What the ? ABS is your friend

sr71caspar said:

I would say- anyone who is retired should hand in their licence.

Senile old duffers, doddering around aimlessly are a huge danger to normal people.

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I retired at 56. - does that count??

andyBeaker said:

I retired at 56. - does that count??

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Absolutely aimed at you

Under 50 and retired...... just ordering some comfy shoes.

andyBeaker said:

I would hope that legislation comes in that means everyone over a certain age needs to be retested regularly.

75? 80?

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But when you reach 75/80 if your still medically fit enough, as a lot of people are, would your view still be the same or would it be, 'one more year!'.
Surprising how a persons view can change when the subject is their future selves, espescially if you would otherwise be house bound.

DEG5Y said:

But when you reach 75/80 if your still medically fit enough, as a lot of people are, would your view still be the same or would it be, 'one more year!'.
Surprising how a persons view can change when the subject is their future selves, espescially if you would otherwise be house bound.

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Age itself shouldn't be a bar to driving so imo setting an absolute limit is a bit daft, I know people a lot younger than me (pushing 56) that should never be allowed on the road, but having regular medicals from around 60 seems like common sense to me as is suspension of any licence if there is a suspicion of not being fit to drive for any reason

As an example I haven't ridden a bike for months after my carpal tunnel operation, yes I could have but would I have been riding to 100% of my ability? the answer is no so I sat in a tin box if I wanted to go anywhere because its the right thing to do & I was safe to drive, I will stop driving & riding when I am unsafe to do either & so should everyone else ........... but they wont because people are intrinsically selfish

slim63 said:

but they wont because people are intrinsically selfish

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The point I am making.

DEG5Y said:

But when you reach 75/80 if your still medically fit enough, as a lot of people are, would your view still be the same or would it be, 'one more year!'.
Surprising how a persons view can change when the subject is their future selves, espescially if you would otherwise be house bound.

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Not sure where you got that from?

I am advocating regular retesting past a specific age.

Don't know what that age is.

Some are very capable 90, others unsafe at any age you care to choose.

andyBeaker said:

I would hope that legislation comes in that means everyone over a certain age needs to be retested regularly.

75? 80?

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As I have mentioned before, that is not going to happen anytime soon for any age group.

It was proposed and discussed over 10 years ago. There were a number of us approached about becoming part time examiners to compliment the DSA examiners and then the whole concept was dropped for various reasons.

But in any case, retests could not be applied retrospectively, it could only apply to people who passed their test on or after a certain date in the future.

andyBeaker said:

I don't understand why bikes don't have abs as standard now, been knocking around for long enough - the VFR must have had them a good 15+ years ago.

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Makes very little difference as far as a bike is concerned, in fact I would go as far to say that ABS has contributed to some very nasty crashes simply because you cannot use ABS on a bike the same way as you can in a car.

I was involved in the evaluation of ABS for Lockheed Girling who fitted some of our Police bikes with the system. On the one occasion I was on the office spare which did not have ABS I was thankfull because ABS would have caused a fatality. There were a few of us of the same opinion.

The flip side on the bike is that riders will assume that ABS will get them out of trouble and so unlike us old wrinklies do not learn how to use the brakes properly but depend on the ABS.

There is a lot more, but in essence, I am all for ABS on a car or 4 wheeled vehicle, but not on bikes.

I have no real thoughts on good or bad re ABS
The Bird aint got it, the Panzer has but is switchable. I turn it off when green lane'ing cos a lot of the time I WANT to be able to lock the back wheel solid to do a controlled slide down a muddy hill or similar

I will never have a bike with ABS or any other rider aids unless they are easy to remove/disconnect or otherwise bin !

I reckon it saved me when "an old codger" who drove through a red light.
I had driven about 250 miles that day was was about 5 minutes from home.
It was dry and a good surface.

Me! said:

Under 50 and retired...... just ordering some comfy shoes.

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And a cardigan

Both my Panzers have ABS. Like John, I can turn all the electric trickery off on the beast by sticking her in Enduro
Pro mode but I don’t think I can turn it off on baby Panzer.

Me! said:

Under 50 and retired...... just ordering some comfy shoes.

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and a 'Big Slipper'
One of those things you put both feet in when watching the one eyed corner inhabitant
Can you imagine..
A drug dealer buys one..
snuggles down for a nights viewing when he is raided.
door comes caving in, plod finds bloke laying on the floor in his twee red onesie and his feet still stuck in his big slipper

Jaws said:

and a 'Big Slipper'
One of those things you put both feet in when watching the one eyed corner inhabitant
Can you imagine..
A drug dealer buys one..
snuggles down for a nights viewing when he is raided.
door comes caving in, plod finds bloke laying on the floor in his twee red onesie and his feet still stuck in his big slipper

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I tell you what job that looks pretty inviting. Any other colour to match my quilted evening jacket