motorcycles kill

I just lost a friend to a motorcycle accident. Every person I have talked to says the same thing "I told him to get rid of that thing. That it was dangerous, and he'd eventually get really hurt one day."

I'm not going to read any replies to this post. I don't care what your excuses are - that you're "safe", you'e experienced, you know what you're doing, you don't go too fast, that things can happen to anyone and you can't just stop doing things you think are fun.

Are people really so selfish that they think their death will not impact anyone? That as long as they were having fun, doing what they loved, that it's worth it? That it's OK?

It's not OK.

Motorcycles are stupid. People who ride them are stupid. If you want to do something dangerous, be a firefighter or policeman or soldier or SOMETHING. At least make it mean something. Otherwise, go jump off a cliff and get it over with so your loved ones don't have to suffer in fear everytime you go out. Get rid of the bike. Don't sell it, so that someone else's life can be ruined by it. Junk the stupid thing. Right now. You are not better or safer than anyone else.

He is dead. Do you get that? Do you understand? It's not an exciting story to tell your friends. It's not a cool scar, or being able to set off a metal detector because you have a steel rod in your leg. It's never being able to see or talk to a person ever again. EVER.

And no, you evil judgemental people, he was not going fast, he was not drunk, he was experienced, he was wearing a helmet, and no other person or vehicle was involved in any way. It. Just. Crashed. And if he had been in a car instead of a motorcycle, he would be here right now.

I believe this must be the "anger" phase of grief.

I see what you're saying, and can sympathize, but should we stop driving and flying also?

If you skid on a wet road in a car, you live through the experience.

I stopped riding my motorcycle when I had kids - I figured they wanted a live dad with a brain. I almost died in a motorcycle crash when a car ran a stop-sign in front of me while I was travelling at 40 MPH. My worst car accident was when a guy ran a stop sign and slammed my into my car at 40 MPH - I was also going 40 MPH and was spun around and both sides of my car we caved in. In the MC accident I could not remember anything anyone told me for a day, I did not even have a bump on my head in the car accident. Another time some dope in a car turned in front of me and I had my motorcycle tire under the car chassis as I tried to turn with him so as not to get run over.

There is really no comparison in the relative accident rates and severity of accidents.

I myself, would prefer a short, happy life, riding my motorcycle, sans helmet, than sit around all day, wetting my pants about what could kill me!!!

I also do other things like fly an airplane, and occasionally do things like spins. I start arguments in bars with crazed Republicans in the "Shoot Me" State of Florida.

If you don't like bikes, stay off them. Just watch out for those of us on them.

Thank you.

this cannot be said enough. I do believe that the majority of bike-related (motorcycle and bicycle) accidents are because of car drivers not paying attention. The number of times I've almost been run over by someone on their cell phone makes me angry, especially since I try to be a good rider (usually).

Rock on.

:hug:

you could drowned. won't you think about the children?

I haven't had any friends drown.

While this is statistically meaningless, I have more friends who swim than drown, and so I don't ride them

But if someone else wants to, that's okay with me.

I don't know six people who own motorcycles.

Two friends when I was fifteen, from high school.

A cousin when I was about 23.

A college roommate when I was about 26.

A guy I went to law school with when I was about 48.

And last year, a friend.

Doesn't count a guy I'm acquanted with who is in the hospital right now with major road rash.

Not learning to swim is what can kill you.

Your analogy is not approapriate, I think.



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so I went out and explored other options. I ended up with an electric moped with a theoretical top speed of 25 mph. I've found the short range/slow speed setting to be quite adequate and no faster than the average bike rider. I use it for all short trips that don't require hauling a lot of stuff.

I knew I'd kill myself on a motorcycle.

if someone driving a car near you screws up, you lose.

I'm not going to tell anyone not to ride one, but I'll never ride one again (having had a miraculous accident and walking way unscratched, I used up all of my motorcycle luck at once), nor will my kids ride one until they're old enough that I can't tell them no anymore.

PS: I think there's an airbag-type suit for motorcyclists available in Japan. Looks kinda sill, but I'd rather be silly-looking and alive...

