Rick Sieman: Threewheeler feedback part 2.

[Billy Golightly]

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/columns/editorial/3wheeler/2/

Alot more feedback from some of the elitest dirtbike riders this time. His reply to my letter is all but admitting it is a rider, and not machine problem-Why can't he just say that?

[OldSchoolin86]

His responce to your email clearly shows that he is a very ignorant man that is willing to make a fool of himself on a very big podium. His debate is one of a child that has no consience or desire to be correct. All he want to do is defend his poor decision on this subject and he is willing to do it at any cost to what ever is left of his creditability.

[MTS]

His responce to your email clearly shows that he is a very ignorant man that is willing to make a fool of himself on a very big podium. His debate is one of a child that has no consience or desire to be correct. All he want to do is defend his poor decision on this subject and he is willing to do it at any cost to what ever is left of his creditability.
you sir have hit the nail on the head :TrikesOwn

[Billy Golightly]

I sense a very unique opertunity with this. I believe that there is a chance if we continue writing CLEAN WELL THOUGHT OUT emails, that we might have a chance at maybe not convincing him, but perhaps other people. I think there is an opertunity here to get some positive publicity, but it has to be done very carefully.

[Dammit!]

Edit: Apparently I can't spell it either so nevermind my joke. :p

[TimSr]

Its good to see some well written responses this time. The sad part is that is also obvious the damage done to our image by those who chose to spew a bunch of profanity instead of making an intelligent case in the last round.

[3Wheeledheaven]

Hi everyone! I dont post here hardly at all but I cant pass this one up lol! My first trike was a kawasaki klt160 bought new in 85 and I fell in love first day. I of course read the article and I cant understand all the hype this dude is making bout sticking your feet down in front of the back tires! My kawasaki came with big fat warning stickers all over the bike warning the rider not to do this. Its not the trikes fault the owner cant read. Riding a trike requires a different set of skills and until they are understood and applied, yes, you can get hurt. Thats the bottom line i guess.. Same applies to bicycles, dirt bikes, quads and street bikes. Unless the skills for each are understood and applied you will get hurt or crippled or killed on each of those too... I have long list of friends and family that have just jumped on a dirt bike, street bike or a quad first or second time and hurt themselves severley some killed cause they tried to be evil knevil right off the bat. No trikes are not getting a fair shake here... and in that article u can bet in all those replies flaming tribikes those quad and dirt bike riders have either hurt themselves or seen others hurt on the bikes and quads they are defending.... They r just not posting it and flaming tri bikes... Just my thoughts on the matter.... peace :)

[Billy Golightly]

TimSr, your even better with words then I am, want to help on writing him another letter? I am going to start on another here in a few days.

[Wickedfinger]

I just think you guys might be wasting some good time with this one .... you need to realize that you will never get anyone to see our side of this so called "debate" when its taking place in that trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro's own back yard with all of his monkey butt worshiping peons watching and writing in to feed his already gi-normas ego/head. You'll never change his mind on the subject - because he has a deep, ego driven need to be an "expert" on everything he does. Here in lies the problem - he could never talk intellegently enough about trikes, or even ATV's in general to impress ANYBODY because he has spent ALL of his time on bikes his whole life and when ATV's first came out, he was too lazy to learn about anything else. We run a now credable website here, I believe Bill has actually invited him to come over here and debate the subject - but - he would never do that because he thinks nothing of us and that hes smart enough to realize that it would be like wearing a "Bowtie" shirt to a Ford convention. The very best way to "combat" his continued negativity 'twords trikes and ATV's in general is to get the word out ourselves by running the best website and board we can promoting our passion. The now various magazine mentions of 3WW is a great start. Lets just keep up the good work, keep a positive attitude and pass it along to the next person.

[3Wheeledheaven]

I just think you guys might be wasting some good time with this one .... you need to realize that you will never get anyone to see our side of this so called "debate" when its taking place in that trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro's own back yard with all of his monkey butt worshiping peons watching and writing in to feed his already gi-normas ego/head. You'll never change his mind on the subject - because he has a deep, ego driven need to be an "expert" on everything he does. Here in lies the problem - he could never talk intellegently enough about trikes, or even ATV's in general to impress ANYBODY because he has spent ALL of his time on bikes his whole life and when ATV's first came out, he was too lazy to learn about anything else. We run a now credable website here, I believe Bill has actually invited him to come over here and debate the subject - but - he would never do that because he thinks nothing of us and that hes smart enough to realize that it would be like wearing a "Bowtie" shirt to a Ford convention. The very best way to "combat" his continued negativity 'twords trikes and ATV's in general is to get the word out ourselves by running the best website and board we can promoting our passion. The now various magazine mentions of 3WW is a great start. Lets just keep up the good work, keep a positive attitude and pass it along to the next person.

