Safe Speed Forums

Whoa there, easy tiger, I wasn't suggesting in any way that no risk compensation occurs when riders put on protective kit. But I'd suggest that it would be difficult to prove either way; how do we know if a rider invloved in an incident would have behaved sufficiently differently in the lead up to it had they been wearing less kit for example?




I was going to say I've never tried, but then remembered that, whilst living in Cyprus, I'd often just sling on a helmet and ride down to work in my shorts and short-sleeved shirt I'm pretty sure I took more care then, but not to the extent that I was certain to avoid an incident.

But this isn't a good argument in favour of not wearing protective kit is it? After all, when the chips are down and its all gone Pete Tong, the rider sliding down the road on his leather clad arse is going to come out of it a damned sight better than one using a half a millimeter of cotton.

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Yep...makes me think of speed and road deaths......dosn't always follow does it...

Maybe we should think twice about jumping to conclusions. Otherwise we are as bad as "them" don't ya think.

As soon as clothing needs to be "approved" the Euro dicks will have a field day, costs go through the roof, choice is cut to the bone and we will have to wear the stuff by law.

If you feel safer with all the Mad Max crap on, fine. You go ahead.
If you want to get £1000 leather baby-grows. Good for you.
There ar no shortages of designer stuff you can show off to your mates down the pub.

But let the rest of us enjoy riding the way we want to. There is no right or wrong. That's what motorcycling is all about.

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Speed camera policy Kills

Funny you shold say that. When I go for a trundle round on the mighty C90 non of the "proper" (or should that read sportsbike) riders give me the time of day. Which is a little odd, seeing as how that little bike is used every day no matter the weather, including snow and ice. But I can and have jumped straight on my brothers toy SV650S and within 2 miles my neck hurts from all the nodding I have to do now I'm a "proper biker" on a "proper bike". This makes me smile when I'm out on mine and the sportsbikes are tucked up in their warm garages with their slippers on.

I think you will find that it should read "It takes more than a set of colour co-ordinated leathers to turn a wanker in to a biker"

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

I do have a bee in my bonnet (or should that be helmet?) about this subject. You read the bike mags and the general consensus seems to be " my bike is faster than yours and therefore better". I'd like a faster bike, but what I need, want, can afford and can handle are different things. They only seem to test the latest sports gear and if they do test something slower it's done with a degree of huffing and puffing. "ok if you are on a budget...won't get laughed at by your sports bike mates...the next step to a sports bike...". Balls, I have a slow car, I'm not working up to a fast one. Are the faster bikes that good or does it question a bikers manhood when he has to ride something other than the latest must have litre track weapon.

Compare that to car mags. Sure they like the lastest Evo/Subaru but they like the little ones too. Top Gear always raved about Fabia's and they went on about the MKII Micra for years

I agree, Adam - the fastest is not always the best, although this sort of attitude has always been around fo ages, particularly in relation to bikes.
Harleys are a notable exception here.
When I was young, a souped-up 50cc which could manage 80mph always seemed to attract more attention amongst the lads than someone else's shiny new 250cc.
I'm probably giving my age away now.

Cheers
Peter

The one thing about Cruisers is that you can be bald fat and ugly and still look cool on a bike.....

But you put a 20st bloke in one piece leathers and...........


Only kidding......its the varety that makes motorcycling interesting.

We have 3 bikes in the family. I have a Buell X1, The wife has a Suzuki Marauder and my daughter has the Honda SFX scooter. I am insured for all the bikes. I think the scooter is great for nipping into town, no traffic problems and free parking.

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Speed camera policy Kills

I find that the terminology neatly reverses when someone with the skills to look good on the track brings that same track riding attitude onto the public road.

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Fixed ideas are like cramp, for instance in the foot, yet the best remedy is to step on them.

Ian

I think you'll find that anybody who actually races for a living doesn't have anything to prove on a public road.



See my sig

Seriously though, I find that people riding small bikes tend to get "intimidated" (if that is the right choice of word) by tosspot's in car's that are on the "hurry up" to get somewhere.

Many years ago (showing my age now), I remember going out on the back of my old lady's Honda CG125 while she was learning to ride (L plates were displayed, and I was the full license holder).
During the course of being out with her, I noticed that she had a tendancy to ride "in the gutter". While constantly reminding her to get herself in the middle of the road, I noticed some twat in the car behind us was approximately 3ft away from the rear tyre and this (what I deemed) intimidatory behaviour continued for a good 2 miles or so.

The constant thought going through my head at the time was "If we suddenly brake for whatever reason, this moron will never bring his heap of shit to a standstill in time to avoid a collision".
Eventually we came to a roundabout and I got off and went back towards the car to discuss the possibility of him leaving a sensible gap between himself & us.
The driver was initially quite lippy which did annoy me somewhat, but once I had pointed out the error of his way's to him, he was more than happy to comply with my request to leave a sensible gap.

The old lady now rides a hardtail Bonneville chop (pre-unit 650) and other road users don't come anywhere near her when she is on that, but she does occasionally nip up the shops on a little "ped" that we have kicking around, and as soon as she is out on it we start to notice the idiots that obviously think she is in the "pizza boy" class and start to treat her with insignificance as a road user.

I still haven't worked out to this day why some car drivers react in this way to small bikes, any idea's anyone?

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

A friend of mine always thought that he was the fastest thing on two wheels - that is, until he took up racing. On about his eighth race he finally caught sight of the back markers. He said it was a very humbling experience.

Cheers
Peter

I know how your friend felt.

I thought I was pretty quick when I was doing the standing ¼ in low 10's, and I thought I was the "bees knees" when I was doing it in low 9's.

Then I saw the real bikes doing it in mid 6's which put things in to perspective for me quite nicely

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

Now, i know you are making it up



An unprotected rider, could therefore feel unsafe, and their riding would be timid and hesitant, wich could place the rider into further danger.




Do not want to be accused of assumption here, so please clarify what you are suggesting is a safer form of clothing than armoured Leather to crash in:?:

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Steve

Always seen them as something to retire on

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Steve

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You do not know any such thing.

This is your final warning. One more like this and I will ban you permanently.

I also suggest that an apology is in order.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

A person that states he has 3 big offs on a motorcycle, wearing a T shirt and shorts, and has no injury

Paul you are a complete prat

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Steve

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You are a complete moron, if you think you can have a "big off", without protection, and a damned liar sir

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Steve

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