RubyRS4

My Stag is filthy She could really use a clean too!

Where is it that you work again?

I'm the manager at work Kell. No employer/manager should have double standards when it comes to home-responsibilities. A real manager/employer will understand that personal issues outside the workplace can and will affect you inside the workplace. You getting reemed for time off sick (which was totally satisfactory given your circumstances) and then the boss doing this shows he has unethical double standards.

Feel sorry for these people! Please feel free to add. I find this funny shit and it lightens up my day at tax time of year.

I vote we start a "Stress at Work" thread

I like the reaction from this guy

You can't fake throwing an entire monitor at a female work colleague.

Statistics can be read to say what you want them to say. I've seen the raw data where they get their so-called stats. For one thing, the police do not have an adequate reporting system for motorcycle accidents. Anything that has two wheels and is powered by a motor is considered a "motorcycle" (even off-road trikes or quads). A pushbike with an engine is categorised as a "motorcycle", a scooter (the rider who does not hold a motorcycle licence or had the training) is categorised as a "motorcycle". Dirt bike riders are categorised as a "motorcyclist". Even a 12yo who was recently killed on his parents farm crossing from one paddock to another on his trial bike across a public road, was categorised as a "motorcyclist". Hell, a 16yo killed himself on an R1 around the corner from my house. He had no licence for that bike, no training, and no helmet ... yet he was recorded as a motorcycle death! There are many variables which inflate the stats on motorcycle deaths. I've been in consultation with the Australian Motorcycle Council on safety issues (like those dam wire "safty" fences, and the bullshit front plate legislation) and been an active member of the MRA and I've seen the raw data first hand and assisted in submitting a report (more like a "translation" for those to thick to read the raw data). Per capita "yes" motorcyclists are more vulnerable and represent a 'concerning' number of casualties and fatalities, but it is not as inflated as "23 times more likely" that you've been led to believe. The true number is mroe like 4 times more likely, and this is due to inadequate training and also the ignorance of drivers. 84% of motorcyclists involved in multiple vehicle accidents are found to be not at fault (the driver is at fault), and even single vehicle motorcycle crashes are affected by poor roads, diesel/petrol/oil spills, even pedestrains! So don't go looking to the stats, because they're wrong due to an inadequate reporting system. Now, at the same time, I'm not defending all motorcyclists. There are some real knob jobs out there. I'm only discrediting the statistics which are inaccurate. Look at the raw data for licenced riders. There are a few motorcyclists I see everyday that are asking for trouble the way the ride, or due to lack of gear, and a combination of both! But I've seen car drivers too where I'm shaking my head all the time too. I understand that motorcycles and cars have different places and safety standards on the road and the track. What I am saying is not to be so assumptious. Everyone believes "motorcycles are dangerous" and thats one of the most narrow minded views the public has. Motorcycles do require a higher alertness and roadcraft than car drivers. "42% of all motorcycle fatalities are single vehicle accidents, which might indicate that protective clothing isnt making a huge difference" What a load of cock. Protective clothing makes no difference? That is the stupidest comment I've heard yet. And again, where do those numbers come from? Those numbnuts on scooters who wear minimal or no protective clothing at all? Look at the data that concerns licensed and trained motorcyclists, and you'll see the real story. The stats are only put together to read what was required at the time, so they could introduce new legislation or create new laws against the motorcycling community. Yet they do nothing to improve the training of those motorcyclists. Or introduce proper laws, like making an approved jacket and gloves compulsory also as well as a good quality helmet. That is something the Aust Motorcycle Council was pushing for when I was on the panel but the Govt was not interested. I had applied for employment as an instructor for Rider Safe, but after I discovered they had a set training program which was weak, and not flexible at all, I withdrew my application. Thats why I encourage newbies to ride with seasoned riders so they can learn life saving things that Rider Safe do not promote. And my accident "yes" was single vehicle, but the environment wasn't the best (yes I blame the condition of the road). I still look to that day on how I could have avoided it, but 'meh' whats done is done. I wore the full gear which minimised my injuries being worse (my own 190kg bike was running over me as we slid down the road). I had no head injuries, no injuries from the bike being on top of me, no bruises or abbrasions, only the broken shoulder from striking the gutter on the way down, on the inside kerb. So a good quality helmet worked? Sure did. It was simply a freak accident ... but a motorcycle accident nonetheless. Andrew, I'm aware it wasn't aimed at those who drive competitively only, don't go thinking I was. I was talking about track days myself too. During track days, drivers have poor gear IMO and riders have full leathers etc. So on that level, they are better prepared and therefore better protected according to the level of risk. In a competitive environment, even the car racer would have top spec gear ... so that throws the 'cheap helmet' out the window anyway Why then would you have a cheap lid on your head, if you're going to be travelling at close to race speeds then? I brought up the example of race driver deaths vs motorcycle racer deaths on the level that they would have top shelf equipment on both sides. Riders race gear seems to be more effective than (for example) rally gear, even with the 'cage' around them. Good quality road gear for riders is very much on par with gear worn by racers. You don't see that sort of level in plain track days, where drivers simply need a helmet and long sleeves. You guys can keep turning my words around on me and pull out % from where you want. But the original argument was "would I put my brain in a cheap helmet?". No, I would not. I'm done.

