by Wilbur Kookmeyer » Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:28 am
That Oregon DOT and Big Brother in general.
Got a letter the other day from the DOt saying...hey...we noticed you ahve a registered motorcycle but DMV records show you have no endorsement.
They went to tout the Teen..uh I mean Team Oregon classes (whores) and how there has been such a hge increase in motorcycle fatalities and blah blah blah.
Hey morons...I have had several registerd bikes over the years. I have NEVER had an endorsement.
I have yet to lay a scoot down in a savage manner.
You want to know what is killing these kids on the motorcycles?
the kids and the motorcycles.
The vast majority of deaths (especially in the last couple of years) can be directly related to new, young, inexperienced riders on way more bike than they can handle.
The Katana I had was way tame in comparison to the Jigsters and what not these young guys have. That Katan weighed 450 lbs and had 92 horses with 50 ft lbs of torque. It's power band was incredible. Stock numbers have it rated at 0-60 in 4 seconds. I can tell you it was more like 3 or less. With a rider it equals about 6.5 lbs per horse.
In comparison an $87,000 Dodge Viper carries a weight of around 3500 lbs with a 500 hp powerplant. This equals (with a driver) somewhere around 7 lbs per horse. It also has a 0-60 around 4 seconds.
The differnece? Well...for one...no 18 year old kid I know can walk into a dealership and buy an $87,000 car. For that price you could buy a baker's dozen of Katanas. Also, when you wipe out in the Viper, that safety cage in the body is probably going to help you out a bit more than when you lose it flying along inches away from meat-shredding asphalt.
The other week an associate of mine lost his 20 year old son in a single vehicle accident. You know what killed him? He did. Went to fast into a turn. What was he riding? A crotch rocket. How long had he been riding? Three months.
And he had an endorsement from Teen Oregon.
You want to reduce the fatality rate in motorcycles? Restrict the size of bike anyone under the age of 21 can ride. And outlaw anyone under the age of 18 riding a street motorcycle.
Screw you ODOT. The only thing that has saved my @ss on a scoot over the years is me and a bit of luck. That endorsement does not mean a thing.
Your electric car runs on coal. Think about it....