Motorcycles

[SUBMAN1]

Friend of mine just bought a new bike last week. I sit there and tell him its cool and all, but its also a death wish. I just got through telling him that it is never 'you' that you need to worry about, but the dumb chick on cell phone that can ruin your entire life. He proceeds to tell me that it can't be any worse than his Ex-wife taking him to the cleaners, and I reiterate that dumb chicks on Cell Phones and a man on a bike are WAY worse than anything an Ex-Wife can do to you.

I probably don't need to tell you what happened today. Dumb chick on a cell phone turned in front of him - she left the scene too. He is currently in the hospital busted up and with some pretty good road rash.

Why??? :down: Someone answer this for me?

-S

[Sailor Steve]

As a friend of mine once said, "Ride paranoid. They are out to get you." The first rule of riding is to recognize that you can never relax in traffic, and never assume that anybody sees you. They don't realize that piloting a ton or more of steel is a full-time occupation. You have to, or else you're dead.

With that in mind, I've been riding for forty-two years without a serious accident.

[Digital_Trucker]

The unanswerable question, I think. I hope road rash is the worst of your friends problems. Having been lucky enough to dodge all the bullets thrown at me in my past riding, I can say that paranoia needs to be the main defense against the idiot motorist. The only way to ride is to truly believe that everyone around you is out to run over you and to anticipate their next move in attempting to do so.

I wish your friend a speedy recovery and no lingering effects from the crash (I won't use the word accident). Out of common decency I won't say what I wish for the chick on the cell phone.

Edit : Once again, I type too slowly and now sound like an echo :rotfl:

[SUBMAN1]

The unanswerable question, I think. I hope road rash is the worst of your friends problems. Having been lucky enough to dodge all the bullets thrown at me in my past riding, I can say that paranoia needs to be the main defense against the idiot motorist. The only way to ride is to truly believe that everyone around you is out to run over you and to anticipate their next move in attempting to do so.

I wish your friend a speedy recovery and no lingering effects from the crash (I won't use the word accident). Out of common decency I won't say what I wish for the chick on the cell phone.

Edit : Once again, I type too slowly and now sound like an echo :rotfl:Busted up his coller bone too, and a rib or two I believe.

This guy I am talking about is not slow on reaction time. He is quick and accurate and he easily anticipates people, especially while driving. This will not always save you so I do not buy this from any motorcycle guy that says that being on your guard will save you. BS. When your number is up, its up.

-S

[Platapus]

What a terrible thing to happen to your friend. I hope he recovers soon. :cry:

I can't understand how this can happen. I have been driving vehicles of many sizes for a few years. I have never failed to notice a human on top a motorcycle in traffic. With the only exceptions when the motorcycle rider blatantly violates the rules and swerves in and out of traffic.

But to the majority of law abiding motorcycle riders out there, how can you miss seeing them?? Depending on the vehicle I am driving the Motorcycle rider's head is at my eye level. I just don't know how people can claim "I did not see him/her". Very scary some of these drivers :nope:

The fact that she left the scene clearly indicates criminal level neglect. It would be nice if there was a camera around to get an image of her.

Most sad news

[SUBMAN1]

Yeah - I'd say we start revoking people citizenship for leaving the scene of an accident like this. If you are not a responsible citizen with honor and respect for your fellow countrymen, you have no business being in this country.

-S

[Digital_Trucker]

Busted up his coller bone too, and a rib or two I believe.

This guy I am talking about is not slow on reaction time. He is quick and accurate and he easily anticipates people, especially while driving. This will not always save you so I do not buy this from any motorcycle guy that says that being on your guard will save you. BS. When your number is up, its up.

-S
No argument there. I didn't mean to imply that your friend was careless or slow to react. My point was that you stand a better chance of avoiding serious injury if you adopt the paranoid approach. I didn't mean to infer that it would be an all-encompassing savior.

Again, I hope that he heals rapidly with no lasting effects.

[Sailor Steve]

This will not always save you so I do not buy this from any motorcycle guy that says that being on your guard will save you. BS. When your number is up, its up.
Neither DT or I said that it would save you; but not paying attention is a guaranteed invitation to disaster. Also, neither one of us said that that was your friend's attitude, or that it was in any way his fault, or that he could have prevented it. You just seemed in you original post to be blaming it on the motorcyle itself, especially with the phrase "it's a death wish." Pardon us if we react a little negatively.

