Hi Paul >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Harmon Seaver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >[snip] > [Would you say safety would allow loud pipes on bikes?] > > > Definitely not, in fact I think we should have open season, shoot on > >sight on loud bikes. Same with loud car stereos and boomboxes. > > Or at least an instant $200 ticket -- if you can hear the vehicle or > >stereo from 10' away, nail 'em. > >Harmon you will be happy to hear that the Queensland (OZ) govt has just >recently brought in penalties for loud music from cars. Penalties range up >to impoundment of vehicle for repeat offenses. Should save a few eardrums >and reduce metal fatigue in offenders cars. > >As for motorbikes my philosophy on staying safe was to be always moving >ahead of other traffic. That way you have more control over traffic >conditions and less threat from behind. Car users and motorbikes just don't >mix. Lack of consideration for the totally different safety dynamics, >failure to recognise anything smaller than a Mack truck, minor road rage >generated by the car user's perception of bike riders as alternatives/free >spirits who threaten their own sense of values, jealousy of the freedom of >movement etc are just some of the problems. (Just as well I didn't try to >elaborate, that has to be the longest sentence I have ever written).
:-) But you got it dead right, IMHO, lot more eloquent than my "homicidal maniacs". Yes, you have to move ahead, go faster than the traffic flow, get beyond their reach before they know you're there. >Ah yes, at times I miss my Yamaha XZ550, a strange bike in ways but the note >that liquid cooled in line V twin made when the throttle was opened at low >revs was music to my ears. Not quite as raucous as the low tech growl of the >Harley but nice. >What the heck I was a lousy bike rider and probably saved my life by selling >it. Glad you're still with us Paul. I'm quite a good rider (I started when I was 14), but I don't think it makes any difference anymore. I was relieved to sell my last bike, sad but definitely relieved. It was a 250 Kwacker twin, light, quick and supple, great for city riding. That was in London a few years ago. It had been a while but I quickly got into it again, soon found the despatch riders following me rather than me them. But, every day I'd set off to work or back again and think, Will I make it this time? Twice I was off, no injuries or damage, but if I'd been any slower it would have been a lot worse. Each time the car driver who did it to me just drove on, fully aware of it, didn't give a damn. First pull out, then look, first change lanes, then look, sheesh. It happened all the time, not just the twice. Something weird happens to some people's personalities when they get in a car. Bikes are great, I love them, but not in cities, not these days, the dice are loaded against you. Lousy way to die, or get vegetabilised. regards Keith >Paul Gobert Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
