mrfast
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted May 25, 2003 09:56 PM
Concerned about our future
For the past 7 years I have worked in motorcycle shops and have seen some changes that really concern me.It seems that every "kid" who buys a sportbike nowdays wants to be the next Rothwell. There are far too many squids buying sportbikes and trying to perform the stoppies,stand-up wheelies,rolling burnouts and other stunts that we see the Rothwell wannabes doing on their home-made videos.The problem is,they buy a new bike,fall down, and call their insurance company!I have been riding bikes since I was 12 and hope to ride sportbikes as long as my body allows but with the way things are going I believe the insurance companies will single us out and raise the rates so high that we will not be able to afford it.Not to mention the bad rap all these home videos getting in the wrong hands (police)is giving sport bikes.In my area it seems the police are adapting a no tolerance attitude towards sportbikes.I was pulled over this last week for twisting on my 12 in a very safe area of an industrial park, I did not deny breaking any laws and the officer even admitted to the area being a "safe" place to play but he told me the department is cracking down on "crotchrockets".He cut me a little break and I understand he was doing his job but I know 5 years ago he would have given me a warning!I am not trying to offend anyone here since I have done some pretty dumb stuff in my day, I just think we have to be smart and pick our play areas (not riding wheelies thru traffic)and not ride beyond our capabilities.Just looking out for the future of sportbikes since I would rather walk than drive a cruiser!
  
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted May 26, 2003 05:02 AM
We have the samething happening here in Des Moines, a group of stunt riders, whom I like to watch them race and got them a gig at our local track. Well on their web site, they slammed the cops bad and made fun of them. well they didnt like that very well. so now they pull over the sport bikes all of the time. I used to be able to take my bike out and put around or bring it up to bike night. but now I am kind of afraid. they will hammer me with tickets.
Mad Mike
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 26, 2003 07:25 AM
It all goes in cycles. Just wait, you'll see it get worse before it gets better.
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kawachan
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted May 26, 2003 07:37 AM
Talking about tickets, I got a 93 in a 55 last night!! Been getting away when I pulled over for them, but this lady trooper wasn't cutting any slack with me. I think I'll gas it and hope for the best next time.....
That same type of group was who I was just riding with about thirty minutes earlier. Stand-up wheelies every time we made a turn. Passing cars in a stand up going across the Interstae on the overpass.......crazy suckers Those guys were freaking nuts. I think that will cut me back to riding with one of two of my close friends. I don't need that kind of attention any more!!
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RED NINJAS RULE!!
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Scooter
Zone Head
Posts: 899
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posted May 26, 2003 08:09 AM
 Edited By: Scooter on 26 May 2003 09:10
It's still pretty sane up here in the boonies. There's only a handful of sportbikes around anyway and those are mature(well somewhat) adults. However being in Michigan we still get the high rates. I see a tiered licensing system in our future something like Japan has. The bigger gripe around here in Harley country is with the zillions of loud as hell drag pipes. One guy I work with has an already obnoxious set of pipes on his Road King but wants it a just a little bit louder. Likes to see the cage drivers flinch when he passes by. WTF? This is your otherwise average Joe. I bought a full Tsukigi pipe for my 12 because it was Japanese spec (quieter). Don't need that kind of attention. Is a "stock parts only" law in our fyture too? Next thing you'll see is the cruisers insurance rates climbing due to what I call "non-bikers" going out with zero skills and crashing their chromed out "look-at-me-glide". Not knocking HD or their riders, it's just that's where most of the "Me Too" bunch seems to go. Rant over.
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"Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional."
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted May 26, 2003 04:44 PM
Cruisers are more of a "statiscal risk" than sportbikers could ever hope to be. This comes directly from an insurance adjuster who handles somewhere in the neighborhood of 60+ claims a month. He said it is a normal occurance for cruiser bikes to be totalled before the permanent registration ever becomes effective. His conservative estimates for sportbikes was 2 totals for every 10 cruiser totals. Cruisers also have more damage per claim too.
A more strict licensing program would certainly hinder vehicle and fuel sales.
Think about how many "Bettys" would not be able to drive H2s, Land Rovers, or Suburbans if this were the case!
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12RPilot
Pro
Posts: 1094
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posted May 26, 2003 06:21 PM
We have few allies most of the time but if anyone can help, it's the AMA!!! If you aren't a member, you should be. We need a voice and they are the most effective we have.
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If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
http://www.bikepics.com/members/12rpilot/04zx10r/
 
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jonwright
Needs a job
Posts: 2416
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posted May 26, 2003 07:36 PM
Here, here, 12RPilot.
