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Busykat
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 07:39 am: | 
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http://www.bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/1028/this-is -why-riders-should-gear-up.html |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 08:51 am: |
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He did, however, always wear gloves.
Well...how'd he hold his brush then? Didn't the gloves get in the way?
I will confess to a mirror-check when I pull off my helmet in the morning. But, working in a Sales department, NOT selling motorcycles...helmet-head isn't the best thing to have  But if I'm out riding for the day just for kicks? Ballcap works just fine, TYVM! |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:57 am: |
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"Well...how'd he hold his brush then? Didn't the gloves get in the way?"
To his credit, he did know that a more effective de-gearing procedure was gloves off first, then helmet. I left that detail out of previous post...ooopsy. And I am not saying all HD people are concerned with image because that is simply not the case.
And I get the not wanting helmet hair in an office/inside work environment. When I used to ride in to my corp job on casual Fridays, I had a small blow dryer handy to fluff my hair. Wow, I was once a Buell rider who was more concerned with my appearance than my image of being a safe rider. My then-boss, an attorney, appreciated me looking professional as I was firing employees. 
Nowadays a hat is sufficient, and the helmet hair is a non-issue. My current boss kinda expects it  .
(Message edited by fltwistygirl on June 19, 2011) |
Hangetsu
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 10:36 pm: |
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Check this one out. How the hell did he crash going so slow?
http://www.bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/3126/gsxr-75 0-lowside-motorcycle-crash.html |
Gunut75
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 10:54 pm: |
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Looks like the front got fouled up from overzealous brake usage. |
Jsg4dfan
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:08 pm: |
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I'm typing this with one-and-a-half hands because of the hard cast on my left hand that came about after surgery a couple of weeks ago. I needed a tendon reconstruction and some creative skin work (just this far away from needing a graft), and I WAS wearing gloves. They just weren't good enough to protect me from my trackday lowside. A seam rip resulted in my left pinky looking like it met the business end of a die grinder. The implications are not fun to ponder for a sax and guitar player. I will not skimp on the next pair, I assure you. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:10 pm: |
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There is a couple of vids on the tube of that corner, including a XB12SCG that bit it doing the same thing, grabbing a fistfull of brake. |
Jsg4dfan
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:18 pm: |
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Watch the slow motion: He's not on the brakes at all. There are several videos from the same guy of bikes low-siding in that corner. I think it's just a very slick corner, and he knows it -- so he films there. Jackass. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:28 pm: |
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I don't think it makes him all of that. I don't fish where there aren't any fish. I didn't see as many cameras on the straights as the corners at Road America either.
I film the neighbor that sales dope not the one that runs a daycare. just sayin' |
Jsg4dfan
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:36 pm: |
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I see your point. If it were me, and I KNEW that a certain corner was a genuine hazard I'd try to find some way to let riders know about the upcoming danger rather than get my camera out and document the inevitable carnage for my own purposes. It's similar to your examples, but just different enough to cross that line for me. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2011 - 08:53 pm: |
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Fair enough. But would anyone really pay attention to the warnings, or blame you for distracting them? Even try to lay the blame on you for the wreck. |
Hooper
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - 10:22 am: |
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I'm going to guess that these non-glove-wearers are a lot of fair-weather bikers, or they're trying to maintain an image of rebellious freedom. Add to that the belief that the odds are in their favor that "it" won't happen to them.
I still marvel at my armored gauntlets, the same ones I wore when I pulled a Superman over the bars when my Uly hit a deer. The woven-Kevlar armor pads on various parts of the knuckles, wrist, and fingers are partially ground down from sliding on the pavement. That would have been bone, otherwise. And that accident was completely coincidental and unavoidable.
I love those gloves. |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 08:56 am: |
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I always wear gloves, boots, jeans or better; usually a jacket and helmet too just not always.
When you go down, your palms are the first to touch ground, 99/100 times.
Summer riding, I get out my Pearl-Izumi bicycle touring gloves.
Padded, Kevlar reinforced, fingerless, cooool & light.
Really liking my Buell Bolt gloves tho, they are very cool too.
