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Sept 16, 2007 19:43:37 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 16, 2007 19:43:37 GMT -4
So today I went out on the back of my mums bike for the first time in 5 years, it was great! Only did 20 miles but none-the-less. Plus I look the shiznit in full racing leathers. One thing I did notice however was the amount of car drivers who didn't notice us! In the space of 20 miles several cars pulled out on us or went to but stopped at the last minute after finally seeing us. There's been a lot of media coverage on motorcycles recently, all very negative and exaggerated. Lots of reports on how motorcycling is really dangerous and how most motorcyclists are law evading lunatics who cause accidents and hang around in biker gangs (exaggeration but really...). Lots of car drivers saying motorcycles shouldn't be allowed on the road etc etc. I have to question the legitimacy of these claims, I really do. On a lighter note, got to ride my first motorcycle today! Rode my mums bike 10 feet in to my grandmother's garage using only the clutch.
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jeffhx
Full Member
wait for that crescendo!
Posts: 224
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Sept 16, 2007 21:16:40 GMT -4
Post by jeffhx on Sept 16, 2007 21:16:40 GMT -4
i lurrrrve bike rides....but i still dont know how to work it...its pretty exhilirating sitting at the back...unless u fall off
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Raskolnikov
Full Member
Initial success or total failure
Posts: 147
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Sept 16, 2007 21:33:13 GMT -4
Post by Raskolnikov on Sept 16, 2007 21:33:13 GMT -4
I had to ride out to Pensacola and back three times this weekend and then out to Destin once as well.
I really don't even care to count how many times some "cager" came close to killing my fiancé and I. Friday night, one of them was even a police officer.
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Sept 17, 2007 7:36:26 GMT -4
Post by Tonja Renee on Sept 17, 2007 7:36:26 GMT -4
When I took my motorcycle driving course... they taught us to always assume you are invisible to cars, and to drive accordingly. It really ticks me off that people can say that motorcycle's are dangerous.... so are cars, especially if there is an idiot driving. Car drivers just want bikes off the road because they don't want to be responsible for paying attention.
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Sept 17, 2007 7:59:51 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 17, 2007 7:59:51 GMT -4
It really ticks me off that people can say that motorcycle's are dangerous.... so are cars, especially if there is an idiot driving. Exactly, as soon as you're in control of a moving vehicle, whether it be a motorcycle, car, bus, tank etc, you're potentially putting yourself and others at risk. Motorcycles aren't dangerous; motorcyclists are just more vunerable. What gets me is that a majority of bike accidents involve a car (this isn't including motorcyclists just falling off) but people seem to forget that and immediately start pointing blame at the motorcyclist; bike on bike collisions are extremely rare and it takes two to tango, so to speak. It's funny how ignorant some of the anti-motorcycle groups are. I was reading the MCN (Motorcycle News) and there was one group calling for motorcycles to be made lighter... I think a majority of the biking population would join them on that one. Still, looking forward to doing my license next year.
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Sept 17, 2007 9:17:47 GMT -4
Post by Mr. G. on Sept 17, 2007 9:17:47 GMT -4
This debate is like saying that guns kill people... guns don't kill people, people kill people (they just happened to use a gun to make that happen)
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Sept 17, 2007 11:02:51 GMT -4
Post by Skeleton Keys on Sept 17, 2007 11:02:51 GMT -4
Well, here in VA, driving's relavent to Tialand... Well, maybe not so drastically, but I hate the sense of entightlement people have. It'll be good practice when I get my permit. I don't like skating around here anymore. I've never been hit, but out of a combination out of pure luck and stupidity, I manage not to die.
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Sept 17, 2007 11:16:36 GMT -4
Post by Tonja Renee on Sept 17, 2007 11:16:36 GMT -4
This debate is like saying that guns kill people... guns don't kill people, people kill people (they just happened to use a gun to make that happen) I understand your point... but it is a bit different. What else are guns used for though? People the majority of the time buy a gun to kill something... That's what guns do and are made to do. I understand the point though. Guns only do what people make them do.
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Sept 17, 2007 12:40:32 GMT -4
Post by Mr. G. on Sept 17, 2007 12:40:32 GMT -4
Exactly... guns were initially made for killing. They still are for the most part, but they are used for other things too. Target shooting (and it's various forms) is a big competition sport. The guns used for that are specifically designed for that sport. Yes, they could still be used to kill someone/thing, but so could a baseball bat I was using the comparison in the sense that people are quick to blame something that they don't have experience with, are not educated on, and only hear about the bad experiences people have. It's all the media's fault [/rant]
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Sept 17, 2007 19:08:53 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 17, 2007 19:08:53 GMT -4
Exactly... guns were initially made for killing. They still are for the most part, but they are used for other things too. Target shooting (and it's various forms) is a big competition sport. The guns used for that are specifically designed for that sport. Yes, they could still be used to kill someone/thing, but so could a baseball bat I was using the comparison in the sense that people are quick to blame something that they don't have experience with, are not educated on, and only hear about the bad experiences people have. It's all the media's fault [/rant] Spot on really. Although it seems the uneducated appear to want to remain that way regardless of how much information you offer them.
