Riders: Talked out of buying my first bike.

[ghostrider]

Everyone is going to die sooner or later from one cause or another. There is no reason to put oneself at risk to accelerate the inevitable. Few of us live alone in our little sphere,

true, but life is about choices. One must decide how must risk they're willing to live with.

I suggest the bike purchase decision be made by unanimous accord.

excellent idea. It avoids those ads "Motorcycle for sale; wife won't let me keep it" :-)



Interestingly, this table seems to suggest that being a pedestrian or a car occupant is more dangerous than being a motorcycle rider:
http://danger.mongabay.com/injury_death.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mind you, the numbers were from 2000 and there are more motorcycles (and cars and trucks and cellphones) today than there were 10yrs ago.


NSC Injury facts show lifetime odds of being injured as a pedestrian, car occupant or assault with firearm to be higher than as a motorcycle rider. However, they show 'motor vehicle accidents' as a separate category. I guess you have to buy the report to find out what that really means:

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Docum ... 11_037.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[edmart001]

I’ve seen data (which I can’t search for or post right now) that suggest that the motorcycling demographic group that has the highest risk of accident is the mid-life crisis crowd (and I’m in that crowd by the way) who only rides occasionally. This data also suggests that those who ride all of the time are actually involved in fewer accidents.

As posted earlier, motorcycling is much more physically demanding than driving a “cage”. One is in the elements, must keep one’s head on a swivel, must be ready and able to shift one’s weight on a seconds notice to help control the vehicle and be focused on road conditions at all times. I have personally noticed that just like with firearms, muscle memory comes into play. When I’ve been riding a lot, I do the right things automatically without having to consciously think about doing them. If I haven’t ridden in a while, and I take my bike to work, I’m very stressed for the first few trips until that automatic response memory kicks in.

I have a friend who used to fly for the US Navy. He once told me that naval aviators must make a certain number of carrier “traps” periodically or risk being de-certified for carrier operations. He said that this was because the Navy had figured out that there is no practice quite like actually doing it. I truly believe that the same is true for a lot of other things including safe and accurate use of firearms and motorcycling.

My motorcycle will never be “driveway jewelry” primarily because I’d much rather ride it than polish on it. I tell my wife that this makes me happier and safer and she humors me.

[PUCKER]

Another for the MSF course. I got my license the "old fashioned way" (it was a PAIN in the rear, as you had to have someone else that was licensed come with you in a 4-wheel vehicle...) but took the MSF for some extra knowledge, the insurance discount and to support my dad (he took it so I joined him). I started out on dirtbikes and 3 wheelers as a kiddo, that really helps you hone your skillset and deal with alot of UH OHS!! Just throwing this out there, if you want to learn how to ride and how to come out of a bad situation (bike sliding, etc) then might I suggest trying a dirtbike for a bit? Get a used one and go have fun and learn the skillsets. I always here folks say "I want a Harley for my first bike...." My opinion (flamesuit on ) is that it's a HORRIBLE idea...you take a HEAVY, under-powered, under-handling beast and then try to hone your skills???? I don't think that's a grand idea. Same goes for *any* heavy/large motorcycle (Goldwing, etc) Learn HOW to ride first, what makes a bike handle, countersteering, etc. Then figure out what is best for you. Just my thoughts. Currently bikeless here. I still ride dirtbikes and 4-wheelers with buddies (I have the lake toys, they have the dirt toys!) and every few years I get a bike, ride it for awhile, sell it...and repeat! I really like the Ducati Hypermotard.

Oh, once your get your license, go out and RENT!! See what you like. Many local HD dealers will rent you a bike for the day/weekend/week, etc. There are places that rent BMWs, Goldwings, dual-purpose bikes, etc. I played "dress like a pirate" for the weekend back in September and rented a Heritage Softail and went riding with a few buddies up in Illinois and Wisconsin, it was FUN!! A lot less power/speed/handling than I usually have but it still was fun!

[iratollah]

There are only 3 kinds of riders:
Those who have been down, those who are going down and those who have been down and are going down again.

I rode high performance street bikes for over 30 years. My wife made me double my life insurance when our first child arrived. I always said the day I stopped worrying about riding was the day I'd park the bike and never ride again.

MSF class is a must, no matter how much experience you think you have.
Pretend you're invisible and they're all trying to kill you.
Have a method to your madness.
ATGATT.
Take a class at a track day, regardless of the style bike you ride.