Motorcycles, anyone?

[poor-sha]

I ride a 1300GS and love it. My area is full of gravel roads that very few cars drive on. I’ve also done the MABDR a couple of times and it’s really fun to be out in the middle of nowhere with just what you can carry on the bike.

 

[BimmerFan]

... there is a huge difference in potential outcomes between a sane/sober, experienced rider giving full attention to quick risk assessment of myriad opportunities for failure and an 20 year old on a 200hp superbike leaving no margin, or a middling (operating skills) 55 year old Harley rider that's been bar hopping all day.

This is very true, and an excellent point. I prefer to consider myself in the first group rather than the latter. Back in my riding days I had an absolute firm no-exceptions rule that I never rode after drinking. Period. However, I will admit to a few close calls after riding for several hours and being very tired.

Yesterday I was out running errands, and I had to turn left out of a parking lot onto a fairly busy 5 lane road, 45 MPH limit. I saw an opening and started to go, when I realized that a motorcycle was approaching from my left. Based on my initial judgement of his speed, I almost went for it, and then I saw that it was a Harley Davidson and based on my limited knowledge of them and their riders (not great brakes, no ABS, many riders only use the rears) I decided not to go for it. As I was waiting, I thought, yeah I could have made it, but also thought, I almost didn't see them and only because I am hyper-aware of bikes and I am an incredible driver (cough) that I did, but I'll bet 90% of people would have not even seen him and what if it was me and do I really want to do this again?

Because honestly, I know my abilities and my limitations, and that's not my concern. It's the clueless, texting and distracted drivers.

I have commuted to work on a bike, in rush hour traffic, and generally commuters are attentive and although somewhat zoned-out because it's the same old drudgery, they also rarely do unexpected things like you see on weekends when people are just running errands and forgot - oh shoot, that's my turn! - one thing on their list. But yeah, it can get you pretty puckered-up to be doing 70+ on a highway in bumper-to-bumper.

 

[1Evil55]

I always ride with my brights on unless its actually dark.

 

[RDATLTE]

This is very true, and an excellent point. I prefer to consider myself in the first group rather than the latter. Back in my riding days I had an absolute firm no-exceptions rule that I never rode after drinking. Period. However, I will admit to a few close calls after riding for several hours and being very tired.

Yesterday I was out running errands, and I had to turn left out of a parking lot onto a fairly busy 5 lane road, 45 MPH limit. I saw an opening and started to go, when I realized that a motorcycle was approaching from my left. Based on my initial judgement of his speed, I almost went for it, and then I saw that it was a Harley Davidson and based on my limited knowledge of them and their riders (not great brakes, no ABS, many riders only use the rears) I decided not to go for it. As I was waiting, I thought, yeah I could have made it, but also thought, I almost didn't see them and only because I am hyper-aware of bikes and I am an incredible driver (cough) that I did, but I'll bet 90% of people would have not even seen him and what if it was me and do I really want to do this again?

Because honestly, I know my abilities and my limitations, and that's not my concern. It's the clueless, texting and distracted drivers.

I have commuted to work on a bike, in rush hour traffic, and generally commuters are attentive and although somewhat zoned-out because it's the same old drudgery, they also rarely do unexpected things like you see on weekends when people are just running errands and forgot - oh shoot, that's my turn! - one thing on their list. But yeah, it can get you pretty puckered-up to be doing 70+ on a highway in bumper-to-bumper.

Talk about stereotyping.

 

[668LT4]

I sold my Triumph Speedmaster when I first bought the CT4-V Blackwing. I miss it, and still love riding. We saw 3 fallen riders within 2 miles of my home in a span of less than 2 years. 2 were dead instantly. One was on Easter Sunday driving to church. I won't lie, seeing the black motorcycle boots pointing up from under a white sheet and 4 fire fighters shielding a body with a helmet at least 100' away was harrowing. Worse for my wife. "Buy any car you want, please get rid of your bike". That certainly weighed into my mindset. I did not have to sell the bike, and perhaps I will own another in time, but it sure put her at ease.

Even as a motorcycle rider and supporter, I can honestly say I see so many ahole motorcycle riders on the road driving like total delta bravos. And it makes me understand why non-bike people dislike us. I only had a few close calls in years of riding. I controlled what I could, particularly where I rode and when I rode. But it is always a taking a chance, same as many things in life, but with quite possibly more dire consequences.

 

[Seth]

 

[sonny200]

I don't fault an EMT/Medical professional for holding negative views of motorcycles just like I don't fault a LEO for having a skewed view of society, its just a distortion of the larger world. A good, attentive rider can mitigate most of the risk, but a rare few can manage all that and still enjoy riding.

Like Bimmer, I've been on two wheels since around 10, both dirt and street.Got a GSX-R 750 back in 1994 when I lived in SoCal but then once we recognized we we're going too fast on the street, starting racing in 2001 and largely gave up on street riding soon after that. About five years ago I added Street Glide for two up touring with my wife which we REALLY enjoy, but that is a totally different scene than my core moto love.

I still have a number of race bikes that I use to instruct at track days and once and a while race them. Lately I've been interested in a street bike bike for some leisure riding and on my mental list it the Triumph Street Triple, KTM Duke, or MT-09. Not into the GS/ADV scene, its worse than Harley folks

Don't get me wrong -- I don't hate on bikers. I've just seen/heard about too many bikers getting seriously injured/killed (including a coworker & another was good friend) through no fualt of their own. Granted, there's accepting & mitigating risk in anything that one does. (Eg, is driving on the track in a DE with our 4/5BW risk free? -- Of course not!) If you are willing to accept the risks involved with anything you do & you enjoy it, then do it! I'm just saying the risks associated with riding a motorcycle these days is SO much worse bc of all the distracted drivers that is getting progressively worse. Stay safe out there!

 

[Exia]

I like bikes, I'll never buy one though, way to risky these days. I already shake my head at to many people day to day based on their driving habits, but at least I'm also in a metal box if they decide to hit me. Not so much with a bike.

I've been tempted to try one but I also work in Healthcare so I'd rather not be the next person who ends up in the ER or on an operating room table.

Maybe I'll wait for my mid life crisis, but I think I had that 5 years ago.

 

[ArgentWing]

I get the part about distracted drivers and that's definitely a concern but honesty most motorcycle accidents I hear about are single vehicle accidents where the rider lost control. Modern machines can be quite a handful for inexperienced riders. I do most of my riding in the country and I always ride within my capabilities. I'm 61 and I don't plan on giving up riding anytime soon!

 

[V Zaddy]

My 2021 BMW F 900 R