Please be safe.

[Skyboy8950]

So, after a 75 mile ride with my fiancee, I came back into town on a main road and saw about 5 cop cars, 3 fire trucks and 2 ambulances. I wondered what was going on and kept approaching the scene. I saw a motorcycle body, then, about 500 feet towards the scene, I saw the front end of the motorcycle. I was riding with two other motorcycles and all of our hearts sank. I still don't know what caused the accident or what the outcome was, but please be safe out there. It sure reminds me why I wear a helmet (in a state with no helmet law) and a jacket with body armor.

[bradleymaynar]

Hearing about these wrecks is always a punch in stomach. It's only worse when you witness the carnage first hand. It's a great reminder on why proper gear is necessary.

Brad bt

[RevRoy]

Can never be too safe

Sometimes, I'm almost afraid to stop and try to help at accident scenes. A couple of months ago, a guy on a Honda Goldwing was putting along about 35 mph, and a woman pulled out of a grocery store and broadsided the GW. The rider had no chance to do anything, and he went up and over the car while the car took the GW down.

I used to be a police officer, and I still remember the motorcycle accidents I had to investigate. Interestingly, not one of them was caused by any fault of the rider ... unless it could possibly be inattention.

The advice I gave my daughter when she was learining to drive is the same advice I take with me everyday ... never trust anyone to do the right thing.

[ThreeTimer]

never trust anyone to do the right thing[/b].

Or (as I always think) - Assume they'll do the wrong thing at the wrong time, and plan accordingly.

3xer

[RevRoy]

This is how we live to ride another day. My "signature" is what I was taught in the Police wheel school, back in the late 1970s. I took it to heart, and like to think it's saved my bacon a few times.

[earlfor]

Exactly! I dont have any trust in anyone when I'm on the bike.
Its saved my butt countless times.

Earl

never trust anyone to do the right thing[/I].

[mf70]

There's something about being in a car that insulates you. Maybe it's the A/C, or the tunes...

Even though I've been riding for 35 years, I nearly drove over a Gold Wing at an intersection. I'd seen him as I pulled up, but he was just out of my consciousness ten seconds later. Fortunately, HE wasn't asleep, and we didn't make contact.

I think one reason for invisibility in a city is the broken-up nature of a motorcycle, with separate parts just flying in formation. It acts as camouflage, blending into the chaotic city background. Cars are single lumps, and are seen as objects.

[spyug]

When riding a bike, the onus is on the rider to look out for him or herself. The folks driving the cages don't have concern for you...that is the bottom line.

Looking out for yourself starts with the basics. Take a registered MSF course. Practice what they teach you. Take a refresher course every few years. Read all the books and articles (I heartily recommend David Hough's series "Proficient Motorcycling"). Practice emrgency stops and swerves. Keep your bike in shape. Check your tires ( note to self).

Above all dress for the ride. Visible clothing & helmets, gloves, boots, leathers and armour. If its too hot for clothes its too hot to ride. Remember most accidents occur within 6 miles of home so dress properly even if your going to the store for milk.

Don't ride aggresively and swerve in and out in traffic. It peeves the cagers and some idiot is not going to see you soon enough before he pulls out and runs over you.

Stay sober and calm. If your aggitated you'll do something stupid and stupid hurts.

Done preaching for today.

Cheers all,
Spyug.

[Roland]

Keeping Safe

Is it because this is my first season riding and I just finished my safetly course that I am so attuned to listening when I hear about an accident to see if it involved one of my Biking-Brethren or if there are always so many accidents.

Where I live there have been at least 7 accidents involving motorcyclists in the past 2 months. This is crazy and I have asked a couple of the old timers that have been riding for years if this is a similiar rate as years past and they replied yea pretty normal for this time of year.

Further research seems to lend itself the the fact that accidents involving motorcyclist are indeed up and rising. Now I ask myself and my old timers why all of a sudden is there an increase now that I am riding.

We seem to be in aggreement that it is due to the rising fuel prices and the upswing in the number of new inexperienced untrained riders purchasing bikes and either riding without a license or getting their training from a good-ole-buddy that has ridden for years so they must know everthing.

Although there is no guarantee any of us will not be taken out at any time, taking a Rider Safety course comes as close as you can to preparing you for the unexpected emergency. I was fortunate to have a couple of riders with 15+ years riding experiece also in the class and they commented several times that they didn't realize how much they didn't know prior to completing the course.

Almost every single trip from home to work and back again I see at least one and often more than one event which reminds me I need to be very vigilant in protecting myself. You can really tell the real numskulls out there I am talking about those guys guys riding motor cycles wearing shorts, tee shirts, sneakers. Even though my drive is eight miles each way I always put on my leather gloves, boots, armored jacket, and pants. Although this is no guarantee I will not be in an accident I know I have definately upped my chances of reducing the injuries that I know I am inevitably going to receive somewhere down the road.

