Topic: Whats the scooter den?

[Burger]

Come on! Dan, Steve, Whats going on, I mean Im all for this scooter lark and that but come on.

This is clearly due to the pear pressure that weaver's mates have put on.

This is SH** I thought we stood for what we belied in.


Oh well, it looks like TLB's is going PC. Good luck to the retired and scooter riders.

Peace out Burgers out!

[The Yeti]

Think you're bang out of order here mate

If you got a problem with anything on ths site then try sending Trouty or me a PM before ranting on the forum and abusing other members.

[trouty]

here's my viewpoint...

there's lots of scooterists out there. 'kin thousands of them. and there riding amongst the same traffic as we are, facing the same day to day things that we face. the only difference is the shape of the bike.
maybe they want to feel every part of a general biking scene as we all do, but face alienation at all the bike forums because they ride a scooter??

Some of them are youngsters just setting out in their first years of their biking futures. Some are commuters just trying to get to work and back home to their families, safely...

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This is clearly due to the pear pressure that weaver's mates have put on.

i seem to remember TLB'ers saying how they really REALLY wanted a chat room, i listened, i said ok, i'll set one up for you, and thats what i did.  When was the last time anyone used it?  I listen, i implement. If it adds to the site then thats a bonus. If it detracts, then it gets removed - simple as.

wouldnt it be nice to know though, that maybe your influence could in some small way, help an L plater survive to go on to a zxrrrcbrrrgsxrrr superbike at some time?

Give it a few days and see how it goes...

[Flying Scot]

Some of them are youngsters just setting out in their first years of their biking futures


This is true when you consider young Ron started on a scooter then a aprilia 125 then zx6r and then the RSV R

[Burger]

point missed. sorry for the aggro

[Weaver]

Quote (Burger @ Nov. 09 2006,22:39)

This is clearly due to the pear pressure that weaver's mates have put on.

Hmmm Rich - yes - that line does rather suggest that myself and my friends' views are not worth as much as the other members.  So here's a question - since I thought you were a friend does that mean that your opinion does not count either?  '>  '>  '>

PS:  I don't like hairdryers myself and would not buy one, but I am very tolerant of people who have them - the properly dressed, sensible riding ones who usually have a bigger bike too. '>

[Burger]

Quote (Weaver @ Nov. 10 2006,09:36)

Quote (Burger @ Nov. 09 2006,22:39) This is clearly due to the pear pressure that weaver's mates have put on. Hmmm Rich - yes - that line does rather suggest that myself and my friends' views are not worth as much as the other members.

Complete Bollo*** WEaver, Thats not my point, people have joined this forum before and more people will still join.

Its just a coincidence that the scooter section was made shortly after one of your friends had a pop at the website and its members. Shall I direct you back to that thread?

My point is if your going to make sections for some you should make sections for all minority groups.

[Terry]

Hey people why dont we all hire some scooters and have a race round town, Knee down, wheelies could be a laugh like a tlb chav holligan day  '>

[MATTP]

Weaver, you must agree that by having this topic on the site it opens the door for talking about it. I like the fact that we keep the doors open on views and don't keep them to PM's. For me anyone who shows respect gets it back. But this will not change my mind on not liking what they may ride. And it does not stop at scooters.

I think there will be some good topics tonight at the meal once the drinks start to flow '>

[Terry]

I cant wait to meet you guys from here you all sound like a right laugh! Any meets near Broxbourne or highbeach?

[Weaver]

Quote (Burger @ Nov. 10 2006,09:48)

Quote (Weaver @ Nov. 10 2006,09:36) Quote (Burger @ Nov. 09 2006,22:39) This is clearly due to the pear pressure that weaver's mates have put on. Hmmm Rich - yes - that line does rather suggest that myself and my friends' views are not worth as much as the other members.   Complete Bollo*** WEaver, Thats not my point, people have joined this forum before and more people will still join. Its just a coincidence that the scooter section was made shortly after one of your friends had a pop at the website and its members. Shall I direct you back to that thread? My point is if your going to make sections for some you should make sections for all minority groups.

Rich - there are three laughing smilies after my comment - so I would have thought it was obvious I was taking the pee not being serious!

[Weaver]

Quote (MATTP @ Nov. 10 2006,10:02)

Weaver, you must agree that by having this topic on the site it opens the door for talking about it. I like the fact that we keep the doors open on views and don't keep them to PM's. For me anyone who shows respect gets it back. But this will not change my mind on not liking what they may ride. And it does not stop at scooters. I think there will be some good topics tonight at the meal once the drinks start to flow '>

Matt - see my answer to Rich!!!!!!   '>  '>

[Mikey]

I see Rich's point - are we going to lose our identity as a London Bikers website - for riders of larger, geared bikes that are allowed on the motorway..

