France - Reposted from our previous publication on the subject on Right To Ride EU. Straight from the website of the French Riders Group – FFMC – regarding the end of their government plans for riders to wear hi-viz sees the proposal watered down and transposed into law for riders to carry a hi-viz vest on/in their motorcycle and other vehicles – three-wheeled motorized or non bodywork motor quadricycle. The hi-viz should have a CE mark certifying it meets regulations – however we assume that if as a visiting rider to France you will be required to carry hi-viz equipment … [Read more...]
The ‘Wrong Side’ Of The Road
United Kingdom - Looking forward to a quick holiday across ‘La Manche’ before it gets too busy? Landing in France and knowing you can ride just about anywhere is still rather exiting for most of us however beware as we are now being watched a little closer than normal. Waiting ‘en masse’ in the port of Calais however are the Gendarmes who appear to be paying a little bit more attention to the behaviour of some of us riders ‘inbound’ from Dover. Hypocrites I know! Not that long ago we all thought the French themselves were the scary drivers, in particularly the Parisians; … [Read more...]
The Wave
Canada - You may have read the following article before but at Motorcycle Minds we have just come across it, where have we been? The article written by Tom Ruttan from what we can gather for "Cycle Canada" in 2002 explores the symbolization of the wave (here in the UK its usually a nod) and the connection between riders that, "if they saw you and your bike on the side of the road, they would stop to help and might not ask your name." With Tom rejoicing when he sees a younger rider on a "crotch rocket" scream past and return a wave - New riders carrying on … [Read more...]
Lawrence of Arabia and the Helmet Law
United Kingdom - “Boa and I took the Newark road for the last hour of daylight. He ambles at forty-five and when roaring his utmost, surpasses the hundred. A skittish motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocation, to excess conferred by its honeyed untiring smoothness. Because Boa loves me, he gives me five more miles of speed than a stranger would get from him”. Original Source: T E Lawrence This 1000cc motorcycle was the prized possession of T E … [Read more...]
Are You A Biker?
Spain - Ver la versión original en español: One of the recurring themes in discussions between bikers on Internet forums, is the definition of what it is to be a biker? Usually you try to relate this – biker concept - to the type of bike or the use made of it: If being a biker means to ride a motorcycle of a legendary make or not. If being a biker means riding all year round in bad weather and good weather and not as an obstacle to the enjoyment of riding your motorcycle. What's clear is that these questions always prompt a debate because it appears to be the definition … [Read more...]
Eres Motero?
España – Ver la versión Inglés: Uno de los temas recurrentes en las conversaciones entre moteros y foros de Internet, es la definición sobre qué es ser un Motero? Habitualmente se intenta relacionar este concepto con el tipo de moto o el uso que se hace de ella: Si sólo se rueda cuando hace buen tiempo, o las inclemencias no es un obstáculo para disfrutar de la motocicleta. Si se es más motero por poseer una máquina de una marca mítica o no. Lo que es claro es que esta cuestión siempre incita al debate puesto que parece ser la definición de lo que cada uno entiende por … [Read more...]
The Good Rider
United States – Part 2: Balancing and Steering I started this series with the idea that a “good rider” is more than someone who can go fast on the track, and I suggested a list of characteristics that I think would define my ideal “good rider.” My list started with: A good rider is a motorcyclist who is skillful in control of a wide variety of motorcycles. Of course, different machines balance, accelerate, corner, and stop differently. I hope you haven’t developed a bigotry that prevents you from appreciating motorcycles that have more than two wheels. We’ll get to … [Read more...]
