tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post2361568986392031955..comments2024-03-22T18:01:20.065-05:00Comments on Geezer with a Grudge: An Open Letter to Rob DingmanT.W. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-48767257649597062482017-06-22T17:51:51.176-05:002017-06-22T17:51:51.176-05:00Totally agree with the noise issue. Keep stock pi...Totally agree with the noise issue. Keep stock pipes, or at least do not install loud pipes. I have heard the rationalization, over and over, loud pipes save lives. When I split lanes, I modulate my head light, sometime flick my turn signal back and forth, or hit the high beam button (in daylight), to let vehicles know that I am coming through. Always show courtesy.<br />Motorcyclists are patriots, as far as I am concerned. We take up less space, use less gas, and suffer more injuries than any other vehicles. Hopefully the safety issues can be ramped up. <br />Personally, I own ten bikes, ride most days, and have not dropped a bike, in the street, since 1969. Motorcycles have the ability to out maneuver and out accelerate cars or trucks, and so it is my objective to stay ahead of problems, and keep my bike in a nice spot on the road. Peace to all riders!motomarvelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-172659250024843572012-09-20T15:39:11.322-05:002012-09-20T15:39:11.322-05:00The smart highway thing is huge. We are absolutely...The smart highway thing is huge. We are absolutely not on the radar for those systems. It's quite likely the design solution for everything the public doesn't like about motorcycles and motorcyclists; move us off of the major roadways. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-92065913633990334532012-09-20T11:37:27.796-05:002012-09-20T11:37:27.796-05:00I like your idea of Ride to Work expanding into a ...I like your idea of Ride to Work expanding into a full-blown motorcycle organization for the "rest of us." For example, I was rather irritated the other day to see a public pay parking lot with a sign that said "No Motorcycles." However, this same town had something that I would like to see other places: odd shaped pieces of pavement not good for much else were designated free parking for motorcycles only. Another problem coming down the road is how will motorcycles be dealt with when computer-controlled cars become street legal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-19031901935314270682012-09-19T22:57:17.149-05:002012-09-19T22:57:17.149-05:00I can see how the AMA towing coverage would be mor...I can see how the AMA towing coverage would be more useful in some areas. 35 miles rarely does me much good. AAA is a bit cheaper in MN, which makes it more competitive, apparently. <br /><br />I'm sort of tossed about the idea of "equal treatment," since motorcycles insist on special privileges (noise, dedicated purposes for license fees, and pirate parades, for example) and are such a high percentage of traffic noise sources. We've been violating the national law for so long it's become a habit and one we feel entitled to abuse. In MN, I suspect that more than 75% of the bikes on the road have illegal pipes. <br /><br />Knowing that my bike is legal, during non-rush hour times I might not object to a fair spot inspection. I would like to see vehicle inspections for emissions, noise, and safety make a comeback. When CA stopped inspecting vehicles, road safety went down dramatically and motorcycle noise rocketed (literally). If we had to put the legal pipes back on once a year, we might leave them on. <br /><br />I'm with you on public land use. I just don't see OHV users being responsible enough to be trusted with fragile natural resources. On the other hand, if we're just going to hand it over to corporations to rape and pillage, I suppose it doesn't matter. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-18628789661859311652012-09-19T19:52:05.552-05:002012-09-19T19:52:05.552-05:00By the way, I should have added that around here t...By the way, I should have added that around here the pricing I see would be more than $200 per year to get AAA coverage for me, my wife, and our cars and my motorcycle. I could probably pay less than that for a tow in most circumstances and I don't think I average a tow per year, even though I do drive older cars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-27497263658439568912012-09-19T19:46:57.665-05:002012-09-19T19:46:57.665-05:00Here in NY, we do have the motorcycle-only checkpo...Here in NY, we do have the motorcycle-only checkpoints, and they are infuriating if you believe in equal treatment before the law. I have witnessed one in action, and very arbitrarily they pulled over several bikes doing nothing obviously wrong and gave them and their bikes the third degree, which of course found something that they were writing them up for. Again, these guys looked like typical middle-aged or older Harley guys with bright shiny bikes and even wearing most safety gear. I'm guessing one of the bikes had non-approved exhaust because it seemed somewhat loud, but certainly these guys were not part of the bigger hooligan problem. And, I have used the towing service a couple of times, for my cars, and it was no worse than others I have used, including AAA. The 35-mile range worked fine in both situations. Having said all that, I disagree with many AMA political positions, particularly with regard to protecting wild areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-11332099732186333562012-09-18T14:09:37.525-05:002012-09-18T14:09:37.525-05:00As usual, we get the government (representation) w...As usual, we get the government (representation) we deserve. We let the AMA focus on crap that doesn't matter by giving them out cash when they have failed to do us any good. With the tiny percentage of riders the AMA does represent, you'd think they'd get some message from that, but they, like all humans, are slow learners. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-79738330275077453462012-09-18T07:30:40.275-05:002012-09-18T07:30:40.275-05:00Hi Geez,
I have to agree with you. I let my guard ...Hi Geez,<br />I have to agree with you. I let my guard down last year and again joined the AMA. Then I read in a recent issue of the AMA rag that the President (AMA not US) believed that they needed to engage with the non racers...well duh. This was the 'light bulb' moment for me again. I will not be renewing. We 'tweeners' are still being left in the dust by the AMA. If the AMA wants to support racing good on them. I have no interest and do not in anyway benefit from their agenda. Why is there no one to represent us, still?Brian Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13995209588726937677noreply@blogger.com