But I can see the other point which I prefer - I got a job as a delivery driver at Domino's Pizza when I was 17 just because they paid for my CBT and I really wanted to ride. A decade later and I have signed up for my first racing season and would like to think that I contribute to the biking community in a positive manner.

If the scooter boys can see what we are all about, then maybe they'll look up to stunt riders like you Richard, or smooth and progressive road riders. Maybe not MattP so much '> (he says in a Borat voice)

It'll assist in widening their understanding of what makes a biker - a grandma on an R1 or a racing Scot on a Ducati.

[Biker Biker]

Quote (Terry @ Nov. 10 2006,09:59)

Hey people why dont we all hire some scooters and have a race round town, Knee down, wheelies could be a laugh like a tlb chav holligan day  '>

Bring it on my friend.... already in training on the first TLB'ed scooter in Thailand  '>

Just to say my two Euro cents' worth on the "debate":

The majority of PTWs I see on my daily commute are scooters, not "real bikes", and I don't see why this group should be excluded from a London biking site purely because of a design feature on their bikes.  Surely, all PTWs should stick together, as in general, we face the same dangers on the roads?  If anything, scooters face more dangers, with their small wheels (try hitting diesel in a 90-degree bend on those!'>, and generally speaking, lower performance, as well as the attitude of other road users.  I've noticed how much more space and respect I'm given when I'm out there on my Ducati than when I'm just another scooterist trying to get to work.

In any case, if this site is for geared bikes that can go on motorways, where does it leave those on L-plates?

Not all scooters are 50cc bikes.  The term scooter refers only to the design (step-through), not the engine size.  A colleague has a 650cc scooter (to complement his Gixxer thou).  And not all scooterists are 'ped boys' who ride irresponsibly.  Most people are responsible and use their scooters to commute, some because of convenience, some because they haven't passed a test yet, some because they cannot afford a new big bike (or the insurance thereof), some because of family pressure, some because they're new to PTWs and decide to try it out first on something easier to control.  Some even have big bikes at home for weekends or touring but choose to commute on a scoot.

Some of them do ride in a careless, even dangerous way (usually only to themselves); perhaps instead of directing your rant to them, you should direct it to the Government agency responsible for CBTs, etc.  A colleague passed her CBT after just four hours, only one of which was spent riding on the road and one in the classroom reviewing the Highway Code (the Police Roadcraft wasn't even mentioned), the rest of the time was spent riding around a carpark.  Having passed, she naturally assumed she was good enough to be allowed on the roads, as surely, had she not been, she wouldn't have been given her CBT certificate.  Having done some advanced training myself, I've taken her on observed rides and pointed out the areas she could improve, and she was surprised nobody had told her that what she was doing was potentially dangerous to herself and/or other road users.  She just did the same as everybody else, just a pity the person they had learnt from was a muppet.

Another thing to bear in mind is that there is very little extra or advanced training for scooters, as most is aimed at larger capacity motorbikes.  The next training for a scooterist is to take a motorbike licence.  Hardly worthwhile for somebody who doesn't want a motorbike but is happy scooting along.  IAM only accepts bikes that can do sustained motorway speeds; most Central London scooterists don't have big enough bikes for that, or wouldn't feel comfortable in the country roads and motorways IAM use.  Only this year, the Met and the City of London police forces have introduced ScooterSafe to complement the BikeSafe programme, but this is not publicised as much.

I've been commuting and holidaying for several years on a scooter (a big Vespa GT 125cc, not a 'hairdryer' as many people call them) simply for the sake of convenience.  Because of my work, I have to dress smartly in a suit and often carry my suit, a fairly large handbag, a spare pair of shoes, files and laptops on my commute (not to mention the kitchen sink), and these items are more easily stored in a scooter: my underseat storage can take two helmets, and I also have a top box.  I can also carry an entire week's grocery shopping on my bike, as well as a suitcase should I need to travel straight from work.  I have also moved garden furniture and pot plants on my scoot.  On my Ducati, most of that would not be possible, and even for the normal day-to-day things, I'd have to carry a backpack (not ideal due to back problems) and a tail bag.  My commute is only a few miles each way, so it doesn't make sense to wake the Duchess up, spend 10-15 minutes to get past the security and struggle on first/second gear through the congested streets of Central London on a bike with the same turning circle as a London Bus, when I have a perfectly good automatic scoot on my doorstep.

