After yet another wierd and wonderful discussion, the question cropped up as too whether stabilizers should be avaialble for motorbikes as an aid to learning.
So .........
a. help or hinderance?
b. would you have used them?
c. practical or not?
any other comments gratefully read :)
a . hinderance if you cant ride on two wheels shouldnt be on a bike in first place
b. nope !
c. erm ! dont think would help at all ud get use to them and keep falling off without em silly idea
the only use i can see for them is on feet forwards stuff like the 70s quazar ! or that bizzar red arrows thing with out wings !
OMG I have heard it all now !!!
You learn to balance on 2 wheels on a bicycle ... if you need them for a bigger bike then there is something wrong there !!
I think they're a good idea as long as people requesting them have to wear knee length shorts, blazer and matching school cap
I think thats a whole other thread RK !!
You can already get stabilisers as learning aids for such things as learning to control locked wheels on a skid pan through to learning to rear wheel steer!
Plus there are a number of companies who are able to make stabilisers to fit on your bike. Some were originally designed for Harley Davidson called the "Leg Up Landing Gear" lol!
These are aimed at people who's inside leg measurement isn't as big as they'd perhaps like it to be (holds hand up!). But they are also aimed at those people who for whatever reason have insufficient leg strength to ride the bike they want without fear of it falling on them when they stop.
It's all very well saying that these people shouldn't be riding bikes then. But frankly this is a naive and discriminatory attitude in my opinion. Many of these people have genuine physical issues from muscle problems all the way through to actually being registered disabled.
Should these people be told that because of their physical limitations they shouldn't be allowed to ride? I don't think so. I think anyone with the strength of character to refuse to let something as minor as being unable to use their legs stop them from riding a bike is absolutely fantastic.
I think that if stabilisers get more people out on bikes then they're absolutely brilliant as far as I'm concerned. I also hope that after watching the link below, all those who thought that stabilisers were a joke are feeling very small indeed.
This guy's ace;
youtube.com/watch?v=_O1M7d6dxz8
RustyKnight In: Newton Aycliffe
Posts: 2462
Karma:
Watched it and just checked geoff and i'm exactly the same size as before!
Not so sure what's so fantastic about riding on a public road with no helmet on and if he comes off the bike god forbid he's never going to be able to pick it up again so a disaster waiting to happen i'd say!
No-one is scoffing at adapting bikes for disabled people, more the term stabilisers and the vision that comes to mind. Think you're being a little harsh on some innocent banter there geoff.
To be honest RK, I didn't feel it was harsh. You should have read what I was going to put lol!!
The fact is that this is a public forum that absolutely anyone can view and we have to remember this when we are posting. And there are a surprisingly large number of disabled riders out there who I personally feel should be supported rather than ridiculed which some of the posts above could easily be misconstrued as doing.
Yes ok, I wasn't impressed either that the guy in the link didn't have a helmet on for his first ever ride, but if you search for the fella he has since done track days etc. Power to his elbow in my opinion.
But there are also many riders who for whatever reason are short of leg or don't have particularly strong legs who are perhaps put off from riding because of the fear of falling over.
I still think the idea of stabilisers is superb.
RustyKnight In: Newton Aycliffe
Posts: 2462
Karma:
Well I apologise to anyone who may of been offended by my post, it was not aimed at or reference to the disabled riding community so that proves I was not discriminating cos I didn't even consider you until geoff stuck his finger in my eye!
I still think if you have short legs, buy a smaller bike and the best way to avoid falling off, don't get on, only my opinion of course........simples!
I will apologise as well for perhaps going off on one. I just get very annoyed when someone tells someone else they shouldn't do something they want to.
i have seen the skid cars etc with them on like geoff says, if they can be fitted to help a new rider when in training and not on the public highway, if it helps the new rider gain confidence and ride better and safer on the road, it seems like a good idea in my opinion.....
Wonder if he has a reverse fitted to that R1 too - would be a bugger parking it otherwise!
Found this a few days ago in a trike magazine (yes, I like trikes!!) and thought it might be relevant to this post. It is a pair of rear wheels that you fit IN ADDITION to the existing rear wheel thus stabilisers and NOT a trike conversion. (They seem to promote it for riding your cruiser in Winter).
Their website isn't ready yet but you can read about the product here:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/PANTHER-Q-D-STABLE-RIDING-KITS_W0QQitemZ120493932610QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item1c0dff8042
Like Geoff the idea of a disability apart from mine which is lack of balance did not enter into the discussion we were having, but on reflection maybe it would be a good idea for those who would feel more confident in riding.
Sorry for the fact that my brain keeps coming up with these wierd ideas, you will all get used to me eventually
Sounds like only tall, strong or those with bags of natural talent should be riding then - in your opinion RK?
As I'm not any of those, perhaps I should give up now and stick to where little weak women belong - on the back!
I have to say, I'm glad some of the attitudes expressed on this thread weren't around when I was first learning to ride and posting here of my frequent topples because I might have been tempted to give it up, believing I was wasting my time - thankfully BM was a more supportive place back then.
Nowadays I have enough miles and experience under my belt to know that toppling is something almost everyone has done and/or will do, for any number of reasons and I just pick myself up, get the bike up, assess the damage and get back on!
As I gain more experience I will learn to overcome my limitations (which with all due respect, 6'+ males are unlikely to comprehend) but from opinions (and yes, you're all entitled to one and to share it) expressed here - if I can't do it right straight away, I shouldn't bother.
Thanks guys.
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