European and US Riders - Why is there a difference?

[Kopfjager]

Nah.... this one looks bas ass 


 

Who makes that one?   

[ungeheuer]

Holden makes it >> http://www.hsv.com.au/Cars/Eseries/maloor8/maloor8.asp

[IZ]

European & American cagers...why is there a difference?!

I rode in Italy for a week. Sped up the Autostrada from Rome to Mugello. Our group of about 75 riders split between two semi-trucks. They actually gave us space! In the US, different story!  
Passing on a blind curve in 2-lane traffic..the oncoming drivers ease over and let Euro riders slide by.

Beautiful!

Too hard a concept for Americans to get!

[supertjeduc]

It's mostly a cost thing.

Fuel is extremely expensive in Europe, and taxes and other fees are high, too. Owning a car is, overall, much more expensive a prospect than here.

Riding is often not so much a choice as the only reasonable option.

Overhere in the Netherlands no one rides a motor because they can't pay a car
Lanespliting is legal and that's why there are a lot of riders ,and in the weekends it's just for fun

[Big Troubled Bear]

I also found that cagers are a lot more respectfull of motorcyclists in Europe than here in South Africa, but we africans also use bikes more for fun than commuting and I have to take my hat of to those that do.

[Zee]

Personally, having been to both the US, and Europe once, or perhaps twice, and living in Sydney, I think our bike culture here sucks. Yes, the bike rider population is growing, but till not a match for any European city, or even most US cities. From memory, there are more bike riders in the Bay Area than all of Aus....

in terms of cars, I think we are kind of middle ground between the US and Europe. the US folk are obsessed with huge trucks, and large cars. In Europe, it's little VW Polo sized cars, and in Aus, we are sort of between.

I also agree with ungeheuer, you just are not likely to see a 4.0L engine in a family car in Europe. You will, however, find it in a super exotic sports car, it will rev to 14700rpm, produce 970bhp with quad turbos and an intercooler that takes up the spot where sane people strap in their children.

Having said that, I did see more exotica on the roads in Euro cities than even the US, which surprised me. Lambo Marcielago's and Ferrari F430's became something you just about yawned at. Here in Aus, they truly are rare. If you see more than one a week, chances are, you know where it is parked, and walk by to dream...

Back to the US and your obsession with huge trucks.. I used to wonder about this, until I got caught in a surprise heavy snow storm. In the middle of Yosemite. In a rented cobalt...

Z...

[ducrider45]

I think that the new "utes" shown above would sell well in the US. Subaru is the only one with a car like that in the US. It costs way too much though.

[Jetbrett]

Back to the US and your obsession with huge trucks.. I used to wonder about this, until I got caught in a surprise heavy snow storm. In the middle of Yosemite. In a rented cobalt...

Z...

Most trucks here never see anything approaching "off road" and most of the folks that drive them have no idea how to handle them when the weather turns bad.  You can spot those drivers pretty easy. They are ones flying down hills, slidding, and stuck in the ditch. 

[mstevens]

Most trucks here never see anything approaching "off road" and most of the folks that drive them have no idea how to handle them when the weather turns bad.  You can spot those drivers pretty easy. They are ones flying down hills, slidding, and stuck in the ditch. 

Agreed! My daily driver here in New Hampshire, year-round, is a BMW Z-4. Admittedly, there are ususally a handful of days each winter when I drive my wife's 4WD X3, but lots of folks do perfectly well with "regular" RWD or FWD cars all the time. The biggest factor is knowing how to drive and the second-biggest is snow tires.

I pass plenty of 4WD pickups, SUV's, and Hummers in the ditches every winter, sailing by in my little old RWD 2-seater with a few inches of ground clearance.

[Holden]

Back to the US and your obsession with huge trucks.. I used to wonder about this, until I got caught in a surprise heavy snow storm. In the middle of Yosemite. In a rented cobalt...

Z...

Then why isn't Finland crawling with em?

When it comes to snow (and, incidentally, performance in any other situation), huge trucks are pretty far out there in the wrong direction.

[ungeheuer]

I think that the new "utes" shown above would sell well in the US.

Here's the version we almost sent up to you, but the GFC put and end to Pontiac and the Aussie built G8 Ute >>

[Zee]

Oddly enough, National did not offer one of those as an option...

Z...

Then why isn't Finland crawling with em?

When it comes to snow (and, incidentally, performance in any other situation), huge trucks are pretty far out there in the wrong direction.

[swampduc]

Personally, having been to both the US, and Europe once, or perhaps twice, and living in Sydney, I think our bike culture here sucks. Yes, the bike rider population is growing, but till not a match for any European city, or even most US cities. From memory, there are more bike riders in the Bay Area than all of Aus....

Wow, I'm surprised by this. I always figured, given the number of outstanding Aussie racers, that riding and racing must be really widespread down there.

[Zee]

Wow, I'm surprised by this. I always figured, given the number of outstanding Aussie racers, that riding and racing must be really widespread down there.

Well, I should add that the population of Australia is about 24 million, so well and truly less than 10% of the population of the US, but still we really do lag. Ye olde highly uncalibrated Optic Nerve and Thinking Sponge would suggest probably about twice as many riders pro capite  in the US (well, places I have been to, anyway) than Aus.

If anything, I think higher fuel prices have pushed more people on to two wheels, though mostly scooters.

Z...

[Triple J]

In Melbourne motos were allowed to park on the sidewalk. I was envious as that'll get you a quick ticket here in Seattle...particularly in downtown. Maybe less Aussie riders, but the govt. (at least in Melbourne) seemed to have a good view of bikers.