Zack |
Nsbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 12:23 pm: |
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One of the few (and I mean few) nice things about living in a cold climate (Nova Scotia) is that even in the dead of summer it only gets hot (30 celcius) for about 2 weeks. The rest of the time you can wear full gear comfortably and not really worry about being too hot. We still have lots of squids in tank tops and flip flops though for some reason... |
Sprintex
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 12:30 pm: |
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I became a firm believer in gloves years ago when I was wearing a new pair of summer gloves. I pulled my Guzzi in to a state park road and went down, they had chipped sealed, but no warning sign, as I was picking the stones out of the palms of my gloves was glad I had them on and will not get on a bike without gloves. |
Babired
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 03:29 pm: |
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I taught MC safety with this one guy one class a couple of years ago and he was giving the gloves talk
He said, "when you pick something up you rely on your grip on the palm and insides of your fingers. If that skin is taken away in a crash the skin graph comes from your leg or BUTT!" Then he asks how much grip does your BUTT have!" Or you have a** on your hands! Pretty interesting observation since the palm and finger skin has lines/prints and your BUTT does not! |
Badrap
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 07:09 pm: |
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I can’t believe some people. There is a guy at my local gym that doesn’t wear gloves or a jacket or pants or shirt. He actually takes his shirt off before getting on the bike. All he wears is shorts and his helmet and some sort of foot wear. I think I’ll ask him if he’s signed up to be an organ donor yet. I think he should donate everything to people that need the parts except his lack of brains. |
Johnboy777
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 08:06 pm: |
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Who gives a crap what other people do?
. |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 09:16 pm: |
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Again, JB777 +1.
We need to worry about ourselves and maybe our family members but what others do or don't is their business. I grew up riding without helmets, gloves and only began wearing either because of laws in the state I moved to for engineering employment. Others can do as they please as far as I'm concerned. Going on about how others conduct themselves is a waste of pixels. |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 11:45 pm: |
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"Who gives a crap what other people do?"
Sorry guys. If I did not care about what others did, I would not have a job. Or I if I did, I would not do it as sincerely or as well as I do it.
To each their own. I get my ya yas making a positive difference. Always have always will. Different strokes... |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 11:58 pm: |
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Who gives a crap what other people do?
Anyone with half a brain, that's who.
Watch the South Park "Fags" episode.
Non-"bikers" don't understand the difference between a loud-ass Harley and a considerate sport-biker; EVERYone on two wheels is a "fag".
Stereotypes have a glimmer of truth at the root.
If enough ass-hats do the same stupid thing in the same arena (i.e. riders who like loud pipes), people outside that arena assume EVERYBODY in that arena (motorcycling at large) is equally ass-hat-ish.
And god forbid you reach outside your safety zone and personal space, and give two s*its about a fellow human being.
And...I don't even LIKE people!
But I still try.
+1,000, BeLinda. |
Wbrisett
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 06:34 am: |
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Last time I was in Ohio I'd say at least 15 of 20 weren't wearing helmets.
When the rally is in town people I know who always wear helmets feel compelled to not wear theirs. I'm not sure if it's heard mentality or what, but after walking away from a crash two years ago at 65 MPH without anything but a minor rash where my jacket rode up, I have to say gear works. Many years ago, I had a car turn left in front of me and I landed hard enough on the pavement to crack part of my helmet. Fortunately, that was the only thing to get cracked (other than my clavicle).
My wife, daughter and I rode up to Amarillo, TX from Austin this past weekend. At one point the ambient temperature on my BMW RT read 114 deg and with gear it was uncomfortable, but I would rather it be uncomfortable and be able to walk away should something happen. FYI, that was really the ambient temp. I took a photo the next day while hiking of the temp gauge, that's in the shade, the park puts at each trailhead). Needless to say, hiking was a bit of a chore as well.
Wayne |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 09:59 am: |
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The Taliban likes to tell others what to do and they feel their way is the right way, the only way, and apparently they believe this to the core of their being. Everybody feels that "their" way is the correct way, the way it out to be, and why everybody else doesn't agree is because "they" must be idiots, crazy or just plain stupid. My point is this, everybody has their own ideas of the way it ought to be, but that doesn't mean that everyone should think as you do. Some people like to do double back flips on motorcycles. I don't, but if they want to take the risk then I'll just enjoy the video of them doing it. I'm certainly not going to take the joy out of their lives telling them they shouldn't or worse yet, can't do it. Sure I can't understand why people do certain things and have fun doing it but then who says I have to understand.
As for being paid to teach motorcycle safety that is different in my opinion. They pay to hear what you have to say on the subject and hopefully they take what we say to heart. Beyond that, it is up to them. If two weeks later I saw one of them riding without safety gear I certainly would not try to stop and lecture them. They could probably lecture me on aspects of my life and I know that wouldn't be appreciated. For instance, how many of you ATGATT folks smoke, or are overweight, eat fast food, love french fries, drink too much, sprinkle salt. All these things are bad for us, can kill us, but we tend to do or indulge in them anyway.
