Believe me, I share the view that many scooter riders are a disgrace to the two-wheel fraternity but it’s the blanket ‘T&G’ remarks that get me going.
Riders of ‘motor-cycles’ seem to forget that there are T&G machines with greater ‘potential’ than many naked bikes and, by and large, are ridden by riders with experience, skill and attention.
What’s going to be said when devices like the Honda auto-box appear in much larger machines? Will the riders of those machines be lumped into the T&G bracket?
I note that, in a thread towards the end of last year bemoaning the antics of some scooterists on one particular day, my post with a link to an almost identical thread in another(scooter) forum bemoaning the antics of some crotch-rocket riders on one particular day - I think in the same week - was the last in the thread.
Why? I suggest because it’s easy to find fault with the ‘opposition’ but not done to criticise members of one’s own group, even if the faults are the same.
I’m proud to be part of London Bikers but do find the all-too-frequent expression of anti-scooter feelings out of proportion and very wearing.
Christ, I hope I havn’t offended you mr chips. It was not my intention to offend scooter riders in general. I hoped that I made it clear that it was not a blanket slating of all scooter/t&g riders. the fact is I actually like scooters and i would love to have an old vespa PX200 to tool around on. I also think that the mega scooters are a great idea and while I might not actually desire one right now I would not have a problem riding one. Also you are absolutely correct to point out the number of idiots on sports bikes these days. there are a lot of very foolish people on the crotch rockets and they do more harm to the reputation of the biking community than any other single thing.
Steve (Here two days and already causing upset. Sorry)
There’s always going to some muppet who rides or drives appallingly. The trick is to spot them in time and ensure they don’t invade your space. By the very nature of things the youngest and most inexperienced are going to be the most numerous - and that’s invariably the 16 and 17 year olds riding scooters.
That said, riders of all ages and of every type of bike can be hooligans at times. I try to limit my moments… :w00t:
There are several people here (Jimc and JohnP to name but two) who know me very well and that I get ‘passionate’ about things and spend time arguing about those things both face-to-face and on the key-board.
I hope that readers see it as arguing, not fighting, although I’m sure it doesn’t always come over in the way it’s intended and I apologize for that.
The position of the maxi-scooter rider is a bit odd in that he rides a quite powerful, sophisticated machine which many see as a bike-under-plastic and others as a T&G scooter. I feel somewhat out-of-place at both T&G meetings and bike meetings (although few people actually do or say anything to make me feel awkward) so am inclined to ‘take up the cudgels’ for either group in defence of the other, if you see what I mean.
I do know also that there are plenty of riders who ride a variety of machines and see the value in them all. For example, Westie’s singing the praises of the Silverwing although I don’t suppose he’d want to own one as his sole bike in the same way I wouldn’t want a powerful, geared bike as my sole means of two-wheeled transport.
Have to say that i think the ENglish are mad in letting lunatics on motorbikes - christ they let me go from having never sat on a geared bike to riding a CBR600 in just 5 flippin days - and anyone who knows me know that that is just nuts!!! :w00t::w00t:
i dont think it matters what you ride, scooter/bike/car/bicycle - its how you ride, your road awareness and how good your hazard perception is that counts - and there are plenty of idiots out there with none of the above!!
If someone with my lack of experience and skill (and sense of direction lol) can survive the traffic in an italian city, someone like you should have no probs in London
I done a bikesafe course i found that to be very usefull.What i would like to do is have some advanced driving lestens not sure how much it will cost but it will be worthit also it should bring my insurance down aswell:)
