Welcome to The Australian Hayabusa Club Forum - ARCHIVE ONLY VERSION - NEW REGISTRATIONS & POSTS DISABLED

Thought I would share this with you all... I don't really care if it is wrong or right what I have put down - its all from my point of view & I am seriously sick of fu@kwit drivers.

The police also play a big part in me pretty much ready to hang up the leathers. I haven't ridden reefton in over a year because last time I did a copper blocked the road in a 100kph right on top forcing me to perform emergency braking. Tonight has pretty much made my choice for me.

RE: Motorbike crashes shock figures released - I was nearly one tonight!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0...62,00.html

OK - Here is the raw truth.

I have been on the road as a full time rider for close to 14 years. Long trips & every day riding to work, sometimes over more then 30 ~ 45KM to my work place each day.

The fact is on the road - no law protects anyone from being killed by another road user.

Over all the years I have never had a crash with another car. I have crashed - but they have been my own fault clean & clear. The worse of which turned in to 6 x surgeries on one wrist, broken leg & shoulder. No skin lost!

So after near 14 years of being a full time rider, I nearly ready to hang up my leathers - the reason is not the road users - but the government, police & media story's.

One of the reasons I haven't ever been hit by a car is because I know everyone will not see me. I know everyone will chop & change lanes & not do a head check - only quickly check the mirrors. I know someone wanting to turn out from a side street will not have time to see me as a danger & so pull right out on me.

Even tonight on my way home, a lady pull out from a side street on to an 80kph road, crossed 2 lanes right in front of me!! If I hadn't had all the experience I had - I would be dead tonight! PLAIN and simple! It is because I expected this to happen at any moment. The practice of hard & emergency braking saved my life yet again tonight. But this was so close @ 11pm I am still trying to settle down... all because she didn't see me!! (my bikes 1300cc sport with light reflective sticker kit painted apple candy & silver & I wear red & silver leathers!!) I actually pulled her over to ask why she crossed 3 lanes to come in to my lane on an 80kph, the Asian girl had no answer & of course no police to be seen so I went on my merry way.

Earlier on the same ride home - on Kings way - a taxi driver I spotted in my mirrors was coming up on me very fast - this section of road is 60kph - my speedo read - 60kph - even tho there was no traffic at this time of night - it still worried me enough to change lane & speed up a little to put more room between me & this taxi that was already speeding - all of a sudden he is next to me - then hit the breaks.... I evade to the left & find I am about to go through an intersection... next thing.. **Flash, Flash, Flash**... What the?

Great a speed camera just flashed me... I look down & see I am doing about 70kph - why? Because I was moving away from this stupid taxi driver in an effort to be proactive about my own safety & now I am going to get fined for it! Speed kills.. NOT! It had just saved my life! Yes I will fight it tooth & nail because it needs to be known to all that sometimes - it saves your life!

This is why I am ready to hang up my leathers!
Speed camera's do not help the roads at all - the term speeding also does not work.
A speed camera can not detect people speeding for conditions, TAC reports use the term "Speeding" in crash's where the road users in question were not actually breaking the speed limit - yet speeding for the conditions - and a speed camera can not see that some other road user nearly killed me before I go past it!

Also I am living proof that the slogan "Speed kills" is a lie! The safest thing for any motorcycle rider to do is stay away from traffic - simple. Sometimes this includes lane splitting, or moving through traffic till there is a break in it.

The reason why we do this is you SEE us pass you - some people may even comment "Look at that stupid rider going past everyone" But the point is.. YOU saw us! Most good riders will ride till a break in traffic then slow down - I say slow down because sometimes to get through traffic you need to be a little over the stated speed limits. Of course there is nothing about this in law terms apart from it saying your breaking the law.

The reason why it’s bad to stay in traffic is other road users DON'T see motorcycles. The lady that nearly killed me tonight & her passenger both keep yelling that they didn't see me... wouldn't have helped if I was in hospital right now.

I have had people merge in to my lane right next to me, but they didn't see me!! Simply because all they did was check their mirror's in between changing CD's, reading the paper or texting on their phone & staring at their speedo in case they are breaking the speed limit - another great add-on from the police & government with their speed camera's - most only look at the car ahead & the bloody speedo's! THANK YOU PEOPLE!!

These are all facts & experience’s I have had - not that it is all the time - just 98% of the time.

Motorcycle riders have to accept this & accept that the police & government do not really know what it is like to be a full time rider - its clear by the wire-rope barriers they are putting in - even up in the mountains!! How many riders have to be killed by them before they pull them out?

With all these things against me - I now have to go fight a fine for a speed camera - I actually have a few of these for no more then 10kph over the limit simply be saving my life while riding due to the carelessness of other road users.

Like I said earlier in this letter - I accept that not all riders do the right thing & some spoil it for the rest of us by not wearing the right gear or not keeping with in their riding limits. But on a whole it is the other road users that have to take more care & think about everyone on the road plus, know that no matter what law is made or speed limit set - the road will never be a "Safe" place & the more driver / rider training there is - the better for all as camera's & lower speed limits do nothing. If it did - there wouldn't be things called autobahns & super highways in other, grand countries.

