A question

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/11/2019 at 10:13 • Filed to: None

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Should I buy a motorcycle today or should I be a financially responsible and safety conscious middle aged dad ?

I am asking for Toby. He wants to know, but he can’t type.

Arrivederci > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:16

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This is Oppo - buy the bike ;).

Ash78, voting early and often > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:17

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You’re asking people in the parking lot of an AA meeting if they have anything to drink?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:18

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Pretty sure this is the wrong place to ask that question......

Nothing > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:18

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My wife works in healthcare so my motorcycle hopes are most likely forever nil.

She tried to reiterate this the other day, until her argument fell apart...the injury that occurred was a woman who was riding bitch, lost her grip and fell off, wearing no protective gear at all. Add on that she was drunk, said she had had a few beers and maybe 3 or 4 shots of tequila, she couldn’t remember how many, and had smoked weed as well.

I still want a dirt bike/dual sport.

bob and john > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:19

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I’ll give you 3 guesses as to what i’m going to say and the first 2 guesses dont count. 

PartyPooper2012 > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:20

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Look at it like an investment. You gonna buy the bike. Hold it for a while. Fix it up. It will appreciate like a new 7 series bmw just driven off the parking lot. You will then sell it for profit. Become filthy rich. Buy an island in the Caribbean  and retire to a comfortable life of mozzying around the island on bikes and off island on boats. Smoke cigars and drink single malts. 

Funktheduck > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:21

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I’m saving this picture for whenever I have a question like this for Oppo

PartyPooper2012 > Nothing 04/11/2019 at 10:25

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my wife works in healthcare. She says I will die as soon as I touch a motorcycle. Paranoia is strong in that one. But I somehow wiggled my way into having two motorcycles in my garage now. 1995 Shadow 1100cc and 2002 Ducati.

Yes. They are in the garage... but she is insisting that I will still die due to being in contact with motorcycle ...even though I distinctly remember touching the bikes in front of her and not dying. Not even once.

Shadow needs to go though. Nothing wrong with it. Just too much bike for me 

Nothing > PartyPooper2012 04/11/2019 at 10:28

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In most eyes, I’m still a rookie. I had bikes until I moved to CO, but I probably only have about 30k miles or so under my belt. I grew up on dirt bikes, and had my first 100 when I was 12.

My only unfortunate statistic is that I’ve been down umpteen million times on dirt, I haven’t been down on the road, yet.

Future Heap Owner > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:36

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No.

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.

.

You should buy *two* motorcycles.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:37

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Buy the bike. Toby would want you to.  

VincentMalamute-Kim > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:37

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This is Oppo - but I’m going to say don’t. I’ve had three bikes including an insane Kawasaki H1 2-stroke triple. Rode to both coasts, Canada.  I read your CHP stat that impairment is a big factor. Wasn’t aware of that but I read that a lot of crashes are oncoming drivers turning left in front of the bike. You can’t prevent that.

My basis for the opinion. I did two ER rotations as an intern and saw bad bike accidents. The ER medical director’s son came in as a bike accident - he died.

That didn’t change my mind until I did the Ortho Outpatient Clinic rotation. A lot of young men in wheelchairs, crutches, external fixation devices (metal) sticking out of their legs.

Chances are that you won’t die in a bike accident - if you die, it’s not going to bother you. It’ll bother Toby and your family. It’s more likely that you’ll be permanently maimed. How would life be if you were paralyzed or stuck in a wheelchair? Or more likely, not being able to hike a long distance, impaired, disabled, etc, for the rest of your life.

Life would be far less enjoyable unable to walk, hike, bicycle. Much less having to be fed by someone else or have to be helped to the toilet.

Having to be constantly aware of the all the things that could be bad, anticipating that every car is looking for your life and thinking of exit strategies at all times drained the fun out of riding.

A bike is so much fun but it isn’t worth it to me anymore. OTOH, I’m still road bicycling. Everyone has their risk/benefit balance setting.

razorbeamteam > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:38

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You already know the answer. I am two-wheels-terrified, but if you’re not then buy that mid-life crisis machine and ride out!

Side note, I have a co-worker who rides and she had a sidecar built so she can take her dog with her. Just and FYI so Toby doesn’t get left out. 

VincentMalamute-Kim > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/11/2019 at 10:47

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oh yeah, considering it’s you, your risks should be lower than average. Older, wiser, etc. I was younger when I rode and some incidents that could have been tragic were my bad judgement.

But some are out of our control. Car drivers. A power line that ran across the road went down on one side of the road after a storm. In 6am’s (I was not impaired) semi-darkness, the remaining power line stretched across the road at neck height was not visible from a bike. That one hurt a lot.

Another category applies to you - lack of experience. Some of the stuff, you can only learn by experience. But you may be smarter than me and be able to minimize learning this stuff the hard way.

CalzoneGolem > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:50

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Does it have a sidecar for Toby?

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:52

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 Buy a vintage British bike, they are the safest bikes ever built. 

dumpsterfire! > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 10:59

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depends on the MC. If it’s a chrome boat anchor made in Milwaukee in the last 50 years then don’t buy. Everything else is fine.

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:08

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I'm going to say no, because just a few days ago you had no idea what kind of bike you wanted. No way you're sure of that already. Sit on it until you're sure what you want.

vicali > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:11

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Yes Mr.President, whatever you say Mr.President..

Sovande > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:13

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No. Don't buy a motorcycle. 

MattHurting > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:32

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Personal bias leads me to say no. My dad died youngish (59) when I was in my mid 20's from a motorcycle accident. There isn’t a holiday that goes by that I don’t think about him and the fact that he never met my wife or my kids. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but maybe talk it over with the family. And Toby too, of course.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:39

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Well if you want help figuring it out, I like bikes XD

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:47

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Pls don’t buy a motorcycle. We like you among the living. 

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 11:47

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I would personally get a big, bad ass scooter like a 300 cc Vespa. That is all the speed I need. Plus, motorcycles seem too serious to me whereas the scoot seems relaxed, even though you can go nearly 80. I’ve had my motorcycle license since ‘08 but have mostly dicked around on my friend’s toys. I think about getting a bike about twice a year, but still haven’t pulled the trigger. I think being in LA is a big reason I don’t go to two wheels.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 12:33

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If you found one of the Hondas I recommended, you should.

Being able to handle a larger bike will also make you safer on the smaller ones. ACTUAL SCIENCE!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 13:25

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Will it come with a sidecar?

ST80MND > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 13:54

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What a gorgeous pooch......

VincentMalamute-Kim > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 15:14

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https://oppositelock.kinja.com/proof-that-bmw-x4-x6-drivers-are-the-worst-1833975058

One anecdotal argument against your “CHP says most bike accidents are due to impairment” sentence. All the safety gear you wear probably won’t make a difference if your neck is snapped.

Driver was impaired. If you were on a bike instead of a 8 ton truck , you’d probably be better off if you were impaired too.

nermal > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 15:50

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If you are buying a bike with a V4, then yes, get it.

Make sure you get good safety gear as well, but avoid a jacket with fringe on it. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 16:49

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Toby is worried about you, as am I, with regards to this choice you are making.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 04/11/2019 at 16:52

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Same.

Dogsatemypants > ImmoralMinority 04/11/2019 at 16:52

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Wear buttless chaps in the sunchaser. Just as exciting, with a hint of danger.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > PartyPooper2012 04/11/2019 at 16:53

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You have married well; has she?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > PartyPooper2012 04/11/2019 at 16:56

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He’s already rich and he’ll be drinking the malts in Oregon. If the bike doesn’t kill  him first.