No license... an invitation to a :rose.

[budman]

So.. a quick statistical fact or two that makes me just say wow.. :wtf

First of all.. sprotbiles make up less than 15% of motorcycle registrations in California, but we make up nearly 40% of fatalities.. does that speak to the ability of the bike vs. ours??

Another statistical hit to the head comes to our having licenses to ride.

- Overall, over 35% of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes are not properly licensed. But when looking at operators under age 25, 60% are not properly licensed (up from 40% plus in 2000).

When you add both of these up.. sprotbiles with incredible technology and ability.. and us.. not licensed to ride and maybe not trained..I think you will see a tangable correlation.

By getting your license.. we assume we get a little training.. and add that to the fact that many younger folks are likely to climb on the best of the best type of machine and not get their license.. we have a recipe that is making for havoc.

If you don't have a license.. have not received training.. go do it.. PLEASE!!

Riding a bike takes skill, common sense.. and more..

How many would try to fly an F-16 without training????

I would not.. but after being trained.. cut me loose!!

This stuff is serious.. and when you are ready.. it is serious fun.

:smoking

 

[BlackNinjaZX10]

Good post Bud.

 

[corndog]

People are obviously responsible for their own actions, but when dealers sell a bike to a kid with no license, it's infuriating because they put their own fiscal greed before rider safety. Besides, dead kids don't buy parts! When it comes to private sales, folks need to do their part to ensure the buyer is licensed.

I hate putting things in place to keep people safe sometimes because it makes the world look like a safety padded fisher-price toy, but dealers and private parties need to do their part before lawsuits force them to.

 

[louemc]

Yeah, That's something that has been glaringly smacking us in the face for decades.

Just go to a Motorcycle hangout spot like the Wall (Grizzly peak above Berkeley) walk past the massive string of bikes parked there. What's the rashed ones? The most capable bikes there. No contest, No debate, No excuses.


I can't jump on the responsibility of the seller BandWagon though. No matter which way I look at it, the seller can't determine critical things, in the buyers future path. What the buyer has done, and personality is like, can be seen/judged/evaluatied, pretty good... but, no matter what, it is the buyers responsibility to be responsible, period.

 

[sixtytwo]

Just go to a Motorcycle hangout spot like the Wall (Grizzly peak above Berkeley) walk past the massive string of bikes parked there. What's the rashed ones? The most capable bikes there. No contest, No debate, No excuses.

Hey, I resent what you're implying there. :laughing

To be completely fair, I think the reason why a majority of rashed up bikes out there are late model i4's sprotbiles is because they can survive crashes very well, and used parts are plentiful enough for fixing them up to be a viable option after a crash.

Still though, you do have a point - the fastest bikes out there are the ones most likely to be crashed.

 

[louemc]

I see by Your address, You know what I'm talkin about :cool

Now about the "plentifull parts" shall we open that can of worms farther with how those "parts" became available, or should we keep that a secret?

 

[Angel-be-Good]

When I learned that ape hanger handlebars are illegal because they make a bike harder to control, I mused that they should just make anything less than a sprotbile illegal because they don't handle as well. And then I remembered that sportbikers die way more than any other and considered that possibly, just maybe, the more capable your bike the more dangerous, and that California outlawed a safety device.

 

[louemc]

When I learned that ape hanger handlebars are illegal because they make a bike harder to control, I mused that they should just make anything less than a sprotbile illegal because they don't handle as well. And then I remembered that sportbikers die way more than any other and considered that possibly, just maybe, the more capable your bike the more dangerous, and that California outlawed a safety device.

No the bike is not more dangerous. The incompetent and deluded rider is still the problem. The problem has to be addressed.

 

[sanjuro]

While it is widely known that sprot biles owners are more likely to get into accidents than cruisers, I still wonder why that is.

If you ask your typical beanie-wearing Harley rider, it is that sprot biles are too fast and their owners are not skilled enough.

My suspicion, which I have no statistical proof, is that sport bikes are racking up most of the miles, which is the ultimate factor for likelihood of wrecking.

On my commutes, I see about 7-to-1 other bikes to cruisers. Now the other bikes does include touring and "standards", which are both included into some sport bike statistics because they have plastics.

