I would go with this and what said.

After 30 plus years of cars/bikes I dont think, then or now, that drivers or riders are better than each other or that men/women are either. One thing is for sure. There is a hell of a lot more cars, lorrys and "road funiture" about than even 10 years ago.

Unlike a car driver you can always, IMO, spot a good road rider and I have to say that I do not see many myself. The worse faults being inappropriate speeds and bad road position. I think some have laughed at me wene I said I have rode round other bikers on bends before. Its not because I am good, wish I was, its because they are not.

Anyone can use a bike/car but the diff with a bike is it takes a lot more time, skill and effort to master. Something many cannot be bothered to do and thats a shame because a bike can give you so much more once you have.

For one minute I thought you were me. I did my RAC/ACU stint too before leaving the sceptred isle. As for MAD - yes - but this is Spain.

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Sept 2017. Email will find me.

I would disagree with that statement big time..........1/4 of a tonne or more of bike hitting some innocent person head on is not just their business
I'm sure you'd not be happy to get a knock on the door to say that a member of your family had just been killed.............but don't worry it was only the business of the prat in the wrong
Mistakes do get made but people who regularly overtake on blind bends or overtake on solid white lines when there is no possibility of seeing the road is clear should if proved they were doing it deliberately be banned for life

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

For my pennies (not penis) worth I do agree with Maz. But I have to admit that bikers are a funny lot. I think that because we are a minority and only make up a very small percentage of the traffic on the roads we are all a little conscious of being tarred with the same brush. We all see cars being driven badly on a daily basis but we then do not all jump to the conclusion that all car drivers are bad drivers. I do not know what the answer is but the message that needs to be put across is that we are all different.

As for the space rangers I suppose the question that needs to asked is why do they crave the danger so much and put their lives at risk. Is it because society itself is so restrictive these days that there is very few outlets for danger and excitement due to the health and safety nazis?

I'm not that but when I passed my driving test you did not have to wear a seat belt and it was only a few years earlier that crash helmets became law! Now imagine if you did not have to wear a helmet or seat belt; makes you think if we would take the same risks. For every improvement in safety (ABS, etc) the more cossetted you feel and the more risks you take IMO.

Anyway time for another beer and to get back to the football!

People get hurt on bikes or in cars but what about the other stuff.

Ah the classic one, Footy. If I had a fiver for every person I have met that had knee surgery on the NHS it would have paid for my bike easy. Or better still "Darts Shoulder". A close second to "goverment-talkin-shit" syndrome.

i agree but then i am an
i like to go out and enjoy mi ride i may only do 40 or 50 mph but i enjoy it

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WE AINT ALL THERE COZ WERE HERE

FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF DARK

There are motorcyclists and there are people who own motorcycles.......

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

Yeah, you've misunderstood me kev. There is a difference between what I said and condoning the actions described, which of course I don't. I'm not the Police nor am I king of the road and people shouldn't ride how I do, or else. There are enough self-policing arseholes on the road as it is, exampled by all those car drivers who swerve over into the centre of the road to try and stop you from filtering through traffic etc. Some biker on a VFR even gave me the 'wanker' sign the other day because I was out riding in my shorts.

I've done my time working in A+E, i've seen plenty of organ donors come in without heads, or limbs or paralysed kittens and I've decided some time ago to concentrate on my own ride and not attempt to judge others. Individual nannying has a tendency to snowball into a collective state that we are so purportedly opposed to.

This is the internet though and you have to take some of these tales with a pinch of salt. Don't forget that anyone faster than you must either be riding like a bellend or on a 180bhp rocket and anyone you've done in the twisties clearly is a muppet who can't ride their bike. It all tends to get a bit boring having to listen to/read about.

I think there are a disproportionate number of speed cameras on the UK roads. These cash-cows don't detect dangerous riding, they only pick up on speed and we all know it is perfectly reasonable to ride to the conditions of the road a few mph over most posted limits. It would be far preferable, imho, to have unmarked coppers out observing for dangerous riding.

As for crossing the central hatchings/double lines; I was taught to do this as part of 'using the whole of the road' so long as the road conditions allow it and it is safe to do so. Much better view of some corners when you are over on the right hand side of the road. This isn't the same as overtaking on a blind bend btw.

Who taught you that? Are they still alive? Was it someone who disliked you?? Hatchings, yes, double whites.. NO.

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

Can`t resist this.....Everyone who takes a driving/riding test should be shown pictures of what metal can do to a human body, how it can decapitate, shred, slice parts of the body etc. Then they should be hit with a rubber mallet on the shins and shown a photo of what sharp metal can do to the shins.
IQ test with a minimum score required.

All bikers should go on a day training with Police motorcyclists, it is reality, it is fun and it may just save your life....I enjoyed it immensely, it is the best weapon the Police have in their armoury to combat bad riding, it is a shame there are so few places each year.

Thanks for the tip.


It was the Police/ex Police btw. One of a few advanced riding courses i've attended. That particular chap is still alive and doing well (for a 60yo) and up until very recently was a Nurburgring instructor. It doesn't apply to all double whites of course, but that is where the reading the road/riding to the conditions caveat applies.

I'm not a fan of aversion therapy btw, so don't agree that we should be shown pictures of dead people/mangled bodies before getting a bike. There are no pictures of bowel cancer on the packets of red meat I buy, nor necrotic livers on a bottle of wine. More scaremongering and nannying. "Do this or this WILL (well, might) happen". Yeah, no thanks.

I'm sure it won't be long now ....

The mob I used to hang around with in the 80's were very responsible riders. We made it a rule never to ride whilst tripping

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Wear the fox hat

No they shouldn't.

I ride a bike today because my parents told me I could never have one, I'm now nearly now but not as as

Andy

I agree with the majority of what has been posted on this thread.

I reckon that the power rangers should try down hilling, ......

That way they could truelly scare themselves without endangering anyone but themselves... and the odd tree or rock.

Says me nursing another broken rib from this morning s training run.
Just hav it.
But please dont take anyone else with ya

Rich Stone

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Buelling is exhillarating
But downhill bike racing is so terrifying it makes your arse grow teeth