rockjock620
New member
you called?weeian said:You would know all about Gimp Suits huh !
/ian
you called?weeian said:You would know all about Gimp Suits huh !
/ian
Quite right Pete - I was there - Oh how the manufacturers laughed at the Japanese efforts in the late 50's!!rockjock620 said:"Helmets, 250cc restriction for learners, reduced to 125cc later, CBT; noise regulations, closing of green roads,and more recently bhp limits after passing the test. Many of which had the effect of helping to destroying the British motorcycle industry. Not quite as much as the Japanese though, they reacted to legislative change and built the bikes the learners needed."
Don't really think so Charlie! The Great British Motorcycling Industry just disappeared up it's own bottom by refusing to recognise; electric starters, indicators, colours other than black, oil leaks, rattles, vibrations, more than two cylinders, alternators, decent bushings, proper suspension, crap lighting, pre-war dated styling, (for the youngsters on here that's WWII, the big one, not Vietnam ), round wheels, etc, etc, etc, etc. It had bugger all to do with helmets or CC limits. I too was there...........
i dont think it was really the japanese that killed the brittish motorcycle industry. i think it was the italians with their scooters.when you consider that the scooters had taken 150,000 sales a year from the bikes they had got people into the mindset of clean transport, warranties that didnt mean 4 weeks of the road while the parts were sent back to the factory for investigation,and decent higher purchase schemes, so that when the japanese challenge came along, the manufacturers had already lost their base customers. that and the fact brittish manufacturers still had the mindset of the brittish in singapore pre 1941.MAC said:Quite right Pete - I was there - Oh how the manufacturers laughed at the Japanese efforts in the late 50's!!
They're not laughing now!!
i never learn from my mistakes, thats how im the asshole i amfergie said:to take the thread back to subject, this is about making proper gear a legal requirement, or not.
As far as the various British firms that have gone tits over the years, it is usually down to poor management and militant workers. Or both.
As far as the Japanese go, they have the outlook that if you are going to do something, do it right, first time, efficiently, faster and better than everyone else. And they also learn from their mistakes. Something the British rarely do1
Nearly bought a LI 150 'til I told me Dad. He went out and bought a 175 Guzzi which we shared - Blame him!!!gordj65 said:you two are bad people
rockers always were.......mods?........well.......gordj65 said:you two are bad people
Aww fergie !
hope your feeling better m8, what were u riding at the time ? hopefully not the Xerox ??!!??
ive just bidded on a back protector incidentally. . . .
/ian
Question is should full kit (helmet, jacket, gloves, trousers, boots) be mandatory when out on the road?
As for the back protector, just remember they are 'one fall' only like a helmet. And Knox do a new for old if you are in a bump and the Police attend, so I would go on the web and get a new one. Just in case the seller has been 'off'.
You'll get them under Planet.Knox.something or other!
Up at the 'Wellie on Sunday I was amazed at the number of riders (and even more pillions) with little or no protective clothing apart from a helmet. It is incredible how many riders are kitted to the hilt and the pillion has jeans and trainers on. Usually the girlfriend. And sometimes a child.
Point is that we are all paying for the healthcare and recuperation, sick pay, insurance costs and the bad reputation that bikers have in general.
Question is should full kit (helmet, jacket, gloves, trousers, boots) be mandatory when out on the road?
Ok, if that's how you feel why stop there. Lets limit horse power and top speeds and save us from ourselves? If you feel you need all that protection everytime you go out on your bike then that's fine, just dont "force" me to do the same just to make you feel comfortable. I have to admit to riding about in the hot summer days in jeans and t shirt but I change my riding style and attitude to suit. I wouldn't go racing about putting myself at greater risk dressed like that though.
It should all be about freedom of choice...in ALL aspects of our lives. There's little enough fun left in everyday life these days without encouraging the law makers to impose even more restrictions on us.
I'll play Devils Advocate, if we accept you have freedom of choice to take whatever risks you choose is it right for the rest of society to pick up the bill should you end up badly injured? One could argue that its not and that the NHS healthcare should cover the sick and needy not those who take voluntary risks.
If this were the case would you be prepared to pay for private health insurance to cover motor biking ? and if you did would you expect the insurer to request that you wear protective clothing all the time or pay a higher premium if you decide not to as the potential injuries/claims are greater?
there isn't a need for governments to legislate anything these days, they can simply pass it to the private sector.....
Long slippery slope. The above could also apply to anyone who is injured whilst taking part in any sport/activity without wearing the recommended protective gear. It could also apply to those who damage their health by over-eating, smoking, abusing substances, self-harming, etc,etc,etc.... The list just goes on and on.