| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
A family member believes motorcycles are dangerous and riding them is irresponsible. It's hard to argue. My new XB12Scg is arriving early next month. I have a son who is now a teen and I'm getting back on a bike after 10 years. I'm getting the bike and would love to hear from others on the matter. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Riding is a risky activity. However you can mitigate your risk by: 1)wearing proper gear 2)getting educated, an MSF/riders edge class is a good idea. 3)riding smart. pay attention to what's going on around you, the other ARE out to get you! 4)don't try to race, or ride like you're racing, on the street. Take it easy on the road. Save it for a track day where there is less risk. 5)Remember that it's never too hot to wear your gear, and short trips are when accidents happen according to statistics. Bottom line keep a level head and you can avoid the worst of the risk. You'll never be able to avoid all risk and still LIVE! After all people die in their beds sleeping, or slip in the bath tub and die without ever leaving their house. Is that really living? Enjoy your bike. Riding is one of life's great passions for those that "get it" you will never be able to explain it to those that don't ride. Many have tried, but if you're not a rider it doesn't "make sense". | ||
| Aldaytona |
Point out the fact that more people die falling in the shower each year than in motorcycle accidents but that doesn't keep most people from taking a shower.  | ||
| Irideabuell |
I have been riding motorcycles in some capacity since I was 15. I can always remember my parents telling we kids that there is no way in hell you'll ever put your butts on a motorcycle. Fast forward to my older brother's first visit home with his new wife for Easter weekend and watching them drive up a snowy, dirt road in VT on two Suzuki 185's they had just purchased. My father about had a coronary and my mother wouldn't speak to my brother. Fast forward again to the next day, Saturday. My brother has managed to get my father on his wife's bike and they go for a two hour ride. My father loves it! On Monday afternoon my father takes a detour to his buddies Kawasaki dealership and purchases a 440. I think he paid $800 for it and told me to tell my mother it was $400 if she asked. At any rate, my entire family was riding motorcycles by the end of that year and saw that, while it was somewhat dangerous, the enjoyment far outweighed the danger as long as you wore the appropriate safety gear and were extremely careful. It's difficult not to be careful in VT. The traffic is light - EVERYWHERE!. My father instilled in me that it really wasn't necessary to ride at night and that even a three mile trip to town meant all gear or no ride. I purchased a JR50 Suzuki for my son this past December for his 7th birthday. He is well aware of the fact that he must wear all of his safety gear anytime he gets on the dirtbike or he will not be permitted to ride. There is never a debate on this point. He was not permitted to ride with anyone else until he became comfortable on the bike (to my satisfaction). There is no horse play allowed. He understands that the minute I see horse play, he shuts the bike down and we go home. I am only trying to instill the same safety precautions my father successfully instilled in me. They seem to have worked and will someday translate into my son's riding on the street (after the appropriate MSF courses that is). | ||
| Tunes |
Take the MSF course. This will help you with your reintroduction to street motorcycling and show your family that you are safety consious and serious about being safe... and riding. You can find danger and risk with practically every activity you do. For instance, the elevator you take to go up to your office, the cable breaks, the brakes fail and you fall to you death. Your walking around your back yard, a branch suddenly breaks and falls on your head. Walking down your stairs, you slip, fall and break yer neck. Yer dead. Take delivery of your bike, take the MSF course, ride safe and enjoy yourself. Your Buell will take you to motocycling nirvana... and welcome to the Buell family! | ||
| Rubberdown |
Carry lots of health, disability, and life insurance. Enjoy your bike. | ||
| Lorazepam |
If more people rode motorcycles in the city, think of how much less congestion there would be. Getting 50mpg vs 17 in a big old suv is definately not irresponsible. people in this country need to develop a different attitude about motorcycles. More along the lines of the REST OF THE WORLD. No risk=no fun. | ||
| Daves |
Life with no risk is not life. Be careful Listen to Brian Don't ride like a squid Do some track days,they will make you a better street rider. Have fun Be careful Buy good gear Get good tires LIVE life | ||
| Anonymous |
