TV1 - Close Up @ 7.00pm - Returning riders causing accidents (20 March)

[Beemer]

All subaru drivers are dickhead wankers Racing around, overtaking in dumb places, you know one nearly ran me off the road a while ago, overtaking me just because I was not going as fast as he thought I should. Very nearly killed me he did!

Sorry, but generalisations like that aren't helpful! I know many people who drive Subarus (former NZ rally champion Joe McAndrew certainly wasn't a dickhead wanker when he won the championship three times in one) and I wouldn't put any of them in this category. This is as silly as saying all Honda riders are gay (another oft-repeated comment on KB) or all BMW riders are arrogant.

I did notice one person mentioned farm bike accidents - yes, there are plenty, but I'm pretty sure they are not included in the accident statistics unless they occur on the road - and many are quad bike accidents that occur on farms. Most farm bikes are not registered for use on the road as they are only ever ridden on the farm or a short distance down the road between paddocks, etc.

Pete, looks like you're copping a bit of flack here - but those of us who know you know what you're really like and don't think it's warranted.

And it would be good to know the distances travelled by those dying in accidents. If it's people who ride 50kms or less a month, then it is a bit worrying, but if it's people who are putting in big mileage then it could be a concern. Also, how long have those people been riding and how much experience do they have? Craig did not appear to fall into the category of born again biker, and nor did the guy Jury who was killed last year. Or those three guys who hit spilled oil (I think) and one died. Yes, some accidents will be caused by speed and inexperience, but I bet more car accidents are caused by those two factors.

[AD345]

Sorry, but generalisations like that aren't helpful! I know many people who drive Subarus (former NZ rally champion Joe McAndrew certainly wasn't a dickhead wanker when he won the championship three times in one) and I wouldn't put any of them in this category. This is as silly as saying all Honda riders are gay (another oft-repeated comment on KB) or all BMW riders are arrogant.

.

Whups


Looks like you done fell into the sar-chasm

[WilDun]

some manouevres on bikes are not dangerous (like lane splitting, overtaking on a short straight, deliberately moving from one side of the lane to the other, riding onehanded or waving at an oncoming biker, flicking a brake light when being tailgated...that sort of thing).

Those things to me (from the point of view of a car driver) are ok. - except the first one, lane splitting, - that is a highly dangerous practice(having done it many times myself).

There are a few lunatic car drivers who, if they saw you coming would be prepared to take you out by suddenly moving over just as you tried to accelerate past them (happened to me once, - didn't come off but it would have been curtains if I had).

Also, people in cars don't always see you coming and by only moving across in their lane sometimes could cause a nasty spill! - the law would be on their side too and rightly so!

[MSTRS:Me]

Sorry, but generalisations like that aren't helpful! ....Yes, some accidents will be caused by speed and inexperience, but I bet more car accidents are caused by those two factors.

Shhh, we're taking the piss

Thing about dickhead behaviour in cars that results in a crash, by comparison to same behaviour on a bike, seldom ends in death for the occupant/s of the car. But shit like crossing the centre line is not healthy for anyone, especially bikers. But still they do it...bikers included.

[Mom]

Those things to me (from the point of view of a car driver) are ok. - except the first one, lane splitting, - that is a highly dangerous practice(having done it many times myself).

There are a few lunatic car drivers who, if they saw you coming would be prepared to take you out by suddenly moving over just as you tried to accelerate past them (happened to me once, - didn't come off but it would have been curtains if I had).

Also, people in cars don't always see you coming and by only moving across in their lane sometimes could cause a nasty spill! - the law would be on their side too and rightly so!

Horses for courses mate. There is nothing dangerous about lane splitting at all. It needs to be done quietly and inoffensively. Some lane splitters are more "experienced" in the skill and do travel in some opinions far too fast between cars.

Me, I just ride my ride. There is no way in hell I could ever contribute to the perceived image of bad arse biker, unless people are scared of 5' nothing females on cute blue bikes pootling along with a wave and a grin, but hey!

I am one of dipshits pack of BIKERS so I must be a causative factor afterall.

Interesting yesterday, we were stopped and there was this little girl who kept pointing to Maha's bike saying something like mobai mobai. Her Mom brought her over for a closer look. Bikes are cool, and they are fun. That little girls family did not judge us, like most dont I am picking.

