The problem with motorcycling

[Bustanut joker]

Wheelies are inherently dangerous......didn't anyone ever yell ya that?

Ahh go ride ye Schwinn ya *******!!!! Stoppies are even worse.

Ah ****! I fergot, ya gots an over priced, under powered, piss poor copy of Japans finest................A Hardley.

Dem don't do either :****:

:jester:

 

[Bounce]

Life's not safe. Anyone who claims otherwise hasn't thought it through or is trying to sell you something.

No one gets out of here alive.

The lack of 4 wheels means that the rider is burdened with the safety. As with firearms, mechanical safeties are seldome 100%. The only safety we can count on is between our ears. That means a rider tosses a leg over the bike KNOWING the risks (and managing them accordingly) or is a clueless organ donar. This understanding has to be "owned" and that means not over riding you site line on the street, performing PM at or before the designated intervals, inspecting tires and replacing them based on anticipated use ((early if required for an upcoming trip). Penny pinching on maintenance can cost you more than it's worth in the end.

Heading out with poorly maintaned equipment

Pushing hard on public roads

Too fast to avoid unexpected obstacles or debris

All of these are personal choices that are part of managing risk. Push too much and the world pushes back. It's not brain surgery. The trouble is that many people don't like staring their mortality in the face, so gloss over it.

That doesn't mean we lay the blame on the equipment and start looking for redundant systems (4 wheels don't tip over, so add 2 to your bike). It means the intellectually honest rider acknowleges the risks and adjusts their riding accordingly. At some point where something happens, they look into themselves to learn how to alter their habits to prevent it from happening again.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Life's not safe. Anyone who claims otherwise hasn't thought it through or is trying to sell you something.
No one gets out of here alive.

The lack of 4 wheels means that the rider is burdened with the safety. As with firearms, mechanical safeties are seldome 100%. The only safety we can count on is between our ears. That means a rider tosses a leg over the bike KNOWING the risks (and managing them accordingly) or is a clueless organ donar. This understanding has to be "owned" and that means not over riding you site line on the street, performing PM at or before the designated intervals, inspecting tires and replacing them based on anticipated use ((early if required for an upcoming trip). Penny pinching on maintenance can cost you more than it's worth in the end.

Heading out with poorly maintaned equipment

Pushing hard on public roads

Too fast to avoid unexpected obstacles or debris

All of these are personal choices that are part of managing risk. Push too much and the world pushes back. It's not brain surgery. The trouble is that many people don't like staring their mortality in the face, so gloss over it.

That doesn't mean we lay the blame on the equipment and start looking for redundant systems (4 wheels don't tip over, so add 2 to your bike). It means the intellectually honest rider acknowleges the risks and adjusts their riding accordingly. At some point where something happens, they look into themselves to learn how to alter their habits to prevent it from happening again.

GUNNY.

 

[BrunDog]

I think most of you missed the point of this post sans Jet. I fully acknowledge that motorcycling has inherent risks, and agree that I am comfortable with those, given my knowledge, ATGATT, riding style, etc. I agree that I ride because I get something out of it I cannot get elsewhere.

Whay I am saying is, shouldn't we have both: All the fun, with some redundancy for safety?

-BD

 

[johnny80s]

I think most of you missed the point of this post sans Jet. I fully acknowledge that motorcycling has inherent risks, and agree that I am comfortable with those, given my knowledge, ATGATT, riding style, etc. I agree that I ride because I get something out of it I cannot get elsewhere.
Whay I am saying is, shouldn't we have both: All the fun, with some redundancy for safety?

-BD

Dude?

 

[Scab]

I dunno. What types of systems are you considering? Seems like maybe the most dangerous link in the chain is the tires. Considering the variations in riding styles, conditions, and even riders, I wonder how the weaknesses could be eliminated.

 

[rushes]

I'd like to see ABS standard on all bikes miself...

'Course the harley guys'd ***** 'cause they wouldn't be able to lay er down....

Beyond that, it all comes back to the shtuff between yur ears...

Survival skills... some got it an some don't...

 

[Sherman]

I think most of you missed the point of this post sans Jet. I fully acknowledge that motorcycling has inherent risks, and agree that I am comfortable with those, given my knowledge, ATGATT, riding style, etc. I agree that I ride because I get something out of it I cannot get elsewhere.
Whay I am saying is, shouldn't we have both: All the fun, with some redundancy for safety?

