buildit

Bump for the weekend.

I suppose it's no coincidence that people who have already taken steps to get their bikes legal seem to have some of the hardest views on those who havn't.

+2 For most riders it has less to do with can the bike do it and more to do with can you ride that machine well enough to do it?

Well, you know all my bikes are plated. So I'm okay, but as this is being discussed on three seperate forums some interesting perspectives have come up. Almost everyone here has taken the it's the law, deal with it attitude. Other forums with more competition riders have a more mixed view ranging from: 1. Riders not complying with the laws and rules are only damaging our sport by making us targets to law enforcement officials. 2. We have been off the radar so long it is sad to see greedy towns decide it is in their best interest to target us now. 3. The costs of the sport is already so high that the addition of street legal requirements will make it too expensive for many to participate in the rides. 4. The only reason we're on the street is because local and state governments keep dividing up lagal riding areas so that there too small to hold our events on. So they need to make special permits for us so that we can continue to enjoy our sport. I can not say if any of these views are 100% the right answer, but it has become clear this topic has lots of diffrent opinions depending on what side of the issue you stand.

With a hospital visit related to the accident I can only imagine that he will soon have a pile of Lawyer letters to choose from.

I was only teasing you. There's no wrong way to run that area because even the "boring roads" are fun.

I may be overly paranoid but for the reasons of disclosure, I would not post anything here concerning the nature of your health with particulars. You'd be surprised what lawyers can dig up on a person from the web. If you state you're okay here they can use it in court as evidence that you are falsely acting injured. (I know this because my GF's son {14yo} got hit with info from his facebook page in court.) Take care and be smarter than they are.

Currently I can't wear pants to get on the bike and ride. My legs are covered in poison ivy blisters (itch, scratch, puss and all)

Yeah, Swinset has it almost right. From London on rt56 I usualy head to 278 just past 328, then North into Nelsonville where I catch 78 to Ringold and 555. From 555 and 50 I might run West on 50 back to 278 north to 56W or 50 into McArthur then North on 93 to 664 via a back road or further West to catch 327N past Tar Hollow back to 56 and on home. There are so many options.

I can also add from my accident this summer a new trick that they pull. Reguardless of what the police say (other driver was sited) the offenders insurance company can declare that their client was only 50%, 75% 90% at fault and therefore only refund you that percent of your deductible. You can imagine how pissed I was to get a check for $375 out of a $500 deductible because they decided I was 25% at fault! Yes, I am fighting it since I wasn't the one who pulled across 3 lanes of traffic.

Are you sure your computer isn't gay or has a hair lip?

Good on ya for lending him some needed help. Sorry to hear you ran into trouble with the fuel guage.

We're all out of wings! All that's left is chicken strips!

We try not to hit eachother, although some like to hit on eachother. Welcome to the site.

Classic! Big Win.

Does anyone live close enough to Mr A to give him a ride to the hospital?

And reguardless of private property file a police report. May insurance companies require one to be filed within 24 hours. Glad you are okay and not on the bike.

Have either of you ever done an enduro ride?

I shot some video of my offroad adventure saturday as I searched for route for my big bike tour next weekend. This was a road at one point, to bad it disappeared about 1000 ft behind where I started filming. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usVh8bhEbtQ This was an old road that is still used by four wheelers, the V-strom is not the right bike for serious mud and when the front dropped into the mud I knew better than to try and power my way thru. Good thing I'm a big guy and could lift/pull it back out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqTRSSceHxs As for the Big Bike Tour here is the teaser I put together for it showing some gravel roads we'll be traveling down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ADocIZEkE

^^^ I have heard of events using parade laws that allow unlicensed vehicles to drive on the street, but these occured in other states.

Attached from another forum from someone at the event.

I really understand what each of you is saying and I have even gone to the expense of transforming my YZ426 into a street legal ride with turn signals and everything just so I can go between trails around McArthur. Like I said, I'm not sure how to feel. Part of me is really pissed they would hit them right at the end of the ride like that knowing they'd be coming back through. Bit like ticketing a bunch of parade floats and Shriners in their little clown cars at the end of the parade for not being street legal. But I know these guys are all warned about needing to be street legal. It's just the first time I've ever seen law enforcement ticket riders for not obeying. Hell, at the Peace Pipe in Greenville I've seen police block off the road so riders can transition from one area to another. Granted a lot of Greenville riders DO follow the rules and have plates on their bikes, even if the plate is not for that bike.

There are lots of bikes that are not sold with head lights or tail lights and don't have a stator big enough to run either.

I know, but as I said a lot of enduros are run by riders without plates because they can't/won't get their bikes plated. This is part of a larger problem facing offroad riders as areas available continue to shrink and be closed off or cut into pieces forcing riders onto public roads. The temptation of a long ride linking many areas together is enough to draw a lot of MX and dirt bikes. These events also help local communities with people who camp, rent out rooms, and eat at the local dinners. It seemes like harrasment for the police to wait for them at the end of their ride. On the flip side Zach is correct. All AMA santioned events require bikes to meet guidlines for noise, spark arresting, and be street legal if traveling on public roads. However, all you need to do is drive around a town like McArthur to see the ATVs that are never street legal being used by locals on the road. Are the police stopping and ticketing them too? I don't know. But if they are it certainly isn't effecting the use of ATVs on public roads.

I was down in McArthur scouting trails when the Baby Burr riders started returning to the fairgrounds from their enduro. This is an AMA sanctioned event that has been going on for a while. Apparently the armed revenue generators (police) decided to start pulling unplated bikes as they returned. Not sure how to feel about this since all my bikes are plated. I just hate to see an organized event harassed this way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LnJvzXetNo