Stunting

[Mat]

why are some of you against it?  i just want some opinions.

[Flash]

Check out this website for your video pleasure: http://www.sportbikehype.com/
I figure since they are a bunch of local boys in the DFW area I would give them props.

1. Click "Video Teaser" on the right hand side of  to get an in depth look into trick riding.
2. You can also click "SBH Videos" on the left hand side for more streaming videos of trick riding.

I think its pretty cool, but some of the things they do are not in a safe environement (i.e. six bikers poppin wheelies on the highway at the same time!). In fact, I would not mind learning some of the more "sane" tricks like a rolling burnout or a stoppie.

As long as it is in a controlled environment or not around pedestrians I'm ok with it. Have some common sense though and wear a helmet and some leathers!

Flash

[JohnNS]

I'm guessing most people don't actually have a problem with it...until it's taken to the street. Problem is, it IS taken to the street far too often.

See....whether we like it or not we are, ultimately, ambassadors for the "sport" if I may call it that. I know it's not just a sport..but you know what I mean.      Our actions on the road influence the way people perceive us, good or bad. Whenever I see somebody pull a big wheelie down the busy street next to my apartment building (and it happens alot) I can't help but think.."Well...that's another 30 cars that hate motorcyclists now."  

There have been times when I've had close calls when I KNOW the car driver did what they did intentionally. Some people out there just seem to have it in for us, and I'm willing to bet there's a good chance it's because they had some dickhead wheelie past them on mainstreet one day...or something similar, and decided at that moment that we're all assholes and it's his (or her) mission to make life difficult for us because we are.

Having said that, I think stunting itself is very cool, I think it's amazing people can do what they do, and they have my complete respect and admiration. However, I think stunting on busy city streets is quite the opposite. It's stupid, it's dangerous, and it doesn't help our (motorcyclists) plight with "cagers" at all. For those who do stunt on busy streets, just so you know, the only people who think it's cool are children. Everybody else (including most riders) think you're an idiot.

My 2 cents worth..for what it's worth. Since it's 2 cents Canadian, that's not much.    

John

[Casimir]

When I got my bike, and friends/coworkers found out I got a "crotch rocket" many reacted by telling me of their recent encounters with stunters doing wheelies on the freeway at 70 miles an hour.

Whether the stunter is in full control of the situation or not, the public perceives it as dangerous. And as has been said, that gives us all a bad image. "Harleys and cruisers are ridden by outlaws, sport bikes are ridden by dangerous stunters." It's not the case, but the 2% are what set the image for the other 98%.

If a cop sees me going 5 MPH over the limit and he thinks I'm a potential stunter, he's going to have it out for me, I'm a public menace in the making.  If he thinks I'm someone who happens to have chosen to ride on two wheels this morning, I'm just another vehicle in the flow of traffic.

That being said, if it's not on the street, go for it. It definitely shows some acrobatic riding skills. It's not for me, but I'd much rather fly a plane than jump out of it too. As long as the only person you are putting in harm's way, then, well, It's your body/life, risk away.

[Arpee]

As "cool" as it looks, those f__ers are responsible for the soaring insurance rates on sportbikes..... :guns:

[V8Pinto]

Check out this website for your video pleasure: http://www.sportbikehype.com/
I figure since they are a bunch of local boys in the DFW area I would give them props.

Wow......  I just spent 30 minutes watching those videos.  Those long wheelies are INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The street scenes freaked me out a bit but I like the tricks.

I noticed that to get stoppies, Christian P. first throws his weight forward, then the rear comes up naturally.  I have been trying to "put weight on the front tire" but I think the "put your weight forward" will get the rear up better.  About 2 out of 10 times the rear comes up for me (like 3-4").  The other 8 times I get a skid with the front wheel.  Actually, I like the skidding the front wheel

[bbanjo]

I'm not against stunting.

I'm against F'ing around where other people can get hurt. I think that LEARNING to stunt on a $10K bike is completely idiotic.

I can do wheelies all day long on my old dirt bikes. I can jump insane distances...on my old dirt bikes, but I refuse to do that kind of stuff on the bike that I depend on to get me to work (ok, I have a sweet Golf too, but the bike is more fun) everyday.

Do I go fast? Yes.

Do I take chances? I ride a motorcycle.

Do I stunt? I'm too old. For that reason stunting is stupid  

Wala kang titi,

Grumpy Old Man

[shep_bannister]

I JohnNS said it pretty well.

