| Author | Message | ||
     Rainman |
Thought I'd pass this on from a "status report" issued in Sept. from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the folks who brought us the crash-test ratings. They've done good things to make cars safer but look out friends, they're after us. The front page is a Ninja ZX-10 with NASCAR racing scene behind it and the headline "These machines are designed for the racetrack, but youll only find one of them on the highway." It goes downhill after that. It compares a ZX-6r at 111-hp to 404 pounds to a H-D Ultra Classic Electra Glide at 65hp and 788 pounds and talks about the death rate for the supersports. It goes on for awhile, ignoring some statistics that show a large increase in registrations of sportbikes but the same percentage of rider deaths, gets into helmet laws (pro, of course) and features this comment from Ann McCartt, institute's senior v-p for research: "...Short of banning supersport and sport motorcycles from public roadways, capping the speed of these street-legal machines at the factory might be one way to reduce their risk." Every bike gets trashed a little except for scooters which have fewer deaths, less expensive insurance costs and claims. Look out folks, they ARE after us. http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr091107.html (Message edited by Rainman on October 05, 2007) | ||
| Buellerandy |
once again...blaming an inanimate object for the stupidity of others... if they really wanted to save lives, ban alcohol:P but seriously...don't ban alcohol. | ||
| Ridrx |
My Buell is safe from such legislation @ 90 hp LOL. | ||
| Spiderman |
who wrote that Ralph Nader?  | ||
| Thespive |
The IIHS is a very liberal group put together by the insurance companies that has fooled the public in to thinking they are a government entity for years. --Sean | ||
| Jaimec |
"Liberalism" has NOTHING to do with it. They are driven by profit motive, pure and simple. They've locked horns with the AMA before (remember their highly discredited "Kraus Report"?). This is just "The Kraus Report, Part Deux." That idiot in charge of the IIHS (Brian something?) was even on record as to saying there was NO evidence that rider education improved rider safety... DESPITE the Hurt Report proving EXACTLY that. I've been an AMA member since the early eighties and the IIHS is a long time enemy of motorcyclists. They are definitely in the "Punish the victim" mindset. If you are not a member of the AMA... why aren't you? | ||
| Jaimec |
Here is the article on the IIHS "study" from the AMA: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/IIHS.asp | ||
| Strokizator |
"Liberalism has NOTHING to do with it" I disagree. One of the basic tenets of liberalism is that the general public is basically stupid and must be protected from themselves. The only way to effectively do this is through government intervention. I can't speak for the conservative position but I'm more libertarian than anything on issues such as these. I don't need or want to be protected from myself. (Message edited by strokizator on October 05, 2007) | ||
| Rainman |
I find it a shame that the IIHS is so anti-bike. They've done a great job in making cars safer, including instituting the off-set head-on collision test which rankled the manufacturers but represented the majority of wrecks I'd been to in the past 30 years. I wish they were serious about motorcycle safety and not out to turn us all into scooter riders. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Tiered licenses would do wonders for for motorcycling here in the U.S. But you'll never see it because of the bigger is better mentality. Everyone here is a GREAT driver or rider, just ask them. Auto and motorcycle ads promote reckless behavior and stupidity in general and we wonder why people do the stupid things they do  | ||
| Jaimec |
That's where you're wrong AGAIN, Strokizator. The IIHS is an organization formed BY the insurance companies. They don't give a good damn about safety or injuries... what they care about is how much money their clients have to pay out in an accident claim. Hospital bills cost more than mechanical repair bills. They'd rather pay to get your vehicle repaired than to pay for your hospitalization (or, God forbid, death benefits) because that will cost them a LOT more in the long run. By turning automobiles into rolling fortresses as they have over the past thirty years, automobile drivers may be getting into plenty of accidents, but they aren't getting hurt. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, are almost ALWAYS going to get hurt. Not only that, but sport bikes (in general) are covered with LOTS of EXPENSIVE plastic which has to be replaced. It makes sense, then, that in order to improve their bottom line, to try and get people OFF of them. Sport bikes first, ALL motorcycles later. Trying to say this is a "Conservative vs. Liberal" issue is naive and ill informed. | ||
| Davegess |
IIHS is not a liberal or conservative group. It is a very effective industry group that is designed to increase profits for the industry it serves. I has occasionally championed things that make sense but more often it is trying to influence the public to support legislation that will make them more money. They recently did a PR thing on how dangerous the SMART car was going to be and how it would not pass safety tests. This before the car has even been tested by them or any other US group. They have also been proponent of speed limit reductions. I don't like 'em and I am a pretty liberal guy. | ||
| Tq_freak |
This just totaly erks me and am pissed. I am a big kid, I can wipe my own A##. I can get in just as much trouble on a 650 burgman as I can a R6. Its called self control and the damn IIHS doesnt even want us to have the chance to screw up. It gets me soo mad that they want put limits to what you can ride or do. Are they going to try to tell me how to think next? Were do I sign up for the AMA. This IIHS CR#P needs to stop. | ||
| Rainman |
They were much, much nicer on convertibles. Guess they just hate motorcyclists. http://www.iihs.org/sr/pdfs/sr4206.pdf | ||
| Thumper74 |