Thanks: I bet my situation is common and wanted to hear what others thought. The MSF course, I was planning on. Wondering which course makes sense for me, though? DO I still have the skills for an advanced class? Should I take the basic class? I did just read Proficient Motorcycling. I can hardly wait! Someday took awhile. The old Jacket is a little tight now. I need some sort of leg protection that can be worn over other clothing. Ideas? Thanks again. | ||
| Daves |
Why are you posting anonymous? | ||
| Aldaytona |
If you started this thread, wouldn't you want to post anonymous? | ||
| Slaughter |
You cannot and WILL NOT convince anybody that motorcycling is safer than it is. You just end up looking silly. I've tried over many decades. It's about personal choices - not just choices in your lifestyle but choices in HOW you ride. Ride well, there are no guarantees. (and I still haven't told my Mother that I'm back racing again)  | ||
| Jlnance |
Anony - Take the BRC (basic) class. People who have been riding 30 years take that class and rave about how much they learned. You won't feel like you already know all the stuff. | ||
| Skyguy |
I am with Slaughter on this one. There is NOTHING you can do to convince the public at large that motorcycles are not dangerous. Why? Because they are. Be real with yourself . Do whatever you can to be as well trained and as well geared as you can. Why? Because you WILL go down sooner or later. A smart rider has a better chance of not getting seriously messed up than a stupid one to be sure. | ||
| Jlnance |
A family member believes motorcycles are dangerous and riding them is irresponsible. I'm guessing that would be your wife, otherwise, you wouldn't really need to convince them. Most things in life come with both risks and benefits. We all juggle these. In your situation your family incurs some of the risk but they don't get any of the benefits, so they are less than thrilled. People have suggested good ways to minimize the risks. But in the end, I doubt they are going to change anyone's opinion. Things like this rarely boil down to one simple issue. There are probably a lot more issues than your safety that are raising concerns. If you can figure out what they are, it will make things a lot easier to work out. | ||
| Xb12rdude |
I love motorcycles and have rode them for years.......but the fact remains, they are dangerous as hell!!!!!! 4 have died, 10 hurt seriously, and about 25 have crashed out of the apprx. 50 riders that we somewhat ride with from our local bike night. This over the last 3-4 years. That comes out to about a 80% crash rate for the sport bikers in my area. Most of these have not been from stunting by the way. Most crashes I see are from High Speed Driving and/or hitting corners to hard and not from wheelies. Anywho, I love riding but know that it is very risky and honesty probably a stupid thing for me to knowing I have a family and all. | ||
| Grimel |
. That comes out to about a 80% crash rate for the sport bikers in my area. Most of these have not been from stunting by the way. . Most crashes I see are from High Speed Driving and/or hitting corners to hard and not from wheelies. Anywho, I love riding but know that it is very risky and honesty probably a stupid thing for me to knowing I have a family and all. Tha is about the most illogical conclusion I've ever seen. MOST of the crashes come from people riding like morons. So, riding is dangerous. No, riding is dangerous as hell!!!!!!! if you ride like a moron. Ride is a sane maner and it's not any worse than driving one of the micro-cars (all aspects considered). If Buell would come out with ABS the CityX & Uly would become near ideal commuter bikes. The Uly (with another gallon of fuel) would be THE sport touring bike. | ||
| Bigsherm9r |
Rent and watch "The World's Fastest Indian," a true story. In the documentary that is included on the DVD, as well as in the movie, Burt Munro explains it perfectly. "You live more in five minutes wide open on a motorcycle than most people do in a lifetime." If that doesn't work, don't worry about explaining it to anyone else, it's your life. If you want to ride, ride. It's your wife's decision whether or not to stick around. If she doesn't, don't fall into the tunnel vision trap of "you chose the bike over me." It was more a choice of living life vs. living scared. Sherm | ||
| Xb12rdude |
Tha is about the most illogical conclusion I've ever seen. MOST of the crashes come from people riding like morons. So, riding is dangerous. No, riding is dangerous as hell!!!!!!! if you ride like a moron. Ride is a sane maner and it's not any worse than driving one of the micro-cars (all aspects considered). Point well taken, other than I noted that most accidents I've seen are from people hitting corners hard and going at high speeds. Sorry but almost everyone I've ever rode with do that on their bikes, thats why they bought them. SO I don't think someone hitting a corner hard should be called a moron as you stated, but's it's still dangerous. If you bought your bike as a good MPG commuter vehicle, more power to ya and good choice.........I just don't know anyone who's bought a bike for that, though I'm sure their are lots that have. I personally would by a Spree or other type of moped for that. I love going fast and hitting corners hard} | ||
