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Hello All

There is something about a bike that extends you like a car can never (unless its a Porsche driven at the limit perhaps). I think its the seat of the pants involvement that makes me feel like my body is that of a Tiger.

My first bike was an XS250 which I bought on price. My mate had a TS185 scrambler which was great fun and gave him a lot of freedom. I miss Death's Door. We fell out of contact after I got married.

I had an awful marriage. I rushed into it after breaking my leg dozing behind a three day old car driver. I should have died so I scrambled to give some meaning to my life. Yuk, at least I am different now.

I taught myself how to ride. I rode my first bike home having never ridden one ever. I wheelied offand wheelied from most standing starts until I figured out how the clutch was supposed to have been used.

I was scared. I planned my ride so as not to have to stop frequently and I swore that if I made it home, I would never ride again.

I even asked Dave (Death's Door) to come and take it away for me but he persuaded me otherwise.

I even remember having the wind in my hair at 45mph thinking this was really fast. How Dave laughed.

When I took my test, I was the only 'big' bike to pass the just new off road test involving obstacle courses. I could only do the figure of 8 because the steering lock/limiter was broken off my XS. That event and being able to emergency stop onto a 6inch patch rather than the ridiculous 1m square box triggered the test inspector letting me off some further tests because he knew that my big bike simply could not physically pass. That new test had been designed for 125cc bikes.

I learnt to ride fairly well. Looking back I can't believe what I used to do. Youngsters live forever! I discovered counter steering. I used to grind my centre stand and change gear on the apex of a corner for kicks. I never felloff my XS250 except for on ice (too cocky) and when some idiot pillion (PE teacher graduate Celtic fan with a girl's name - Kelly) got off mid corner.

I could strip and tune my XS250 with a screwdriver and no internet. I bought a crash repair wreck that didn't idle. I sorted everything out and could get 105mph out of it and beat any sports car in London except once a well driven Porsche 928 kept a lead until I had to slow fractionally for a traffic island and I let it go.

I have returned to biking after some parking experiences in London & the theft known as a congestion charge.

They attempted to tow my legally parked car after putting up a back-dated suspension notice. I had to get a signed witness statement to get out of that. I also received ghost parking tickets. Parking, in London at least, has become a gangster's business. Instead of gangster thugs we have establishment legislation.

I find it sadly amusing that there is no kick start. When I collected my bargain BMW 650, it wouldnt start because the battery was flat. I used to run a bike without a battery for years. (I'm too stiff to bump start it). I'm also surprised that the mileage hasn't improved and that a modern 650 is only slightly faster than an old 250 but much heavier. If I lost control on a 250 I could use a foot down to adjust.

I took my BMW F 650 GS 'scrambler' off road and fell off faster than it accelerated. Ok, it needs nobbly tyres but it also needs to be half its weight.

I'm still just re-learning to ride. Isn't it just typical that instruction techniques have not improved?

There is hardly anywhere to park a bicycle, let alone a bike, in London and I am still waiting after 30 years for bicycle lanes.

When will more people open their eyes to how the establishment exploit us?

On my journey to nirvana - co-travellers welcome.

I object to the compulsory wearing of a crash helmet, speed cameras, excessive tax & establishment supported crime (so most of it then).

I also object to compulsory insurance.

If you have an accident, you can pay for all the associated cosst for the rest of your life or choose to get (what would be waaay cheaper) insurance.

There are some ePetitions petitions.pm.gov.uk about these anti-human rights laws.

I like to be gone
I am a Vapour Trail

DireWolf wrote:I like your post.....

.....just wish I understood the Poll.

Well ok, I guess I can be long winded...

It helps enourmously when you understand that I live in England.

If it is cold or wet or I am taking a high speed journey then I would likely wear a helmet.

If I am a top rider then I don’t need a helmet because I don’t crash. (Please don’t quote racing riders who push themselves beyond the limit of their skill).

Compulsory helmet legislation is not about reduced accidents because schemes to avoid other motorbike injuries have been rejected.

Compulsory helmet legislation is about being able to sell crap at a higher price.

The new CE armour certification has resulted in cheaper and worse armour than was found previously in gear made by reputable garment manufacturers.

