Is it okay to laugh

[rugerguy45]

A lady I know (real nice, not so bright) has spent the last few months asking me about my motorcyle, telling me how she has always dreamed of owning a Harley. I told her that it is a great hobby but start small and get some sort of safty training. Well of couse she did not listen. She got herself a Sportster 1200. Bought it on Saturday, got here motorcycle endorsment on Monday (no riding test required in New Mexico), layed it down on Tuesday. She said that it did about $2,000 worth of damage not including paint. She got away with out a scratch on her.

So knowing that she is fine, is it okay to point at her and laugh while I say "I told you so".

But seriously is there any thing that you can tell a grown adult that will make them stop and think?

[jgreth]

Most people that are impulse buyers like that are not going to listen to reasoning. Most people learn from experience. Hopefully this will be an experience to help her realize her mistake.

[GregR1]

can you ask her why she decided to drop it? i mean, she must have had a good reason for dropping it. of course, you gotta keep a straight non-sarcastic face when you ask her this.

[PhotoJoe]

Originally Posted by rugerguy45

....layed it down on Tuesday. She said that it did about $2,000 worth of damage not including paint. She got away with out a scratch on her.

If this doesn't wake her up, nothing will. Glad she's ok.

[mtalicarox]

<--- that is the only way. Make it happen.

[kay]

I'm sorry to hear that but I am sure she will be able to ride it with some practice. In fact I bought a Sportster 1200R 4 months after I got my very first Kawi. The Sportster was my very first new bike.

I never dropped it.

But I traded it in to buy the Duc because I had to sit on the tank to reach the handle bars and that was NOT comfy especially on long rides. Besides, the tank was freezing cold in the winter.

All she needs is practice in a safe area. In my case, I was in school for 6 long months before I hit the road, so that really helped.

[Xerses]

Since she didn't get hurt I think the "point and laugh" thing is almost acceptable. I would make some sort of remark, but it depends on how well you know the person.

I am a HUGE advocate of riding course BEFORE you ride. So for me she is just another bonehead who will fall under one of the following categories:

1) Will smarten up and take the course and be so much better off

2) Will feel it was a mistake and sell for cheap like so many I see around here

3) Not learn, will fall again and this time will get hurt which might lead to #1 or #2

4) Same as #3 but with fatal results (I truely hope this will not be the case)

5) Continue clueless, endagering others, but by sheer luck nobody gets hurt, she just pisses people off.

I am praying for option 1, but if it does not occur then I would hope for #2.

Just my 2 cents.

[kay]

So all those days of riding school paid off then for me.
If I had dropped it, it would've sold for a lot less.

And since it was a safe environment (school course) and I could drop the bike as much as I liked (not my bike, huge engine and rear guard as school bikes) I was really able to practice without any danger.

[frostbitevinnie]

I have a woman friend that wanted to get into biking a couple of years ago. She did take the MSF course and passed on a suzuki 200cc I think. She then purchased a HD lowrider for around 15k , I think it is 1450cc or 1584cc somewhere in that range. Anyway, I visited her recently to show off my new bike. She liked the bike and then told me that I should really get highway bars as she drops her bike at least twice a year and it makes it so much easier to pick it up. I do want to get highway bars but dummy me, I did not realize they were made to make it easier for old farts like me to hoist the bike off the road. Thank God for friends with experience!

[SNAFU]

[LCA_koolaid37]

I don't really think of "Impulse Bike Buyers" or "1 Season Bikers" as part of the clan. They just want to be cool and enter into an immediate network. So, yes, I'd point, laugh, and then laugh again at the choice of a Harley.

[650Doug]

Yeah I think laughing would be mandatory at this point. Especially since she didn't get hurt.

[h00k247]

It is a shame that some people do not understand their abilities and limitations.

[omegajim]

I think the appropriate response is to chuckle, shake your head and walk away the next time you see her and the topic comes up.

The speed of light has a limit; the speed of stupid does not.

[womper]

Originally Posted by omegajim

The speed of light has a limit; the speed of stupid does not.

so true...

many people do many stupid things...
stupid people keep doing those stupid things

[buster]

Originally Posted by h00k247

It is a shame that some people do not understand their abilities and limitations.

After 5 mins experience and NO training, this is probably the only way to learn those limitations.

So anyway answer me this, someone please..

You can walk into a stealership throw your wad on the counter and ride out on a 1K+ bike, no training, no test, nuthin?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by buster

You can walk into a stealership throw your wad on the counter and ride out on a 1K+ bike, no training, no test, nuthin?

Yep, you got it right.

Despite what some would have you believe, in a well developed capitalist society, the CAPITAL runs the show. That is, the Golden rule; them with the Gold makes the rules.

If you think for a second that anything you think, say or do makes even a tiny sliver of difference at any level of "government" (sometimes even local), you are a huge fool.

If the government tried to require the proper level of license and/or proof of insurance before a sale could be consumated (which just makes sense and IS done in most places for cars), there would be an immediate HUGE outcry from bike makers and dealers who would try (and probably succeed) in getting it killed.

It works that way with EVERYTHING........unless and until there is some outrageous disaster that results in a swell of public outcry. Even then the outcry doesn't do any good sometimes if the power and money are threatened enough.

We had it right in the '60s about the Military/Industrial complex controlling everything. It was true then and even more true now. And Big Brother IS watching too.'

[omegajim]

You can walk into a stealership throw your wad on the counter and ride out on a 1K+ bike, no training, no test, nuthin?

It gets better than that; guys who haven't driven in years go and get a Harley dresser that handles like a bus and try to drive it.

Sure enough, they dump it and do several thousand dollars damage, all within the first 100 miles.

Living in the Milwaukee area, I like to think there are a disproportionate number of these cases around here. I like to think it, anyway.

[buster]

Well, across 'ere, you have to.
1. apply for a provisional bike license, (a learner ticket) even if you have a full car license.

2. Conduct CBT training, Compulsory Basic Training, this must be completed before you can even buy a M/C or moped, CBT comprises;
A. introduction

B. practical on-site training (8-0's etc.)

C. practical on-site riding

D. practical on-road training (road awareness, positioning, etc.)

E. practical on-road riding

This costs about £100-£120 and usually can be done in a day.

Once you have your CBT you can buy a moped or a bike up to a max of 125cc. You MUST wear 'L' Plates on the front and rear of the bike.

3. You must pass a theory and practical test, once you have done this, you can then ride a bike up 33BHP for the next two years.

4. After the two years is up there is a transitional test you must complete before the dealers will sell you anything above 33BHP and then you are free.

HOWEVER,

If you want a car, a few lessons, a theory test, a practical test, then a 220BHP Subaru Impreza doo-wah-diddy-kiddy-killer.

Pretty screwed up eh?

You have to pass 4 tests and have up to 4 years under your belt so you can be twatted by some plonker in a mega car, who passed his test yeterday!

So yeah, we have the bike thing just about right, but the car test is still pretty Neanderthal.

[snowman671]

In Maryland you must have :

1. License For motorcycle
2. Insurance For The Purchased Bike

then you can take it home.. You can buy whatever you want but you wont be riding it home with the above mentioned items in your hand....


Pennsylvainia. Same deal you gotta have the stuff in your hand....