The few creating a problem for the rest of us...

[chrismeyer]

I go 5-10 over the speed limit pretty much where ever I go in whatever I'm on or in.Anyone going 20 + over the limit should be really prosecuted to the fullest and maybe even have the M taken off their DL for 6 mths to a year.You're out there endangering people and their kids,who cares about the guy riding that fast that's their problem.
If you want to race or stunt or whatever risky behavior the "kids "are doing,you need to do stunts in empty parking lots and rent a track to race on if that's what you do.Innocent people are out there on the road trying to enjoy their lives,don't forget that.
If you need speed get your buddies to go in on buying track time.
Remember,the theory of natural selection the intelligent ones survive to breed more intelligent offspring and the rest die being stupid to rid future populations of their defective genes....I.e.,if you get killed out there being stupid oh well.

[Kal]

Sadly Chris stupid people breed early and breed often.

[chrismeyer]

HA HA,especially here in the 'ole South!

[Apollofrost]

Grrr... its rabbits VS elephants. You have two rabbits and two elephants which you then let breed.

The rabbits breed faster but die quicker.
The elephants breed slower but live many times as long as the rabbits.

Eventually the rabbits will actually outweigh the elephants. Crazy ain't it, doc?

[Kal]

Arent you happy to be living in a Democracy where everyone gets a vote?

[Apollofrost]

Arent you happy to be living in a Democracy where everyone gets a vote?

Who? Me?

[DirtyD86]

i live in atlanta, every weekend you can find me and a group of guys i ride with up there in suches, or "the loop" (which none of us call it).... yes we ride fast, yes we pass on double yellow. BUT, the thing about the rider doing 153 mph is complete bull, there is NO straight long enough, and NO bike powerful enough to get up that high in the short amount of road provided before the next turn. most of the loop is made of hwy 180 and hwy 129 , at least those are the more popular roads amongst riders. hwy 180 is a tiny road, with TIGHT turns making it impossible to get any higher than 60, maybe 70 on a powerful bike, and cars are rarely ever seen on this road because it is so remote. 129 is a 4 lane hwy with sweeper turns, its a 55mph zone all the way through. we rarely ever get above 100 even in the straights. im not saying that we arent putting people at risk and breaking laws , i can admit that no problem. however that news cast made the sportbike riders up there out to be absolute maniacs with no regard for anyone but themselves, which is absolutely untrue. most of us maintain a spirited pace throughout the mountains, but we are not making the roads unsafe for drivers. louder, without question, but not dangerous.

[ArcticHarleyMan]

snip.... its a 55mph zone all the way through. we rarely ever get above 100 even in the straights. im not saying that we arent putting people at risk and breaking laws , i can admit that no problem. however that news cast made the sportbike riders up there out to be absolute maniacs with no regard for anyone but themselves, which is absolutely untrue. most of us maintain a spirited pace throughout the mountains, but we are not making the roads unsafe for drivers. louder, without question, but not dangerous.

If the speed limit is 55, then why are you going 100? I can see 65, and MAYBE 75 max.
And for your comment (first bold highlighted), it is negated by your second comment (second bold highlighted).
How can you say that you know you are exposing people to risk, yet not making the road unsafe for drivers? It doesn't make any sense to me. Either you aren't endangering anyone, or you are. No vague differentiations there.
As for the media saying that sportbikers are maniacs, I can disagree with the generalization, but they are right in specific instances. SOME sportbikers are maniacs, as are other types of bikers.
And in regards to the media saying those sportbikers have no regard for anyone but themselves, well, if as you have said, you know you are placing other drivers at risk of injury or death, and you continue this practice, then I have to totally agree. Why, when you know what the consequences could be, would you endanger other drivers who have the legal right to be on the same road?
It just boggles my mind that those types of bikers would do such a thing. Maybe it's the mentality that, because I am on a bike and can zip in and out and around the cagers, and I am an expert rider, I won't cause anyone harm. Has a biker in that area, doing what you guys/gals do ever caused anyone injury or death? I would like to know, if they have, what they think about perhaps having causes some person to have their brains splattered all over the roadway or in the ditch, or on a tree. I have cleaned up numerous body parts from accidents, and believe me, IT IS NOT PLEASANT. Especially when you know that the surviving family members have already seen their beloved mangled beyond recognition and torn apart and splattered like some insignificant squirrel who has made the decision to cross the road in the path of a semi-trailer.

Please have some consideration for the other LEGAL operators on the roads. If you want to run twisties, find, or lobby for construction of, a LEGAL race track.
When I got into racing, we approached the City Council and it took 3 years to convince them to even allow us to build a track, but it was built. Road racing dropped almost to zero and the only ones hurt were the bikers on the track, not some innocent 'tourist' or commuting civilian.
Rant over.

[sv-wolf]

It seems to me that the Fox clip is biassed against bikers. Even though it states a couple of times that the majority of bikers ride responsiby it also says a lot of things which suggest that all motorcyclists are to blame. For instance, the reporter says, "Listen to that (the sound of a motorcycle engine - any motorcycle engine), the sound of discontent." And there are loads of examples like this.

It also puts a lot of emotive energy into its comments on those that speed and none into its comments about those who ride with consideration for other road users. It's a well established principle of PR is that if you want to get past people's rational defences you repeat an idea with lots of emotional content. Straight statement doesn't convince anyone. The media use this principle all the time to slant their reporting.

If Fox was really was concerned to give an even-handed account of the matter they could have intereviewed some bikers who ride responsibly for their perspective on all this.

The point is that the media will demonise motorcyclists at the slightest opportunity. We are a minority and our mode of transport is much less economically significant than the car, both in terms of production and use.

Bikers who act irresponsibly are going to attract demonisation of the entire biking community from the media and a lot of negative attention from big government and the law.

Lets face it, we ride sportsbikes 'cos we like to go fast. There's a conflict here between the desire to get our kicks and our innate respect for other road users. Most riders find a balance between these two. There are a minority that don't and they are a pain in the arse to everyone.

[DirtyD86]

snip.... its a 55mph zone all the way through. we rarely ever get above 100 even in the straights. im not saying that we arent putting people at risk and breaking laws , i can admit that no problem. however that news cast made the sportbike riders up there out to be absolute maniacs with no regard for anyone but themselves, which is absolutely untrue. most of us maintain a spirited pace throughout the mountains, but we are not making the roads unsafe for drivers. louder, without question, but not dangerous.

And for your comment (first bold highlighted), it is negated by your second comment (second bold highlighted).

You are at risk simply by being in an automobile. Does that mean it is unsafe? No. I stand by my comment.