(Message edited by electraglider_1997 on June 23, 2011) |
Johnboy777
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 11:00 am: |
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""Watch the South Park "Fags" episode.""
So what you are telling us, is that you use South Park as THE information source that shapes your 'worldview'.
It's a cartoon - you know that right?
Reading some of these comments, I'd swear you were a bunch of tongue-wagging petty old women sitting at a bridge game.
At any rate, The Simpsons are on pretty soon, and I need to get caught up on world affairs.
 |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 11:24 am: |
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"but that doesn't mean that everyone should think as you do".
True that. And what a boring world this would be if everyone thought exactly the same way.
"Beyond that, it is up to them".
Again, true that. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing and I am grateful each day to live in a country that still lets us have some decision making power.
However, here's another thought: Do you think that uninsured squid wheelying down the road in front of your Walmart is going to have any impact on your personal pocketbook when he crashes into the curb? Where does the funding come from to pay for his life support? Taxpayers. If he crashed on a Buell, whose m/c insurance rates will go up? Yours and mine.
Lecturing is not the most effective way to get a message across. My 11 y.o. reminds me of that, and I remind my nutritionist sister that as well. If I choose to shovel another pint of Haagan Daas down my piehole, that is my choice. I'm not perfect, nor is anyone. But I try to make better choices, and encourage others to consider doing the same.
But like it or not, bottom line is we are all in this together and have a vested interest in encouraging others to make better choices.
We all have a choice in the way we answer this: "Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?" |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 12:04 pm: |
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Money is just a man made contrivance but that's the way it is. Everyone of us rides over the speed limit and every mph in a crash makes a difference in its outcome, bodily and mechanically speaking and it all adds to the insurance premium for the pool. We all share in the guilt but we like to kid ourselves that its not me, its the other guy, that squid, now he's the real problem. We are all part of the problem. We do what we can to minimize our culpability but none of us can cast the first stone, none of us. |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 01:48 pm: |
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I am fully aware south park is a cartoon, and no, it does not create my world view. The example was only that - an EXAMPLE. |
Ronmold
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 01:52 pm: |
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Casting the first stone started the process of destroying a problem-maker. It's in humanity's best interest IMHO, to try and deal with the problem but build up the problem-maker. It is difficult at times to separate a person (who has infinite value) from what they do (that's often where we get our first impression), but it is possible. "Holier-than-Thou" lecturing comes easy to some but produces few positive results and just letting things take care of themselves (I will "bother" my neighbor at 3 AM if I see their house on fire), is not always an option in a caring society. What we need is the wisdom and right attitude to know when to speak-up (to build up) and when to keep quiet. |
Mnviking
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 02:21 pm: |
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I appreciate what FlyTwistygirl does. Every time I've taken the Advanced MSF course I learn something new. (Even after 16+ yrs of riding over 15,000 miles per year.)
The best we can hope for is to educate people on the importance of proper safety gear (and proper riding techniques) and trust that they will make the right decision.
That being said, if after being informed of the consequences of one's gear/no-gear decision, they choose to not wear their gear. That's on them. I'm fine with paying a little more on my insurance premiums because people don't always make the correct choice.
The Liberty to make our own choices (right or wrong) is what separates us from the countries that don't enjoy our freedoms. |
Badrap
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 02:26 pm: |
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I am not and do not want to be the riding gear police but I have been in and seen enough crashes (some fatal) that I know wearing the appropriate gear at all times is a good idea. If some fool wants to become an organ donor, than that’s their business but I don’t want to pay for their choice. You can do what you want but I personally think it’s sad to see someone die or become a drain on society due to a poor decision. That’s my opinion. As you know, everyone has one. |
Babired
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 02:57 pm: |
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only thing we can do is influence the students in class the best we can, after they walk out it's all on them.
being a good instructor we can't worry too much about those folks but concentrate on influencing the next class the best we can. We always capture some into riding with the right gear, but not all. That's how I've done it since I've been teaching. |
Hooper
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 03:16 pm: |
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I think how this whole discussion started was wondering "Why would someone not wear gloves while riding?" In other words, "what are these people thinking?" Most of us shake our heads and wonder - we want to know why. Have they never crashed before? Do they not know someone who has? Do they think "it won't happen this time"? Do they think they'll fly into a soft bush on the side of the road?
I wanted to know what the guy riding a nice Firebolt on my commute was doing wearing shorts, tennis shoes, helmet, and a t-shirt. Was he just coming from the gym and was still sweaty?
For me, as for many, it's about the "why".   
Maybe I need to meet more squids. |
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