Notice the AMA is starting the 'Ride Stright' campaign? How many sportbikers do you see riding liquored up, at bars, or pulling beers out of the tail pack?
Where I come from that description matches most of the cruiser riders.
I really doubt that insurance companies will differentiate between sportbikes and cruisers for insurance premiums. They'll make it up whereever they can, I'd imagine.
Man, if the US took driving (in general) as seriously as the Europeans we'd wonder what the roads would be like. I don't necessarily think a tiered licensing system is wrong (which Gixxer qualifies as a 'first bike'?  ). But I'd also like to see licensing for cars/trucks more serious as well.
Our system of licensing is a joke. For both bikes and cars.
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted May 26, 2003 08:25 PM
This site does not have the bandwidth to hold my opinion on this.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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Dino
Pro
Posts: 1422
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posted May 26, 2003 08:54 PM
Go ahead Sherm,....I was ready for a good read.
That's gotta' be the shortest reply you've made............you o.k.???
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uh oh
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ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted May 26, 2003 09:32 PM
The entire motorcycle community image is pretty poor and frankly deserved. I went to Moses Lake in Eastern Washington today. We went to the Dunes with the quads for some big air. Obviously we were arriving at the tail end of the Memorial Day weekend. As we pulled in a 7:30 am the place had hundreds of camp sites with thousands of people there. There was little life in the morning as most had spent the previous night partying. The camp sites were full of empty beer cases, cans, bottles etc. Hard liquor bottles etc. The Dunes for a mile or so looked like a landfill. These people were pigs. As we loaded our quads at the end of the day there were very few people left. Most had gown home. The ORV park was left in a total wreck condition. Sani-cans turned over, trash everywhere, signs and fences torn down, essentially the places was destroyed. And people wonder why we are losing our right to ride. This particular area is also a place people come to fish. Those campsites were left clean and in good repair.
When I ride a poker run or some other kind of organized ride it is amazing how many people trash the facilities etc. Owning a motorcycle does not give anyone the right to act like a moron. It is up to everyone to get in the face of those you see ruining it for the rest of us.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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12RPilot
Pro
Posts: 1094
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posted May 27, 2003 04:45 AM
I'm likely to clean up after others just to keep land use privilages open but in a case like you are descibing ZH, it would be overwhelming. I used to get such a feeling of desperation when facing conditions like that at a quarry I used to shoot at. The owner finally shut it down, thanks to inconsiderate slobs. I wish I knew an effective solution. You can only do your part I guess.
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If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
http://www.bikepics.com/members/12rpilot/04zx10r/
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted May 27, 2003 06:14 AM
Edited By: redelk on 27 May 2003 07:16
It probably won't be "a good read" and yeah, I'm okay. jonwright and I were just recently talking about how sportbike riders are the "1%'ers" of the 21st century. Who knows, if I get a few extra hours this evening, I'll elaberate.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 27, 2003 06:27 AM
Hey, repeating yourself does not mean that you've got more to say! 
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Megabyte
Pro
Posts: 1047
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posted May 27, 2003 11:59 AM
Edited By: Megabyte on 27 May 2003 13:05
I couldn't agree more about the need to have a stiffer licensing procedure! I also think an I.Q. test along with a safe driving test should be mandatory Some guys either don't know how, or are incapable of using their heads, and they end up giving us all a bad rep. I probably deserve to get written up about 80% of the time I ride. However, I do pick my spots, & do my best to make sure what I'm doing can't harm anyone else....Well ok, it might harm their eog's
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We First make our habits and then our habits make us.
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted May 27, 2003 09:25 PM
swft, that's probably what crashed the site! Didn't have time (or a forum), tonight.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted May 27, 2003 10:09 PM
megabyte, i think an IQ test shoudl be required to LIVE! well, i guess thats a litte harsh. what we should do is get another penal colony going, a la australia. everyone who scores below a certain point, or who scores high but low on the ethics test *cough* enron execs *cough* needs to get shipped there. since most of them are stupid, no worries about them becoming a threat in the long run. hm... maybe just shoot those low in moral fibre, or they could prove a nuisance.
as to teh littering issue. i dont think that has much of anything to do with bikers. i think u'l have the same experience regardless of the group. i get pissed every day when i take the dog out & see all the garbage people drop on the trail or by the bus stop.
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 28, 2003 04:45 AM
Freek,
You've been reading too much Douglas Adams. 
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