Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

Havent read all the posts, but more people die from smoking related death than ever will on a bike.
Also, i read last year somewhere that more people are hurt (and killed) in domestic incidents ie, busts ups than bike related injuries and deaths.
So ride a bike, dont get married, its safer ;)

On a serious note, i wanna make that decision about riding myself, not have it made for me, so mp whoever you are, f**k off.

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

My two and a half year old had his first wee trip up the driveway and into the garage on Sunday night, jammed in between Daddy and the petrol tank.

Yesterday morning my wife and I were laughing at him chattering to himself in bed in the morning

"I went on Daddy's red bike"
"Daddy's red bike goes fast!!"
"I don't touch Daddy's bike because it's hot!"
"I like it! I'm not scared!"

Jeez, I'm such a bad father :D

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

When I floated the idea of a bike aged ~19 both my parents had fits

When I was 21 I told them I was doing DAS and they worried but softened when they saw how much I was investing in it, ie: not taking it lightly

They gradually got more comfortable until I binned the 675 last year, it changed my attitude to riding but they were quite shook up (understandably) by seeing me in plaster and the bike in bits

Since then they've got gradually better, and since a close business friend of my Dad's announced he was going to pass his test and buy a GS he's been gently dropping hints - doubt anything'll come of it but you never know...

Oh, and there's the small fact that in her rebellious youth my mum used to ride pillion side saddle up the M1 with nothing more than a lid to protect her, on the back of Aaron Zanotti's father's bike:cool: - so she instantly lost all bargaining chips when that little gem came out;)

Now they worry about how far I'm going away and where I'm going to... Germany to camp in the snow brought furrowed brows, Morocco questions of health insurance and when I recently floated the idea of London to Ulan Bator in 2011 I got some pretty disbelieving glances over dinner:D

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

Yeeh but it's all about percentages really. More people smoke, and more people are married than ride bikes so that is why.

My parents HATE the bike with a serious passion, and don't see why I'm risking life and limb for a piece of metal. Kind of hard to reply with, 'it's fun'. What I really don't tell 'em is that it's addictive, and once you pop, you can't stop.

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

Everyone points the finger at others. My years ago we used to have horses and ponies and we and the kids competed with them. One day there was a situation where some pot holers had got trapped and my ex stated that they should not be allowed to pot hole as they were putting others lives in jeopardy trying to save them. I pointed out that it was other pot holers that were attempting to rescue them. Made no difference. So I then raised the question whether we should be stopped competing with the horses and ponies as horse riding is considered to be one of the most dangerous sporting and hobby activities. It suddenly went very quiet.

If you take the fun and evaluated risk element out of life what's the point of living.

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

+1 life is hard enough at times without having some fun. On the flip side I rock climb and that is not exactly safe either. Its only one step but its fardling big one if you make a **** up (no soup intended).

There has to be some risk in everything we do or we would never get off the bed in a morning

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

Yep coz the two little turds that assaulted me at the traffic lights last year got off scott free - not enough evidence even though it was in front of about 20 witnesses.

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

I'm sorry to hear that.

Some people have similarly stereotypical negative views about bikers.

All I'm saying is, it's OK for someone to have an alternative opinion to yours, and to express that opinion in public. Like you have.

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

I think that people are right to voice concern about bike KSIs. But I don't like the emotive language in the Hansard report - 'widow makers, 'orphan makers' and so on.

Life is full of other people wanting to impose their views on others, to repress minorities. Why should bikes be any different I spose...

Re: Motorbike Warning from MP
 

Having an opinion is one thing and thats fine, but if you're in the public domain, carry influence, celebrity etc you should be careful on what you say as it will be taken by some as gospel and not factual.