| Brucelee |
My guess is that if we could get these data, it would suggest that the majority of accidents on motorcycles are rider induced. BTW-I think the same is true for auto accidents. If so, being a good rider reduces your chances of an accident greatly, perhaps down to a "normal level." Having said that, the risk of injury when you DO go down is pretty high indeed. Dress appropriately and get educated! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I love going fast and hitting corners hard most all of us like to have fun in the corners- that's one of the reasons we ride Buells, but if you are doing this aggressively enough to have 80% crash rate, you and your buds need to slow down and save it for track days.... | ||
| Superdave |
More people get killed in horse riding accidents each year than in motorcycle accidents. The no. 1 cause? NOT wearing a helmet. Go figure... | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I'm getting back on a bike after 10 years. " That puts you in the demographic group having the highest number of fatal accidents in an already hazardous sport. Everyone AND the statistics are out to get you. Try and ride safe! | ||
| Jrhottel |
Great response. No, it's not my wife or sig-other down on motorcycles. For my part, I could start the looking for Buellchick thread. No staying anonymous that way. About that, I didn't want to start out on the wrong foot so I clicked the anonymous box. Are people getting back into motorcycling really at highest risk? I thought fairly new riders as they become too comfortable held that distinction. Practically it may be the same. Try and ride safe! Try and ride safe...... Thanks, it's nice to hear from like minds now and again. | ||
| Buellfirebolt31 |
its not when or if you go down, but how hard.... | ||
| Teddagreek |
MSF Course is must.... I'm signed up for the advanced... Ride to your ability...Take it slow... Have fun, Be Safe........ | ||
| Tunes |
"Are people getting back into motorcycling really at highest risk? I thought fairly new riders as they become too comfortable held that distinction. Practically it may be the same." I believe it's anyone who becomes too comfortable. To me, being alert on my bike is part of the attraction/fun of riding. Absorb your surroundings... and like everyone; have fun, be safe, enjoy! | ||
| Midknyte |
More people get killed in horse riding accidents each year than in motorcycle accidents. Got a link to a/that stat? Call me harsh, but it sure woulda been nice if C'Reeve went down in history advocating helmets and back protectors for his "sport" than bellyaching for a cure after the fact. | ||
| Grimel |
Point well taken, other than I noted that most accidents I've seen are from people hitting corners hard and going at high speeds. Sorry but almost everyone I've ever rode with do that on their bikes, thats why they bought them. SO I don't think someone hitting a corner hard should be called a moron as you stated, but's it's still dangerous. If you bought your bike as a good MPG commuter vehicle, more power to ya and good choice.........I just don't know anyone who's bought a bike for that, though I'm sure their are lots that have. I personally would by a Spree or other type of moped for that. I love going fast and hitting corners hard} Track days are for hammering it. Everyday riding needs a margin for YOUR error AND a margin for the other people's error (said morons going to freakin' fast for their ability/equipment). It is entirely possible to go quickly, corner well, AND maintain a (relatively) safe condition. There have been 3 wrecks in the last 7 days on The Dragon. All three (based on picture damage) were excessive speed related. If you are traveling such that 80% of your group has wrecked going to fast/hard into a corner you are GOING TO FAST. The pace calls for 80ish% of your ability to have a safety margin. I say make it 70ish% to give an extra margin for the 'tards in cages. I don't poke around, but, I NEVER max the bike out on the street. If you really are wrecking at 80% either you guys are WAAAAAAY over any safe speed (how far you can see) OR your group needs some serious work on technique. | ||
| Rhun |
Since you are anonymous ... did you have unprotected sex before marriage? retorical question! That's dangerous. Motorcycles are not dangerous, riding them stupid is. Most every thing in life can be dangerous if you don't pay attention. Eventually, life will kill you. |
