Adding to that, the test is a great idea for people that once rode a 600 single about 20 years ago then start biking again and buy a blade and think that they will be ok!

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

If it wasn't for the fact that somewhere somewhen an 'innocent' is taken out by an idiot, I'd say let them get on with it.... one more dead Ninja is one less to worry about...and one less idiot breeding...theory of natural selection and all that...
But I do wish they hadn't commandeered all the best roads....

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'98 M2 Razorback, it's a keeper.

Be careful what you wish for - more controls and testing by the government? Doubtful it would result in less policing of the roads, as this is a handy revenue generator for local governments.

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2006 XB12Ss..... 1998 S1W..... 1996 S2T
We do not need the help of our friends so much as confidence that they will help us when we need it. –Epicurus

Could not agree more

We actually need MORE road policing and less cameras etc in order to tackle poor driving/riding. Unfortunately cameras and civilian 'traffic patrols' are very cheap compared to employing/training/equipping/ real traffic policemen so we won't get any improvement in the near future.

Durham Police have a great attitude towards bikers and show that you don't have to infest the county with speed cameras and unmarked cop cars to get the message across.

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"Racing is life. Everything before and after is just waiting".

I've also recently noticed some very odd behaviour from the clearly newly qualified riders, followed a guy along a local bypass a couple of weeks ago who insisted on repeatedly doing a lifesaver check over both shoulders whilst going round & exiting a roundabout , not sure who the hell is teaching this sort of rubbish, but to my mind you should know damn well whet is behind/beside you before you enter a roundabout & the dual-handed lifsave looks bloody dangerous to me, thought at one stage he was gonna hit the roundabout

Then the other night a large group of sports bikes tried to pass us whilst we were in the car, some did, some didn't, but one idiot was in the RH lane of a dual carriageway approacing a roundabout, we were in the LH lane, turing left, at the last minute it became obvious that the only reason he was in the RH lane was to overtake us, we get to the roundabout & he cuts right across my front wing so he could turn left, & then does a bloody lifesave over his right shoulder......twatt

We both mentioned that you can sort of understand why car drivers do get pissed off with bike riders if they act like that, all so he could keep up with his mates. One of the reasons I'd much rather just ride on my own or with Steve!

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Buell '96/'98 S1
KTM 690 Duke
Yamaha XT500

The most pointless and funniest to watch has to be the 'foot down shuffle' at every stop line and junction. Left leg, right leg, left leg, cover rear brake......Why do they teach such nonsense!

The DOT bike test should be the same as the Police standard test before you can ride a bike over 125cc and riders should be trained to the same standard. This teaches sensible stuff like observation and positioning rather than which bloody foot you put down when you stop.

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"Racing is life. Everything before and after is just waiting".

From my observations, biking in the UK seems to be an old farts game nowadays too.

Bikes+ insurance too expensive for the y00f when you can get a Saxo to bang your mrs in the back for the same cost as a double cheeseburger and fries.

Should we ban middle aged people from riding? Should they have to pay a penalty for using the roads?

I'll admit I don't ride at the speed limit and I bet most people don't but I don't ride like a twat. Never undertake cars as I've seen what happens can't see the point overtaking on a blind corner and I save the stunting for the local industrial estate.
If people want to use their bikes to the full potential go do a track day there are enough of them about.

They don't anymore......

Good, glad to hear it Twas always a bit pointless and distracting from what they should have been concentrating on.

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"Racing is life. Everything before and after is just waiting".

I was an RAC/ACU instrcutor for five years in the 1980s before I went overseas and we used to train the pupils to get their feet up onto the pegs as soon as the bike was moving, it actually gives more control than draggging your feet like a prat.
When I am watching other bikers it is one of the things I look for as an indication of their true riding skill.
At a Buell experience day at Mallory couple of years ago there was only me and this other bloke than cleared the slow riding course, (it was my brother and he was 45 and I was 50 then) certainly showed the so called super hero youngsters who could really control the bike - then came the track time! hah hah - older is wiser.
The general riding standard on the road is terrible and we will all be tarred with the same brush, we have all been there as teenagers but to what extent?
As for turning left from a right hand dual carriageway leading into a roundabout and over taking on blind bends - are these people mad?

(but I do like a bit of Warp )

When I took my IAM Course (my Boss said he'd pay for it - dunno why ) the Observer I had was a Police 'know-it-all' who'd only been riding about 10 yrs It really used to piss him off when I'd stop at a junction/lights etc and not put my foot down. I told him to buy a Trials bike

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

What a bunch of moaning bastards

A lot of this could be down to the new module 1 (off-road) test. They want observations in an enclosed safe area with no traffic, just you and the examiner. They then complain about too many over the shoulder looks on the module 2 (on-road) test.
Realistically only 3 looks needed for module 1......before moving off for the u-turn, lifesaver for the u-turn, and check behind after the emergency stop.

On the the fast/powerful bikes subject, I had a zzr1100 c3, 125 bhp easily upgraded to 147 bhp,
but never felt the need. Driveability and good handling is more useful.
Find your own nice bit of road, enjoy it, but keep quiet about it and only tell a few people.

Cheers, Richard.