Jasper
|
| posted on 9/6/04 at 09:54 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by spunky
WHAT UTTER BOLLOCKS...
Can you explain to me how its the bike that is dangerous when the accident is caused by a wanker in a car pulling out on them....
My take on that scenario is its the car and the twat driving it that should be banned.
John
Ban the car driver all you like - won't make any odds to the biker lying in the morgue will it. Or course it's the drivers fault, it often
is, but that doesn't make riding a bike any less dangerous.
|
|
|
|
|
craig1410
|
| posted on 9/6/04 at 10:23 PM |
|
|
I remember a few years ago seeing Steve Hyslop (IIRC) in the TT sliding backwards on his ar$e at over 100MPH and just missing a stone dyke. He got
away with it with only minor abrasions etc but he was nearly turned into mush.
However, I must say I think the world we live in these days is far too safe in many respects so I fully support having the choice to pursue dangerous
sports provided the danger is contained and only exposed to those who willingly participate.
Cheers,
Craig.
|
|
|
spunky
|
| posted on 9/6/04 at 11:27 PM |
|
|
quote]Originally posted by Jasper
Ban the car driver all you like - won't make any odds to the biker lying in the morgue will it. Or course it's the drivers fault, it often
is, but that doesn't make riding a bike any less dangerous.
So we agree that a motorcycle has less protection than other modes of transport, but that certainly doesn't make them to any more dangerous.
I maintain they are a safer choice. When was the last time a bike mowed down a queue of people at the roadside, or having a head on collision and
killing all occupants. By your rationale Jasper a bus must be very safe... slow, well built and lots of protection , didn't stop half of one
family getting wiped out by one at Ingoldmells a few weeks ago.
No vehicle is any more dangerous than any other. It is always down to the individal piloting said vehicle.
Tonight I had a woman in a Fiat Tipo pull out at a cross roads on a very fast road coming back from Nottingham. She narrowly missed 2 bikes travelling
in the opposite direction to me, and I'd like to say she missed me, she didn't, I missed her. Had I been in my car doing the same speed I
would have had a very big smash.
In this case the bike saved me (and her)
Whereas I fully admit to exceeding the speed limit, the fact is the dosey bitch failed to see 3 motorcycles approaching her at the crossroads. But I
guess thats because bikes are dangerous.....
Off my soap box and back on topic.
TT dangerous-yes but there are racers who specialise in road racing. They know the risks and still sign up. They have my greatest respect.
Incidentally the TT circuit has been made considerably safer. If you ever get to see vintage footage, now that is terryfying. Better still watch No
Limit with George Formby and try and imagine lapping at a 125mph avarage.
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 08:22 AM |
|
|
If you both actually read what I said you would realise that I'm not having a go at bikers - most bikers (and I was one remember) are very good
riders - and tend to make for safe car drivers too.
What I actually said is that riding a bike is bloody dangerous BECAUSE most car drivers are useless. You can be as careful as you like on a bike -
wear all the protective clothing you want - but if some idiot in a car (who's probably got a mobile in his hand) pulls out on you - your f*cked.
If he pulls out on you and your in a car (and there's a much better chance that he will SEE you in a car) then you might more likely to walk out
unhurt. Just because your less likey to hurt other people doesn't mean what your doing is safe - otherwise they would let bikers ride around in
the nude with no helmet!
I think any who thinks that riding a bike is safe is in cloud cuckoo land.
I'm not saying that people shouldnt be allowed to ride them - as long as they understand the risks - and I don't think a lot of teenage
riders do - cos we all thought we were indstructable at that age.
[Edited on 10/6/04 by Jasper]
|
|
|
spunky
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 09:38 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
.........riding a bike is bloody dangerous BECAUSE most car drivers are useless......
It appears we are arguing semantics.
You say bikes are dangerous because you get hurt when an an incompetant driver causes an accident. I repeat myself, it is the individual causing the
accident that is dangerous not the car/bike that he/she is driving.
If my bike had worn brake pads, bald tyres, busted brake light then it would be dangerous but so would a Volvo, no matter how many SIPS, crumple zones
and air bags it has.
So to clarify. My definition of dangerous is a vehicle that by its design or mechanical/electrical failings is more likely to cause accidents. How
much protection you have is irrelevent.
John
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 09:41 AM |
|
|
Done this one on Pistonheads.
I live near Powersports bike shop in Clay Cross and I see a lot of bikers and I would say that the balance is pretty equal between pricks on bikes and
in cars. I have a bike and a car full licence and I know what I see. Bikes ignoring the 50 and 30 limits in a built up area and passing cars and
cutting in at the last second forcing sudden braking and evasive manouevres and they are only going another mile up the road. The time they save
doesn't even give them chance to roll a fag. If they mellowed a bit they wouldn't need the fag to calm their nerves when they got there.
T.T. riders don't have something coming at them in the other direction so they are safer and yet still come off and get injured or killed. Read
on Pheads where bikers moan about slower moving traffic hindering them, usually because it's travelling at the legal limit, one genius even said
that solid white lines and zig zags shouldn't apply to bikes as they have the ability to "blend into traffic", that's how my
mate lost his leg blending into the side of an artic and being thrown onto the hitch with his leg in the wheel. We all think it will always happen to
someone else but one day the other bloke will be right and we are the someone else.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 10:02 AM |
|
|
John - I agree we are arguing over words, not ideas.......
And yes Pete, there ar plenty of nutters on bikes, it's just so easy to go much to fast on a sports bike - that's why I gave it up!
|
|
|
spunky
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 10:10 AM |
|
|
Thank you Peteff,
A prick on a bike is as dangerous as a prick in a car. My point exactly. It is the individual at the controls that is dangerous not the machine.
If I may defend my comment on feeling 'safer' on a bike. I have far better forward visabilty, I can accelerate away from trouble faster
than any car, reaction time for brake application is considerably quicker than a car, I am more manouverable and a lot narrower.
I fully understand that if it goes belly up, I'm gonna be hurt.
BTW I'm not some young loony on his first Fireblade. I rigidly adhere to urban speed limits, much to the annoyance of some tintop drivers and
only use the speed on national limit A and B roads.
Back to the Poll. I believe it was "is the TT race too dangerous" not " are the bikes at the TT too dangerous"
John
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 10:13 AM |
|
|
This site's from Pistonheads
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/safer-rider/
Posted by a policeman on there, it dispels a few myths about cars causing most accidents.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 10:49 AM |
|
|
Good site, Pete!
Dave
(who used to be frequent bike rider - 400 miles/week)
|
|
|
nicklondon
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 07:01 PM |
|
|
i'm not anti-bike,its seams such an awfull waste of lives up to 8 now
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 10/6/04 at 07:31 PM |
|
|
i just cant believe big brother allows it still. the nanny state and all that.
|
|
|
spunky
|
| posted on 11/6/04 at 12:49 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i just cant believe big brother allows it still. the nanny state and all that.
Rest assured it will be stopped. Since it was taken off the national circuit it only exists because of the specialist riders, as does the North West
200. The guys know the risks and we should be grateful and enjoy it while we can.
Motorsport is dangerous... some are more dangerous than others.
John
|
|
|
