Are the motorcycle TV show doing a big disservice?

[scottmandue]

My question is, they normally show bikers riding without helmets and bad mouthing having to wear a helmet.

Most of my riding back in the day was on dirt bikes and I would not normally ride without one. I have to admit putin around the campsite I might go without just to show off for the girls.

Add to that the antics of standing on the seat, wheelies, burnout, donuts, etc.
What are the chances that someone with no previous riding experience except a few short trips on the big cruiser he bought a month ago sees this and decides to give it a try?

Do any of you riders out there who live in states without helmet laws ride normally without one?

Whew... four posts by ten A.M., I got to cut back on the caffeine

[techweenie]

Name a TV show that's doing a 'service.'

The guys who build the 'clown bikes' routinely grind on metal without eye protection; even weld without eye protection. Often you see the same thing on the other shows like AHR.

The home makeover shows promote the fiction that a first-timer can produce the same results as a skilled craftsman in painting, tiling and carpentry/cabinetry. The home filpper shows promote the fiction that it's nearly impossible to lose money flipping houses.

It's infotainment. Emphasis on the 'tainment.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by techweenie
Name a TV show that's doing a 'service.'

The guys who build the 'clown bikes' routinely grind on metal without eye protection; even weld without eye protection. Often you see the same thing on the other shows like AHR.

The home makeover shows promote the fiction that a first-timer can produce the same results as a skilled craftsman in painting, tiling and carpentry/cabinetry. The home filpper shows promote the fiction that it's nearly impossible to lose money flipping houses.

It's infotainment. Emphasis on the 'tainment.

Let's not forget that you can remodel a house in a week!

I particularly hate that show, imagine the headache(s) that show has caused many contractors.

I always cringe when they weld without eye protection, they even made light of it in one show.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by scottmandue
Let's not forget that you can remodel a house in a week!

I particularly hate that show, imagine the headache(s) that show has caused many contractors.

I always cringe when they weld without eye protection, they even made light of it in one show.

I saw an article on the web a while back quoting homeowners whose houses had been redone in a rush (Trading Spaces?) explaining they found great gobs of paint in their carpet. trim was falling off the walls; patches were shrinking in, etc. A couple of people said they'd spent tens of thousands with pros redoing everything.

On Overhaulin' they never show the entire crew at work. If there are ever less than two dozen people putting in 20-hour days, I'd be surprised. I'd be pretty distrustful of rust repair done in a rush, too. good thing all the makeovers seem to happen in So Cal where it's mostly dry (today being an exception).

[singpilot]

What Tech said.

I work in a pretty conservative group of people (I worry that some of that is wearing off on me. I come here to OT to keep 'centered'.).

When I show up for work, it usually triggers an alert around the plane. Big sportbike, red full leathers with drag scars on the toes, knee pucks and elbows, full helmet.

Then the helmet comes off (after first removing the bi-focals), and everyone recognizes their captain. Is always good for a laugh. Invariably, thru the next few days on the road, I get all the questions from the crew that everyone has always wanted to ask a 'biker', but never known someone that actually 'was'.

Did I build that bike myself?

Does my girlfriend have a pierced tongue, and lots of tattoos?

Do I split lanes on the freeway? That one always gets the most questions. Most people in California do not realize it is legal (when done legally). Unfortunately, the legal ones are not what most people remember.

Do I think the shows do a disservice? Go to any motorcycle salvage yard and look around. More than half of the totalled, bloody bikes there have paper plates on them. Insurance statistics indicate that the most dangerous rider out there is 40 to 60 years of age. Been riding (recently) less than a year (may not have even gotten the endorsement to ride legally). Brand new bike. I'd bet that if the rider was interviewable, he'd say that these shows had influenced his descision to buy a bike (again).

Tech is right. It's entertainment. Not reality. Reality is at the salvage yard (Or on national TV, sporting a fat, stitched lip).

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

that home makeover guy is a joke..

I've built homes over the summers from the of 14 on, and Im sorry, but an entire house in a week? No way, at least without any quality. I certianly wouldnt want to be working with that crew.

I'l bet you that all of those homes have problems which keep popping up in the months afterwards.

[singpilot]

SoCal;

I too remember riding without a helmet in the pre-law days. Can't say that I remember thinking about it, except that the rocks, bugs and rain hurt a lot. At that age, we were all invinceable and didn't need a helmet anyway, right?

I travel all over the world, and see pretty much everything when it comes to bikes and bikers. Still, most of the really stupid stuff is right here, on the streets and freeways of SoCal.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I come from a motrcycling family, racing, customs, etc..

