The guys over at Jalopnik wondered if I would share a little of The Kneeslider and tell their readers why motorcycles are better than cars. I was happy to oblige, so, if you have a minute, you might want to stop over there and see what the car crowd thinks about riding out in the fresh air. Feel free to add a comment while you're at it.
Link: Jalopnik
Chickenflaps says
I’ve just had a look at the comments left on the Jalopnik site, and, frankly, I’m not sure it’s worth the bother (cue tune – Duelling Banjos).
Keep up the great site Paul.
Chickenflaps, England
Ancientrider says
Chickenflaps is right. Many comments were unthinking and vulgar. It’s a shame that I have to share the road with these people when I’m on a motorcycle or bicycle. I hope its being anonymous that lets their worst responses come out and they live more civil lives.
Don’t bother reading the Jalopnik comments. Too much posturing and little insight
Vancouver, Washington
Troy Cardenas says
Jalopnik can suck my *ss!!!! What a piece of work those people are. It sounds like the only thing they want to do is run us riders down and for that they can read the first line again. Congrats to a bunch of tools for learning how to set up a web site.
Miles says
Anybody else see the guys from Top Gear ride across Vietnam on motorcycles?
Amazing, just amazing.
PS, can’t ride because of money, currently have a $200 1989 BMW 325i to drive. So that point is actually valid, can’t get a roadworthy commuter bike as cheap as a car, just because there are so many cars out there.
I wish it wasn’t that way, I want a 400cc commute bike for under a thousand in safe condition (not $500 worth of repairs condition) that will support/fit a 6′ 245lb person.
Perhaps as Fuel injection becomes more mainstream, and maybe if I leave California/USA.
kneeslider says
Among all of the readers over there, I’m guessing a few might stop over here and find The Kneeslider a nice place to hang out. Those others, well, they’ll just move on to the next story. I figure it was worth a try to see what might come of it.
Hawk says
By our very nature, mororcyclists tend to be non-conformists. I must agree that to use blogs such as this to vent off one’s ideas in a vulgar manner does no one any good. Further, it detracts from a very good site done for the benefit of us all.
Vulgarity for shock value has no place here.
Thanks again Paul for continuing to bring us fresh ideas for discussion.
Vancouver, BC
Kenny says
Hahaha! Reading through the comments on Jalopnik is like doing the same on Youtube.
Still spreading the word never hurts, who knows we might get a few coverts.
So keep spreading the word Paul
johnny says
I wouldn’t take it so seriously, you guys.They were just exercising their sense of humor, having a laugh at bike riders . I found it quite amusing what some of them thought. this one in particular made me smile.
“:8. You can smell the pine trees but you can also smell the week old road kill, the garbage truck in front of you, diesel truck exhaust, yourself when you get off after riding in 90+ degree heat wearing a leather jacket, fresh spread manure, etc.”
Ray Wert says
Johnny’s right. Our readers — the non-vocal majority — appeared to love the piece judging by how many of them read it. The VERY vocal minority — may not have. I’m assuming Kneeslider’s going to get a slew of new readers from our post. As well it should. Paul’s done a heck of a job.
Aindriú says
This is one of the very few sites I visit where the comments aren’t overrun by anonymous trolls spewing BS. I enjoy Paul’s posts, and visiting the site is kind of a morning ritual.
@Miles, I’ve got to disagree. It doesn’t take a ton of money to start riding. I picked up an ’83 Yamaha XV750 for $400, and it needed nothing major done to it to make it street-legal or road-ready. I did replace the tires because I prefer newer rubber on the road, but this was an optional thing I did. The bike is, as many know, nothing to write home about, but it got me riding. Once I figure out my own wiring mistake I’ll be back on the road riding and happy.
Miles says
Thanks Aindriú,
I will keep an eye out for that sort of bike.