[KevinC]

I'm just wondering at the psychology of people that do stunting on the street. They obviously are trying to draw attention to themselves. Sort of like those stupid straight pipes on Harleys and the clones. People not getting enough attention or affirmation in the rest of their lives?

There are actually world competitions for stunting. I know a few local people that have gone, and they are very good. They do it on the race track, and usually do a lunch show at the races.

Personally, it bores the shaZam! out of me. Once you've seen one cloud of tire smoke, and one wheelie and stoppie, it's pretty much just more of the same. Except for the broken bike parts, and injured riders! Yeah, the audience loves crashes and pain!

[Greg Gabis]

I think stunting can be cool. There's something plain ol fun about popping wheelies, doing burnouts, etc. Doing it on the street, tho', is just plain stoopit.

By the same token, I think street racing is just plain stoopit, too.

Take it to a secure, closed course with medical on hand.

[glenn9171]

The part of stunting that gets to me is when a guy goes out and trashes his $10,000 bike trying a trick and then files the crash as "sand in a curve" with his insurance company.  Then all of the other riders end up paying higher premiums as a result.  This and dealers selling GSX-R1000's to 17 year olds is the reason that most reasonable people can't afford insurance on sportbikes.

If a person were to do their stunting off of the public streets and highways, AND take responsibility (financially) for their mistakes, then I have no problems at all with stunting.  Just wear all of you proper gear.

[pantablo]

I think everyone here hit the nail on the head.

1) stunting is really cool and the guys that do it are really talented. I like to watch that stuff as much as the next guy but taken to the local streets they just make us all look bad in the eyes of the general public. Its a form of the new "Outlaw Biker".

2) insurance- 'nuff said.

3) what JohNS said..


Mat, glad you're back. Hope you're healing quickly.

[StanFry]

It's not just the bike insurance.  Up here we have universal healthcare.  If some guy/girl screws up a stoppie and hurts themselves, my tax dollars pay for that, and I am already taxed enough.

Now if someone wants to go out and practice stunts, and then wants to write a cheque to fix/replace the bike and another cheque to cover the repair of their damaged body.  Then, by all means, go for it.

Otherwise, wear all your gear and ride like the responsible adult you should be.

Sorry for the venting, but when I only see 55 cents of every dollar I earn, I start looking for scapegoats.


Stan

[Mat]

Once you've seen one cloud of tire smoke, and one wheelie and stoppie, it's pretty much just more of the same.

racing is just people turning left and right watching that gets boring too.

[JasonB]

To each his own on stunting or racing or hunting or sex.

There is a time and a place for everything and the big thing with stunters and even racers is keep it off our roads.

I dont care for nascar but millions of others like it, still doesnt mean it should be done on the road.

[KevinC]

racing is just people turning left and right watching that gets boring too.

Well, I race because I enjoy it, and I don't want an audience. I watch racing because I can appreciate the skill of the riders and the nuances of how they go faster than others around the same track. Stunters seem to need the audience, and as I said, I personally find it boring. It's sort of like figure skating or free-style skiing - it just doesn't interest me at all, and is done entirely for the audience.

If you want to do stunts off the street, with the damage on your dime, and with medical coverage for it, go right ahead. Won't bother me, just as I hope my racing on the track doesn't bother anyone else. I pay for my parts when I blow it up or crash. I have medical coverage for racing.

I'd check the steering head bearings and fork alignment pretty often on a stunt bike, or it's liable to crash on a straight road.

[JasonB]

I'd check the steering head bearings and fork alignment pretty often on a stunt bike, or it's liable to crash on a straight road.

I hear the ruts in Reno can be killer. We have Tar Snakes here.

:lol:

[Flash]

I found another great website that has ALOT of downloadable motorcycle videos: http://www.uponone.com/videos.php

There are different categories to choose from at the top: track, dirt, wheelies, etc. What is nice about this one is you can sort by most viewed, date, or title.

Here are my favorites:
-- Whack pak (category: everything else) - check the guy out at the end; does a 720 on the tank on his ass!
-- Crash clips (category: track) - this is the luckiest guy in the world!
-- 725ft Endo! (category: stoppies) - need I say more


THis one is amazing as well:
http://www.cloud10.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=95

Enjoy!
Flash

[Pkaaso]

[WAP]

I JohnNS said it pretty well.

Yup. I was actually going to read the entire thread this time, but i say JohnNS has the last word on this. BUMP!