Author Topic: For the bikers: Loud Suits Save Lives! (Read 1596 times)

rami · « **Reply #75 on:** June 09, 2007, 08:27:05 PM »

I spend more time avoiding idiots on cell phones during the day and worry about drunk drivers at night than I ever do about motorcylists.

A motorcycle requires much more attention and focus to operate than a car. You have to use both hands and feet, plus you have much more input from your environment than when driving a car. In a car, most people feel more invincible - there's a metal shell around your personal space. Not so on a motorcycle. There are more risk takers and just plain idiots in cars than on motorcycles. They're the bigger threat.

Rami

alembic_doctor · « **Reply #76 on:** June 09, 2007, 09:04:27 PM »

I was up driving through the Santa Cruz Mountains today and a biker had a head on with a car because he was taking corners too fast and leaned to hard into a left. He got to take a ride of Life Flight after that. Bummer.

I lost a friend a few years ago this way too. He was climbing the mountain at about 80mph. He missed the curve and went over the mountain.

Riders: Please be careful.

Personally, I do everything I can to avoid biles on the roads. To the point that I even will drop back 10mph just to be clear of him or her.

My $0.02

811952 · « **Reply #77 on:** June 10, 2007, 04:42:43 PM »

Personally, I do everything I can to avoid biles on the roads. To the point that I even will drop back 10mph just to be clear of him or her.

I wish more people were that thoughtful!

Last year in Nova Scotia, in a driving rain, we had some girl in a beater that was about 10 feet behind us for several miles (at 50-ish mph). There was no shoulder to pull off on (road construction). We were afraid to slow down to make her pass, because we weren't certain she would slow down and not simply run us down. We were on KLRs with lots of reflective on the bikes, but we were both wearing dark clothing. Yet another compelling reason to get the Hi-viz suit for me. Other than that scary 5-10 minutes, it was a glorious (albeit very wet) day!

John

rami · « **Reply #78 on:** June 11, 2007, 06:46:03 PM »

I've had many more close calls riding my bike (I'm an avid cyclist) than riding my motorcycle.
Car (and bus) drivers don't seem to have any problem with physically pushing you out of their way! I've gotten run off the road many times - several of those times I wasn't able to keep both wheels on the road.

Rami

811952 · « **Reply #79 on:** June 11, 2007, 08:24:37 PM »

Rami,

When I was in Windsor, there was a guy on a bicycle in the right lane who had just passed a cop who was pulled off the street (it was a low-traffic side street). As soon as the cyclist passed, the cop pulled out and got on his mic and practically screamed at the cyclist Get out of the way! No please yield, or Pull over or anything half civil. The cyclist bumped over the curb in frantic fashion and the cop drove off, nearly running him down. The cyclist looked at us on the sidewalk and said he might as well have told me to f*** myself, to which our reply was that that was pretty much how we took it too, then we all had a good laugh over the absurdity of it. You guys on pedal bikes do seem to get little to no respect, not from anybody!

It looks like I might be riding through your neck of the woods in 3.5 weeks or so, depending upon which route I ultimately choose to get from upstate NY to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Any good roads you'd care to recommend to a KLR pilot?

Ride safe!

John

kmh364 · « **Reply #80 on:** June 13, 2007, 07:23:57 AM »

Joey,

I agree 100%. I have a real problem with beginners taking their MV road test on a scooter or 250cc or smaller rental bike and then getting an unrestricted license. The time for tiered licensure is now. The NJMVC is seriously looking into changing the legislature to force those who do the scooter and/or rent-o-mini bike thing at the state MV testing centers to get a license restricted to 250cc M/C or scooter license. The exception would be if they successfully completed the MSF BRC and got their license that way.

Personally, I believe this is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, more needs to be done. ALL licenses need to be tiered IMHO.

You are right that there is a definite lack of small displacement M/C's available here, which is part of the problem. Having said that, 250CC and lower M/C's are really NOT suitable for most public highways with today's higher speed limits and driving speeds of today's motorists. They're OK for

811952 · « **Reply #81 on:** June 13, 2007, 10:21:52 AM »

By all accounts, the Kawasaki Versys is a wonderful bike. Glad they saw fit to start selling it in the USA. Now, if only Honda would import the TransAlp again, things would be (at least a little more) right with the world.

kmh364 · « **Reply #82 on:** June 22, 2007, 05:27:04 AM »

Joey:

Ck out the new MCN...it has a glowing review of the new '08 KLR650. I imagine all the M/C mags are gonna have a review as well.

Great bike! Looks aside (I'm not fond of the overgrown dirt bike look), this could be the ticket for me: a sport bike with real-world ergonomics and comfort. The cheapo $5399MSRP is tempting as well. A Duc would be sharp, but this thing is actually rideable for more than 1/2hr.