[MSTRS:Me]

WilDun...lane splitting is not illegal nor need it be dangerous. It is a grey area (even now) but done considerately, within the lane and to the right of the vehicle, with a small speed differential...where's the problem? I'll tell you...it lies with the dumb cager who is not paying attention (familiar?) or who arrogantly decides that if he can't move then neither should you.
Education could work here, and I don't mean the broken wing mirror sort either.

[WilDun]

WilDun...lane splitting is not illegal nor need it be dangerous.

No, you're right, it need not be, but whether that is true or not, it sometimes is dangerous and it's not at the motorcyclist's discretion, because he has no idea if there is a lunatic at the wheel of the car being passed.
Same as the car driver who gets startled at being overtaken on his left side by a lunatic biker charging past,( regardless of which lane he is in!)

I think we basically agree though that "commonsense" is the most important thing here, - question is - who has commonsense and who hasn't?

[WilDun]

Guess what I'm saying is that we've got to trust the car driver, and that's a hard thing for a biker to do!

[McJim]

Yea. Pricks. The only education they'd understand would be a bullet. Worse than those dickhead motorcyclist types. At least with them they usually only kill themselves. But those fucking Subaru-types, with their bullbars and loud exhausts and rollcages and crumple-zones and airbags and stuff...thinking they are invincible and can do what they like...scaring poor innocent road users...I think I'll write a Letter to the Editor. That'll learn 'em.

Ya bassa - my missus drives a Subaru.....

[Naki Rat]

Actually, I came in from the south and left by the north, and it was just as bad on both. And the road into Whanga...goddamn that was 'interesting'...
And my comment about milk tankers is sound...there would be far more of those 'runs' on the roads around you than there would be logging runs elsewhere. Once or twice a day to/from every* dairy farm, 365 days a year.

* barring of course the dried-off industry suppliers in the winter months. But there are still the town supply runs

No argument on the prevalence of milk tankers. That's why we have more than our fair share of sealed back country roads. Once a day per farm is the max though.

Not much in the way of dairying toward Whanga though - that's our playground

[Boob Johnson]

Don't be fooled. Lots of fuckwits ride bikes.

Don't be too hard on Katman

[10bikekid]

What? - are you an ostrich by any chance?

Which part of 'one biker dying every 5 days this year' did not concern you?

Ignoring the 'how' of their deaths (rider or third pary) thats some serious shit.

Statistics are funny things when not compared equally as Cars fatalities are about 7 every 5 days would like to see proper stats that give proper comparisons as others have stated before

Good point.Too true.

( comment in regards Busa verses Harley previosly made )
Hibusa,s are actually slower in top gear at normal speads than most Harleys in fact an XT660 was the only bike slower in a top gear pass at near legal speeds Than the Mighty Busa in a Mag test I recently read and there 0- 100k times arnt that Good either and the 300+ top speed is probably not to be mentioned in this safety thread either, Sell the Busa Get a Harley

So when they see a group of harley riders coming at them while overtaking on double yellows through a motorway tunnel... or they read in Monday's paper that half the road fatalities over the weekend were motorcyclists who fell off the roads all by themselves...

...you want car drivers to think it's ok and normal?

Well i suppose that's one way to overcome the problem of a bad public image!

Actually more like 1/7th of the fatalities, just that we notice Bike acciddents more as Bikers , Show us some Real comparable stats someone please

Ps,Thought for discussion, Riding with your light on full in the daylight exept when following your bike mates, Your not going to blind anyone and it beat not being seen as dipped light dont show up well in Bright sun Light and Id rather annoy a few car drivers than be unseen

[Kflasher]

Close up video:

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/middle-ag...-2573176/video

[WilDun]

To change the subject for a minute, - How long does the edit thing last on this forum? - I (think) that I have noticed one or two posts having had subtle changes, ie. after someone has responded to them! - that's low!!

[dipshit]

What i think the close up programme was trying to say...

...More people are getting bikes lately... so there are more on the road and subsequently more motorcycle road deaths. Even for this experienced rider whose friends and family thought was a good rider - things can go tragically wrong. That's the nature of the beast. An increasing amount of motorcycles on the roads, largely in part from born again bikers is going mean increasing fatalities.