Irritating letter to the editor

[morleyz]

I think the hardest part for me was that this guy actually had some valid points until his last couple of statements. What on earth make a "REAL" motorcyclist? How does he think he's helping the motorcyclist cause by claiming that the majority of us are just posers who should get off the street...sounds like he's just adding fuel for more legislation and restrictions. what do you think?


From the July 10th Northwest Herald (hopefully no one here wrote this):

Get off bikes, posers

To the Editor:
Lately, a lot of attention has been given to motorcyclists. Thanks, Ben Roethlisberger.
Helmet laws are a knee-jerk reaction from non-riders.
I feel that there are three issues that need to be addressed long before a helmet law is considered.
First, inexperienced riders on motorcycles that they are not qualified to ride. Just because your neighbor has a big shiny motorcycle, do not think you need one too.
Second, automobile drivers not paying attention to motorcyclists. Put your cell phone down and pay attention.
Finally, and in my opinion, most important, the dreadfully outdated requirements to obtain a motorcycle license in Illinois.
The fact that someone can obtain a motorcycle license, which allows him or her to ride a motorcycle of any size or engine displacement by testing on a relatively small motorcycle simply is dangerous.
Would you feel safe if the semi driver next to you on the interstate hauling gasoline took him driving test in a pickup truck?
Of course not.
A midlife crisis used to mean a Corvette and a young girlfriend. Let real motorcyclists ride motorcycles, and go back to the golf course.
P.S. You look silly in chaps.
ride safely

Donald E. Davis
McHenry

[Condolini]

Mmm, his woman must have left him for a biker! :lol:

On a more serious note, insurance companies are applying pressure in WI to have mc riders skill tested every 5 years. The source of this info is the instructor at the local MSF class.

I wouldn't have a problem with the proposal as long as it is applied to all drivers. Just think of the economic benefits, more employees at the DMV, more business for driver training companies, more employees at the insurance companies to process the results of the testing, etc. etc.

Keep an eye on your legislators, boys and girls! Remember, the government is not your friend!

[DRFLGD]

To the Editor:
Would you feel safe if the semi driver next to you on the interstate hauling gasoline took him driving test in a pickup truck?
Of course not.


Donald E. Davis
McHenry

Not to get off topic. But they did and are driving semis without proper licensing. :lol:

[morleyz]

Not to get off topic. But they did and are driving semis without proper licensing. :lol:

that thought did cross my mind. I haven't heard of anyone buying their M class endorsement yet.

[Travelin' Man]

I know I may catch a lot of heat for saying this, but I have to agree with the author on most of his points. Someone who has never ridden a motorcycle before shouldn't be allowed to take a test on a 250cc, 300 pound bike then turn around and buy an 1800cc, 760 pound VTX. There needs to be a tiered license system established in this country much like that have in most of Europe, the statistics when compared from here to there confirm it.

He doesn't say it in a manner that may make motorcyclists look good, but that doesn't make him wrong by any means.

JMHO :D

[saluki450]

Someone who has never ridden a motorcycle before shouldn't be allowed to take a test on a 250cc, 300 pound bike then turn around and buy an 1800cc, 760 pound VTX.

What about the kid who takes a test in small 4 door or 2 door car, then gets a shiny new Mustang GT w/ 3x the hp, or a shiny new pickup that takes longer to stop?

Basic driving skills are the same, no matter what size vehicle you're in or on. Most crashes I handle are due to a basic lack of common sense, which can't be taught.

Dan

[LetsRide]

The one thing that EVERYONE should be tested for is common sense!

What a great place it would be if everybody used a little of that gray matter BEFORE they started doing things.

Like typing this........Let real motorcyclists ride motorcycles

What the hell does that mean? :?

[Condolini]

WI used to have graduated licensing. Take the test on <360cc, license was restricted to bikes that size or smaller. I don't know when they removed that restriction.

[morleyz]

Probably when the government figured out they'll make more money if they let people buy the higher priced bikes.

[T-BoneX]

I like it the way it is...let the idiot kids with idiot parents that buy them or allow them to buy the oversized and overpowered bikes, and then they go out and make jackasses of themselves as well as the rest of the general motorcycle community. I say let them figure out on their own based upon their own actions that they are well deserving to be taken out of society's current gene pool.

It's a mix of population control and survival via intelligence that this society most definatley needs!

Mind you, it's not just the idiots on bikes either! Hopefully, we can get more drivers in cages that spend too much focus on their cell phone conversation, or the soccer mom's paying too much attention to lil Jimmy's DVD player in the back seat, or the business man or woman trying to drive with their coffee in one hand, smoke in the other, while applying make-up or tweezing their noses to just buy the farm and be done with it.

Although, I must admit, when there is an incident that ends in a fatality, I am saddened. It wasn't that beautiful machine's fault it was operated by a complete moron. So why must it suffer?!?!

I know it all sounds pretty morbid and cynical, but you know what?!?! I am damn sick and tired of seeing time and time again that apparently my life, my wife's life, or my friends' lives while on two wheels are less meaningful that any of the examples above. So, I say forget about it...instead of throwing down excessive laws and mandates, let's let those who fish at the shallow end of the gene pool die out on their own!

<Removes self from soapbox>

Have a nice day!