As your main form of transport, in ordinary traffic?

I used to have a Helix and I was a scooter courier for a few years in college... what do you want to know?

no but i just lost my virginity does that count?

I have a feeling Mdiver does

NoChances said:

I know he races on a track, but I don't think he uses one for transport on a day to day basis, which is what I am interested in here.

RenHoek said:

Are there rules like headlight must always be on (or if it is on automatically and the bulb blows, and you ride anyway, is that an offence? obviously it's a safety hazard)

Rules about clothing:
charcoal coloured bike and black/grey clothing - why do that to yourself?
I'm thinking it should be mandatory that a reflective/fluourescent safety vest be worn. I know it's not gonna be cool or whatever, but even if the rider says that should be their own choice, what about the driver of a car that doesn't see them?

DesertEskimo said:

Headlight must always be on and yes if you get caught it's a fix-it-ticket...

Dark Clothing = I'm cool

You can get the bright leathers and all but Black Leather takes damage just as well and isn't nearly as costly.

As for other drivers, that's the risk. In more cases than not, it's the driver of the car that wasn't paying attention and therein lies the rub... Riders aren't often the cause of the accident. Unless their hools, then anything goes but you pay with your life.

DesertEskimo? WTF?

RenHoek said:

I ran out of replies

no they are most definitely not the cause of the accident - I agree.

Today one came out of nowhere, I'd checked several times (I'm a pretty cautious driver who never takes risks, my vision, particularly peripheral is excellent) yet I didn't see this guy at all - no headlight, all in grey, just like the road.
I was nowhere close enough for anything to happen, but say HAD he been closer, it would have been a near miss at best, potentially fatal FOR HIM at worst.
When their life is the most at risk, why not take every precaution?
one could easily slip on an inexpensive safety vest (like construction workers have to have) over the leathers.

DesertEskimo said:

Oh, I feel ya... yeah when they go fast it can be an out of nowhere experience... If you think that's bad, how do you feel about lanesplitters??

Why no vest, those guys are just too cool, nothin' to lose etc. types. I understand...

I want to start riding again but my wife holds me back (2 kids and all...) I've even looked into the airbag jackets now available...

really, NO replies left, damn!

RenHoek said:

I don't blame her.

It's selfish to be cool, what about the rider's family? or the poor driver who will live with that for the rest of their lives

For me it's a trade-off of time against risk.I save about an hour a day by commuting on my motorbike. I usually drive defensively - the main danger to bikes is other drivers.

And when they make bike-mounted rocket propelled grenades legal, I'll be first in the queue. The amount of times I see terrible driving and then overtake them to find out that they're on the phone, smoking, eating or looking over their shoulder, talking to the kids in the back. Sometimes all at the same time. Not that all bikers are innocent - it's just harder to get distracted. And there's a lot more danger in a minor collision, so you've got to be focused.

I don't but I'm entertaining the thought. Last week in Italy all the women looked so SEXY on their bikes with their fine Italian shoes on. Sadly, it's just too cold where I live to get gung ho about this idea without thinking long and hard about it, otherwise I would have a nice shiny Vespa that I would wear kick ass Italian boots with

This is what they should be wearing!

http://www.aerostich.com/...sp-19.html

DesertEskimo said:

No, he doesn't

alexandernevermind said:

I don't think we want to see these guys...



in that gear, it TOTALLY clashes...

I had bikes for about 11 years until my daughter was born. Then I got rid of it because I didn't use it anymore.

I used to drive my bike anywhere (45000 km a year) and in almost all weather unless it was too windy (above 6 bf or icey).
I drove my bike at -6 degrees centigrade with my wife (girlfriend at the time) on the back. We had to slow down from 120 km/h to 100 km/h to keep feeling our the fingers.

I had these:

From 1991-1993: Honda DB F550 Four (1977 model)


From 1993-1998: Honda Rebel 450 (1986 model)


From 1998-2000: Honda VFR750 (1992 model)


From 2000-2001: Honda VFR750 (1996 model)

alexandernevermind said:

TOTALLY! and matching fluoro yellow bikes adorned with little flashing LEDs

"I GOT A WHOLE BUNCHA DYKES ON NINJA BIKES!"

alexandernevermind said:

Only if you're Uma Thurman!

PopeLeo said:

and for everybody else:


inexpensive and easy to wear
[Edited 10/7/08 16:08pm]

Some riders have a death wish. Some just forget that they have 2 B 3 times more vigilant than car drivers and try 2 pre-empt what a car is going to do!
Good road riders always put themselves in a position of maximum visability of other road users, but that doesn't help when people are driving with their heads up their asses!
Thus why my Ducati will B Yellow and will only come out for W'end jaunts or as a spare vehicle!

aye i ride a 200cc vespa

Amaxx said:

to match your leathers good boy

Amaxx said:

I completely agree.
The biggest kick I got from driving my bike was to pre-empt what others did to avoit problems.

I can truly say that I've saved my own life doing just that on numerous occasions

I also wore yellow.

ZombieKitten said:

I used to until I got onto a Honda 600 CBR and woke up in the hospital looking like I did 20 rounds with Mike Tyson. Missing teeth and all. Since then, no thanks.

dseann said:

oh no!!!

ZombieKitten said:

Oh yes. But it was my fault. I slammed around 15 beers in five minutes and blacked out somewhere on the road with no helmet. Thankfully I didn't take kill anyone with my stupidity. That was 11 years ago though.

I used to race motocross and swore I would never ride on the street.

But I really do want a chopper now.