mpaton2008 wrote:
I think the latest sports motorcycles are deadly and should be banned, or at least restricted to a special license holder, certainly not a DAS graduate. In fact, I think the best thing that could happen to motorcycling would be the abolition of DAS and a staged system that restricts to a 125 for a year and then a 500 for another year. After that, you can get what you want.
I also think maybe now is the time to have a rethink on motorcycling manufacture - there is no reason whatsoever to have a 200bhp machine on public roads and it's just as useless on a trackday. 60bhp is adequate, will still pull 120-130mph in top gear and give an acceleration that will match all but the most top of the range cars.
I would hate to journey to the IOM with missus on back two ruck sacks and a tent
I dont agree with banning practices/professional organisations or anything that has shown positive evidence of saving just one life, we all have a part to play in saving life onthe roads. It wasnt that long ago that you passed your bike test by riding round the block and examiner jumped out in front of you and if you didnt hit him you passed
(not quite like that but I hope you get my drift) The other point is that until recent years there was no relationship between horse power and crashes but since the motorcycle popularity/fashion has taken off in a massive way in the last 10 or even 15 yrs along with the availability of cash more older people have taken to bikes and some very older people who took the old test years ago have come on the scene known as the born again set. Now that people can afford anything or get credit for anything the whole playground has changed. The born agains on big bikes by sheer numbers have affected the stats, many of them would have had the same crash I suspect if they were riding a 600 rather than a busa/R1/Fire Blade etc, but they can afford it. I dont believe in banning stuff but I do believe in controls when things get out of hand as they have been recently. I have always been an advocate for better rider training to a far more advanced level than the current test requires I also include car drivers in this and also the instructors and the way they are selected/tested, we all have skeletons in our clossets when it comes to driving/riding, even the reputed best of the best instructors and organisations get it wrong from time to time. I dont think its hard for all of us to be better equipped/trained/tested and qualified for driving/riding, one of the problems in the way of that is the poor or inadequate standards being taught! and the inadequate testing. And the bizarre changes that take place over many years. eg. To improve standards, one thing introduced was parallel parking???? Wouldnt a more advanced brake test have been a greater improvement, or a more detailed eye test or even strait line reversing at pace?
As in life of brian manner.." what has parallel parking ever done for us?"
............given us more parking tickets no doubt
I am sadly in favour of restricting any veh capable of incredible levels of performance from road use but not a ban,it is certainly about time the current training restrictions were applied to cars as well. A simple way to reduce young crashers....after test is to reduce their egos and type of veh dad/mum can buy them as well as, 'P' plate for 12 months/no passenger carrying (other than qualified instructor or parent/guardian) for 12 months...ANY minor infringements within 12 months gets ya back to 12 month start point, anything serious =retest. And proof of driving over that period.A big problem for new drivers is that of passengers and their destraction and encouragement levels.The rate at which training and testing has changed in the last 30 or even 40 years is miniscule compared to the changes in veh capability and as quantity has increased, so has danger, shouldnt the training levels have kept up with things too?