RANT: Hey, that's *my* motorcycle you just hit!

new2hood wrote: loud pipes are illegal, rude, and show complete disregard for one's neighbors and community.
Learn to drive and you won't need to announce the fact you're coming....

Yea, yea, I hate 'em too. Shit, try living on Eastern Parkway- I never get a break.

Well, being a bike owner and a Park Slope resident I feel I should give my view here. Yes, bike owners should be aware of where they park their bikes to be sure they don't put a car in a situaiton where they have good chance of hitting your bike and knocking it over. Every person who rides a bike knows that you need to be on the defensive at all times and that you need take the initiative to avoid situations that put you and your bike in danger, I think this applies to parking your bike on a city street as well. I find the best spots to park for me are at the edge of the no park zone for fire hydrants so that I eliminate one vehicle from the situation and give as much room to the other vehicle. I've had someone knock over my bike before here and they didn't leave me a note and I had a few hundred dollars worth of damage. Those people suck and I hope that they are repaid for their lack of class. Bad Karma coming your way. For those people who complain about loud pipes... fuck off. I have been hit head on by a vehicle before because they didn't see me and luckily survived. I went out after that and got the loudest pipes I could find and know the louder I am the more people are aware of me. It's not an ego thing, or a macho thing, its a safety thing. When a person is interviewed after an accident with a motorcycle in almost all cases the person says, "I didn't see them." If they can't see me, they're going to hear me before I'm coming and they they'll see me.

My friend saw a gorgeously restored Lambretta get slammed into the other day while parked on the street. I sold my scooter to move here, but I'm buying another one in a few months. I'm going to keep it tucked away in the front area of our brownstone so this doesn't happen to it as well (it also happened to my old scooter). Bummertown USA.

Carmen wrote: [quote=shacked26]Well, being a bike owner and a Park Slope resident I feel I should give my view here. Yes, bike owners should be aware of where they park their bikes to be sure they don't put a car in a situaiton where they have good chance of hitting your bike and knocking it over. Every person who rides a bike knows that you need to be on the defensive at all times and that you need take the initiative to avoid situations that put you and your bike in danger, I think this applies to parking your bike on a city street as well. I find the best spots to park for me are at the edge of the no park zone for fire hydrants so that I eliminate one vehicle from the situation and give as much room to the other vehicle. I've had someone knock over my bike before here and they didn't leave me a note and I had a few hundred dollars worth of damage. Those people suck and I hope that they are repaid for their lack of class. Bad Karma coming your way. For those people who complain about loud pipes... fuck off. I have been hit head on by a vehicle before because they didn't see me and luckily survived. I went out after that and got the loudest pipes I could find and know the louder I am the more people are aware of me. It's not an ego thing, or a macho thing, its a safety thing. When a person is interviewed after an accident with a motorcycle in almost all cases the person says, "I didn't see them." If they can't see me, they're going to hear me before I'm coming and they they'll see me.

So by this logic I should scream wildly (at all times of the day) while crossing the street so vehicles hear me? or maybe I should just blast my car's horn constantly while I drive so everyone can hear me coming!

Well, if your logic leads you down that path, then yes, go for it. But to compare being a pedestrian to motorcycles seems a bit out of sorts. Do you walk on the freeway, or in the middle of the street? I would assume that as a pedestrian you spend the majority of your time on the sidewalk but if not, please employ your strategy stated above. In regards to the car comparison, cars are of substantial size and are much easier to see than a motorcycle, obviously. It isn't really necessary for a car to utilize it's horn at all times in order to be seen, although sometimes it is, hence all cars having a horn. I urge you to ride a bike for a while and you will see why it is important for others to hear you so they then see you.

shacked26 wrote: [quote=Carmen][quote=shacked26]Well, being a bike owner and a Park Slope resident I feel I should give my view here. Yes, bike owners should be aware of where they park their bikes to be sure they don't put a car in a situaiton where they have good chance of hitting your bike and knocking it over. Every person who rides a bike knows that you need to be on the defensive at all times and that you need take the initiative to avoid situations that put you and your bike in danger, I think this applies to parking your bike on a city street as well. I find the best spots to park for me are at the edge of the no park zone for fire hydrants so that I eliminate one vehicle from the situation and give as much room to the other vehicle. I've had someone knock over my bike before here and they didn't leave me a note and I had a few hundred dollars worth of damage. Those people suck and I hope that they are repaid for their lack of class. Bad Karma coming your way. For those people who complain about loud pipes... fuck off. I have been hit head on by a vehicle before because they didn't see me and luckily survived. I went out after that and got the loudest pipes I could find and know the louder I am the more people are aware of me. It's not an ego thing, or a macho thing, its a safety thing. When a person is interviewed after an accident with a motorcycle in almost all cases the person says, "I didn't see them." If they can't see me, they're going to hear me before I'm coming and they they'll see me.

So by this logic I should scream wildly (at all times of the day) while crossing the street so vehicles hear me? or maybe I should just blast my car's horn constantly while I drive so everyone can hear me coming!

Well, if your logic leads you down that path, then yes, go for it. But to compare being a pedestrian to motorcycles seems a bit out of sorts. Do you walk on the freeway, or in the middle of the street? I would assume that as a pedestrian you spend the majority of your time on the sidewalk but if not, please employ your strategy stated above. In regards to the car comparison, cars are of substantial size and are much easier to see than a motorcycle, obviously. It isn't really necessary for a car to utilize it's horn at all times in order to be seen, although sometimes it is, hence all cars having a horn. I urge you to ride a bike for a while and you will see why it is important for others to hear you so they then see you.