[SUBMAN1]

This will not always save you so I do not buy this from any motorcycle guy that says that being on your guard will save you. BS. When your number is up, its up. Neither DT or I said that it would save you; but not paying attention is a guaranteed invitation to disaster. Also, neither one of us said that that was your friend's attitude, or that it was in any way his fault, or that he could have prevented it. You just seemed in you original post to be blaming it on the motorcyle itself, especially with the phrase "it's a death wish." Pardon us if we react a little negatively.

Never said you said it. And a motorcycle is a subconscious death wish or a subconscious will to ride on the edge of death. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that more than 3 people die in cars every day in each and every state in the USA. With a motorcycle, not are you lowering your profile to be seen, but you have no protection when the inevitable happens.

Now if you want a real eye opener, study the statistics on the number of motorcycles vs the number of accidents and compare that to cars. You odds might be better to play the lottery.

Not telling you not to ride. Just telling you the facts.

-S

[Sailor Steve]

I'm well aware of the facts, which may be why I'm still here. Every rider worth his salt lives with that knowledge. It's just that your arguments sound very much like gun control arguments, and for much the same reason.

[SUBMAN1]

I'm well aware of the facts, which may be why I'm still here. Every rider worth his salt lives with that knowledge. It's just that your arguments sound very much like gun control arguments, and for much the same reason.

How long have we argued in posts man? If you know that, you know I would 'never' look for governmental control of anything! :D :p

Ride for your hearts desire if that is what you enjoy doing. I just don't like people I know getting hurt is all.

-S

[Sailor Steve]

Nor do I. Keep us posted on your friend's condition.:sunny:

[Letum]

"Subconscious death wish"?
Nah, thats ridiculous. The vast majority of motorcyclists are never involved in a
serious accident.

As for "dumb chicks on cell phones", you should worry dumb blokes far more.
Insurance for men is higher for good reason.

I would not give up my motorcycle for the world or in any other way be castrated
by my own safety concerns.

[Schöneboom]

I've ridden motorcycles for probably a total of 20 years. I've known riders who have crashed or been hit by cars. Most of my crashes were in my early, hot-blooded years, and most were my own fault. I know what it's like to slide on the ground at 50 mph. I have ridden bikes home with the bike damaged and myself injured. The one time I was knocked down by a car was quite absurd (in a parking lot!), and I was lucky that my leg was not broken, but rather my shock absorber!

Oddly enough, the most frightening times I've had on a bike did not involve other vehicles, but Nature. Weather alone can kill you, or at least give you a good scare! I reckon motorcyclists have to be fatalistic -- you can do everything to "improve your chances" but when it's your time to go, there's nothing for it.

Still, if someone I really loved wanted to take up motorcycling, I would tell that person all my horror stories, to see what effect that might have. I don't mind the idea of dying, but suffering is another matter. Seeing other people suffer is even worse.

One consolation of expensive oil: SUVs are finally disappearing. The future belongs to the dinky subcompacts and motorbikes. That may "improve our chances".

My last ride: BMW R75/6

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1818/beemer1ax7.jpg

[NealT]

I hung it up when a cop did it to me and I had to lay it down...

[Tchocky]

Not a motorcyclist myself, but I spend a lot of my day on my bicycle, and I've never been put in a nasty situation by a motorbike.
Would that I could say the same for car/truck drivers.

[SUBMAN1]

"Subconscious death wish"?
Nah, thats ridiculous. The vast majority of motorcyclists are never involved in a
serious accident.

As for "dumb chicks on cell phones", you should worry dumb blokes far more.
Insurance for men is higher for good reason.

I would not give up my motorcycle for the world or in any other way be castrated
by my own safety concerns.You are over 6 times (compare this to a car where you are likely to get in an accident at some point given a certain number of miles - and add 6x to that number) more likely to get in an accident per mile driven and though you have slightly less chances of getting injured in said accident, you are over 2 times more likely to die in that accident.

That's your statistics my friend. A simple majority makes it a very dangerous hobby.

Though the majority pull through, it is only simple majority.

-S

[Letum]

Where did you get those statistics from?

Motorcyclists were 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash in 2006, per vehicle mile traveled, and eight times more likely to be injured,according to NHTSA.



It doesn't put me of one bit.

I value living far more than I value my life. :up:

[UnderseaLcpl]

I probably don't need to tell you what happened today. Dumb chick on a cell phone turned in front of him - she left the scene too. He is currently in the hospital busted up and with some pretty good road rash.

Why??? :down: Someone answer this for me?

-S

Odd, I had the exact same thing happen to me. I was only going 35 at the time, and I got bone bruises and road rash.

