Any monkey can twist the grip and go fast in a straight line. The skill and excitement is going fast through the twisties. Who cares about the top end on the straights.

 

I ask that you don't read my post looking for faults, cynicism is an easy attitude to embrace. Maybe you just had a bad day because that post holds little weight towards my outlook on riding. I am a level-headed guy but have that adrenaline junky side to me as well, as much as I want to understand your side MGD, I have a hard time reading a negative post, just go easy.

The emotions these images invoke are exactly what some people need, some argue their intellect but when it comes down to the wire I know visuals too, have their impact. Mind you I do have common sense, was just sharing this site in hopes it makes another think twice about their behavior. I am by no means stupid, but I take a chance on the occasion when I know I shouldn't. If you have never, then hats off to you.

Chris, I won't have this bike long and I don't want to put too much mileage on his, but I should have my own sometime. You should still have my number and if you're ever out this way I'd love to ride together.

Racerchick, how did the story end?

 

that was a distubing web site man but it is good for motorcyclist to look at i guess i know i am never getting a bike thats for sure

 

Sounds like me
Just be careful and respect your bike. One wrong move and you could be F'ed

Edit...just checked out that site and i am glad i sold mine!!!! That would have been me someday if i would have kept it.

 

I hear ya. See, chances are it's not my error that will kill me. It'll be some soccer mom, driving down the road drinking her double-tall-half-caff mocha chai tea latte with 2 pumps, talking on her cellphone, all the while applying eye makeup that'll kill me.

Yeah, EVERY SINGLE TIME I ride, at LEAST 2-3 drivers cut in front of me by either turning left right in front of me, or encroaching into my lane. I see these errors EVERY DAY and I shake my head in disgust every time.

Rather than live my life based on fear and what MAY happen, I say a little prayer each and every time I get on the bike. "Lord, keep me safe as I ride today." I would NEVER sell my bike because I was afraid of something that may happen, however I wear all my gear EVERY SINGLE TIME (including full face DOT approved helmet, leather jacket, full-fingered leather gloves, LONG pants, and closed toe shoes) even if I am just going down to the store.

I ride ultra-defensively, and always do ALL the watching out for everyone on the road around me. Besides, when it's my time, it's my time and God will call me home.

I do also believe that being a safe motorcyclist makes you a better driver when in the car, and gives you a new respect for law enforcement. It certainly has for me.

Enough about that, I am sorry to hear of your losses, and I hope you will get back on a bike at some point in the future.

 

I've heard so many horror stories about those while setting around camp fires at rallies that they scare me. It may just be urban legends but many what I call carreer bikers that do nothing but ride from town to town, ussually retired, and ride all year long in all weather, and thats thier only mode of trasnportaion. Many of those guys have told me that they claim to have firends that either are dead or paralyzed from bike wrecks and they blame it on full face helmets. Many have felt so strong that they say they won't ride with out a lid, but they won't ride with one of those either.

One paticualr group that I really trusted, was a group that was an evangelical gang (IE christain biker gang) whose life is riding around the nation preaching. They claimed to have lost a comrade/brother that way and they all just wore lids after that.

The stories ussually go, thier buddy had to lay it down for what ever reason, he was sliding feet first on thier belly down the pavement. The lip on the helemt catches the pavement snapping thier head back breaking thier neck. They end either paralyzed or dead, ussually in what they claim should have been an other wise harmless incident..

Now the alternative to that scenario is wear a lid and your face is ground to hamburger. However I prefer hamburger to death or paralyzed.

 

After nearly a 20 year absense I'm back to riding. I took a MSTC and it helped alot. But in real world, a clear head and common sense is the best defense.
Don't think "are they going to do it?' know they will do it.
Be visable, be aware.
Watch the blind spots and that not only pertains to whats around you but whats ahead.
Your brain has to adapt to having radar like an F-22 Raptor.
If your not comfortable with the situation either slow down and away from it. Or get ahead of it and stay ahead of it.
I was out on Sunday and came up on a group of six others. It did'nt take long to realize these guy's had no idea how to ride a bike in a group ( and this where most accidents occure).
I gave them plenty of room as I passed them and stayed ahead of them, now my problem is behind me yet still ahead, to the side, etc.
I'll tell you one thing. I've cut my coffee intake by half after driving 40 miles in morning traffic here in Dallas. The adrenaline has a residual effect after awhile.
For those who know Dallas, I come out of west McKinney down Independence then Hillcrest all the way down to Cole to end up in the Uptown area around State and Hall. I would never get on Central at 6:30 A.M.
It's like Talladaga speedway there. 70 MPH bumper to bumper.
I'm the one on the '08 red FLHSTC. And yes we're still riding down here Pa.
Sorry.

 

Ah so the site is back up, was down for a while asking for donations. I really think all prospective riders should see something like it. Not to scare them off riding but to show the consequences of what can and does happen.

P.S.
Dave I'll see you on the other shore.

Franko

 

Sorry but anyone who thinks a lid is better than a full face helmet is a complete moron.

 

yep, a helmet will save you way more times than it will hurt you. I have had some friends go down this year and all but one walked away. The other was saved by his full leathers and helmet.

In this state you can ride without a helmet and i think that is fine if you wish to but, to say its safer, well thats total BS.

 

Oh, if you have to lay it down then you don't know how to ride. sliding wont stop the bike as quick as braking and if you see something is in the way and make a decision to lay it down, you made the wrong one because the odds are, there was a way around that you just didn't see or plan for.

 

.. unless the only way around the obstacle is actually under it.

My Dad's brother was killed by a semi driver decided to pull a U Turn completely right in front of him in the rain, he must of not saw him but he couldn't stop and ended up being decapitated.

 

It's called situational awareness. I dont know how a tractor trailer could just pull a U turn infront of you and you not know it was going to happen and not act on it.

 

Easy. It was a divided highway, it was raining, the semi was sitting there with it's lights off in a little turn lane where the median was open so you could turn around. All of a sudden before he could react it was in front of him, we're talking about a road that the speed limit is 60 mph. Thats how it could happen and you wouldn't be able to act on it. My Dad was behind him and was able to lay it down and slide underneath the semi. Apparently you believe that you are able to make it out of every situation, if thats your logic than good luck.

 

I think everyone agrees to wear a helmet.
Here it's the law or $200 fine if you don't wear one.

The debate is on the dangers of a full face.
Many wont ride with out a helmet, but wont ride with a full face helemt either.


From that site....




I think that image speaks the strongest and looks the most like what the old timers are talking about.





Though you cant see the helmet, it's a crotch rocket they all (atleast 99%) wear full face for areodynamics......



Of course most of those images are crotch rockets.
Also we can only speculate what actually caused it, but sure lends evidence to the old timer bikers stories that I've heard since I was a little kid beofre Tom Cruise made crotch rockets cool in 1986 beofre everyone started wearing full face, of course in 1986 and before then it was if they wore one at all.