811952 · « **Reply #83 on:** June 22, 2007, 10:41:22 AM »

Kevin,

Yes, the new KLR is getting lots of good reviews. The changes Kawasaki made all seem to be good ones. That bike would be a lot of fun and plenty flickable in an urban environment such as yours and Joey's, and would be plenty capable to taking you to places you might not be tempted to go on a larger, more street-oriented bike. I think if you had one, you'd soon be addicted to the versatility.

Earlier this week I installed an HID headlight kit (from Aerostich) on my '04, and that sucker is bright! Should help me dodge Bambi at night..

John

bigredbass · « **Reply #84 on:** June 23, 2007, 07:10:48 PM »

I can NOT wait to see the NEW KLR. They seem to have addressed most everything (Bigger fairing/windshield, suspension, bigger alternator) and kept the good stuff (big gas tank, idiot simple mechanics) and the price went up $100.

What a world!

I'm tall enough to put both feet down on the old one, and 40hp is MORE than enough to get me back in again. I could see where I might never want anything bigger or more expensive. Amazing how middle age makes you a lot more careful . . . . I'd save enough on insurance alone vs. a rocket sled to pay for it.

J o e y

bigredbass · « **Reply #85 on:** June 23, 2007, 07:16:21 PM »

But KMH, what's and ERC and what's RLAP?

I subscribe to MCN, as well as Motorcyclist, Cycle World, SportRider, and RoadRacing World (the BEST raodracing coverage on the Planet).
Big Peter Egan nut.

J o e y

bigredbass · « **Reply #86 on:** June 23, 2007, 10:38:36 PM »

Incidentally, KLRWorld.com has a neat review and side-by-side with an 07 and 08, written by the guy who owns the page. A little more down to earth than the 'dazzling prose' in the usual suspects. Just go to the site, and on the cover page you'll see SEVERAL links to the article.

J o e y

811952 · « **Reply #87 on:** June 24, 2007, 07:06:46 AM »

Joey,

Thanks for the link!

John

palembic · « **Reply #88 on:** June 25, 2007, 05:02:31 AM »

Howdie

I just pop it to see that Rami is defintely starting another collection! After the Porsches came the Alembic, now up to Hayabusa!!!!
oh well!
Just joking!
I can see him travelling the long winding roads of Canada, Montreal to Rouyn-Noranda??

Paul TBO

Rami mon fr?re, je ne savais pas que tu est amateur des fus?es sur deux roues!
Tr?s joli machin mon p?te!
Fais gaffe!
Ce qui concerne le growl de ton Excel, je m'imaginais que l'Hayabusa siffle plut?t?

kmh364 · « **Reply #89 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:29:14 AM »

Joey:

ERC= MSF Experienced Rider Course

Here's the MSF link and the link for the school I work for:

http://msf-usa.org/

http://www.renj.com/

RLAP= Jerry Motorman Palladino's Ride Like A Pro

Yes,

RoadRacing World is the best coverage of M/C Road Racing.

I used to subscribe to 'em all. I just got pi**ed by the local post office and their handling of the new third-class periodical-rate postage: You get three weekly issues of Cycle News a month late and all at once, despite the HUGE writing on the cover to tell the Postmaster that this is dated mat'l that needs to be delivered by a certain date! To pay for first class mail DOUBLES the price of the sub...$45 for a regular subscription!

I know most will scoff, but I go to the local Barnes & Noble and read ALL the M/C mags for FREE while I sip my $4.00 venti cappuccino's and flirt with all the hot Rutgers coed's and MILF's, LOL! If I bought all the mags I like...I'm a voracious reader and my taste in guitars/basses/amps and M/C's and Hi-Fi, etc. means LOTS of mags...I'd spend hundreds a year on subscriptions!

Getting back to the bike, personally, I'd JUMP on the KLR! I'm tempted to get one myself. With experience, a good rider should be able to shock all the crotch rocket riders through the twisty bits (you'll still get spanked in the straights). If you have the dosh, I'd go for the '08 KLR ASAP!

FWIW, Peter Egan did a story on my two bud's from the Harley Plant in York, PA back in '95. My buddy Smokey contacted him and invited him down to York to see the place and meet the Employee Rider Club chapter there of which Smoke was a Road Captain at the time. Egan was so impressed with Smoke's personality (Live Wire was his quote from the article), that he agreed and an article with nice pix and bios resulted (the defunct Cycle World's Big Twin magazine, if I'm not mistaken). I have a copy of the issue somewhere, but I couldn't find it online.

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by kmh364 on June 25, 2007)