BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Is this true?
https://rideapart.com/articles/riding-w ... ers-better
Discuss

I AGREE WITH THE GENTLEMAN, whoever he is.

Is it true.....?? But of course it is (as I quickly hide to avoid the inevitable verbal abuse from over the pond)!!!

Steve F wrote: Is it true.....?

Definitely...


bebe

Could be, because they have to keep turning and turning to keep from running off that tiny little island :-)

You are getting us confused with Hong Kong or Singspore or Malta or Cyprus or the eastern states of North America.  We gave them all away ages ago.

As an American I would agree with the article. As a 14 yr old I cut my teeth riding 50cc bikes on the streets of Paris. Yes I took "chicken circle" one street off of the Arc de Triomphe but I was on a 50 that could barely get out of it's own way. At the time any 14 yr old could ride the streets with only proof of insurance. No tests. At 16 you were allowed to ride up to 125cc's if memory serves me right and you had to take a test. At 18 I think there was still a cc limit and another test. This was France in the '70s. Here in the states, mc licensing isn't near as comprehensive as it should be in my opinion. I'm grateful for what I learned riding on the streets of Paris year round for the two years I was there. At 16 I got my mc license in the states. Simple road test, a round of questions and you are free to ride any displacement you want. Huge error in my opinion. Almost every day here in San Diego you hear of a fatal mc accident and the ages vary. A lot of times it's a young kid on a sport bike or a middle aged guy on a Harley. Often times they are brand new to motorcycling. Pretty tragic. I have to wonder how much influence the manufacturers ie Honda, Suzuki, Harley et all lobbyists in Washington DC push for lenient countrywide mc testing just to sell more bikes to inexperienced riders. I've ridden in Lebanon, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia and did mc courier work in DC for a couple of years. I learned quite a bit since I started this love affair with motorcycles that we all share through my experiences of living and riding abroad.

As I once read somewhere in a previous life, any fool can drive fast in a straight line.

It takes a special person to drive quick when the road isn't going straight for 300 miles :-)

juniorswailing wrote: As I once read somewhere in a previous life, any fool can drive fast in a straight line.

It takes a special person to drive quick when the road isn't going straight for 300 miles :-)

I'll ask you kindly to leave the state of Iowa out of this!

I'll ask you kindly to leave the state of Iowa out of this!


You mean you have a road with a bend in it in Iowa?

Of course we Brits are all riding Gods...well, I am at least..


Maybe something to do with us having roundabouts everywhere..

New here so hello everyone,


Good article liked the cafe racer picture. 
I had my first bike on my 16th birthday, 250 cc, an L plate was all that was required.
IIRC you could take your full licence test soon after, and be allowed to ride anything, and the test was far from tough.


Returning to bikes again after many years I found the power and complexity of modern motorcycles quite intimidating , and with increases in traffic density, I found myself not enjoying my rides. I felt quite inadequate.[/size]


I attended a one day Ride Safe course run by our local constabulary, which was excellent, and they recommended a safe for life course with the local advanced riders club.


This is not a goody goody slow and safe type course, it was quite an eye opener, and has built my confidence no end, hence purchase of nice big RT tourer to put in some miles with smiles.


stay safe


M

Did my ROSPA and IAM in Septmber, both tests on the same day    Best advice was, your most vulnerable in the weeks after the tests, because you are more confident. Did the tests to prove I could, but also joined my local Blood biking group and needed an advanced qualification

Casbar wrote: but also joined my local Blood biking group and needed an advanced qualification

Welcome 

RTman10 wrote: I'll ask you kindly to leave the state of Iowa out of this!
You mean you have a road with a bend in it in Iowa?

Har! The only "bends" in Iowa I'm aware of run parallel with the Mississippi River!  I was poking a little bit of fun at the state of Iowa.