Well Said I think :)

[Pistonhead]

I see alot of the garbage people say about three-wheelers as an open addmitance of their lack of riding skill in general. When riding a three-wheeler or operating any peice of equipment for that matter, you have to recognize any safety issues and take them into effect. When using a chainsaw, one does not put the bar of the chainsaw against his chaps, it seems obvious that it is not a good idea to do that, you wear the chaps as a safety measure. Just as when riding a three-wheeler, just because you wear boots and have fenders doesn't mean that it is safe to put your feet down when the vehicle is moving. If you have ridden motorcycles all your life and it is a reflex to put your feet down when cornering, don't ride a three-wheeler! Some people only drive cars with automatic transmissions because they know they can't shift a standard transmission very well, shouldn't you do the same if you are choosing an ATV to ride?
I choose not to pay any mind to those who choose to openly dismiss three-wheeler afficianado's as "hillbillies" or "trailer-trash" I think that is rather discriminatory and I find it offensive, I've seen alot of very respectable people who ride trikes, and talk with alot of respectable people who ride trikes on this board quite frequently. Isn't assuming that three-wheeler riders are bad people like saying all people who work out at Gold's Gym are homosexuals because so many men train there? I've had quite an earful of people dismissing people like us as garbage, those who say three-wheeler riders are bad people have never talked to folks like Howdy Or the rest of the guys on here.

[Billy Golightly]

I just think you guys might be wasting some good time with this one .... you need to realize that you will never get anyone to see our side of this so called "debate" when its taking place in that trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro's own back yard with all of his monkey butt worshiping peons watching and writing in to feed his already gi-normas ego/head. You'll never change his mind on the subject - because he has a deep, ego driven need to be an "expert" on everything he does. Here in lies the problem - he could never talk intellegently enough about trikes, or even ATV's in general to impress ANYBODY because he has spent ALL of his time on bikes his whole life and when ATV's first came out, he was too lazy to learn about anything else. We run a now credable website here, I believe Bill has actually invited him to come over here and debate the subject - but - he would never do that because he thinks nothing of us and that hes smart enough to realize that it would be like wearing a "Bowtie" shirt to a Ford convention. The very best way to "combat" his continued negativity 'twords trikes and ATV's in general is to get the word out ourselves by running the best website and board we can promoting our passion. The now various magazine mentions of 3WW is a great start. Lets just keep up the good work, keep a positive attitude and pass it along to the next person.


You might be right Jon, but I think he's cracking-and heres my proof.

In the first feedback he said


But the biggest drawback to the three wheeler, is that the jerk factor is so high. You see more newbies, irritating people, pinheads and outright assholes on trikes, buzzing campsites, spinning donuts in crowded conditions, driving wildly without helmets … or shirts … or boots … or in flip-flops.

In the newest one, The only reply he made in the whole column (To my letter) was this:


Your well-written email aside, I want you to consider the fact that most of the trike riders who were injured were drunk or drinking at the time. This simply illustrates better that I can say, that the people - in general - who gravitate towards three wheelers are real jerks.

In one cycle, it has changed from "You find the worst of the worst on trikes" to "people - in general - who gravitate threewheeler are real jerks." Now obviously this could be worded better and nicer, BUT there is a chink in his armor. He has almost totally admitted that the rider is the problem, and that not all the riders, but some of the riders are what made problems. While I agree the idea and thought of changing these peoples minds is slim at best, all I want is that little tiny sliver of doubt in there mind that makes them think "Hmm...I wonder if they arent so bad afterall?". Thats what I want.

[mad_max]

There are some good "pro" 3wheeler comments in that "part 2" column.
Unfortunately there are also some less than favorable ones. I like the phrase "...having a deep respect for anything with a motor in it and for knowing the limitations of myself and my machines. I resist the idea that there is anything inherently dangerous in the design of an ATC. All forms of motorsports recreation are inherently dangerous, but the degree is extended more by the operator than by the machine. Any rider who doesn't respect the machine will likely get hurt regardless of what machine they are on..."

Also, I wonder who "...won the Baja 1000 on a 250r in 87.." that writer wrote that Sieman needs "..to be slapped..."

Keep it clean and intelligent guys, also use a spellchecker.

My .02

[atctim]

Or maybe we need to find the same statistics for dirt-bike accidents - I'm sure the results will be very close as far as alcohol playing a part in the majority of the acciedents. This would blow his "all three wheeler enthusists are alcoholic jerks" out the window - or maybe in better words state after the fact that all motorcycle enthusistets are jerks too.-

In my opinion, I would have to say that the majority of habitual drunkards are not into the sport of 3 wheelers at all.

[atctim]

Further down I found this:

Rick;

They can ride tricycles, and somehow they've figured out how to operate a computer well enough to send poorly written emails. Are they a bunch of renegade kindergartners? Or are they older individuals who flunked physics, spelling & English? Your description of those that typically ride three wheelers, and where they ride them, is right on the mark.

Why is it that kids abandon their trikes for bicycles just as soon as Mom & Pop will spring for one? Could it be that the average four year-old has a better intuitive understanding of the physical dangers and limitations of tricycles than these highly experienced and educated advocates of three wheelers? I guess there's no explaining human behavior...

Thanks, Rick, for your years of dedication to off-road sport in all its forms. Keep on tellin' it like it is!

As for you numbskulls still riding motorized tricycles, if you're not willing to consider the advice of someone with the years of experience Mr. Sieman has, I hope your medical coverage is up-to-date. At least wear a helmet!

Glen Phelps


This guy blows my mind - I suppose once you master a bicycle, you immediatly move on to the uni-cycle - then maybe a motorized unicycle???

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!