I bought my big bike for two reasons: I wanted to get out of London more, including touring Europe, and having made friends on another site with big bikes (well, if you can call a GS500 big...), my ride-out options with them were limited so I decided to get a big bike to join them in the fun.  Had I seen this kind of prejudicial ranting on my first site, I doubt I would have stuck around to make these friends and be converted.  Some of the current posts are not exactly encouraging any scooter riding potential motorcyclist to stick around long enough to get the big bike envy and make an informed decision as to if a geared bike is suitable for his/her needs, and if so, which one to go for.

A few of my immediate colleagues ride scooters and they all have big bikes for weekend fun and touring.  We all wear the same gear on our scoots as we wear on our bikes, with perhaps the exception that I tend to wear my Draggin' Jeans instead of my leather trousers.  As for clothing anyway, what you may think is just casual gear may actually be fully armoured jackets and trousers by Tucano Urbano or Belstaff.  Both companies make specific casual scooter gear, even long overcoats (as we can wear them and still ride our bikes) but with Knox inserts.

Of course there are scooterist out there who wear no protection and ride like lunatics, but I've lost count of how many sportsbikers I've seen (even in this weather) who ride in suits and ordinary shoes, with no gloves.  Every time my safety has been compromised on the roads in London, it's been by a biker, not a scooterist or even the dreaded white van.  Only this morning, a Gixxer decided to race another bike down the King's Road but ran out of road before an oncoming bus, so had to slot in to the slot I was already occupying.  In short, he was riding like a twat.  Perhaps, by the logic shown by some, I should take the inference that all Gixxer riders are twats?  I know Shane (Smiled) isn't, so I'm willing to accept that the vast majority of them aren't, only a small minority are.  Sadly, we only take notice of those that are behaving badly, whether they do this on little scooters or big motorbikes.

[Alba]

i've sold scooters for a while.  never met so many people with no idea of what they were talkin about in all my life!
in italy scooters are looked as for what they are, something to get from a to b and be able to get into town centre.  infact the most popular ones are the thin piaggios!  no one talks about scooters too much because there's nothing to talk about really!

[trouty]

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dreaded white van

pah! some of us drive white vans AND motorsickles too ya know... i'm fed up of constantly getting abused because i choose to drive a van, which incidentally, often gets used for moving race bikes about... blah blah blah...

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all Gixxer riders are twats

whats this?? pick on trout day??

is there a forum somewhere for whitevan driving gixxer owners can go without the abuse??

'>

'>

[MATTP]

"Had I seen this kind of prejudicial ranting on my first site" '>
Sorry but this is a joke '> . Until the Labour party force some more policy onto the way I can think I will keep my free mind to think what the hell I like about ANY type of bike! Maybe a little less poor me about the topic and maybe a bit more understanding of some of the problems members on this site have had with scooters.

I agree about standing up for what you love and all that but FFS it is a rant on a website about scooters being a pain in the ar$e!!! Over and out as I think Saint is getting a beer ready at his pub for me '>

[Burger]

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 10 2006,12:14)

Some of the current posts are not exactly encouraging any scooter riding potential motorcyclist to stick around long enough

What do you mean?

You been here 2 FU**** minutes and you have your own section.

This is what forums are about, its about the bonding of people with diff points of view. Live with it.

[Mikey]

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 10 2006,12:14)

Had I seen this kind of prejudicial ranting on my first site, I doubt I would have stuck around to make these friends and be converted.

What? Man, I wish I hadn't said anything now. 27 posts and already laying into the members of this site.

There IS a difference between bikers and scooter-people - do scooters evoke the same passion in people as bikes do? No. Is there an SNW - Scooter News Weekly? No.

I must be really bored to be responding to this, but after my earlier post I would have liked to think that it is obvious that london bikers have differing opinions.

What's more, you have your little scooter forum now so why the amateur dramatics? Chill out and enjoy your new forum.

Mikey  '>

[Burger]

'>  '>

[Burger]

Quote (troutslayer @ Nov. 10 2006,12:39)

is there a forum somewhere for whitevan driving gixxer owners can go without the abuse?? '> '>

Yer,

I heard its called

www.londonbikers.com

Have a look, appt its all good fun now all the scooter riders have left!

[Triggerhappybaby]

Trouty do you, like, reverse out of the back of your white van on the Gixxer like Knight Rider used to do in Kit? That would get you a few shags I don't doubt.. '>

[Mikey]

Quote (Burger @ Nov. 10 2006,13:20)

Have a look, appt its all good fun now all the scooter riders have left!

'>

[MATTP]

Scarlet Lady, can I ask if your sign on name on LondonBikers is/was Paivi? I only ask as I do remember her being very strong with the scooter people (I can feel the force is strong with you, young, scooterwalker - said in DVs voice  '> )