Motors and Cycles

Jun 29, 2006 11:47

I'm signed up for a motorcycle safety class in a few weeks. And I have a six-year old waiting for me when I get back. So at this point I have no idea if I'm going to end up getting a bike or not ( Read more... )

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ellameena June 29 2006, 19:09:52 UTC
Only you can make the decision about whether or not to pursue this hobby. Our neighbors recently lost their son-in-law to a motorcycle accident. He left behind a widow and a six-year-old daughter. It was awfully sad. I think the tough part about riding motorcycles (or driving a car, even) is that no matter how safe a driver you are, you can't control what the other guy does, or how much beer he's been drinking or whatever. Life does have risks, and there's no way to guarantee being safe. For me, motorcycling would not be interesting enough to justify the risk, but I might like to get back into horseback riding someday, even though that is also pretty dangerous. (And, similarly, you can't 100% predict or control the behavior of any animal.)

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madshutterbug June 29 2006, 19:21:42 UTC
I will pass along two things that my brother taught me.

When riding motorcycle, the first year is the most dangerous, and the first month is the most dangerous of that. Qualifier: this can be adjusted downward but not eliminated by taking motorcycle safe driving classes.

Consider yourself invisible. Do absolutely everything you can to make yourself more visible, but never forget, They can not see you. Plan, and drive accordingly.

OK, three things. Because the third thing evolves from the second.

When the day comes that you feel you must chase someone in a four-wheeled vehicle (or more wheels) to inform them that they almost hit you... it is time to sell the bike.

He lived by those rules. Followed them firmly. Sold the bike when he started to chase someone down that almost hit him. He lived by those rules. It wasn't a motorcycle accident that killed him.

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qweeeejk June 30 2006, 00:01:59 UTC
I suspect that motorcycles, ridden responsibly, are less dangerous than they are made out to be. More dangerous than a tank, sure, but also more fuel-efficient.

Me, I ride a bicycle, which should in theory be more dangerous still than a motorcycle. I mean, put me on a bicycle in the same situation as me on a motorcycle, I'd die more often on the bicycle. Right? There you go. I'm just a danger addict.

But in 2005, 720 bicyclists died in road accidents in the USA, and in 2004, 4,008 motorcyclists were killed in highway accidents in the USA. (According to a very cursory Google search.) And it's not because there are five times as many motorcyclists as bicyclists. At least, I'd be willing to bet good money on that, even though I haven't looked it up.

If a bicycle is less dangerous than a motorcycle, it has nothing to do with the bicycle and everything to do with the brain controlling it. You riding a motorbike is probably quite a bit safer than the average human driving a car.

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singingnettle July 3 2006, 06:05:08 UTC
You riding a motorbike is probably quite a bit safer than the average human driving a car.

Well said.

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singingnettle July 3 2006, 06:03:41 UTC
What the hell, you'd look hot on a chopper.

OK, seriously, I agree with your reasoning and occasionally considering learning to pilot one myself. 'Cuz they're FUN and the older I get, the more important I think it is to play.

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