So as I wrap up my preaching I would highly recommend a safety course and full safety gear for everyone even if you think you are the most experienced and safest rider out there. Trust me we can all learn a lot from the experience of others.

Please be safe everyone let's change this upswing into an all out recession in motorcycle accidents.

[koolaid_kid]

Saturday I went to test ride an 850 for a forum member to give him my opinion of the bike. I suited up, pants, boots, jacket, gloves, helmet. The owner (who is also a friend) looked at me and said something like "Planning on going on an extended ride?" or something like that. I just told him no, I always wear this. End of story.
We are motorcyclists, and should dress and act accordingly. Leave the biker crud to the organ donors. Life is short enough as it is.

[MelodicMetalGod]

Is it because this is my first season riding and I just finished my safetly course that I am so attuned to listening when I hear about an accident to see if it involved one of my Biking-Brethren or if there are always so many accidents.

Where I live there have been at least 7 accidents involving motorcyclists in the past 2 months. This is crazy and I have asked a couple of the old timers that have been riding for years if this is a similiar rate as years past and they replied yea pretty normal for this time of year.

Further research seems to lend itself the the fact that accidents involving motorcyclist are indeed up and rising. Now I ask myself and my old timers why all of a sudden is there an increase now that I am riding.

We seem to be in aggreement that it is due to the rising fuel prices and the upswing in the number of new inexperienced untrained riders purchasing bikes and either riding without a license or getting their training from a good-ole-buddy that has ridden for years so they must know everthing.

Although there is no guarantee any of us will not be taken out at any time, taking a Rider Safety course comes as close as you can to preparing you for the unexpected emergency. I was fortunate to have a couple of riders with 15+ years riding experiece also in the class and they commented several times that they didn't realize how much they didn't know prior to completing the course.

Almost every single trip from home to work and back again I see at least one and often more than one event which reminds me I need to be very vigilant in protecting myself. You can really tell the real numskulls out there I am talking about those guys guys riding motor cycles wearing shorts, tee shirts, sneakers. Even though my drive is eight miles each way I always put on my leather gloves, boots, armored jacket, and pants. Although this is no guarantee I will not be in an accident I know I have definately upped my chances of reducing the injuries that I know I am inevitably going to receive somewhere down the road.

So as I wrap up my preaching I would highly recommend a safety course and full safety gear for everyone even if you think you are the most experienced and safest rider out there. Trust me we can all learn a lot from the experience of others.

Please be safe everyone let's change this upswing into an all out recession in motorcycle accidents.

FYI: MCN had a multi-page article a month or two ago concerning motorcycle accident/fatality rates. The conclusions they drew, as I recall, were that accident rates were increasing for riders in the 35-50 range but that rates overall were still WAAAAYYYY down, proportionally, to the worst rates that were seen back sometime in the late 70's/early 80's.

Bottom line is that reagardless of what the statistics are, we all have to do all we can and work during every ride to NOT BE one of these statistics.

Ride, but ride safe!

[RevRoy]

Yesterday, I rode to the park. It was a nice, quiet Sunday ride, but quite predictably a car pulled out in front of me before I got there. After arriving, I found traffic heavy: I abandonded the left tread and took to the middle of my lane because oncoming traffic was hogging the center line due to cars parked on both sides. Well, a guy opened the door of his parked car in front of me and I had to swerve to miss it. I gave him a blast from my air horns, which really felt good, particularly when he flinched and almost fell down trying to get back into his car :?.

You get the point ... there will never be an absence of thoughtless and/or careless jerks endangering us (and each other). There are also some jerks on two wheels ... the unlicensed idiots who weave through traffic, or who ride in shorts and flip-flops (yes, I've seen that).

I agree that there are more riders every day, and this trend will continue, particularly due to the rising gasoline costs. We are going to have to be even more vigilant and, where possible, let's pressure new riders to get to a MSF course. Maybe a visit to the local Police Department will bring some new opportunities to impress in the police the need to start watching out for and ticketing the idiots.

On the whole, I believe that if every driver of every vehicle were as vulnerable (hence competent, careful and alert) as motorcyclists, the world would be a much better place.

Keep on hanging on,

[RevRoy]

Today, a man who works across the street from my auto repair shop was going to lunch. He left on his Harley Road King, and one block later a man driving a Ford Econoline "did not see the Harley." The Ford stopped at a Stop sign, then immediately started up.

My friend laid his Harley down but ended up broad-siding the van anyway. He has a possible fractured leg. Damage to the bike, of course.

He had no crash bars (he always said they make a bike "look like a wuss"). Was not wearing his helmet. Well, he was only going a few blocks, and he's been riding a long time.

Let's not get careless or too comfortable. That Ford was out to get him. Don't let anyone get you, okay?