Strange... My Mustang does 0-60 in 'oh Sh!t!' There are plenty of supercars with people who aren't qualified to drive them. I don't see any speed limiters on those other than aerodynamics, gearing and power... Jerks... | ||
| Jaimec |
To join the AMA, call 1-800-AMA-JOIN (1-800-262-5646) | ||
| Slaughter |
Can you blame the insurance industry? Most people who destroy motorcycles don't actually own them - and report the damage to insurance companies. Most people who become injured also expect insurance to cover their injuries. We REFUSE to control ourselves. Salesmen refuse to deal with reality. They'll tell newbies that "ONLY" getting a 600 will leave them frustrated, they'll be "NEEDING" a litrebike. I have been on group rides when people rev their engines and do wheelying in residential areas (where voters and taxpayers live) - and then bitch about the police presence. I ride in the mountains where they regularly helo-evac 2 or 3 in a weekend and another half dozen by ground ambulance. I hear others bi*ching about the double fine zones and heavy police presence. We're bringing this S**T down on our own heads and then B*TCHING about it. Of course, I cannot expect ANYBODY to control themselves and I now have decided to ENCOURAGE this behavior because I am always looking for spares for the race bikes - and the US supply of donated organs is never large enough to meet demand. When you write the AMA - offer CONSTRUCTIVE alternatives, don't just b*tch about your "rights" to be a reckless jerk being taken away... be constructive in your criticism and JOIN the AMA - regardless! (Message edited by slaughter on October 05, 2007) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
If you read your insurance policies closely, if you are found in commission of a crime (misdmeaner or felony) Which I am sure 180mph wheelie is somewhere that kind of infraction ;) then your insurance company has the ability to NOT pay your claim. They have been doing it for years. Get popped for DWI and cause and accident? They will jack your rates so high that you cant continue coverage with their company (which is why SR-22 filing in Wa exists) Stupid is as stupid does. It should be painful and expensive. {and before you post saying they dont do that, I was in insurance sales and underwriting for 10 years~ they do} That being said, give me the uber rocket that I want and keep your damn liberal quasi governmental whining agencies to yourselves. | ||
| Jaimec |
In the insurance company's PERFECT world, we'd pay them hundreds of our hard earned dollars a year, and in return they give us a piece of card paper with some words on it (that cost them maybe a nickel to print, and forty-two cents to mail). Anything that spoils that idyllic picture (i.e. paying out on a claim) is BAD and must be STOPPED. Get the liberal vs. conservative crap out of your heads now. It has NOTHING to do with this. | ||
| Bads1 |
Check this out. Funny but being I'm in the Booze and Brew Biz I see alot of this. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=30426 | ||
| Strokizator |
"That's where you're wrong AGAIN, Strokizator. Sorry Jaimec, I didn't know anyone was keeping score. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
no, they're very liberal. liberal to the point of socialist. these people don't want you thinking for yourself, they know what's best for you. and what's best for you is no supersport bikes. that's one of the many traits of socialism. | ||
| Jaimec |
That's what happened with the proliferation of talking heads like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Everything is "liberal this" and "liberal that" and no one even bothers to look behind the REAL story. The IIHS doesn't give a rat's ass about your health and well being (the "Liberal" view of keeping you safe). They just want to take your money and not have to give anything back. That is neither "Liberal" nor "Conservative." It's BUSINESS. Now, in order to get their point across to the government, they MAY attempt to appeal to the "liberal" politicians saying that they are just looking out for our well-being and have our best interests at heart. And these politicians (like ALL politicians) see that if they support these "well-meaning" people they will get big, fat donations. So MAYBE in that regard it MIGHT be construed as being a "Liberal" baby-sitter kind of thing. But as I said, don't let it fool you. The IIHS does NOT have YOUR best interests at heart, they only care about their own wallets and will use whatever lies they can to get the government to back them up. Some of you (not all of you from reading the responses here) really need to get a clue as to how things work. Unless you understand the problem, you'll never be able to fight it. (Message edited by jaimec on October 05, 2007) | ||
| Naustin |
Damn the Man! | ||
| Badlionsfan |
it's liberal/socialist in that they're telling you how to live your life and are deciding what's good for you. kinda like your mom, only in a 2000 dollar suite. | ||
| Buellerandy |
whether they're liberal or pretending to be liberal...its still perceived as liberal, and perception is reality, especially in this country. Just had to chime in, the weather turned to crap. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
the weather turned to crap. that's Bush's fault | ||
| Buellerandy |
I would hope so! (sarcasm) | ||
| Strokizator |
If it's solely a business move then why not just raise the rates? Have people younger than 30 pay more than those over 30. Sportbikes pay more than cruisers. 600 cc bikes pay less than 1000 cc bikes (they already do that but the performance difference these days is not very much). This is what they did to kill the muscle cars. Well that and enviro laws, but the legislators didn't specifically target muscle cars. The insurance companies made them too expensive to own. (I can remember guys whose insurance premiums were higher than their car payments). On the other hand, those who collect tax money have a vested interest in my well being and are not above putting restrictions on my liberties to insure that I can continue to make those contributions, all in the name of "saving lives". | ||
| Jayvee |
It's because they hate our freedom... |
