"Leadbull" (leadbull911)
05/11/2014 at 21:44 • Filed to: None
0
11|
"Leadbull" (leadbull911)
05/11/2014 at 21:44 • Filed to: None | 0
| 11 |
Now, I'm not so sure...
I was driving home with my family after eating a Mother's Day lunch with my grandmother. A group of 15 or so Harley's passed by before we turned onto the highway; I thought nothing of it.
A few miles later, we see brake lights, and the car in front came to a dead halt. My little brother, who was behind the wheel, and who's learning to drive, did a great job of stopping us safely. Cars started pulling off the road, and we got a good view of what had happened.
At least one bike was down, and a man was lying motionless in the center of the road with someone kneeling beside him... maybe he was dead, I'm not sure. Either way, the whole experience was a bit unsettling.
cabarne4
> Leadbull
05/11/2014 at 21:47 |
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Get your license...
While I've met some great Harley riders, most of the ones I've ran into (not literally) have next to no idea what they're doing on the road. That, and they wear very little safety gear. Today, for example, I was on the freeway in a large truck. Guy wearing shorts and a T Shirt on a cruiser starts to slide out of his lane and into mine. Would have hit my mirror if I hadn't gotten on the rumble strip and sped up. He rode the white line for a bit, then went back to his lane.
Buy the proper gear, start on a smaller bike, and take proper training. Riding is fun.
EDIT: Oh, forgot to add... Ignore the famous "Ride like you're invisible" mantra. Instead, "Ride like you're wearing high vis gear, have a million dollar dead-or-alive bounty on your head, and everyone is actively trying to kill you".
OPPOsaurus WRX
> Leadbull
05/11/2014 at 21:51 |
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my cousin has a good learner bike for sale if your on the south shore (ma)
CAR_IS_MI
> Leadbull
05/11/2014 at 22:05 |
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I could go either way on the issue.
I am a huge two wheels fan, I've ridden everything from 30 hp Harelys to 350hp turbo hyabusa (if you really want to shit your pants). I've raced bikes, I've built bikes, I've crashed bikes.
I will not sit here and say its safe or even remotely sane, and EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I see some new rider or squid (the common name given to a clown on a sportbike whom finds it appropriate to do wheelies / burnouts / general idiocy in inappropriate situations and places) making a terribly stupid, and more than likely ignorant mistake that could potentially cost them their lives.
I also see more than a ton of cagers (people on 4 wheels) driving ignorantly and making poor decisions that could cause harm or death to a rider.
It's a dangerous game.
It is also a ton of fun, you know, when your not in traffic, dodging idiot drivers, playing slalom with pot holes, or being stereotyped by police.
I suggest everyone who even contemplates getting a motorcycle endorsement take an MSF class. It will help build your confidence in riding, because the last thing you want to do is be nervous and unsure of your riding abilities and have to worry about other drivers, pot holes, etc.
Once you get your licence and obtain a bike don't make your first trip a ride with friends down a major roadway, its a good way to find out that your not that good at riding motorcycles. take your bike out on a clear day to a big open parking lot or down an empty back road. Learn how your bike handles, practice things like emergency maneuvers, quick stops, and turns, so that you have more confidence should you need to use those skills on the road.
Finally, ride your own ride. If you go out with friends and they want to blast down the highway at 100mph, ride your pace, you'll catch back up when they get pulled over (or worse).
And my final piece of advice I give to all new riders is this: There are two types of riders, those who have gone down and those who will go down. I grew up with dirt bikes and mopeds etc. When I first got my street bike I thought I had all the skill in the world. I was pulling out of my driveway one night and a combination of cold tires and cold road sent me on a 5 mph low side... It does not take much.
My .02/
claramag, Mustaco Master
> Leadbull
05/11/2014 at 22:46 |
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I think we all go through that bike desire. Small, great mileage, fast, easy to work on. Who wouldn't want to own one? I was edging on a Ninja 500R last year, but, well...
Father was knocked off, just some scrapes
Mother's best friend's husband hit, quadriplegic
Coworker hit, flew 20m, can't ride anymore due to back issues
Coworker 2's husband hit, no helmet, recently pulled off life support
Friend's mother hit, residual brain damage even with helmet
Central Texas is full of horrible drivers. I'll stick to my 1.5 ton safety cage
shop-teacher
> Leadbull
05/11/2014 at 23:00 |
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Everytime I've gotten close to getting a motorcycle, somebody I know has gotten really badly hurt riding. These were not idiots or amatuers either. A friend of mine ate it a couple weeks ago. They think they can save his leg ... They think. I love the idea of riding, I'm a fan of motorcycles, but it's just too vulnerable.
Cajun Ginger
> cabarne4
05/11/2014 at 23:57 |
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speaking of gear people that ride in flip flops drive me nuts.
NotUnlessRoundIsFunny
> Leadbull
05/12/2014 at 02:02 |
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When I was 16, I saw a guy on a Harley hit by an oncoming car. He then bled to death in front of me. I was a witness in one of the legal cases. It wasn't pleasant.
I have a motorcycle license, though I haven't ridden in a while. Despite what I saw, I totally get the appeal—there's nothing like a bike. Just be careful, and know the risks. Seriously, know the risks.
Every time I think about getting another bike, I think, "maybe I should just get a Miata, it's still fun, and safer."
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claramag, Mustaco Master
> claramag, Mustaco Master
05/12/2014 at 03:53 |
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Oh, and I also saw a dude riding away from the cops on the freeway. They shot him, he went down hard
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cabarne4
> Cajun Ginger
05/12/2014 at 08:00 |
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Nah, the best ones are the bros in tank tops, shorts, and flip flops on a GSX-R... who still wear a full face helmet.
It's just like "I don't care about the rest of my skin, but my face has to at least stay pretty." ...At least they're thinking ahead for the funeral?
yamahog
> Cajun Ginger
05/12/2014 at 10:08 |
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People that ride in full gear and then have a passenger in shorts, tank top, and no helmet REALLY piss me off. Too cheap to shell for the extra helmet, too careless to tell your friends how to dress for a ride? Arghhhhh!
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yamahog
> Leadbull
05/12/2014 at 10:19 |
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That's a rough thing to see, but the fact that you're honest with yourself and your fear of two-wheeled death is a good thing. Any time one of my friends goes off on a "I want a bike too!" whim, I have to sit them down and ask them if they have a firm grasp on the reality of the higher mortality rate. Don't get me wrong; it's really fun and I probably won't quit until I'm physically incapable, but it's not all fun.