FIRST MUPPET SPOTTED THIS YEAR

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Patch

Bliar is listening

If he was listening, we'd probably be a bit better off

Originally Posted by northwind

If he was listening, we'd probably be a bit better off

No, we wouldn't.

Incidentally, out of interest, how many of the people anti-this idea would be in favour of revoking the helmet law? I know they're different things and in any event, a lot of us have had to wear lids our whole biking lives anyway, but how do you feel about that?

Also, if this law was lifted, would you personally ever ride without a lid, perhaps when nipping out to the shops/across town?

I know there are riders in states in america where you can ride without a lid that wear lids all the time, but are still vehemently pro-choice on the matter.

I'm not saying riding without a lid is the same thing as riding without leathers; see my previous point for my views on that I'm just interested...

Me? I have to admit, I would probably ride without a lid, occassionally, on short cross town trips, for the same reasons I stated in the "cyclists" bit of my last rant. I think that's the problem with it; even sensible people would consider riding without lids occassionally and a cracked skull is a lot worse than a bit of road rash. Before you say "I never would" Imagine your lid is wrecked; for arguments sake, it's on the floor next to your bike and a car/truck drives over it. Would you ride home without one? When you started riding, would you leave getting a lid "for a few more weeks", etc? Because of this, I don't feel strongly either way about the law being lifted; I really am sitting on the fence on it.

Oh and I don't for one minute think in our current death-fearing, safety culture gone mad society, it'd ever be lifted

Let the muppets wear shorts. They will learn their lesson one day.

As for the no helmet, I would never ever not wear a lid.

Originally Posted by sv_dan

Let the muppets wear shorts. They will learn their lesson one day.

As for the no helmet, I would never ever not wear a lid.

So, just to play devil's advocate; your bike is 500 yards away, in a rough bit of town and you have no chain to chain it up with. You've just popped out for 5 minutes, but are already late back and will miss an important meeting/interview/family occassion/whatever if you're much longer. A car runs over your lid. You'd honestly leave the bike there whilst you went off to buy/borrow another lid, or push it 500 yards home (making yourself late), rather than just ride it without a lid for that distance?

I know it's an extreme example, but those sorts of situations can occur, I must admit, if the above one happened to me, I'd be inclined to chance it even with the current legislation.

[Biker Biggles]

Many years ago I did almost exactly that.I was going to the beach and when I got there I saw my brother's car parked.I did leave my lid on the bike's underseat lid lock but left all my clothes in the unlocked boot of brother's car.Wearing only swimming trunks I went down to the beach to fail to find brother who (you guessed it)got in the car and drove off.I rode the bike home(two miles)and believe me changing gear in bare feet ain't easy.I only wish I had a picture.

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Many years ago I did almost exactly that.I was going to the beach and when I got there I saw my brother's car parked.I did leave my lid on the bike's underseat lid lock but left all my clothes in the unlocked boot of brother's car.Wearing only swimming trunks I went down to the beach to fail to find brother who (you guessed it)got in the car and drove off.I rode the bike home(two miles)and believe me changing gear in bare feet ain't easy.I only wish I had a picture.

What an image....however there is an moral somewhere in that about why you shouldn't wear TRUNKS!

Having only just noticed this post, I have spent a while reading the various views on this...and happy to see Lynnw having a good old rant again!

However...I actually agree with both sides of the arguement!

I don't think should, could or will be a law to enforce the wearing of protective clothing. Because they would be no way to enforce it. There are two many "factors". For instance, you can go out and spend money on a "biking" jacket that would be neather use nor ornament in a spill. So you would have to introduce/enforce safety standards on biking attire, which would mean more money for the clothes manufacturers, which means more cost to the clothes, less profit for the retailer etc etc etc Its just too damn difficult!

What I do think could be done is a "gentlemans" arrangement between the police, local councils and biking organisation that issue warnings and producers to bikers who wear unsuitable clothing. This isn't saying you "have to" but you life would be a little easier if you did!

I did recently reprimand a young lad on a garage forecourt as he went to his RS125 wearing shorts, t shirt and trainers with no socks! He had a full stainless race system on his bike though....but couldn't afford a jacket or gloves..hmmmmm!

Personally, I would rather spend money first on good kit to ride it, then on trick stuff for my bike. Before I even owned a bike or started learning to, I had a jacket, trousers, boots gloves and lid! The jacket and jeans were bought from the BMF show and cost me £150 in the sale. Really nice Belstaff jacket and trousers that match. So these things can be picked up cheap.

I can't remember whose comment it was, but someone said that enforcing the use of kit would make biking more elite and stop people getting into it. Well to be honest, if it stops complete f*ckwits who think biking can be done wearing tshirts and jeans then I'm all for it! These are the people that razz past houses, schools, traffic doing stupid things and give bikers a bad name! Maybe thats a bit stereo typical but hey, thats my opinion!

However, all said I do think that we shouldn't be "told" what to do by any government or police force. I don't mind being "advised" but this country/world is to full of rules you can't break...why add to another! And one that again, will become "cool" to break.

I voted yes, but only for pillions! Any rider stupid enough to wear shorts and flip flops gets what they deserve, but it really annoys me when the pillions are not protected. I saw a guy yesterday wearing all the gear, but his pillion had on a thin armless nylon top, shorts and high heals. He was on a VMAX. I'm not sure she knew any better, but he certainly should have done.

Let the nutters wear b-all.

They will fall off. They will hurt themselves. (Hopefully) they will give up biking altogether and leave more room on the roads for the rest of us!

Fell off in a T-shirt ONCE (many years ago) - never went back.

With the risk of me getting shouted down:

leathres help protect against some sort of damage you may or may not do to yourselves

if you crash whether wearing jeans and teeshirts and trainers or fully clad up the NHS are still gonna patch you up