All of the following assumes one is riding a good litrebike

Still, a good rider is more than a match for even the most inconsiderate and inattentive drivers.

Riding a bike, the rest of the traffic moves in slow-motion. They are slow to accelerate and turn and brake, like they're underwater or something.

But Steve is right about "riding paranoid". I wish someone had told me that before I got my CBR 900rr. If you do that, there isn't a crappy driver in the world that can stop you. Some have even tried to purposely obstruct my path when I ride between lanes or weave. No problem. I expect them to do that anyway, and then I flip them the bird when I weave around them and pass them.

Another nice thing about bikes; cops= epic fail. Most of the time they won't even try to stop you (at least in Texas) By the time they get to 130 from a standstill, you're miles away.

As far as bikes being dangerous goes, that is a legitimate argument for several reasons. However, let's not discount the number of riders that do stupid things like doing a power-wheelie at 90 mph down the freeway, resulting in hospitalization. I would venture that the number of motorcycle accidents would be somewhat less if you excluded speed demons and stunters from the tally.

Nonetheless, a good litrebike is worth its' weight in paper money IMO.

I hope your friend makes out ok, Sub. Tell him another rider is praying for his swift recovery.

[Reece]

Well believe it or not Subman, sometimes it better to be on a bike in an accident than a car.:yep: In my younger teenage days I was racing through the streets & came around a bend to find a car stopped in the middle of the road, I didn't have time to react, I hit him in the rear at around 60mph! I and the person on the back flew over the top of the vehicle, we both slid for a while but only had some bruises & rash, we both got up walked over to check the other vehicle, he was ok, both vehicles were write offs, if I had been in a car, all would likely have been killed, it taught me a lesson, I am now in my mid 50's and still own a bike (BMW), the wife and i use it as often as the weather permits, I don't use on wet roads!:roll: As Steve and others said, bike users have to virtually give way to all vehicles, certainly don't force our right of way!:88)

[Letum]

My car insurance company tells me that I get cheaper car insurance because I ride
a motorbike. Apparently motorbike riders have less car accidents when driving cars,
but more accidents than car drivers when on bikes.

[Onkel Neal]

Friend of mine just bought a new bike last week. I sit there and tell him its cool and all, but its also a death wish. I just got through telling him that it is never 'you' that you need to worry about, but the dumb chick on cell phone that can ruin your entire life. He proceeds to tell me that it can't be any worse than his Ex-wife taking him to the cleaners, and I reiterate that dumb chicks on Cell Phones and a man on a bike are WAY worse than anything an Ex-Wife can do to you.

I probably don't need to tell you what happened today. Dumb chick on a cell phone turned in front of him - she left the scene too. He is currently in the hospital busted up and with some pretty good road rash.

Why??? :down: Someone answer this for me?

-S


Motorcycles involve risk. More than an auto, but they are more fun and stimulating, so one has to weigh the risk against the reward. It is fundamental for a rider to practice extreme defensive driving techniques to lower the risk. I've been riding for 30 years, the potential for harm is always there, I accept that.

Speaking of bikes :), pics from my camping trip last week :smug:
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom6.jpg
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom10.jpg
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom4.jpg
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom12.jpg

[Reece]

Some people have all the fun!!:up:

[Letum]

Idyllic!


Is that a open-jaw helmet Neal?
Not a good idea if it is. I have seen the scars they leave after a face-down slide.

[1480]

Hey SM1, why don't you attempt to find out the percentages for a few things:

A. Whats the percentage of accidents involving racing style scoots?

B. How many of those involved operators were properly licensed?

C. How many of the motorcycle operators were determined to be at fault for the accident?

Trust me, I've investigated many crashes, the "most entertaining" involve scoots, but for the majority of them involve A &/or B.

[Onkel Neal]

Idyllic!


Is that a open-jaw helmet Neal?
Not a good idea if it is. I have seen the scars they leave after a face-down slide.

Yep, it is. I'll try to remember to turn my head when I crash. ;)

[nikimcbee]

I saw 2 bikes there. Who's the date?:hmm: ;)

[mcf1]

I had an accident with my bike about a month ago. My bike was completely wrecked and the damn insureance is delaying to give me the money for a new one.
They never delay when it comes to get paid but when it comes to pay somebody, there is always delay, delay and delay again

[Koondawg]

@ Neal...im thinking you shoulda bought a sidecar for that thing :rotfl:

I also have been riding for around 40 years, I have had close calls. The things you have to think about on a motorcycle are prob quadruple of what you need to consider when driving a car.
I just assume everyone is an idiot and oblivious to anything going on around them and so far things are working out...course there have been the moments when I kick the car door or flip a finger...but hey wasnt me pulling over on you.