CE armour certification is about being able to sell crap at a higher price.

Any road user causing or failing to avoid an accident should be penalized for the full cost of the road accident including infrastructure and victim support in terms of finance and other resources.

Compulsory insurance legislation simply encourages risk compensation as does seat belt wearing.

Compulsory insurance legislation is about being able to sell paper at a high price. Consider how the British insurance business was closed to the establishment, via the Lloyds underwriting scheme, for decades.

Motor insurance is the least value insurance of any kind.

If it were not compulsory, most road users would still choose to use it but it would be significantly cheaper and offer real value without unreasonable unfair illogical hindrances like no claims only being available on a vehicle rather than driver etc.

I believe that compulsory insurance & helmet wearing is a facet of modern day slavery. More recent examples would include the ID card.

DireWolf wrote:

I agree completely................that you're a little longwinded Sorry. Kidding.

Ok - you oppose mandatory helmet laws. Rider's choice, I assume. Fair enough.

CE Armor is mandatory there, too? I'd fight that, for sure.

Insurance.........I can't really see the problem with. You and I would certainly be responsible for any damage that we caused others (even at the risk of ruining ourselves financially for the rest of our lives), but not everybody would be willing to pay up after an accident. Making it mandatory will keep the rates down, as the risk should be spread over tremendously greater numbers than it would, were it optional. Now - ridiculously insane high limits for liability would cause me to oppose it. Is that part of your issue?

Ok, great. You are so polite

Interesting comment about insurance though. Here in England, 'motor' insurance is really expensive because it is mandatory. It is not reduced by the spread over greater numbers of insured drivers.

It sounds like insurance in the US is reasonably priced. Is that correct?

In England, a road user causing an accident is NOT responsible for bearing the costs of the accident. I think this allows for risk compensation. Drivers take more risks because there is insufficient penalty for having an accident.

In England,if you kill someone through bad driving, you get a driving ban for typically 3 months and maybe a £700 fine.

I am suggesting that people who cause accidents pay for everything including victim's (family) support and loose their driving licence until they have re-trained and proven that they are that much better even if it means they never drive again.

In England, if you claim you need your driving licence for work & you kill someone, you can get it back in 3 weeks.

I am also pissed that I have to spend £250 ($500) to get a decent helmet.

$500....for a helmet. I don't think I paid $50 for mine & it's DOT approved.

What about the CE armor? Is it mandatory?

Vapour_Trail wrote: Interesting comment about insurance though. Here in England, 'motor' insurance is really expensive because it is mandatory. It is not reduced by the spread over greater numbers of insured drivers.

Here in America, car insurance is required in every state. In the state of Washington, however, motorcycles, scooter and mopeds do not require insurance (until time of impact).

DireWolf wrote:$500....for a helmet. I don't think I paid $50 for mine & it's DOT approved.

What about the CE armor? Is it mandatory?

To get a decent flip front helmet (I wear glasses when I want to see) like a Shoei Multitec or Schuberth with a decent visor that works and is maybe anti-fog cosst £249 or $500.

Sure I can get a £100 helmet but they feel like a bucket.

Mind you I did get a genuine Tracker Alarmdecal off eBay for £1

DireWolf wrote:$500....for a helmet. I don't think I paid $50 for mine & it's DOT approved.

What about the CE armor? Is it mandatory?

CE Armour isn't mandatory but the same twisted legislation has been applied to create a business.

Much CE armour is rubbish and far worse than vintage padding from quality manufacturer's like Lewis or Belstaff.

Now with CE armour certification, the small manufacturers went out of business because they could not afford the accreditation licence fee so we are left with shoddy crumb which people think is safe but actually isn't.

I've got a 20 year old Lewis Leather jacket that has far better padding and hard armour than a modern CE certified jacket. Also the leather is 3-4mm thick so can protect against scrapes well.

Vapour_Trail wrote:

DireWolf wrote:$500....for a helmet. I don't think I paid $50 for mine & it's DOT approved.

What about the CE armor? Is it mandatory?

Much CE armour is rubbish and far worse than vintage padding from quality manufacturer's like Lewis or Belstaff.

I am very interested in your sources for this.