Aindriú says
No Problem, Miles. Prices will be different this time of year (I bought my bike in Autumn), but deals are still out there to be had. Try to take a knowledgeable friend along with you to give it a look if you find a deal. I was lucky, and knew the guy I got my bike from to be trustworthy.
matt g says
I work in an office- maybe you do too- look around at all the wrist braces from stress injuries, bad posture and obesity and all the comments about “motocycle danger” take on a different light. I’m going to sit motionless to avoid danger and rot? Best response on Jalopnik so far:
“Calling riding a motorcycle “dangerous” is a redundant statement. It would lose most of it’s appeal if it weren’t. One of my bikes has easily a foot of ground clearance. There aren’t a lot of obstacles I can’t get around or over. That includes jelly bean shaped cars.
My organs can’t be recycled at this point so don’t call me an organ donor. Funny how if you break your arm skiing they tell you you’ll be back on the slopes in no time. When you break your arm riding it’s always “When are you going to quit riding those death machines?”
Kiss my ass.”
emmet says
Jalopnik, a sensitive bunch. Of course motorcycles will not replace cars but this wasn’t the reason for the post. It points at the lack of experiences car enthusiasts are missing out on because of the nature of their passion: a motorcycle can provide greater satisfaction on the road. Driving a car is like watching tv, where the driver is separated from the road, sitting in a bucket seat with a set of controls for the air conditioning and the radio. There are no distractions like these on a sportbike. In fact, the false sense of security in a car and disconnection from the road is an explanation to the number one reason of death in America. A motorcyclist requires more physical exertion (that’s why moto gp riders are as fit as olympic athletes) with the bike taking the extended form of the rider. Of course there are risks involved with motorcycling, and unfortunately this involves external factors more often than rider error (read: ignorant cage drivers).
Phoenix827 says
Most of the people that wrote in to Jalopnik were rude, crude and discusting. They probably are the same idiots I want to be removed from the road.One person had the gall to comment about motorcycle riders being crushed under his 4×4. What a sicko. I removed Jalopnok from my favorites and will not go back if that is their audience.
WillyP says
I visit Jalopnik frequently, but gave up on the comments a long time ago. Enjoy the odd stories there, don’t even read the comments anymore.
Chris Y. says
I actually enjoy the commenters on Jalopnik quite immensely, since they are one of the few websites that aren’t full of knuckleheads. Most of the time the idiots get chewed out by either the mods or others, and you have to pass an audition to be able to comment at all. I think you guys might be taking them too seriously. It’s not like the majority of them are wrong- motorcycling isn’t for everyone because while a lot of people want to try, even the folks there recognize that it’s dangerous because of other idiot drivers.
By the way, one of their contributors, Wes Siler, also works for the motorcycle blog Hell for Leather.
Bigshankhank says
I still enjoy Jalopnik, like anythying take the commenters with a (BIG) grain of salt, some are just trying to be funny whther appropriate or not, but for the most part you are trying to convert cat lovers into dog lovers, they chose their camp and it won’t change now. However as Paul stated there might be a few converts and that makes it worthwile.
david says
I should have read these comments before wading through the comments on the jalopnik article. paul’s points of logic and wisdom drowned out by a lot of ignorance and what appears to be jealousy from people who haven’t even tried a motorcycle yet. sigh.
John @ designsincoldsteel says
To everyone in general,
I for one can enjoy both the performance cars and motorcycles. We work on both and enjoy them equally, but in different ways. We get tremendous satisfaction out of reworking and modifying a BMW or Audi in the same way that we get satisfaction out of building a one off bike. Before you throw stones at someone else take a hard look in the mirror. Enjoy what you have and stay away from the negative comments as it makes you no better than the ones that have negative comments against you. If you look at it realistically what the hell is the difference anyway?
John @ designsInColdSteel
Boog says
Have you guys read the new fuel economy/emission regs that are supposed to be in full effect by 2016? Does anyone realize what this will do to the price of a new car, I wonder?
Bikes are going to be the only affordable way to get anywhere by then. We are going to look like those videos of India, Vietnam, and other third world places where all you see is 2 wheelers clogging the streets.
Maybe that would be OK, but it’s gonna be interesting in the snow and ice…