I can only hope that anyone who reads this might have a good think about it next time they jump in their car or on their bike.

Hey I run the same risk I always sit above traffic flow the fast drivers I just get out of the way and let then pass. Really I use all technology to avoid cameras and laser, radar fixed or other wise and the rest is luck. Its worth it to mantain enjoyment in your ride.
Motor cycle numbers are increasing we should have a voice in lobying and policy.
Hard to dispute statistics cyclist or car caused.


(quotation deleted to save space)

(03-09-2009, 11:49pm)RaZ Wrote: [ -> ]One of the reasons I haven't ever been hit by a car is because I know everyone will not see me.

Also I am living proof that the slogan "Speed kills" is a lie! The safest thing for any motorcycle rider to do is stay away from traffic - simple. Sometimes this includes lane splitting, or moving through traffic till there is a break in it.

The reason why we do this is you SEE us pass you -

The reason why it’s bad to stay in traffic is other road users DON'T see motorcycles. The lady that nearly killed me tonight & her passenger both keep yelling that they didn't see me... wouldn't have helped if I was in hospital right now.

I have had people merge in to my lane right next to me, but they didn't see me!! Simply because all they did was check their mirror's in between changing CD's, reading the paper or texting on their phone

These are all facts & experience’s I have had - not that it is all the time - just 98% of the time.

Motorcycle riders have to accept this & accept that the police & government do not really know what it is like to be a full time rider - its clear by the wire-rope barriers they are putting in - even up in the mountains!! How many riders have to be killed by them before they pull them out?

Every word you say has truth and fact attached to it Razza, I wear black because I know the f***kers wont see me, I ride for them as well.

Doing just the things you're doing is what keeps most of us older riders alive mate, we've been doing that crap to stay alive.


Good words mate, long time no hear.

Don't forget the old saying "Don't let the bastards wear you down!


Cheers and thanks for the words, very true!



Max

Thanks Mr Max - more needed to vent - tonight was so close I am still winding down.

Still mad tho at being flashed - I know it keeps us alive how we ride - but I am out of points now as well... not all from riding tho to be fair :) but alot. Really gets my goat that we just have to live with it & pay the fines when for some of us it save's our butt's.

Hay Raz, good to hear from you buddy.......... Even tho it's a bad (and typical) story. I feel for you, being in a similar position.
I've only ever had 1 off & it was from being hit from behind on the freeway....... little pee wee sucker......
I was very very lucky not to sustain any injury at all............

My reason for not having any other accidents is just as you say. I read the traffic & watch for idiots.....

I voiced my opinion on that Sun thread. I suggest you do too.
(Although mine hasn't shown as yet)

RaZ,
The woman that nearly wiped you out was probabley drunk or had been mind blown out on Valium.
There ya go Kev, more work. Increase the penalties for exceeding 0.05 blood alcahol to minimum 5 years loss of license & minimum 5 years in prison (No Suspended Sentences !).
Why don't they. The Drug Dealing Communist Australian/Chinese Labor government stand to loose too much money for the lost booze tax and too many votes from all the Drunk Cage Drivers !
Cheers

(04-09-2009, 10:20am)GRUNTMAX Wrote: [ -> ]RaZ,
The woman that nearly wiped you out was probabley drunk or had been mind blown out on Valium.
There ya go Kev, more work. Increase the penalties for exceeding 0.05 blood alcahol to minimum 5 years loss of license & minimum 5 years in prison (No Suspended Sentences !).
Why don't they. The Drug Dealing Communist Australian/Chinese Labor government stand to loose too much money for the lost booze tax and too many votes from all the Drunk Cage Drivers !
Cheers

Before I jump to that one I'd ask.

How long has she been in AU?
How long has she had an AU drivers lisence?

Driving in Asia (pretty much any Asian country) is very much, "drive where & when you want & others look out for themselves".
If this person had not been in AU long, she still may have had this attitude.
This of course is absolutely no excuse & if this is the case she should not be driving in AU until she learns the CORRECT way to drive in AU.

In my view this is the fault of the AU driving instructors & lisencing authorities.

(04-09-2009, 10:53am)Louwai Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-09-2009, 10:20am)GRUNTMAX Wrote: [ -> ]RaZ,
The woman that nearly wiped you out was probabley drunk or had been mind blown out on Valium.
There ya go Kev, more work. Increase the penalties for exceeding 0.05 blood alcahol to minimum 5 years loss of license & minimum 5 years in prison (No Suspended Sentences !).
Why don't they. The Drug Dealing Communist Australian/Chinese Labor government stand to loose too much money for the lost booze tax and too many votes from all the Drunk Cage Drivers !
Cheers

Before I jump to that one I'd ask.

How long has she been in AU?
How long has she had an AU drivers lisence?

