I don't own a bike, and won't. My personal needs and wants. But, speaking of STUPID people, I often see some IDIOTS pulling wheelies at 80mph or better in traffic on the highway. These are the ones that should be banned.

Mike B

 

Traffic where I live is very intense. I see a lot of crazy stuff on the roads. Of the insane manuevers I've seen people pull off and live through, all but 1 were done on a bike. I regularly - at least 2 to 4 times a week - see a motorcycle riding the white line, zigzagging in traffic, tailgating, etc. in traffic moving at speeds up to 80 mph. But I also see quite a few of them obeying the laws.

But banning all sportbikes just because some of the drivers are stupid, irresponsible, whatever - c'mon. I don't expect an off the wall, radical response like that from someone like Jeff. Does this seem out of character for anyone else?

BTW - the Honda driver should spend a long, long time in prison. We need less people like that on the roads. That doesn't mean the bike didn't cut him off - he probably did. He probably did it intentionally, too.

The most insane road rage incidents I've ever been witness to have been on the streets of NYC. One time I screwed up and got in the wrong lane. I HAD to get over, but no one would let me. So I made room for myself - by cutting someone off. He followed me around the corner and tried to hit me. A cop saw it happen and pulled the guy over. I kept on going.

 

I don't consider my viewpoint off-the-wall or radical at all. As I said, one cannot legally drive an F1 car on the highway, because it's a race vehicle. These bikes are also race vehicles; they really serve no purpose other than to go fast (there are plenty of other bikes one could buy that are far more suited for highway use). As I have yet to see or meet ANYONE that is willing to ride one responsibly, why should they be allowed to terrorize our roads? We're not talking about 40, 50 or even 60% of sport bike riders acting irresponsibly- the number's somehwere in the upper 90s (my personal experience is 100%).

"Ban the riders?" How? Police can't catch them now, and if they could, taking away their license is NOT going to prevent them from riding their crotch rocket (just like taking a drunk's license away stops him from drinking and driving). As if taking away their license is suddenly going to turn them into a responsible citizen. Honestly, the only rational approach is my suggestion: restrict sport bikes to race tracks. Because one of these nights, this old fart in his Town Car is going to make a lane-change on the interstate, without ever seeing that kid on his crotch rocket. And we all have a basic enough understanding of physics to know that I'll surviive that one and the kid won't- every single time.

 

That's one suggestion. Seems reasonable to me. I like mine though. Once they do get caught, (road block, helecopter, whatever). The cop calls a roll back that delivers the bike directly to the car crusher. Once the rider is found guilty, large fine and his bike becomes a paperweight. Figure it costs him a $7000-$10,000 bike for every violation, think he might slow down? Or eventually not be on a bike anymore?


You'll survive, but your bank balance won't when his parent's lawyers get through with you. Beauty of the system. He gets to be stupid and dead and you get to foot the bill.

 

Here for a felony evasion they can impound your vehicle. This guy in the Honda was just a guy with bad attitude and probably pissed at something and the bike took him over the edge. Like ya said wrong place wrong person. His vehicular assault 4 years earlier shoulda prevented him from driving again but that's the fault with our 'Freedoms'.

If you see a bike doing wreckless driving and cars too then get a license number and phone it in. It may not get him a ticket but it may slow him down and save his life. I can't fault the bike cause lord knows I've been an idiot in a car many times. However I see bikes doing stunts that are dangerous on the highways that aren't just about speed like in a car and one slip up and bammmm, it's gonna hurt.

Whens the last time you saw a 9 second car for under 20grand from the showroom? Bikes let people without alot of money (kids) get ahold of a vehicle that is very fast without alot of protection. I see alot more fast bikes on the road than vipers or other exotics.

But again its all about freedom and what ya do with it. Watch out for the 'other' guy on the road. It could be your best friends kid.

 

How would the kid being on a sportbike make him any less visible to you? So, a fast motorcycle is an excuse to drive negligently? I hope that "kid" doesn't end up being ME getting plowed down by your lincoln on the interstate. I ride a bike, NOT a sportbike, but JUST as vulnerable to a Town Car.

BTW, I am 20, have a motorcycle, and I do NOT ride recklessly, sportbike or no sportbike.

 

If the cops can't catch these crazy idiots on sport bikes they should just radio ahead and set out spike belts. Just let every know that they will be doing that from now on and I bet bikers would stop when they get a cop behind them. Spike belts to a biker would be a death sentence that they sign up for. imo

 

Even the crotch-rocket cowboys who drive with their lights off at night? Kinda hard to see something in the mirror at dark when the lights are off.

I don't see any useful reasons for sportbikes on the road, but responsible drivers shouldn't be punished for a few jag-offs pushing the limits.

 

NO motorcycle sold in the US since 1978 had headlights that you can turn off...they're always on, all the time.

If someone figures a way to turn them off, they deserve what they get.

 

I gotta disagree here, Most of the people I know who own lambos (2/3) do not possess the experience to handle that kind of supercar-like performance they bought it as a status symbol, or cause they could, or whatever, but rarely drive them.

 

Some of you have misunderstood me- I would never deliberately put my car in harms way of anybody. My point was, some dark night this will happen by accident, and the kid on the bike doesn't stand a chance with my 4200-pound car. It's a tragedy that's going to happen, sooner or later.

 

I didn't mean to imply that. I meant to ask how a sportbike is less visible than a cruiser?

Not trying to be a troll or anything, just trying to figure out why you feel that way, that's all!

 

I think he's referring to a sport bike being operated at excessive speeds. The closure rate at 150mph brings the "came out of nowhere" factor way up. If the bike is traveling at that speed and the car is traveling at 55mph, the driver of the car could very possibly check, signal, and start a lane change just in time to be hit by the bike that wasn't there a second ago.

 

I am really shocked to read this thread on this site!! I fully understand the rant regarding more than a few stupid bikers out there, but come on!! How can you truthfully say that these bikes should be banned.

Almost sounds like the rants that other people have regarding us crazy people driving our big Ford trucks. Others claim that they are the responsible americans driving the fuel efficient compact car but if they somehow get into an accident with a big pick up truck, they could get hurt. Should we then have the government tell us we cant drive our truck because they pose a public danger?

You can also take this same argument to gun owners. The criminals in the inner cities use them to commit crimes and kill. Should guns be banned now? Not in my America!!!

I do not own a motorcycle of any kind. Personally I don't like them. My choice. But, I do drive a big Ford truck and I do own some guns. I probably scare alot of people in this country because I am also a republican. Danger, Danger. That is the freedom of my choice. Please don't try to take that away from me.

 

Exactly, they rarely drive em. They are a status symbol so they aren't out riding wheelies or street racing in em on a general basis. Usually when they are out they are cruising for the hotties They also have the money to pay if they have a wreck and damage is beyond what insurance will pay.

Most bikes are bought because they are fast and cheap. You won't find many people who own a ninja or such older than 35. And you won't find exotics owned by people under 35 unless they have wealthy parents so the car is usually still insured and registered to daddy.

It's not WHAT ya drive but HOW ya drive it. I have a 400hp mustang and people pass by me on the roads all the time. I've left the race track and been passed by motorcycles doing wheelies and just watched em go. Just cause ya can doesn't mean ya have to.

BTW, I'd love to own a sport bike Even a cruiser would be nice.