Quote:
Originally posted by Ian
skids I am certainly not saying we as club should do anything like that, far from it, which was why I put in the word motorcyclists. I believe people should be free to make their own choices.
I just think there is another side to the story of how we as a group (motorcyclists) are seen by non motorcyclists. Recently it has surprised me a bit when talking to non-motorcyclists who have not known of my interest in bikes; some of them really do hate us as a group. And in this day and age where the minority are brushed aside (ban of hunting with dogs) I think we perhaps need to just be aware. I think there has even been a recent Bike editorial that was saying the same sort of thing. I really do think that as a group (motorcyclists) are the best group of people you could come accross (even the gixxer boys), how many events could you get 120,000 people at without a single case of trouble? But the non motorcycling public (and non bike cops perhaps) just don't understand or see the positive, they only see the negative.
My own opinion is that loud bikes make for safer bikes; I am planning talking out my 2 catalytic convertors, putting pipes with removable baffles in so don't put me down for Mr PC.. yet. |
Ian I tend to agree with you a non motorcyclist out in his/her car for the day and see 50 motorcyclist 49 of whom are riding fairly sensibly & the other riding like a complete pratt. Which do you think they will remember and tell other people about. It won't matter much to them whether the pratt is riding a Gixer a Ducati or even a Deauville to them he will be just "another bloody mad motorcyclist"
As you said earlier the number of accidents is rising even( if it is not in proportion to the extra numbers of the bikes on the road) so the powers that be put pressure on the police to be doing something about it
Just as with football supporters it is the mindless few that get noticed and spoil it for the rest of us.
Brfore anyone accuses me of being a B.O.F. I am not suggesting we all ride around as though we are taking our CBT just that we use a bit of common sense as where and when we "really enjoy" our bikes performance