If you dont wear a helmet and leathers, you deserve what comes to you. It amazes m to see people on sport bikes here only wearing t-shorts and shorts with sneakers.

[RickM]

Helmet law here in NJ. Can easily go helmetless by crossing over into CT or PA. That said, I would never ride without one. I do however ride with a shorty helmet (Chips type) which is the least needed for DOT approval.

....and look what happened to Indian Larry when he was playin around on his bike.....

[singpilot]

You are not going to believe this.

http://home.comcast.net/~kwilson94550/Motor/CBSNews_Live105_Motorcyclists.wmv

This is a San Fran news report about a DJ on mornig radio being pissed off about bikes splitting lanes while this DJ moronic idiot is stuck in traffic. He said he'd like to see motorists start opening doors on bikes splitting lanes.

It's called 'Assault with a deadly weapon'. I hope someone actually hauls this a$$ into court on the felony assault charge that this guy deserves.

[speeder]

That DJ needs a good old country style ass-kicking, the kind where someone drags him out behind the barn and there is no one to help him while some bikers re-arrange his organs.

[singpilot]

No matter what he says now, it's on the record. If any cyclist gets a door while lane splitting in the Bay Area, this guy and his radio station (owned by CBS) will be part of the lawsuit.

I'll gladly contribute to that one.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by singpilot
No matter what he says now, it's on the record. If any cyclist gets a door while lane splitting in the Bay Area, this guy and his radio station (owned by CBS) will be part of the lawsuit.

I'll gladly contribute to that one.

Classic example of the exception to the First Amendment. It's exactly like yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater. Malicious and likely to do harm.

[scottmandue]

I haven't see open doors but I have seen cars crowd bikes to keep them from passing... scary stuff.

Back to the helmet thing, maybe because I'm older and no longer immortal but I can't imagine ridding without one. Probably because I went over the handlebars a few times.

[Noah930]

There's a helmet law here in Massachusetts, but none in some of the surrounding states. I'd always think it very odd to be riding along the highway, crossing a state border, and seeing some cruiser dudes pulled over on the side of the highway, with traffic zipping by at 60 mph, donning (or doffing) their beanie helmets (admittedly only about as crash-worthy as plastic yarmulkes to begin with). Like they couldn't even wait to pull over at the next offramp or rest area. Idiots.

That Bay Area radio station is also getting quite a bit of heat (deservedly so) over their am DJ's. It's a fairly hot topic on motorcycle forums. Hopefully more than motorcyclists will care about those guys advocating attempted murder.

[SlowToady]

IIRC, we have helmet laws here in IL, but people still don't wear em. You're an idiot not to wear one.

Opening your door on a bike splitting lanes? Very, very bad idea. Even if lane splitting is illegal in the state you're in, the answer is NOT to open your door on the biker. I wonder if these are the same people that tell their kids violence isn't the answer.

"But daddy, if violence is bad, why'd you kill that man on the motorcycle?"

"Just road rage son, these things happen."

Getting my M-license this spring.

[Neilk]

Heck, whenever someone is lane splitting, I try to move over to make it easier for them. A lane splitting biker isn't going to affect anyone's communte... that said, I don't think bikers should lane split at really high speeds.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by singpilot


Do I split lanes on the freeway? That one always gets the most questions. Most people in California do not realize it is legal (when done legally). Unfortunately, the legal ones are not what most people remember.

Really? I didn't know that. I was in SF over the summer. Everyone was doing that. I pulled the rental out so people couldn't get by. I guess I was the ass.

I wanted to open a door though.

I can't imagine wanting to split lanes. Seems risky with know-nothing east coasters about.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by VaSteve
I wanted to open a door though.
.

Why would you want to do that? The biker is getting out of your way, not sitting in front of you in another car and certainly not endangering you.

As far the radio station goes they drew serious heat. Apologies, retractions and a live interview with a Yamaha sponsor.

I never ride w/out my version of all of the gear. Full cover helmet, gloves, armored jacket and pants and boots. I get lotsa derisive comments and fingers pointed at the "sissy power ranger". And yes in the summer it is hot, but not as hot as a body cast. 30 years on a bike and still safe(knock on wood)

edit: Oh and yes the shows are a dis-service because they do influence the addle brained. Additionally go to the cycle show and you'll see silicone implanted, barely dressed hunnies hawking the Extreme Videos.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
I never ride w/out my version of all of the gear. Full cover helmet, gloves, armored jacket and pants and boots. I get lotsa derisive comments and fingers pointed at the "sissy power ranger". And yes in the summer it is hot, but not as hot as a body cast. 30 years on a bike and still safe(knock on wood)

My MSF instructor said early on in the course: dress for the fall. Not for the ride.

Words to live by.