[highwayblaze]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

The biker at max can get himself killed. The car guy doing 120-150 is capable of much more damage should lane discipline be non-existent ( a la most Indian highways).
So let's just cut the boy some slack, shall we?

Those two points are what I always campaign while I ride here in the US ...or talk to folks who detest motorcyclist. I totally agree with you on the fact that folks don't need to freak out about a puny motorcyclist going all crazy. Sure he shudnt break the law and needs to pay now that he has. But dont do something analogous to "hang him for pick pocketing" ! He'd probably crash and break his own bones or probably worse. He couldn't kill someone though.
It doesnt mean I'm supporting his deed but doesnt mean they need to open a can of whoop a$$ on him either.

[vivekiny2k]

don't get me wrong, but I have seen scenes in chennai very similar to the ones in video below. And every one of them claims to be able to handle any condition on road. We can probably leave everybody a slack as you mentioned. It's a democracy, you can't deny one that you allow to another

YouTube - Bike Rider or Careless Youngster of Pakistan PART 2

[khanak]

I have no idea about that happened with Sunny and nothing in this post is about the incident that happened with him but is a general post about stunting on public roads and how it is being defended.

1. I'm sure everyone who performs stunts has immense talent and I wish there were private roads where their talents can be put to use to ensure that such people are able to perform to their true potential, however performing stunts on public roads is in no way safe, especially when it is a busy road.

2. Phamilyman - you say that doing a wheelie on a public road is safe because speeds are restricted to 50-60 kmph. How much control does one have while performing a wheelie. Im pretty sure if anyone cuts across or a car in the front brakes a bit there is really nothing that can be done.

Also while a wheelie may be performed in a straight line what happens if the rider falls for some reason and another vehicle in the next lane has to swerve to avoid the biker who just fell into the other vehicle's lane. Swerving at high speeds can do some pretty bad damage and can even result in the car flipping. What if another biker has to make a sudden move to avoid the fallen/falling stunt performing biker. Im sure that could lead to a major accident. Besides having run over someone will change your life even if it wasn't your fault. Apart from the guilt you face the rest of your life you will also have to deal with a court case which could include you being blamed for the accident.

I agree that speeding on public roads isnt safe but Id have to say that one has a lot more control doing 100 while driving normally as opposed to while doing a wheelie.

Also team-bhp has banned street racing and performing stunts on public roads. The mods will delete any information about illegal street racing which really helps maintain the standards of the forum.

[DirtyDan]

Clearly the 12K wheely was an attempt to demonstrate how to save fuel by riding on one wheel instead of two thereby reducing friction and fuel consumption. The rider should be congratulated for his energy conservation message.

[phamilyman]

Adhish,

my only point was really towards cutting the boy some slack.

And towards pointing out that a boy attempting to set a record is significantly less dangerous to the public (with 5 TV channels and other bikes in tow, no less) than the average call center cab. I'm not saying that let's everyone go and make fools of ourselves and be a complete nuisance - just to put things in perspective and cut the boy some slack.

PS: This doesn't really come under illegal street racing. its like I said, about as unsafe as teambhp members boasting of doing delhi-jammu in 8 hours, or of other illustrious members doing mumbai delhi much quicker than the rajdhani. But then again, its a subjective judgement call - to each, their own. Peace.

[khanak]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Adhish,

my only point was really towards cutting the boy some slack.

Like I mentioned in the first line of my post - I wasn't commenting on what happened to Sunny but was just talking about what I thought of stunting in general.

[iraghava]

Phamilyman - I've personally been witness to bikers swerving or changing lanes crazily on our NH's more times than I can care to remember. A lot of the time this has been real ***** in the mouth stuff with me having to take evasive action not just to save myself but also the bloody biker who's either too inept to ride or drunk or a combination of both. Not to mention that they are usually carrying at least 3 people on the bike if not the whole family. So please don't say that they can cause less damage to others on the road, trying to save them can often lead to damage to one's own car and to others too.

And not to mention what happens if you accidentally hit a biker, it might be his fault but since you're in the bigger vehicle it's your fault. Trust me, with the general standard of driving/riding skills we have in our country I would not like to see people like this guy getting any more publicity for the fear of more daredevils trying to do these stunts on our public roads & endangering their own lives as well as those of others.

[ravi@64bhp]

I do not understand why everybody is comparing Gurpreet with an ordinary hooligan stunter doing stunts in heavy traffic endangering others' lives.

He is a class apart in stunting and you have to see his talent. He never does stunts in heavy trafiic, and only on isolated stretches with required protective gear he practised. Of course, while performing this stunt, extreme measurements were taken. The rider is fully protected with gear, and three others were ensuring that there will not be any inconvenience to the rest of the traffic. The object of this program was different and turned ugly with the media playing the spoilsport.

