Young fun . . .

[Jeff A]

My wife and I were in our cage headed wb on 635 in the hov lane near Hillcrest about 2:30 last Thursday afternoon.  It was sunny and traffic moderate, maybe even lighter than usual.  2 crotch rockets pass us (what double white line?) from the fast lane into the hov lane.  They are about 30-40 yards in front of us driving side by side, traveling at approximately 75 mph.  The bike on the left is carrying a female passenger.  She is wearing a helmet, t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.  What happens next shocks me.

The driver carrying the pasenger slows momentairly, perhaps down shifting (but doesn't slow), and then lifts the front tire off the ground.  He drives on one wheel for at least 30 seconds, his passenger clutching him the entire time.  Almost as if to convince me I had just seen what I thought I did, after sitting it down for 15 seconds he does it again.  The second wheelie lasted another 30 seconds and he was pulling away from me.  He had to be doing 80 mph.

I have seen bikes on local freeways do wheelies, even at night, but had never seen one do it with a passenger.  For me, this was hard to watch.  Such behavior is, of course, dangerous.  It sends the message to the non cycling public that most riders are reckless.  While I don't know the age of this rider, I suspect he was young.  It seems that a high percentage of serious accidents (maybe even a majority) I hear about involve young riders.  I wonder if there is any wisdom in raisng the age 
for a motorcycle license to 21, or even higher.  The manufacturers would fight this like crazy, but I think it would save lives and lower insurance premiums for everybody.  Does anybody know if any states have passed such a law?

Man, I am starting to sound like the 50 year old I am.

Jeff Atkins

[LemonDrop]

I see that a lot here.  While we don't have the traffice of the metromess, we don't have the quality of the roads either.  Most of the ones I've seen here, neither were wearing helmets or jeans for that matter.  If the young lady on the back was my daughter, and I was to see a young man do this with her on the back, there would be a serious talk forthcoming!!

[RainMaker]

When young, we think we are immortal and indestructible.  As we get older, we figure it out - we're not.  Unfortunately, many of these thrill seekers won't make it to "older" without serious injury.  Of course, that does speed up the "figurin' it out" part.

[Daniel Meyer]

I've been known to have some "fun", maybe less as I've aged...

But even young...I always felt I owed my passanger my best and safest behavior.

A wheelie with my girl on the back? No. Friggen. Way.

[DrewDanube]

I don't think I've ever dated a girl that would tolerate that.  They'd hang on, sure...but they'd leave my a$$ the second we stopped and wouldn't return my phone calls...maybe my taste in women is the problem there...no...thats friggin crazy.  When you are on your own, do what you do and you pay for the consequences.  Do that with a passenger and its just foolish. 

The other thing I keep thinking though...maybe he was such a nOOb to motorcycles that he couldn't do a wheelie without..balast?

[godfire]

This had to hurt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI7gk9GnGiQ&feature=related

[BeeSharp]

Here's an example of scary riding...

http://www.break.com/index/insane-motorcycle-rider-dash-cam-footage.html

Jim

[fiddle mike]

...I wonder if there is any wisdom in raisng the age 
for a motorcycle license to 21, or even higher.  ...

Man, I am starting to sound like the 50 year old I am.

Jeff Atkins

Young men under the age of 27 are bled white by insurance companies because they are high risk.  Perhaps the age requirement for any license  should be raised to 27 for both male and female (in the interest of equality).

[QOTFU]

I see that daily on the freeway in the middle of Houston! Crazy reckless kids. I had one guy on a crother rocket pass between me and another car, on the center stripe on the freeway. Nerve racking!

[RainMaker]

...I wonder if there is any wisdom in raisng the age 
for a motorcycle license to 21, or even higher.  ...

Man, I am starting to sound like the 50 year old I am.

Jeff Atkins

Young men under the age of 27 are bled white by insurance companies because they are high risk.  Perhaps the age requirement for any license  should be raised to 27 for both male and female (in the interest of equality).

So soldiers who drive million dollar tanks, pilot million dollar jets and million dollar naval craft would be restricted from driving a car?  I don't think so.

There is no easy answer to the question of when to allow people to ride motorcycles.  I could also see a law that says you can't ride after you turn 60 (like commercial pilots). 

How about a law that says a second moving violation ticket or specific first time tickets revoke a license when the driver is under 21?  Basically, probation.  Might save some lives.