Does the influx of new riders worry you?

[WildKat]

I'll tell you what, everybody and their brother now seems to want a motorcycle or scooter. In my dept at work alone in the last 6 months, 4 people have gotten their bike licenses. Thankfully they've all taken the MSF beginner course so they are atleast starting out on the right foot. None of them have actually gotten bikes yet except one and she's still too scared to ride

With all the scooters and bikes out on the road and all the new riders who don't have a freekin clue about safe, defensive, riding I get worried because it's those tards out there riding in the wrong spot in the lane, not watching going through intersections, cutting off other drivers because they don't pay attention when passing, etc. that are making themselves easy targets for accidents. You know how it is out there, we all see it everyday but the problem is growing at an unbelievable rate now because gas prices are forcing everybody to think they should go out and get a bike when some of them probably don't have any business even thinking of being out on 2 wheels because they can't even drive a car safely. This aint like driving a car here newbs, and you can't just slam on the brakes at the last minute and think you aren't going to lay the bike down if you don't know what you're doing. I heard somebody the other day in the store talking about getting a scooter because it's easy to ride and everybody else is doing it. That's the attitude that worries me; even being on a scooter should be taken seriously. I shutter to think that these people actually believe that cars will look out for them and that they'll be noticed pulling out of an intersection the same as they would be in a car. Riding a bike requires a defensive state of mind and always being alert for even the smallest detail..ok I'll shut up now but you see what Im getting at here...lol

To all those new riders that take being out on the road seriously, I totally commend you and I'm glad to see you're starting out properly and respecting the privilege of riding a motorcycle...and to all the goof balls out there who think they can just hop on a bike and do their thing please do me a favor and stay away from where I ride. Im not perfect, nor am I professing to be but I've been riding for 20 years now and there's no substitute for experience. The only way to get experience is to be safe, ride smart, do your homework when it comes to riding, and take it seriously but still have fun and enjoy it....and a little luck doesn't hurt either..LOL.

[Mrs. Colleen]

YES!!!

[WildKat]

Trust me I'm not trying to come off as some holier than thou biatch who thinks he's Mr. super rider do no wrong; nothing could be further from the truth. For seasoned riders of all types it's rough out there every day and you never know when some soccer mom in her Expedition yapping on her cell and yelling at the kids while putting on makeup is going to pull out in front of you. Or some old person who thinks, " they are on a motorcycle they'll stop for me" decides she wants to swerve at the last minute to make her hair appointment, or God knows any other of the million scenarios that can happen will rear their ugly heads and take us out. For those that are new it's even more difficult and compound that with those that are new and don't care to learn and you have a potential recipe for disaster.

[Dave]

to be honest im much more worried about the buttfucking hippies on bicycles. motherfuckers never follow traffic laws around here. more than once ive stopped for a red only to watch one zip right through or just last week some guy lead his KID across one of the busiest routes in town. and every day i see more of them

[dReWpY]

personally i think the ones that buy bikes for the gas crunch will be smarter then your average squid

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by drewpy

personally i think the ones that buy bikes for the gas crunch will be smarter then your average squid

smarter, possibly. better trained/prepaired and more conciensious of their surroundings, not always. and lastly knowledgable about how to ride a motorcycle... not from what i've seen.