Weekends, it might be 50/50 depending on where you go.

I'm not saying that your typical 19 year old squid is rolling on a Fat Boy, but I've seen plenty of dicey maneuvers from our ape-hanging brethren.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

On my commutes, I see about 7-to-1 other bikes to cruisers.

Get outside The City and its clutches. Most of America is dominated by cruisers, for both weekend warriors and daily hardcore.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

yeah.. read Maynard Hershon, too. outside od the BAY Area, most bikes are cruisers. And who needs a sportbike anyway when most of the roads in USA that I know about are completely straight? my commute has .. "like" two turns basically.

also. aren't sportbikes made for higher speeds, wide bends and dragging knee? that makes them harder to make sudden swerves on the road.. like non-sportbike standards can.

 

[Brown81]

I see the correlation as this:
People who are too irresponsible and mature to have their papers in order are the same people who are too irresponsible to understand the results of their actions.

A kid who takes the time to get his paper work in order is going to take the time to get training, and is going to understand his/her responsibilities as a citizen rider. Both to his/herself, and to others. I was the former when young to be honest.

 

[louemc]

yeah.. read Maynard Hershon, too. outside od the BAY Area, most bikes are cruisers. And who needs a sportbike anyway when most of the roads in USA that I know about are completely straight? my commute has .. "like" two turns basically.

also. aren't sportbikes made for higher speeds, wide bends and dragging knee? that makes them harder to make sudden swerves on the road.. like non-sportbike standards can.

Oh Wow, Well, where to begin? :rolleyes I'll let the Santa Cruz hills, East bay hills guys, Sunday Morning Ride Stinson Beach guys, Carmel Valley Rd guys, Hwy 25 Guys, take this up, but ...there is the mountain range called the Sierra East of You. Stay Away. it will hurt you.

My ZX-10 even in stock form because of it's designed to turn, is easier and quicker in turning than any standard /cruiser/touring bike, by such a huge difference it isn't debatable. Then I prepped my bike in its chassis setup , (and handle bars so I sit right on the bike for it) and suspension action, tire choice (profile and size) just for tight knarley twisties.

 

[ontherearwheel]

If rider safety and training are of such great concern here on BARF, how came there is no real world rider mentoring program offered by BARF?

Instead of alot of post that seem more like preaching than teaching, put into real action a "on the road" training program.

Give the people who want real world training, and not MSF in the parking lot training, a place to get it.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

If rider safety and training are of such great concern here on BARF, how came there is no real world rider mentoring program offered by BARF?

Instead of alot of post that seem more like preaching than teaching, put into real action a "on the road" training program.

Give the people who want real world training, and not MSF in the parking lot training, a place to get it.

Would be great if not for the concern of liability in this litigious world...

 

[sanjuro]

If rider safety and training are of such great concern here on BARF, how came there is no real world rider mentoring program offered by BARF?

Instead of alot of post that seem more like preaching than teaching, put into real action a "on the road" training program.

Give the people who want real world training, and not MSF in the parking lot training, a place to get it.

Doc Wong gives beginner clinics all the time.

 

[flying_hun]

Seriously experienced riders should seek out and mentor newbies

How do you think that will play out? Maybe it should be the other way around? :dunno

I'm happy to help a newer rider, and have done so. That said, the newer rider has to be open to feedback. It's a two way street.

As another poster noted, Doc Wong provides a tremendous service to Bay Area riders.

Back to Bud's point though, the first thing is to get licensed, and one of the best ways to do that is to take the MSF.

 

[jjslye]

Absolutely! I have one moto-mentor....super helpful.
One year and 13K miles later I feel a bit less like a newb. I'm also 39 and careful. I dont want anyone but me changing my diaper, I mean undies!

 

[DaveT319]

There are so many things that bug me about some riders (read: the immature dumbshit ones), and this is one of the top ones. There's really no good excuse for operating ANY vehicle without being properly licensed.

Dave

 

[Pking]

Come to think of it, each time you jump on the bike should be a learning expierence of some sorts whether it's postive or negative. I don't think there's a rider out there who can truly say "I've mastered riding."