I ride a bicycle- should I put a constant airhorn on it? I've been struck by cars, doors and pedestrians, for reference (most of the time while in a bike lane.)

shacked26 wrote: For those people who complain about loud pipes... fuck off. I have been hit head on by a vehicle before because they didn't see me and luckily survived. I went out after that and got the loudest pipes I could find and know the louder I am the more people are aware of me. It's not an ego thing, or a macho thing, its a safety thing. When a person is interviewed after an accident with a motorcycle in almost all cases the person says, "I didn't see them." If they can't see me, they're going to hear me before I'm coming and they they'll see me.

Replace the word "motorcycle" above with "pedestrian" or "bicyclist" and you have the same argument for peds and bikers using horns as well.

Carmen wrote: [quote=shacked26][quote=Carmen][quote=shacked26]Well, being a bike owner and a Park Slope resident I feel I should give my view here. Yes, bike owners should be aware of where they park their bikes to be sure they don't put a car in a situaiton where they have good chance of hitting your bike and knocking it over. Every person who rides a bike knows that you need to be on the defensive at all times and that you need take the initiative to avoid situations that put you and your bike in danger, I think this applies to parking your bike on a city street as well. I find the best spots to park for me are at the edge of the no park zone for fire hydrants so that I eliminate one vehicle from the situation and give as much room to the other vehicle. I've had someone knock over my bike before here and they didn't leave me a note and I had a few hundred dollars worth of damage. Those people suck and I hope that they are repaid for their lack of class. Bad Karma coming your way. For those people who complain about loud pipes... fuck off. I have been hit head on by a vehicle before because they didn't see me and luckily survived. I went out after that and got the loudest pipes I could find and know the louder I am the more people are aware of me. It's not an ego thing, or a macho thing, its a safety thing. When a person is interviewed after an accident with a motorcycle in almost all cases the person says, "I didn't see them." If they can't see me, they're going to hear me before I'm coming and they they'll see me.

So by this logic I should scream wildly (at all times of the day) while crossing the street so vehicles hear me? or maybe I should just blast my car's horn constantly while I drive so everyone can hear me coming!

Well, if your logic leads you down that path, then yes, go for it. But to compare being a pedestrian to motorcycles seems a bit out of sorts. Do you walk on the freeway, or in the middle of the street? I would assume that as a pedestrian you spend the majority of your time on the sidewalk but if not, please employ your strategy stated above. In regards to the car comparison, cars are of substantial size and are much easier to see than a motorcycle, obviously. It isn't really necessary for a car to utilize it's horn at all times in order to be seen, although sometimes it is, hence all cars having a horn. I urge you to ride a bike for a while and you will see why it is important for others to hear you so they then see you.


I ride a bicycle- should I put a constant airhorn on it? I've been struck by cars, doors and pedestrians, for reference (most of the time while in a bike lane.)

Yes, do it. I'm not going to get into the specific differences between a motorcycle and a bicycle and how they operate on the road. They are self evident. If you don't get the difference that's fine. I'll keep my loud pipes and stay safe, hopfully.

RockerGirl77 wrote: [quote=Carmen]You can die pretty easily by being hit by a car on a bicycle. And bicycles are exponentially lighter and smaller than motorcycles and are way easier to miss while driving (as a driver I myself have a hard time seeing bikes.) However, I recognize this as a part of choosing to ride a bike and wouldn't assume that everyone around be should be subjected to obnoxious noise pollution because of it.

Agreed on the first part, as my boyfriend has a separated clavicle & permanent disfigurement of his shoulder due to being doored by a car while riding a bike. I, on the other hand, had some pedestrians step out in front of my $3,500 scooter and wrecked while swerving to avoid them, cutting and bruising myself up pretty badly and fucking up my precious bike in the process, not to mention flinging my bike out into oncoming traffic. I had a fairly quiet exhaust. If only they had heard me coming I'm sure it could have been avoided.

Obviously there is a limit to what mods are in the name of safety Vs what is just to be obnoxious, but scooters and motorcycles are inherently loud with stock parts anyway. I'm pretty forgiving to disruptive noises because I feel like they're efficient, economical, and use a million times less gas than cars (not to mention they're really fun). Just dont park in front of my house & rev up your 2-stroke at 4am, ok?

Totally agree Rockergirl. I have a Harley and its very loud but I never start it early in the morning or ride it home late at night. Just common courtsey to my neighbors.

I'm sorry, I agree with shacked26. Ride a motorcycle for a while and you'll get an idea just how invisible you are to drivers. I've had friends who got hit by drivers in the most ridiculously obvious situations where you'd have to be blind not to see them on their bikes. And a car hitting a motorcycle when they're both going 50-60mph can't be compared to a bicycle (top speed is what? 20mph?).

Carmen wrote:
I ride a bicycle- should I put a constant airhorn on it? I've been struck by cars, doors and pedestrians, for reference (most of the time while in a bike lane.)

No, but a whistle would be appreciated. and while we're all venting, can you bike riders stay off your cell phones? I saw some guy texting while riding the other day and fought off the urge to throw a trash can in his path.

"Now he screams "CU-KAAA!" like some kind of crazy bird."

This thread just cracks me up.

Never mind the obnoxious noise some motorcycles make, they always set the freaking car alarms off.