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Raskolnikov
Full Member
Initial success or total failure
Posts: 147
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Sept 17, 2007 20:36:21 GMT -4
Post by Raskolnikov on Sept 17, 2007 20:36:21 GMT -4
Well, here in VA, driving's relavent to Tialand... I've been through VA a few times and it's not so bad. Check out South Louisiana or (God help you) Quebec sometime. Human beings are complacent. We all assume from time to time that everything is clear and we're free to haul ass into traffic or across that intersection or into the next lane without looking (or at least without looking very hard). As riders, there's nothing we can really do but be as visible as possible and keep our thumbs on the horn and our feet/hands on our breaks.
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Sept 18, 2007 7:58:41 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 18, 2007 7:58:41 GMT -4
Well, here in VA, driving's relavent to Tialand... I've been through VA a few times and it's not so bad. Check out South Louisiana or (God help you) Quebec sometime. Human beings are complacent. We all assume from time to time that everything is clear and we're free to haul ass into traffic or across that intersection or into the next lane without looking (or at least without looking very hard). As riders, there's nothing we can really do but be as visible as possible and keep our thumbs on the horn and our feet/hands on our breaks. And be ready to lift your visor up to say a few "words".
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Sept 18, 2007 9:34:58 GMT -4
Post by Mr. G. on Sept 18, 2007 9:34:58 GMT -4
Plus I look the shiznit in full racing leathers. This statement is useless without pics back on topic... you could always do what bikers and cyclist do here in Nova Scotia. Most of them wear safety orange/yellow vests over their attire. It definitely makes them stand out a bit more, but either way, you're still a small object compared to a car or truck. Like Tonja said, always assume that nobody can see you.
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Sept 18, 2007 10:40:20 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 18, 2007 10:40:20 GMT -4
Pics could possibly follow whenever we go out next, would have taken the camera the other day but my mum refused as the bike was dirty.
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Sept 18, 2007 10:57:26 GMT -4
Post by iiholly on Sept 18, 2007 10:57:26 GMT -4
I aim for skate boarders and dance with my guns while riding a motorcycle.
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Sept 18, 2007 15:01:45 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 18, 2007 15:01:45 GMT -4
I aim for skate boarders and dance with my guns while riding a motorcycle. Oh you hooligan.
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Sept 20, 2007 8:19:56 GMT -4
Post by Akira on Sept 20, 2007 8:19:56 GMT -4
Lol, the Green Party are going on about how speed limiters should be introduced to motorcycles, so that when you exceed the speed limit brakes are applied. a. How come they only say this about motorcycles? b. Have they any idea how dangerous that would be in certain situations? c. Surely the system could just be disabled anyway. Apparantly they say it will come hand in hand with road pricing. It's all bullshit if you ask me.
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Sept 20, 2007 8:30:38 GMT -4
Post by Tonja Renee on Sept 20, 2007 8:30:38 GMT -4
Here, last night a guy was airlifted to hospital when his motorcycle collided head on with a car.... When the car made a left hand turn... Something tells me this wasn't because of the motorcycle driver.... And I agree.. that if they pass legislation for limiters on motorcycles they should also install for cars... Anything considered a sport model - that'll get everyone riled up.
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Sept 20, 2007 8:46:15 GMT -4
Post by Mr. G. on Sept 20, 2007 8:46:15 GMT -4
uhm... most vehicle do have a limiter on them. Every vehicle I've owned has had a limiter on it that stops it from accelerating once it hit between 95-105 mph. Sport cars usually don't, however. That would defeat the purpose of owning a sport car, as most people with one end up competing (legaly) with it in one form or another.
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Sept 20, 2007 9:52:21 GMT -4
Post by Tonja Renee on Sept 20, 2007 9:52:21 GMT -4
From what I understand - rev limiters on cars aren't for restricting speed.. they are installed to prevent engine damage from too high rpms. So if you were to remove the rev limiter without beefing up your engine - your engine would likely blow something anyways.
Installing a rev limiter to prevent a person from exceeding the speed limit is a whole other ball game.
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