Bosozoku!

[Stichill]

max!

I guess I'm not a fan of people using motorcycles in a non-serious way, e.g. obnoxiously loud pipes, stunting on the highway, street racing, swarming/flash mobbing, ape hangers, motorcycle gangs, stretched-swingarm / pimped-out 'busas, and these goofy Bosozoku. These are social phenomena that are less about the motorcycles than they are about sticking a finger in the eye of their fellow citizens. Same thing as the stupid boom-boom cars that were popular a few years back, or these diesel pickups that "roll coal" on Toyota Priuses.

I think any "look-at-me-I'm-being-obnoxious" behavior that involves motorcycles diminishes our sport/hobby and by association us as riders in the eyes of the larger society.

Interesting observation, Stichill. I'm assuming you actually find any "look-at-me-I'm-being-obnoxious" behavior objectionable and are limiting it purely for the purposes of this forum and conversation.

It makes me wonder why the wider community is so willing quickly to lump all motorcyclists in the obnoxious category when it seems to me highly unlikely they'd do the same thing, say, to all car drivers because of the behaviour of an obnoxious sub-class of car driver.

There must be something about motorcycles.

Pretty much. I have a neighbor in my rural area who thinks it’s OK to fire his semi-automatic rifle at night, simply because the rifle is legal and shooting (including at night) is not illegal in this locale. I told him I’m fine with his shooting but not at night, because people (not me) are complaining. He says he’s a right to do it. My argument is that the government will remove the right to shoot at night (it’s allowed for vermin control), not just for him but for all of us, if there’s enough political pressure to do so. Pressure brought on because of inconsiderate behavior by guys like him. Nobody will complain about a couple shots at a varmint. Emptying magazines for an hour is way over the line.

max!

I guess I'm not a fan of people using motorcycles in a non-serious way, e.g. obnoxiously loud pipes, stunting on the highway, street racing, swarming/flash mobbing, ape hangers, motorcycle gangs, stretched-swingarm / pimped-out 'busas, and these goofy Bosozoku. These are social phenomena that are less about the motorcycles than they are about sticking a finger in the eye of their fellow citizens. Same thing as the stupid boom-boom cars that were popular a few years back, or these diesel pickups that "roll coal" on Toyota Priuses.

I think any "look-at-me-I'm-being-obnoxious" behavior that involves motorcycles diminishes our sport/hobby and by association us as riders in the eyes of the larger society.

Interesting observation, Stichill. I'm assuming you actually find any "look-at-me-I'm-being-obnoxious" behavior objectionable and are limiting it purely for the purposes of this forum and conversation.

It makes me wonder why the wider community is so willing quickly to lump all motorcyclists in the obnoxious category when it seems to me highly unlikely they'd do the same thing, say, to all car drivers because of the behaviour of an obnoxious sub-class of car driver.

There must be something about motorcycles.

A guy at work said to me, “You guys on motorcycles, weaving around traffic and cutting people off, blasting past on your loud crotch rockets.”

I said, “You guys in cars, with your giant spoilers, loud f*rt-can exhausts, glowing purple headlights, and blasting bass stereos.”

He stood there blinking at me.