Two wheels are no match

Every time I see a “start seeing my motorcycle” bumper sticker I think of the pricks in town on their crotch rockets flying in and out of traffic. It’s bad enough that they can’t ride a real bike.

Are you an American Chopper fan kolwdwrkr? I can’t believe what’s been happening there.

-- Don't tell her I'm in the shop!

After you saw that, you still want a motorcycle? There are a lot of people out there that for some reason just do not see motorcycles. I wonder what that truck driver had on his mind.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

”After you saw that, you still want a motorcycle? ” (HallTree dixit)

Ron, I can show you bits (literally) of people resulting from much worse big CAR accidents than the one shown. It’s not about the vehicle but the drivers. I agree that small scooters are way more difficult to see than big bikes like my BMW but don’t associate the kind of vehicle with the danger, it’s just plain wrong.

I’ve been riding for 10+ years and done tens if not hundreds of thousands of km. in my bikes without a single hitch. Under the sun, the rain and even the snow. You just got to learn to predict how people will react in the worst case scenario and anticipate… but then, isn’t it the same thing we all (should) do when driving a car?

Having said that, the truck video is a sad classic on the internet and the trucker is clearly a moron that deserves to lose his license.

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://www.japanese-woodworking-tools.com/ · http://twitter.com/japanesetools

Wow…that is sick..the guy never sees it coming either…

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

It is going to take a while to get that out of my head…

-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/

LocalMac, don’t even get me started on American Choppers. Unless there is a need to read a rant. LOL

I don’t understand that people think that it’s stupid to ride or own a motorcycle. With the way the trucker was driving, this could have easily happened to a bicyclist. It’s like he wasn’t even watching the road. Notice how he swerves left towards the begining, and then goes back right. It’s almost as though he thought he was going around the scooter.
I’ve driven similar trucks and with the amount of visibility you have, it should have been impossible for him to not see the scooter, especially in the distance traveled before he hit him. It’s like he was completely distracted. On the other hand, the scooter guy was also oblivious to the fact that there was A LARGE TRUCK behind him. I’d say it’s both of their faults, and I’ll still purchase a bike when I can.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Rant away, Kolwdwrkr. I used to watch a long time ago and just started again a couple days ago. I had no idea Jr. was fired. What the hell’s going on! I always thought he was the talent.

As for motorcycles…I would love to own a chopper to ride around town or down the interstate. I don’t think I could ride one long distance. A friend in my National Guard Unit builds them custom starting around $3,000. I’ve thought a bout it. talking my fiance into it is a different matter.

-- Don't tell her I'm in the shop!

Looked like the truck had some momentum going and was going to change lanes to go around the cycle and then the cycle moved all the way over like he was going to change lanes also. The truck, realizing that he had too much momentum going, new that he would have run into the cycle so he tried to change back into the lane but the cycle never changed and ultimately paid the price. I think this was more of the cyclist fault myself. He put a good fake on the truck driver. (maybe a bad fake)???

If your going to ride a motorcycle you have to be more in charge of where you put yourself on the road in regards to the other cars around you. Always have an escape route.

First off, if Jr. was really fired he wouldn’t be frequenting the show, secondly he would be snatched up by another company in no time at all. Unless of course he was to start his own shop. Personally I think it is just a way to get attention back to the show. Jr really hasn’t been an asset to them as far as designs ever since it went computerized with that one kid. Sure he helped but lets face it, there has to be a lot of back and forth between them and the client. Time I don’t think “famous” Jr. was really sparing.
Now moving forward about the show itself. Remember what it was like when they first started? You know, they’d make most of the parts themselves, and show them doing the fabrication, welding, etc. The bikes were truly custom made, with very few parts ordered. Then they started ordering parts and only making accessories to add, such as nice grips, air covers, sissy bars, etc.
Then the waterjet machines arived and the designing started to be computerized. Vinnie eventually walked away and there has been some random people. The Episodes started to show less of the work and more of the fighting and playing. It started to be about them and their lives as opposed to the bikes.
Now they build a bike and we don’t even know anything about it. They show them fighting, going to the circus, following Jr. around his fancy house, etc. And what about the Facility? Wholy crap. They have more money invested in the building then you could imagine, and yet they drive fancy cars, live in fancy houses, etc.
My problem with the show is this: 1) It has become about them, not the bikes 2) they outsource to much, and rely on to many machines, which is fine if you want to watch a show about production. But then why not go film Kawasaki or some high production shop like that. 3) they shouldn’t show them flaunting the money they make with all the games, outings, fancy cars, nice houses, and amazing shop 4) they need to make it about the bike, the design of the bike, and the client they are making it for. Not just say “oh we’re delivering a memorial bike to such and such” or whatever. That’s what I watched the show for, was to see the production of the bikes. I could also respect the labor, talent, and skill involved in making them. Now the only custom thing about the bikes is the paint job. They don’t even need talent over there anymore. Just some bum able to press a button on the machine and some grunts to slop it together.
Personally I think Jr should take Mikey, Rick, and hire Vinnie back and go start up the original show again. Problem is that the fame has gone to Jr’s head and he’s now lazy. He has way to much skill to just let it go like he is. I almost can’t sit through it anymore, and commonly don’t. $$$ + blue collar = jackasses

I like that one show….what was it….Southern Choppers or something like that. At least they still had pride in their work.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Hard to tell for sure, but it looks like the truck driver may have been trying to avoid the bike when the bike cut in front of him. From the way the truck is stopping, he probably couldn’t stop in time. I see so many idiots on the road cutting trucks off in traffic, I wonder why more idiots aren’t wiped out in small cars as well as bikes. Two, I particularly remember, were small cars run over by trucks. One tried to cut off the truck turning so close in front of him the driver could not see the car before wondering what he ran over with his right front wheel. The other tried to cut off a truck by making a right turn inside the trucker’s right trun. The truck duals ran over the idiot’s hood :-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Been on bikes since iI was 15, im 39 now and the wost injuty i,ve had was a broken finger when I slipped in wet tiles cos i was drunk. Some people will never see a bike, like one clown who pulled out in front of me. My Ducati was bright yellow with open race exausts, my leathers are blue and white, my helmet had a big black maori tribal design on it and the headlight was hard wired on, and the guy said to me “sorry I didn,t see you”! WTF!!!! Yeah people die on bikes, but only one at a time, not like car drivers who take others with them, and airlines who have people die in their hundreds. you win some you lose some. As for American chopper they where never funny and their bikes sucked even before they had computers.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

My opinion :) (like smelling bung holes – everyone has one :) If I am on my bike it is my responsibility to avoid the morons that drive on MY ROAD! Hands down it is my job to not get hit, it makes no difference, if I am walking, riding on a bike or in a car. We all have to be responsible for ourselves – “trust no one :) You have all probably heard it, ride as if everyone is out to get you and you may just live to ride another day.

But then it is just an opinion <grin>

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

Ugh, thats gonna stay in my head for a while =/

And that second link, 5 lambos? why not get atleast 3 other supercars and 2 lambos at most… 5 lambos is just lame ;P

-- My signature is awesome.