-BD

You signature indicates your attitude about safety and aversion to risk. The safest motorcycle is the parked motorcycle.

(I don't ride enough either, and I rarely take passengers as I don't wish to risk their lives.)

What I get is a power to weight ratio that is too expensive to satisfy with a car, freedom from the cage, and lean angles as in flying.

There is an old aviation adage I will paraphrase: On a twin engine airplane, after one engine fails the other one takes you to the scene of the accident. Redundancy is not necessarily the answer.

Safety is more about experience, training, & attitude than systems.

There is some redundancy as in dual brakes, ABS, multiple lights, and reserve fuel. But redundancy is expensive. Twins cost about 2x as much to fly as singles for the same speed and capacity. Simplicity is a wonderful thing.

BTW, how often do sudden blow outs really happen on a well maintained bike?

 

[Fred W]

I dunno. What types of systems are you considering? Seems like maybe the most dangerous link in the chain is the tires. Considering the variations in riding styles, conditions, and even riders, I wonder how the weaknesses could be eliminated.

I would argue that the weakest link in the chain is the "loose nut" behind the windshield. You are far more likely to go down due to getting in over your head than by any mechanical failure of the machine. If you want to really improve your odds I'd work on that aspect 1st. Low hanging fruit, and all that...

 

[FightOrFlight]

I dunno. What types of systems are you considering? Seems like maybe the most dangerous link in the chain is the tires. Considering the variations in riding styles, conditions, and even riders, I wonder how the weaknesses could be eliminated.

I would argue that the weakest link in the chain is the "loose nut" behind the windshield. You are far more likely to go down due to getting in over your head than by any mechanical failure of the machine. If you want to really improve your odds I'd work on that aspect 1st. Low hanging fruit, and all that...

Philosopher FredW strikes again. Love it. And Bounce, that was a great post. I struggle with this issue a great deal because I have two children and a wife at home. Some (many?) of my co-workers look at me askance for "putting my life in jeopardy when I have children to raise." While it makes my wife nervous, she also understands the me that they do not.

Still...there are times, like hearing about Wayne and Annette, that force me to stop and consider if my choices are too selfish. The alternative, however, is wishing I could ride and not being able to. Left unattended, that can quickly bubble over into resentment and kill everything in sight.

Picking up on FredW's post, three years ago I rode with a small group on the Cherohala (sp?) Skyway, Dragon, etc. I 'tried' to keep up with one of them - let's just call him "Judas." He was at once the best and the most insane rider I have ever ridden with. That night, and in the days and weeks that followed, I was ashamed of myself for being so irresponsible and short-sighted, for not using my brain. That was a major turning point in my riding and I have noticed that you guys frequently say "ride your own ride." I learned the importance of this principle on that trip and I see it as one of my most significant 'safety advancements' to date.

 

[BrunDog]

You signature indicates your attitude about safety and aversion to risk. The safest motorcycle is the parked motorcycle.(I don't ride enough either, and I rarely take passengers as I don't wish to risk their lives.)

You certainly could draw that coincidental conclusion - but that would uneqivocally inaccurate.

My low mileage is a testament much more to my available time than a conscious decision to "not ride" because I want to stay safe.

Now, that being said, I am in the same situation as FightOrFlight. And while I too wonder if I should give it up in the name of protecting my family, I am committed to doing it safely to mitigate the risk. If I my mileage is low, it is because I work (MUST) and spend time with my family (WANT). Bike time falls in between, and there isn't much of it. But trust me, the low mileage has no relation to any fears I may posess.

-BD

 

[Scab]

I would argue that the weakest link in the chain is the "loose nut" behind the windshield. You are far more likely to go down due to getting in over your head than by any mechanical failure of the machine. If you want to really improve your odds I'd work on that aspect 1st. Low hanging fruit, and all that...

I thought that would go without saying. My focus was in keeping with the mechanical side. Remove the possible mechanical failures and leave the rider as the last variable.

BTW, how often do sudden blow outs really happen on a well maintained bike?

Another point. With modern technology being what it is, what exactly is left to be done, that could reasonably be done, and still result in the same motorcycling experience?