangerous...

[Oscar]

I think the very least we can do is be seen to be trying to bring about a change for the better by our own volition.

As the number that support the message grows, who knows what may be achieved.

If we sit back and do nothing though, we're fucked.

We have to try and get rid of the "I couldn't give a fuck what you think about my riding" attitude.

Sorry, my last post was a bit of a downer.

I do what I can - the restrictors went back in the Staintunes and I try to ride responsibly. I'm not sure what I can do personally "I couldn't give a fuck what you think about my riding" crowd - perhaps only Darwin has the answer...

[Badjelly]

...the stats showing how a certain advanced aged group are over represented in accident stats is concerning people who you REALLY don't want to be concerned...

Is it true that those "of advanced age" are overrepresented in accident stats? What, exactly, do you mean by "overrepresented"? Does the number of accidents (per rider-kilometre or whatever) increase with age?

I know that there has been an increase in accidents in older riders, but I thought that was mainly because there were more older riders and fewer younger ones than there used to be.

[Katman]

I'm not sure what I can do personally "I couldn't give a fuck what you think about my riding" crowd - perhaps only Darwin has the answer...

I think we're making a start right here.

Getting the message across that the "I couldn't give a fuck" attitude is precisely what is threatening the future of our motorcycling freedom is at the very foundation of making a change for the better.