Be aware of bikes...give em room
and I hate tailgaters when Im on my bike...especially when Im toting around one of my little ones on the back...

Ride safe! :up:

KD

[SUBMAN1]

I saw 2 bikes there. Who's the date?:hmm: ;)A date that sleeps in her own tent! :p :D

-S

[Steel_Tomb]

Sorry to hear about your mates off, I've been lucky as far and *touch wood* not come off yet. As others have said, ride as if they're out to get you and you should be ok, although saying that you can never be "off-proof". My dad binned his Fazer after he came round a corner to find a spanner in the middle of his line... bike went into a tree and he went into a ditch, thankfully he was ok! Hope your friend makes a speedy recovery!

[Hitman]

Bike rider since 20 years go here :smug: and lucky enough to have kissed the ground only three times :p First one was my fault, going too fast on an unknown road. Second was thrown by a car driver that forgot to look in the mirror before making a sudden turn when missing the street he was looking for.

Third time was two weeks ago :damn: in the most stupid manner: I was following a van in a roundabout at slow speed (Nearly walking speed) when the bike suddenly dissapeared under me. The reason: Sand in the asphalt, a left over from the many construction trucks that cross around the area. A scratched arm (Me idiot was driving with just a sleeve) and a broken limb are the result. It was not speed what caused the injuries, it was the bad luck of falling so suddenly and over my own arm.

But am already looking forward to riding my bike again :rock: , I need it too much to go to work because I simply can't stand the traffic jam.

[SUBMAN1]

Sorry to hear about your mates off, I've been lucky as far and *touch wood* not come off yet. As others have said, ride as if they're out to get you and you should be ok, although saying that you can never be "off-proof". My dad binned his Fazer after he came round a corner to find a spanner in the middle of his line... bike went into a tree and he went into a ditch, thankfully he was ok! Hope your friend makes a speedy recovery!Yeah, he's sounding OK. He will be in pain for a while. Collar bones hurt I think. That will give him time to think about how he screwed up by not being as paranoid as he should.

-S

[AJ!]

Well the thing with bikes are you either love em or hate em. Some people look at a big ol motorbike and think "sod that for a laugh". Many think you have to be off your rocker to get on one and the general view from people that know nothing about motorbikes is that they are death on 2 wheels.

While there are millions of bikes out there, were only a tiny percent of the road population. All us bikers are a special and careful breed, and the ones who ride carefully live to enjoy and appreciate bikes. It doesn't matter whether its a Busa, rocket 3 or a CG125, as long as your careful and observant.

Its the idiots with no road sense or training that by gixxers and R1s then hammer down a road at 140 then getting wiped out. Of course it just adds up as road deaths on bikes and makes it look so much more dangerous. :dead:

As said before though, and any biker will tell you, your main problem is everyone else. It doesnt matter how good you are and how much training and experiance you have.... there is always some ideot who might be speeding or on a mobile (or both). Its a sad fact you just have to accept

[Steel_Tomb]

The speed issue, its more about speeding in inappropriate places than the speed itself :P. There is a three mile straight near mine where you can see right down to the bottom, its always deserted as its in the back and beyond... with surprisingly enough a good surface. I tested my gixxer's capabilities on it the other day and needless to say I went quick enough to land myself in an awful lot of bother! Its knowing where and when to speed thats the thing people should be thinking about instead of "oh I better not go above 70 otherwise the sky will fall on us!" I see no point in going 70 in an empty dual carraiage way! Ride to the conditions, and you will be ok... unless your local rozzer has had a crap day and then your in trouble...because you could be jesus and still get a ticket!:damn: The problem is, some people see one person being a bit of a ***** on an R6 or whatever and think that all bikers are the same bunch of idiots...but that minority is like the 106 with a dustbin totting chavs who occupy the roads around here (which for the record are far more likely to cause an accident than the bikers!:dead:) and they don't think that all car drivers are idiots.

[Letum]

Is it legal in the USA for police to peruse motorcycles?
If so, thats nuts! It's only ever gonna end one way.

[Sailor Steve]

It varies from state to state. Here in Utah they do chase them...with radios and helicopters. If you're speeding in town, the chopper can follow you and direct the car and bike cops for an intercept. If you're out on the open road they might just ignore you; but if they don't, don't plan on stopping anywhere anytime soon, because they can just go and wait at the next town.