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Nov. 30th, 2006 11:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
camper4lyfeSomeone in another community posted this link. I had to respond to it...
Mr. Vartabedian,
As an avid motorcyclist from New York, I have to comment and say that your article is grossly disgusting and absolutely inaccurate and purely the opinion of the writer and those he chose to interview.
It IS true that the number of motorcycle accidents are increasing. This is due largely in part to the increase in gas prices. The increase in gas prices has led to the increase in sales of motorcycles which get better gas mileage than almost every car on the road.
I ask you to look into the facts of these accidents. How many of them were really caused by the rider and how many were caused by an inattentive driver either pulling out in front of the motorcyclist, or cutting them off, turning left in front of them, or "not seeing them"? How many motorcycles are on the road versus the number of cars on the road? How many car accidents are there per car compared to the number of motorcycle accidents per motorcycle?
To say that the point of a sport bike is "to go as fast as they can." (whether that is your quote or not) is grossly inaccurate. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule, but take a look some time. While you're driving, of all the sport bikes on the road, how many are actually speeding? How many are truly riding too fast or riding recklessly?
Another thing to look at: How many of these motorcycle accidents that are so quickly on the rise are actually sport bikes? A vast majority of motorcycle accidents are actually caused by middle-aged men on cruiser type motorcycles. Yes. That's right. Slow, loud, heavy cruisers. Those things are so slow they couldn't possibly be dangerous, could they? YES, they can. A car that's pulled out in front of a motorcycle, or turned left in front of one, or cut one off doesn't care if it's a sport bike or a cruiser. It's going to cause the same damage.
Also, A GSXR1000 is NOT a race bike. Sure, it's bred from the same bloodline, but it can't possibly be a race bike. Race bikes can't pass DOT requirements. Race bikes have THOUSANDS of dollars in improvements that increase power and handling abilities. Sure, it's close and is more than capable of tripling legal speed limits, but just because it's capable of doing it doesn't mean that everyone does it. Just because there are a few people who can't control themselves doesn't mean the entire population does. Does one African-American represent the entire population? Does a couple dozen? Does one Canadian represent all of Canada? Does a couple dozen?
You, sir, are guilty of stereotyping an entire class of rider. You, sir, need to learn the facts before you go off and spout your incessant falsities in order to propagate your ridiculous opinion on something that you know NOTHING about. You, sir, owe the entire motorcycle community an apology.
A proud rider
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camper4lyfe
Mr. Vartabedian,
As an avid motorcyclist from New York, I have to comment and say that your article is grossly disgusting and absolutely inaccurate and purely the opinion of the writer and those he chose to interview.
It IS true that the number of motorcycle accidents are increasing. This is due largely in part to the increase in gas prices. The increase in gas prices has led to the increase in sales of motorcycles which get better gas mileage than almost every car on the road.
I ask you to look into the facts of these accidents. How many of them were really caused by the rider and how many were caused by an inattentive driver either pulling out in front of the motorcyclist, or cutting them off, turning left in front of them, or "not seeing them"? How many motorcycles are on the road versus the number of cars on the road? How many car accidents are there per car compared to the number of motorcycle accidents per motorcycle?
To say that the point of a sport bike is "to go as fast as they can." (whether that is your quote or not) is grossly inaccurate. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule, but take a look some time. While you're driving, of all the sport bikes on the road, how many are actually speeding? How many are truly riding too fast or riding recklessly?
Another thing to look at: How many of these motorcycle accidents that are so quickly on the rise are actually sport bikes? A vast majority of motorcycle accidents are actually caused by middle-aged men on cruiser type motorcycles. Yes. That's right. Slow, loud, heavy cruisers. Those things are so slow they couldn't possibly be dangerous, could they? YES, they can. A car that's pulled out in front of a motorcycle, or turned left in front of one, or cut one off doesn't care if it's a sport bike or a cruiser. It's going to cause the same damage.
Also, A GSXR1000 is NOT a race bike. Sure, it's bred from the same bloodline, but it can't possibly be a race bike. Race bikes can't pass DOT requirements. Race bikes have THOUSANDS of dollars in improvements that increase power and handling abilities. Sure, it's close and is more than capable of tripling legal speed limits, but just because it's capable of doing it doesn't mean that everyone does it. Just because there are a few people who can't control themselves doesn't mean the entire population does. Does one African-American represent the entire population? Does a couple dozen? Does one Canadian represent all of Canada? Does a couple dozen?
You, sir, are guilty of stereotyping an entire class of rider. You, sir, need to learn the facts before you go off and spout your incessant falsities in order to propagate your ridiculous opinion on something that you know NOTHING about. You, sir, owe the entire motorcycle community an apology.
A proud rider
camper4lyfe
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 04:43 pm (UTC)On a number of occasions I have been cut off by motorcycles in my car. In all cases, I had time to slow down. However, if an accident did occur, that would have been the bikers fault. I won't say bikers are always at fault as that's not true. However, as a driver of a car who's seen enough exceptions to the rule, I'll also never say that the car is always at fault. There are sucky drivers of every type of vehicle.
That said, the article was indeed more of an editorial and should have been posted as such.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 05:40 pm (UTC)