Attitude towards bikers

[Motu]

Peoples attitude towards bikers is a lot different these days - was a time they were scared of us,to say something derogatory to a biker was asking for trouble.You need to wash less,wipe your greasy fingers on your jeans....don't comb your hair for a few weeks,take the muffler off your bike.Pretty soon their attitude will change.

[KATWYN]

Why is it that so many people look at bikes as being dangerous like that? :

Cos they are. Your GF and family are stating the obvious.

Be careful out there.....and prove em wrong!

[Kendog]

You know the ones that wave then get smacked by mum for waving. Your'e a bad influence.

Thats funny. Gonna keep an eye out for that in the future.

[gijoe1313]

Meh, I'm a teacher and I blat around on my ride - haven't heard of a parent yet that complained about me "not setting a proper example" to the kiddies! Mind you, they could be the ones waiting to knock me off when I leave the school gates

If you love bikes, then you know the answer already. How's that old saying go? First it is hated, then it is questioned, finally acceptance. With biking - only those who know the feel of two wheels go past it all, if it's in your blood, you'll always love it!

You're a grown-up, you make your choices, you pays your money and you lives your life

[Crazy Steve]

Right, so personally I've never been one of the people who had a problem with bikers out on the road, however... having just recently sat my bike licence and now riding relativly regularly, of course the parents and girlfriend found out. I'm 21. My girlfriends words "If you wanted to kill your self, why not just go jump off a bridge" and my mother said something to equally the same effect. Why is it that so many people look at bikes as being dangerous like that? Obviously if in an accident you could get hurt more, but this attitude that Im planning on getting my bike licence just to kill myself is so damn annoying!

Because its true what they are saying...

You bloody dumb Bastard ! ! !

Crazy Steve..

[doc]

Peoples attitude towards bikers is a lot different these days - was a time they were scared of us,to say something derogatory to a biker was asking for trouble.You need to wash less,wipe your greasy fingers on your jeans....don't comb your hair for a few weeks,take the muffler off your bike.Pretty soon their attitude will change.

Remember reading something from the States a while ago, that basically said cars stopping at a stop sign only really completely stopped because of a perceived danger, and tests show the only perceived danger recognised by car drivers was uniformed type highway patrol and patched bike gang members.
Logical really both going to hurt if you piss them off enough.

[Komuter]

Remember reading something from the States a while ago, that basically said cars stopping at a stop sign only really completely stopped because of a perceived danger, and tests show the only perceived danger recognised by car drivers was uniformed type highway patrol and patched bike gang members.
Logical really both going to hurt if you piss them off enough.

Seems to work well - A white helmet and yellow hi vis vest, over a black jacket - just like the biker cops wear....

[Dadpole]

Life itself is terminal....You never make it out alive.

NEVER..... I am immortal (though I accept the faint possibility I may be in for a surprise one day)

Ask those naysayers if they would prefer you jumped off a bridge and, if so, why.

[kneescraper]

My mother brought me my first bike (FZR250r) and then once I got married I brought my CBR400rr (which my wife loved) and my father is a bike nut (he owns a XJR1300). I come from a biker family and I have never heard any one in my family say a bad thing about motorcycles....so I feel sorry for you mate. I would much rather see my son riding a bike and enjoy it then being stuck in a cage and not feeling the feeling (hmmm) that comes with riding bikes. Tell them to build a bridge....its your passion so they have to handle it. But it is nice of them to show there concern...maybe its because your unco and they are worried you will crash easy.

Go do some riding courses and prove them wrong by not dieing on a bike.

Edit: Not saying if you don't do courses you will die....clear the air before someone gets me wrong

[heyjoe]

Right, so personally I've never been one of the people who had a problem with bikers out on the road, however... having just recently sat my bike licence and now riding relativly regularly, of course the parents and girlfriend found out. I'm 21. My girlfriends words "If you wanted to kill your self, why not just go jump off a bridge" and my mother said something to equally the same effect. Why is it that so many people look at bikes as being dangerous like that? Obviously if in an accident you could get hurt more, but this attitude that Im planning on getting my bike licence just to kill myself is so damn annoying!

Hey j_redley,

I would go with the comment someone said earlier in the thread. Your mother and girlfriend are obviously uneducated in the enjoyment of riding and obviously have their own perceptions of motorcycles.

Being 21 you are of age to make your own decisions unless there is a court order saying you cannot. I would assume your decision to get the bike ticket and own your own bike was made as an informed decision having considered all the information. So I assume you take appropriate care on the bike to ride safe and wear protective gear. You will have done all you can to ensure you enjoy what you do and get home safely (I hope). Having said that, most riders will have a 'bin' at some time in their riding years. Doing the right thing may help minimise any harm.

So I ask "whose problem is it?" Not yours.

[Motoracer]

You gotta do what you gotta do.

People get killed in cars/vans/buses all the time.

At the hospital, they call us "spare parts". This partly true cause it does happen..

Just wear your protective gear and be as safe as possible while having fun. Wheather you are a commuter, weekend rider, track day rider, stunt rider or racer or what ever. Safety should be your primary concern. Anything else is secondary.

After that, the people in your life who love you just have to accept you for you.

[Lou Girardin]

This past year has shown the danger of bikes. Whether that should stop you riding is another matter.

[limbimtimwim]

Your mum's attitude will probably soften in time. I got into biking properly when I was 21. Now I'm 25 and she's good with it. No accidents probably has helped a lot. Your girlfriend, well, if she can't get over it, stiff biscuits. You can't pick your parents though .

Buy good gear, show them you are wearing good stuff so if you do have a accident you are in with the best chance. Ride safe now and look forward to years of riding pleasure.

When you are feeling up to it, take your girlfriend for ride, focus on being a safe smooth rider and you may just convert her.

[ceebie13]

.....My mother brought me my first bike .....

Yeah, my parents are to blame for my addiction too. They bought me a Honda 50 when I was 16. In 39 years of riding I have had two major offs. I T-boned a car that pulled out of a side road (that's unusual isn't it?) and then later in life I tried to get the bike (Z1000MkII) under a London cab after he stopped ahead of me just as I did my over the shoulder life-saver!
But I've not really been preached to by many anti-bike protagonists. In fact it's more the case that people tend to stop, gawp, chat and enthuse about biking rather than knock it as dangerous. Sure, most non-biking folk will ask the usual banal questions, but I take it as a sign that they might just be envious.

[James Deuce]

But I've not really been preached to by many anti-bike protagonists. In fact it's more the case that people tend to stop, gawp, chat and enthuse about biking rather than knock it as dangerous.

How long have you guys been in NZ?

I've been ear bashed more than a couple of times at the top of the Rimutaka hill by old biddies and middle aged men.

I've also been stopped a couple of times by cops for WoF checks and had the purple-faced, foaming at the mouth lecture about bikes being dangerous.

It will happen. NZ is full of righteous zealots and they don't have the natural reserve that comes from living on a small island with 50 million other people to prevent them opening their mouths and proving that they deserve their free annual Jester's club membership.