I agree that they should have taken permission to do this.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Assume for a moment that you are a journalist.

What will you do if somebody calls you up and asks you to accompany him / her / them to a bank robbery? They are caliming that they are going to pull off the biggest bank robbery in history.

Now take a deep breath.

What happens if you were asked to accompany / cover a so-called-illegal street event?

And towards pointing out that a boy attempting to set a record is significantly less dangerous to the public (with 5 TV channels and other bikes in tow, no less) than the average call center cab. I'm not saying that let's everyone go and make fools of ourselves and be a complete nuisance - just to put things in perspective and cut the boy some slack

Law has a very clear definition of negligent driving. (No such offence called "reckless" driving. The law calls it "negiligence". Negligence is failure to take care. WIth accompanying bikes, and paraphernalia and journos around, I have very serious doubts that a court would hold a person guilty of negligence.

May be, if there is some law which requires prior permission to be taken performing stunts, (any pointers,a nybody?) and such permission is not taken, indeed there is a violation of law. But that does not amount to negligent driving.

[Hemanth]

I agree with Ram Hyundai. It should have been done with appropriate permissions form the concerned authorities.

[madan80]

firstly - its quite a feat - wheeling for 12KMS! (this does not mean that I endorse him doing this on a public road. just that it requires a LOT of talent to do this! )
secondly - any procession, stunt, event requires police permission. We had orgnized an event where a magician was attempting to ride blindfolded. Since we had police permission - they were kind enough to block traffic for that 10 mins when this stunt was being attempted.
On the media- i wont comment- becuase they tend to sensationalize anything beyond our wildest dreams in order to suit their appitite for masala! :( sad!

[theexister]

Though the media does sensationalize these sort of one-off things when even worse traffic offense's take place, I must say that driving a wheelie on an open street-expressway is not a place to set a record until & unless one has permission & also under controlled traffic conditions. This guy is doing a wheelie with all vehicles zooming past him. Drivers will not be expecting this on the road & it will take them by surprise and result in an accident. Also not mentioning the distractions this causes. Did you look at other bikers watching this guy doing a wheelie without looking at the direction they are driving.

Also not trying to take anything away from this board but I have seen a couple of vehicles with TBHP stickers in Hyderabad driving recklessly. I really don't get it. I think if you are a TBHPian there are certain driving rules to follow on the street.

I am afraid that cops / media will now start going after every vehicle with a sticker saying 'BHP'!

[ScarySkulls]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Clearly the 12K wheely was an attempt to demonstrate how to save fuel by riding on one wheel instead of two thereby reducing friction and fuel consumption. The rider should be congratulated for his energy conservation message.

Hahaha.
Not true, but yes, nice humour. Made my day.

Jokes apart, too sad to see what happened to Gurpreet.
I can see full safety gear being worn and the bike will be around 60kmph most of the time with the rider having a clear view of the road/traffic at all times AND he can ofcourse abort the attempt at any time in reasons of self/others safety.
Plus, he's not alone. There are many support bikes alongwith him who will escort him all along for his safety AND also inform other road users by horn/flashing lights about him coming.

Good enough preparations, if you ask me.

[tsk1979]

One serious question for the imbeciles calling themselves the "authorities".
1. How many truck drives you have arrested for parking on the road on foggy nights without any tail lights or warning?
2. How many tractor drivers have you arrested for going the wrong way in the fast lane?

[BunnyPunia]

I see a lot of mixed reactions here, but good to see members supporting Gurpreet. Fully agree with phamilyman on what he says.
Im sure all of us here have broken the law, by a huge margain. People boosting about ripping the latest car and penning down their reviews to members claiming 80k/h avg speed on long interstate trips - where do u stand then? I will admit my fault today - i was doing 130+ on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Now where do WE stand? I also agree to other things like stunting once a while on the road - we all do. We all wheelspin, we all slide, we all race once a while on public, so why the hue and cry over this issue? The channel accompanied the guys promising to show it live in a positive way (about stunting as a career etc), but what went on air was completely opposite for god knows why!

Anyways, yes, as Sunny (sundeep gajjar) put it, things are far calmer than the media has shown.

PS : it was pathetic to see the 'breaking news' line on aaj tak yesterday read as "Amitabh gets cold" : Oh god, to what extend can a channel fall? Who gives a damn about AB gettin a cold!!!

PPS: why dont the cops catch and file a case against the camouflaged Mahindra Ingenios speeding around the expressway all day and night at 130-140km/h?