Luc Bourdon - Tragic consequences

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Fast Eddy B · Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:02 pm

Regulating bike sizes after experience and some more testing seems reasonable. In its absence, I suppose someone will always take too much bike too soon. It probably happens more often than not.

The young bucks here all ride 600's and up, usually in collared shirts and jeans. Its an education issue, absence of NGO's and Public Service type PR. That being said I jumped on a 600 soon after qualifying in the UK, and over six months didn't have a drop, didn't have a near miss, didn't have any drama. Of course it was a Honda, so it was pretty much riding itself

.

I don't know if a bike salesman should try to educate a buyer on bike size, or turn down a legal buyer with cash in hand. So who failed here? I don't think its the dealer. I've sold things to people for yachts that don't make sense, so there's no point in arguing about it. "I'm not sure that's a good idea" and leave it at that. It's a legal sale, and your reputation could just be as easily damaged for not making the sale as selling a dangerous (but legal) product.

Maybe you should have to bring your new bike to an Advanced Rider session. A police rider shadows you, and checks your roadcraft, and says "be careful son, that's a lot of bike considering how new you are" and then lets you on your way. No smiling. No smoke-blowing. Only a bit a truth. It's too much bike son.

Shorts · #22 Unread post by **Shorts** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:43 pm

Fast Eddy B wrote:
I don't know if a bike salesman should try to educate a buyer on bike size, or turn down a legal buyer with cash in hand. So who failed here? I don't think its the dealer. I've sold things to people for yachts that don't make sense, so there's no point in arguing about it. "I'm not sure that's a good idea" and leave it at that. It's a legal sale, and your reputation could just be as easily damaged for not making the sale as selling a dangerous (but legal) product.

On of the reasons I hate sales. More often than not, it's the mighty dollar that matters. Hell, it's not called "sales" for nothing. And I have a serious ethical and moral issue with it. Having been a sales rep at a sell-at-all costs dealership, a customers well being is not what matters. Making the sale is. And when it came down to it, a tragedy like that would happen, and all that would be said at the Monday morning meeting at the dealership would be, 'they should have known better'.

It truly is a caveat emptor world. Not only with dealing with scams and products, but your own well being with what you choose to purchase. A sales rep will leach you for all your worth, but the person doesn't matter, only the money.

Know what you're going to buy and why, then stick with it. Otherwise, you're toast, maybe in more ways than one.

adrielm · #23 Unread post by **adrielm** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:03 pm

2 years on bikes that are under 0.15hp/lb (factory rated), after that you're free. This would effectively limit you to around 60hp for a 400lb bike, which is TONS of power to start out with.

Why even bother mentioning limits for newbies? They drive up
my insurance rates by picking boneheaded bikes and wrecking them. 2nd day on a new literbike? Sad, but not a massive departure from the norm.

HYPERR · #24 Unread post by **HYPERR** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:09 am

RhadamYgg wrote:
You know, I mentioned this in another thread.... But I really think sales people need to be trained and certified in safety by law.

I don't agree that the burden should be on the salesperson. Their job is to sell the vehicles. Why should they be held responsible for the skill/experience ability of the customer? The US gov't does nothing to regulate licensing tiers on new riders like other countries do. As far as the US goes and motorcycles, it is laissez faire. Do I agree with it? Not really. Can a salesperson make recommendation to a potential customer? Certainly but that should be as far as the salesperson should be held responsible.

Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:01 am

HYPERR wrote:
RhadamYgg wrote:
You know, I mentioned this in another thread.... But I really think sales people need to be trained and certified in safety by law.

I don't agree that the burden should be on the salesperson. Their job is to sell the vehicles. Why should they be held responsible for the skill/experience ability of the customer? The US gov't does nothing to regulate licensing tiers on new riders like other countries do. As far as the US goes and motorcycles, it is laissez faire. Do I agree with it? Not really. Can a salesperson make recommendation to a potential customer? Certainly but that should be as far as the salesperson should be held responsible.

That logic would work if we didnt live in a era of people suing a bar because they served them booze, then the person got into their car and hit a tree..... sad, but true.

HYPERR · #26 Unread post by **HYPERR** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:23 am

NorthernPete wrote:
HYPERR wrote:
RhadamYgg wrote:
You know, I mentioned this in another thread.... But I really think sales people need to be trained and certified in safety by law.

I don't agree that the burden should be on the salesperson. Their job is to sell the vehicles. Why should they be held responsible for the skill/experience ability of the customer? The US gov't does nothing to regulate licensing tiers on new riders like other countries do. As far as the US goes and motorcycles, it is laissez faire. Do I agree with it? Not really. Can a salesperson make recommendation to a potential customer? Certainly but that should be as far as the salesperson should be held responsible.
That logic would work if we didnt live in a era of people suing a bar because they served them booze, then the person got into their car and hit a tree..... sad, but true.

That kind of frivolous lawsuits happen only in the US. And US is one of the few(only?) developed country that does not have tiered motorcycle licenses. Ironic isn't it?

Fast Eddy B · Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:20 am

HYPERR wrote: That kind of frivolous lawsuits happen only in the US. And US is one of the few(only?) developed country that does not have tiered motorcycle licenses. Ironic isn't it?

I don't think Canada has graduated licenses for bikes.

Is Canada still its own country? It's been a while...let's see...

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/maps/19 ... ld4000.jpg

Nope. And nowhere else is either!

HYPERR · #28 Unread post by **HYPERR** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:09 am

Fast Eddy B wrote:
I don't think Canada has graduated licenses for bikes.

Oh sorry. I thought they did.

Gurgus · #29 Unread post by **Gurgus** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:55 am

Actually, Canada does have graduted licensing for bikes. Right now, I have my M2 license. 18 months from last March, I can go for a test for my M. If I don't take the test within five years, I've got to do it alll over again, meaning M1 and all the restrictions there in. Its kinda dumb, I've been driving for almost twenty years but now I can't have any booze in my system or I lose both licences. Even one beer and my G and M are revoked.

adrielm · #30 Unread post by **adrielm** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:21 pm

Gurgus wrote:Actually, Canada does have graduted licensing for bikes. Right now, I have my M2 license. 18 months from last March, I can go for a test for my M. If I don't take the test within five years, I've got to do it alll over again, meaning M1 and all the restrictions there in. Its kinda dumb, I've been driving for almost twenty years but now I can't have any booze in my system or I lose both licences. Even one beer and my G and M are revoked.

I don't know how it is in Ontario, but here in Alberta it's license or no license. I've never heard of M2 or M1's before.