Article from todays paper

[up2nogood]

Same here. He must have aged quickly.

[javaman]

People, this kind of thing already enforced in where I come from. People can only buy less than 200cc bikes there. So what did they do? They build 2 strokers and boy these things are fast. Go up to 200kph and all on a NASTY chassis. So yes people still die.

[Jonno]

As far as I am concerned he is responsible for his actions all which didn’t happen at the same time, I mean he actually went and bought the bike and as anyone knows it takes longer than 1 hr to do that (took 4 hrs each time for both of mine off the floor) all this time he would have been thinking of what he was doing, ok the dealer has it registered for him, he knowingly rode the bike (probably) home also knowing he shouldn't be on that bike (so why didn’t mum/dad stop him there) or did he stack it first few KM's from the dealers yard?
Anyway he had at least 3 decisions over a period of one day maybe more with plenty of time to realise his responsibilities.

Replace the references to motorbike with car and what do you get?

A non story..

[Stereo]

He was doing 120 in a 60km zone...

He would have done the same thing if he was driving an HSV, or a rex, or was on an Apprillia RS250....

Some people are like that....

[Aussie Ninja]

I got my liscence through Q-ride and bought my 6R after probably too little training. I guess being older helped but I knew that the bike was too much for me at my level of experience and putted around till I got used to it. The rider is the one that turns the throttle.

[RG]

He's 20yrs old and can afford a $16,000 bike.
I'm way over 20 and I can't even afford a $5000 ZZR600, very disturbing...

[seraph]

He's 20yrs old and can afford a $16,000 bike.
I'm way over 20 and I can't even afford a $5000 ZZR600, very disturbing...

I'm probably around your age, RG, and I'm thinking of buying my second house. I'll try and sneak in a new motorcycle at the same time, but we'll see. Talk to Mr Bank Manager, that's what the rest of us do. -J.

[greenmeanie]

He's 20yrs old and can afford a $16,000 bike.
I'm way over 20 and I can't even afford a $5000 ZZR600, very disturbing...

Called dealer finance mate. Dealers luv these guys(young bloke walks in with no cash).

Anyway back to the topic at hand.......population control. Shit happens & people die.
Just what we need more regulations.

[smek]

He was doing 120 in a 60km zone...

He would have done the same thing if he was driving an HSV, or a rex, or was on an Apprillia RS250....

Some people are like that....

still it could have been a 60 zone in the middle of nowhere, my instant reaction was dickhead. but then the gor is only 80 and I've done way over 120 on that. I think they just put in the bit about it being a 60 zone to turn everyone against him. who knows what the circumstances are.

just families looking for anyone to blame except someone close to them.

oh and nothing wrong with P platers on 600's it's legal here though, as long as you are off restrictions.

[Nanna10r]

I agree with .

My condolences for the Mother & families loss.
Having said that She should be honest with herself & examine what part she played/or didnt (by lack of action) in her sons death & stop looking for the "boogie man in the form of a bike shop".
Brett

[dave#3]

This particular woman had me off-side earlier in the year when she had petitions at the Road Warrior and one of her claims was that it was easier to get a motorcycle license than it was to get a car license.


I feel sorry for her loosing her son, but, FFS, what ever happened to personal responsibility ?

[photomike666]

Maybe this is the Darwin effect in process. He didn't have the skills to survive in the situation he put himself in, and his mother failed to protect her offspring - sad, but nature is often cruel

[JamesLaugesen]

Maybe this is the Darwin effect in process. He didn't have the skills to survive in the situation he put himself in, and his mother failed to protect her offspring - sad, but nature is often cruel

Exactly what I was gunna post... the dude probably would've died somehow.
Very sad, but I'm convinced very true. I'm only 21 and I've already lost a few friends in what I'm (un)happy to accept as Darwin getting funky for the greater good.
It is however unfortunate that sensational journalism like that only cranks up the red spotlight on our already "unsupported" lifestyle/hobby/sport of riding and can only make things worse for us.

I actually bought and rode my ZXR a few months before I was off my Ps. Call me an idiot, I knew it was a big risk, but it was my choice and I was very concious of not degrading the image of other riders, so basicly I rode like a whimp.
But my point is that realisticaly having a P on your license doesn't automaticly mean you'll die and enforcing such things will only generate more contempt for our bikes, and our skills.

Which is exactly what's happening with 4-wheelers with the plethora of "safe vehicle" promotions and government "we made this so good" compaigns... "Speed cameras, saving lives" - Oh ok excellent, then if I don't get caught by a speed camera, I'll stay alive.

The only way for bans like that to work is to go the fully monty like every other country before us (ie, most Asian countries) and say "100 people died on this bike, BAM banned from import or sale in this country, full stop".

My 5 cents (I'm too young to still own 2 cents).

[Jonno]

No vehicle is safe even parked....... all a perception of the nut holding the wheel... just as easy get crunched in a truck....I know and rather be on a bike as I feel and know I am safer

[bonester]

I was sorta involved in a similar situation about 10 years ago.
A young bloke I knew, Anthony, lived behind a mate of mine. He was 17 and was on a learner's permit for 250cc. He was a wild sort of kid, and bought a CB900 from the local Honda shop, and I am sure that they were aware that he was unlicenced to ride that sort of bike. Do I blame them? No.
He was a boilermaker by trade, and welded some bits of bar to the fronts of his steelcaps- at night he would drag his feet on the road, and an impressive shower of sparks followed him.
I rode his bike a couple of hours before his accident, and it freaked the hell out of me when he died from it, also as I had a big accident not long before, riding way beyond my abilities at the time. The CB was a good old bike, and pretty quick for what it was.
Anyhow he was travelling along Holberton St in Toowoomba, with a pillion (a girfriend of his) at high speed when a car pulled out in front of him. The force of his bike pushed the car into another car, and his handlebars were lodged into the glovebox of the car. The windscreen cut his throat, and I assume this is what killed him- maybe he had other bad injuries too. The girl was thrown clear and survived. While Anthony lay there dying, some scumbag stole his wallet which contained a couple of thousand dollars. Rumour has it that he sold some dope here and there. Pretty low act to steal off someone who is injured/dying. What goes around comes around I hope in this case.
I think that Anthony would have purchased a similar bike privately or otherwise had Honda not sold the bike to him. He made the choices. Pity it turned out like that for him- he was a nice kid, and definitely the life of the party.