Motorcyclists are INDEED second class citizens

[Jeff]

If you're writing a reply to CNN about the use of the pic, the best analogy I've heard was from a buddy of mine on another board.

"what you've done here would equate to using a picture of Jeff Gordon in his Nascar vehicle on a story where a drunken teenager wipes out a bus-stop of children".

For whatever reason, since it links to Nascar they *might* understand...

[Speedballer347]

Stunting during a parade with the streets lined with families is as stupid as it gets!  These people won't let me say what I really think.

Weggie, if you missed it, see my post above.
THIS WAS NOT A STUNTRIDER(S) WHO CAUSED THE ACCIDENT!

The rest of you....bitch about stunterz all you want, but don't try and use an incident which they were not involved in to prove your points.

Also, there are true stunterz and then there are idiot squids trying to pull stunts.  There is a disinction, and the squids make up the majority.
Just because I see leather-clad sportbike riders dangerously doing triple-digits on driveway laden backroads, doesn't mean they are roadracers.
Every idiot who pulls a wheelie is not a stuntrider.

fyi....in the last year or two, stunting has taken a turn towards super low speed trix.  Parking lot stunts.
And most true stunters practice in deserted parking lots and desolate areas.

Be my guest and keep bitching about them, but don't blame them for this...and also don't think just because you saw some idiot pull a wheelie on the highway that he is a stuntrider.  He might just be a motorcyclist riding a wheelie.

Most of you know not of what you speak....on this subject.

Flame away :-*

[Super Dave]

Also, there are true stunterz and then there are idiot squids trying to pull stunts.  There is a disinction, and the squids make up the majority.

Just because I see leather-clad sportbike riders dangerously doing triple-digits on driveway laden backroads, doesn't mean they are roadracers.

Every idiot who pulls a wheelie is not a stuntrider.

Flame away :-*

Can't flame ya...'cause you nailed it on the head...
 ;D  Good job!

[GregR6]

Also, there are true stunterz and then there are idiot squids trying to pull stunts.  There is a disinction,...

which is??

... and the squids make up the majority.
Just because I see leather-clad sportbike riders dangerously doing triple-digits on driveway laden backroads, doesn't mean they are roadracers.

who has argued otherwise?

Every idiot who pulls a wheelie is not a stuntrider.

so are you confirming that even stuntriders are idiots? ;)

fyi....in the last year or two, stunting has taken a turn towards super low speed trix.  Parking lot stunts.
And most true stunters practice in deserted parking lots and desolate areas.

Agreed, but what about the rest of the "true stunters" that don't?

Be my guest and keep bitching about them, but don't blame them for this...

I am not.

and also don't think just because you saw some idiot pull a wheelie on the highway that he is a stuntrider.  He might just be a motorcyclist riding a wheelie.

Again, what qualifies anyone being an official "stuntrider"? Is there a license?

Most of you know not of what you speak....on this subject.

Admittingly, I was into stunts before I started riding on the track. I did stuff on completely unpopulated backroads, but I didn't consider myself a true stunta...whatever that is...

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Of course we, the "RESPECTABLE RACER" types, have NEVER railed down driveway lined streets at triple-digit speeds or hoisted wheelies on public roads.  We saw our first sportbike, and immediately bought a trailer, tow vehicle, leathers, helmet, generator, tire warmers, ect, ect, ect, and went immediately to the racetrack, right?
Well, maybe you did, but I sure didn't.  Before I started racing, I was taking week-long trips to the mountains to rail on a street bike, even bringing extra tires with me.  I rode plenty of wheelies and stoppies on the street, too.  For me to bitch about what these stunters are doing now would be totally hypocritical.  Isn't there something in the bible about, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"?  So now let's hear from all the racers who have NEVER pulled a stunt or exceded the speed limit while on their motorcycles on a public road.

[tshort]

Also, there are true stunterz and then there are idiot squids trying to pull stunts.  There is a disinction, and the squids make up the majority.
Just because I see leather-clad sportbike riders dangerously doing triple-digits on driveway laden backroads, doesn't mean they are roadracers.
Every idiot who pulls a wheelie is not a stuntrider.

The difference is, real roadracers have licenses from some sanctioning body, and organized, legal events to practice their craft.  The ones that are still alive have also in many  cases concluded that those events are really the only safe place to practice their craft - and they keep it in their pants when they're on the road (not all - but at least some, if not most).

Now, stuntman - can you say the same of squids/stunters?  Even if you classify yourself (as you have) in the more sensible "stunter" category, you still practice what you do in parking lots and other self-proclaimed safe spaces.  But technically what you're doing is illegal in those spaces.  Racers at least have a legitimate venue to play in.

Should stunters have one too?  Of course.  But in the meantime, what you are doing in your "safe space" is on the same continuum as what the squidlies are doing in parades and on Lake Shore Drive.  While you and I may understand and appreciate how it's more sensible in a safe space, the average non-biker who happens by may not.

[diesel748]

If the safe spaces are on private property there is nothing illegal happening I used to ride with some of the original stunna's the godfathers if you will. They did stunt on the street but in time learned the dangers both physically as well as $$$. they infact discourage street stunting and let some of the squids who do it know how they feel.

[the_weggie_man]

Speedballer, you just don't get it do you?  Nobody cares what you call them .... the appearance is they're all the same in the eye of the public. One idiot imitating stunters in a parade and hurting people makes the entire sport bike crowd look stupid.

Yes, the same as the squids on the mountain roads trying to be roadracers and the weekend warriors on the Harley's trying to be "outlaws". They all give motorcycling a bad name. All of these no class riders are the ones that make the rest us second class citizens to the non-riding population.

I am guilty as anyone for doing some foolish riding in my time but I tried to keep my stupidity from the public eye not parade it on crowded streets.