What a f**king looney! :laughing-smiley-014: Felt sorry for the female co-worker who copped the monitor in her face. Everyone must not like working there, if they were happy to stand around and let him trash the place.

Protection is not only in the form of what you wear. Skills, attitude, weather ... even car drivers come undone thru lack thereof. Car drivers have been killed at 60kph. Don't think I've ever heard of a rider being killed at 20kph!?! You have data to support this thought? My money is on the rider. So my $3000 in protective gear is superseded by a $25 bike helmet? Sweet! Yes, I've crashed which supports the point of protective gear ... quality protective gear ... which is what this topic was about. There is nothing safe about Mallala ... the track is a shit hole. Yes, the road is a more dangerous environment ... that applies to cars too, don't forget! In fact your whole opinion also applies to cars. So, again, how many car occupants do you think would be alive today with a good quality helmet? And is this the point where I remind you guys that there have been more car racers killed than motorcycle racers? And with the exception of Pete and myself, who else rides?

I know we're making jokes and all ... but that just sounds sooooo wrong!

Certainly not I got pulled over years ago in my modded Datsun 1600. Cops asked if it had been modified. My response was "yeah, its a 35 year old car and its obviously had mods over the years to stop it falling to pieces and blowing smoke and being a polluting menace on the road". The cops let me go!

<----- (hint)

Same. I use Bendix Ultimates. But I wanna try Ferodo DS 2500 next time around. BTW, yes you should flush out your system with new fluid for best results.

Just a nice box with no dots please. I'll add the sauce

Too right! I'll tell that to my friend Jessica too when she turns up tonight on her VFR

Yeah, me too. I'll take a meat lovers

You're telling me! My nipples are hard!!!

Hehe, I have a way with words sometimes to the GF about motorcycling. She's keen to get her own bike and licence etc. I wouldn't take her out on my bike until she had proper fitting gear and a good lid. When it came to buying boots for her, she wanted a cheap pair due to costs ... not the $450 Alpinestar armoured boots I selected. I simply held up one of each boot in my hands, and asked her to close her eyes: "imagine she's lying on the side of the road; bike is busted by a car; you've shattered your ankle. Now open your eyes and pick a boot!". Obviously she picked the better boot Did the same trick too when it came to helmets ... only she had one essential requirement ... it had to be pink!

Thats a bit of a generalisation. I've had 2 accidents on the street. They were just severe due to the road furniture and other vehicles there to 'hit'. My track gear is far superior to my road gear, and I have crashed numerous times on track at over 130+ kph. I get up and walk away, which is a strong argument for a good quality helmet. So, I am in fact more likely to crash on the track at Mallala than on the street Why not? My close friend was killed when t-boned by a speeding driver! If she wore a helmet, she'd be alive today. And it happened 400m from her home. How many more drivers/passengers would be alive today if they did wear a helmet? Makes more sense in saving lives than speed cameras do! But then if people wore helmets in cars, they can't talk on their phone then could they. I love my riding too much mate and am beyond what people think of me riding I've had my near death experiences and, having said that, I wear appropriate gear always. So I know the value of exceptional gear and I won't wear anything less ... is why I don't like cheap gear. I know the risks, and its my responsibility to protect myself as best I can. In what I wear, my skills, my roadcraft, and my attitude on the road or track. But, of course, you cannot anticiapte everything ... hence my last crash and breaking my shoulder. Which reinforces my point that anything can happen at any time, so why not have the best gear? Motorcycling has brought me soo much joy and new friends. Its no different to SAU. I'd give up driving, before I gave up riding. My mother said something to me the other day that did warm my heart (she was heavily opposed to me riding motorcycles when I first got my licence): "After 19 years, you're still alive, so I guess motorcycles are not that dangerous! ... even in the hands of someone like you!"

Greedy f**kers aren't they?

Fair enough, but the price still isn't right with me Its a simple case of buyer beware really. I've had two serious crashes where my $900 Shoei and $780 Shark lid saved my life, I have no doubts about it. Even my pitbike lid is a $400 item (for low speed stuff). When I motard the bike, I wear my Shark lid. Call me the Ambassador of the Brain Bucket!

So its a rotating door! You give them a % of your income You get some of it back in a return You then feed it back into our economy by purchasing goods Tax from that goes back to the ATO The cops defect you and get more money outta ya Thats some nice cashflow! ... but I think the Govt is the winner here.

Sorry, I cringe at that comment. The statement "probably would not even hit your head" is wishful thinking, sorry Andrew. As a moderator, you should know better than to lull the people here into a false sense of security when speculating that they would be at a low risk of injury if they did crash. You are at reasonable risk of crashing a high speeds on a race track, lets not kid yourself, and even if you are in a race seat with racing harness (and helmet for that matter anyway), you will still get thrown around like a rag doll. A simple question when purchasing a "brain bucket": How much is your brain worth? I've never spent under $700 on a helmet. Whilst those helmets may be fun and safe for 40 kph pitbike rides, I wouldn't recommend them for even track days in cars. ^^^ Agreed. Its just not worth it.

Hmm, about that ... The roses died ... and I ate the chocolates