Rant about Scooter Riders

[Flipper]

It seems as if I see more scooter riders every single day and most of them are dressed like squids.

It makes me shudder to see these new riders zipping around in city traffic with so much exposed skin and no protection except for a helmet.
And most of those are beanies.

Just the other day I was sitting at a light on my bike.
Full gear.
A girl on a scooter comes up on my left. (lane split) She has on shorts, sandals and a tank top.
She stops next to me just beaming as if to say
“Hi fellow rider, isn’t this riding thing fun?”
I turn my head towards her in my full faced helmet and mirrored visor and then turn away.
I don’t even nod, which is very out of character for me.
I’m generally friendly to all riders. It’s just that I felt a mix of sadness, disgust and helplessness. I just thought to myself, “God help you”
Because of my unwillingness to bond, she went lane splitting to the front of the line all cheery and clueless.

I know the price of gas has made scooter sales skyrocket.
I don’t think many of these people take the MSF because it’s pretty easy to control a scooter and pass the DMV test.

I think it’s a shame that people view scooters as safer than motorcycles.

Unfortunately there will probably be some reality checks.

I just needed to vent...

[High_Side]

Maybe she was going for two blocks to the store??? I rode my wifes bike to the lake today (5 blocks away) squiding it up with the best of them. It took me a little longer than it takes me to get there with my mountain bike as 1/2 of the distance is school zone and I actually go slower on the motorbike. I'm sure that I'll end up as someones poster child on the internet for wreckless endangerment but it's their issue, not mine....

[Flipper]

High Side,

She was lane splitting in Los Angeles traffic and not wearing gear.
Going two blocks to the store is no magic spell against road rash.

I think that letting the distance you plan to ride be the deciding factor in what protection you wear is a bad idea.
Asphalt is asphalt.

[jstark47]

Hey, Flipper- across the river from me, Pennsylvania is a no-helmet-law state. (Except for below a certain age, I think?) This past weekend I saw a guy on a big dual sport - like a KLR or DRZ650 - tooling along with nothing. No helmet, no gloves, no jacket, no overpants, no boots. He had on..... a tee shirt, shorts, and sandals. I am not kidding.

I'm not a "gear party", but....... geeze!!!! It's a long way down to the ground from those 650cc dual sports, and he was ripping along at 40-50 mph. Hope it works out for him. Wouldn't want to be him if someone cuts him off in traffic.

[Flipper]

jstark47,
I think I may be a gear party because I have the Mom instinct that can't be turned off.
I just worry about others too much.

[High_Side]

High Side,

She was lane splitting in Los Angeles traffic and not wearing gear.
Going two blocks to the store is no magic spell against road rash.

I think that letting the distance you plan to ride be the deciding factor in what protection you wear is a bad idea.
Asphalt is asphalt.

Flipper,

I actually believe in wearing full gear 99.8% of the time and have been doing so for 22 years on the pavement. I may not have understood the speed at which she was travelling at (you were stopped and she split stopped traffic to come up beside you) but for me at least the distance I travelled was a calculated risk. 5 blocks, most of which was 30 km/hr. I would wear a helmet whether I was on a mountain bike or streetbike and it's never an option for me to go without. I travel the same road to the lake on both the mountain bike or streetbike and as you say: asphalt is asphalt. Would I be safer wearing full gear? Of course. I could also wear the leather on a mountain bike but it would get old really quick. I personally understand the risks very well, having skipped along the pavement in the past (170 km/hr. - full gear). The risk for me was very low in this case.

My response was not likely what you were looking for when you started this thread. It was timely for me because I honestly thought about the risks before I rode to the lake, and also thought of how someone could start a rant on the internet about what I stupid squid that I am (I see a lot of these rants). I was taking no bigger risk than riding the mountain bike, and if I worried about what others think I likely would have jumped on the mountain-bike instead. But that would have just been silly....

Maybe scooter girl was taking an un-wise risk or had no regard for her personal safety. It's not always the case but for many, it's black or white.

[matthew5656]

I think most people have it all backwards, motorcycling is reckless apparently, but scooting is safe, fun, yet highly efficient, supposedly.

Well, I myself would be much more frightened operating a little scooter instead of any motorcycle, with or without gear. Grandma on her little vespa without a helmet or jacket is a bit naive, but I don't think proper gear and protection is so much the issue.

Scooters are tiny, difficult to see, VERY quiet, and lack any roll on power to exit a dangerous spot. They sure can stop and maneuver on a dime, but some situations call for a little more horsepower. Just the other day I'm riding through construction area as I was gradually passing a lady driving a Ford Explorer in the middle lane. She decided to gradually merge into me. Oh what I would do if I ever lost the roll on power of me Honda. But on a scooter, dora the explora would have smushed me.

Scooters are filled with WEAK sauce. my 2cents.

[jstark47]

Scooters are tiny, difficult to see, VERY quiet, and lack any roll on power to exit a dangerous spot.

I think you're applying generalizations to a whole range of machines. Scooters run from little 49cc bikes to 650cc Burgmans. "Scooter" is just a motorcycle with a step-through frame and engine mounted on the swingarm. Typically they also have body work (but see the Honda Ruckus....), and many nowadays have CVT transmissions.

Oh what I would do if I ever lost the roll on power of me Honda. But on a scooter, dora the explora would have smushed me.

Have you ever ridden a scooter? Even on a 250cc Reflex, I'd have no problem getting out of the jam you mentioned.

[Big B]

[quote="matthew5656"]Scooters are tiny, difficult to see, VERY quiet, and lack any roll on power to exit a dangerous spot. [quote]

my zuma was loud as hell and went over 60mph. for in-city driving it had plenty of roll on power to get me out of a dangerous situation. generalizations like that get people in trouble

[JC Viper]

Seems like the cagers here in NYC see scooter riders more than they do with motorcycles. They really keep their distance. Plus many scooters have acceleration the bests motorcycles 125- 250cc. Many larger scooters can embarrass bigger cruisers and small sport bikes.

Anyhow the more people riding without any kind of protection will lead to more fatalities or serious injuries in accidents which will lead to some governing body to condemn two wheels. Many crashes are survivable on a bike, ya just gotta dress for the occasion... of course that's a close second next to paying attention.