Driving in Asia (pretty much any Asian country) is very much, "drive where & when you want & others look out for themselves".
If this person had not been in AU long, she still may have had this attitude.
This of course is absolutely no excuse & if this is the case she should not be driving in AU until she learns the CORRECT way to drive in AU.

In my view this is the fault of the AU driving instructors & lisencing authorities.

I have had experience with over seas students and to my horror some of the chinese students have their licenses purchased in china and sent to them in Aus so they can drive on an international license all without having to go through any test or even siting in a car! If I see an Asia face at the wheel of a car I ride or drive way clear of them. Some of my best friends are Chinese and they acknowledge that this is corruption at its worst and is why they choose to live in Australia.

I think to be honest - she pulled out just seeing the cars (Like most drivers) & wanted to shoot for the outside lane. When I got off the bike & had ago at her - I could tell both the girls were freaked that a bike rider had jumped off his bike so I didn't do anything to them or the car just had my say.

In retrospect - it was stupid - if they got really worried she might have floored the car hitting me & the bike.

Oh - to put the question to rest - they had been here awhile - their English was perfect.

(04-09-2009, 12:00pm)RaZ Wrote: [ -> ]Oh - to put the question to rest - they had been here awhile - their English was perfect.

So they were just typical brain dead idiots who have no idea about how to drive well............

Guess so mate - with the only diff being it was seriously inches from me. When she did see me she hit the breaks but didn't turn more for the centre lane - still came in to mine while my rear was locked up forcing me to the gutter - was inches from that when I saved it all.

Funny enough I saw that someone later that night @ 1am had issues with some driver as well. For the record it wasn't me! Was home by 10:30ishpm lol

(04-09-2009, 11:37am)FastPhil Wrote: [ -> ]I have had experience with over seas students and to my horror some of the chinese students have their licenses purchased in china and sent to them in Aus so they can drive on an international license all without having to go through any test or even siting in a car! If I see an Asia face at the wheel of a car I ride or drive way clear of them. Some of my best friends are Chinese and they acknowledge that this is corruption at its worst and is why they choose to live in Australia.

Yep, I know where you're coming from Phil.
In china, "foriegners" are not allowed to drive because the chinese gov believe it's too dangerous.
It is possible for a foreigner to get a licence, but very difficult. You virtually have to be fluent in speaking, reading & writing chinese.

I lived in China for 2yrs. I bought my licence just like millions of others.
never had an issue, although I didn't drive very much, because it was so friggen dangerous.

I hear everyone load and clear on this subject I to a number of years ago just about made the choice to sell my bike and give the whole thing away as I had lost my passion and drive to ride a bike due to some of the issues you guys have mentioned.

My wife told me not to be silly and talked me out of selling my bike (GSXR1100 back then) and I must admit that the bike sat in the shed for nearly 6 yrs with me only racking up around 500k's a year.

I have now thanked my wife for talking me out of selling the bike as I have found my enthusiasm once again. I still don't do the bulk k's that I use to but now it's about enjoying something I love on my days off. I hardly ride the bike to work due to the idiots on the road at that time of the morning/night but I'm back enjoying the bike again especially since buying the Busa.

I to was a person that use to ride rain or shine so no what it's all about and I also no what it's like to go down the road because of someone else, which had me off work and my bike for nearly 7 months. I believe that because of bikes I have learnt how to read traffic from another perspective and you just don't get this in the comfort of the cage.

I was talking with a young female rider just recently as she has just brought a bike and got her license and she made mention that she now sees every bike on the road and didn’t really understand what we were complaining about. Now she sees things a lot differently, she understands what we are talking about and made mention that she didn’t realize how bad the cage driver was until she put her leg over a road bike.

So all I can say to anyone is don’t sell the bike because people around us don’t appreciate what we go through every time we hop on them to go for a ride weather it be for commuting or enjoyment. Maybe just take a break and enjoy what you have sitting in the shed it worked for me and it was actually a good feeling after a few months when I went down to the shed and saw one of my true loves in life sitting there waiting for me to chuck my leg over it.

Stay positive and yes I know it’s hard but it’s people like us than can truly understand what it is like to own a bike and why we choose to ride in the first place.

You have sumed it up PERFECTLY - this frikken letter should be sent to the police minister as i am sure this speeks for ALL of us and our frustrations.

YES some of us speed - and as OP said its to get away from the madness , find a safe spot in a clearing ... and cruise ....


This line you said " One of the reasons I haven't ever been hit by a car is because I know everyone will not see me. I know everyone will chop & change lanes & not do a head check - only quickly check the mirrors. I know someone wanting to turn out from a side street will not have time to see me as a danger & so pull right out on me. "

THIS IS HOW EVERYONE should ride - everyone is out to get you , they dont care about you or the law , you setup for each and every instance and listen to gut feeling.

Once again :

Sad to loose a bike rider , but can totally understand why. i sometimes think what if........ who will look after my kids , the jerk in the car too busy sending txt messages or on the phone .... NO


Buaboc