Redstone

You can be the best motorcyclist in the WORLD, (but) if someone driving a car near you screws up, you lose.

A week and a half ago, I lost my driver's side tail light to a runaway Hummer on a damp road. Fortunately, I saw it coming in time to hit the gas and avoid being broadsided or spun out. The car behind me spun out, but was able to avoid the Hummer and wasn't damaged. I've been wishing that I'd been a few seconds faster, but I realize now that if I had succeeded in blowing by the Hummer, it would have either hit the the car behind me head on, gone through the railing it eventually crashed into, or both.

My condolances

:(
rocknation

I used to ride on motorcycles until a friend of mine died in a motorcycle accident. I know that people can die in any type of accident, but the risk just doesn't seem worth it when dealing with motorcycles. I'm sorry for your loss.

for a pack of smokes. Two blocks. No Helmet. Car swerved in front of him. He hit it got thrown, landed on his head and died almost instantly.
My wife used to work in the hospital before her own problems. Always said they had a name for motorcycle riders. Called them organ donors.

If he wasn't craving nicotine....:sarcasm:

Extreme sports, walking down the street, driving, swimming, flying, skydiving, playing soccer...the list goes on.

It we're going to get rid of ways we can kill ourselves, then guess what? We might as well just kill ourselves, because we'll be confined to a padded bubble with sporks for the rest of our lives.

:hug:

the weekend on a motorcycle with no helmet. Stupid law. I lost my brother in the same way.
MOTORCYCLES ARE DANGEROUS!!!

However people ride for a variety of reasons, some economic. It isn't always just the thrill of riding.

Most of my family rides (wife, father, brother, and myself), and try to always assume that people don't see us. I agree, the odds are much greater of being hurt.

I ride because it's something I enjoy. I also get about 70 mpg on my 1981 Vespa P. It's not that fast, but it sure is fun.

By the way, I've cracked my head open on a bicycle - guess we should ban those too.

I lost some very good friends in motorcycle accidents, when I was younger. And.. had some friends with near-misses that cured them of riding again.

Do You know how many people die in car wrecks each year? Should we ban them and call all automobile drivers STUPID? And why did You bother posting your nanny post if You admit it's a drive-by flamebait?

...and this will never be sufficiently eloquent.But all over the planet people do things that may endanger them.This is bike week where I live and our small state is inundated with 300,000 extra riders.Six so far have lost their lives.Most likely more will die.Those who live and those that die are no more foolish,no better or worse than others you know.Next Sunday,somewhere over 299,900 will go home,safe,sound, and with their lives enriched.I am not stupid, and neither are most my friends-we trade a degree of safety for a degree of beauty and freedom.In your grief this seems incomprehensible, yet life demands zest and beauty.Mourn your friend and heal your scars,but please do not fall into the bitter trap of blaming his passion.....

Don't fly, don't walk outside, don't get in your car. If it had not been for a flight out of Detroit headed for Phoenix...an acquaintance of mine would have been married with kids today.

Again, I am sorry for your loss, but life is a gamble. :hug:

Life is a gamble. There is no avoiding danger.

On the other hand, you only get one chance to truly live your life. I don't smoke, drink, cheat, or indulge in any other vices. But I'll Never give up my bikes.

My wife worked for the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the majority of the membership had suffered spinal cord injuries from motor cycle accidents. The majority of the accidents were not the fault of the motorcyclist. Hospitals routinely refer to motorcycles as "Donorcycles". I will not let my children ride them until they are grown up and on their own.

Do you know what the number one cause for motorcycle accidents are? The same causes that are the leading factors in bicycle/car accidents.

"The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision."

"Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls."

<http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html>

Yet instead of putting the blame where it really belongs, you are instead taking your anger and grief out on those of us who are blameless. Have you ever thought that it isn't those of us who ride two wheels who need your lectures, but instead those who drive four wheels?

And frankly the reason that I started riding a motorcycle is because of economics. With gas running at $3.00/gal I had to do something to ease the pain in the wallet that a fifty two mile round trip commute causes. Thus, I went out and bought a small bike that gets 100mpg as it cruises at 55-60mph. In fact each and every single motorcycle, from your scooter up to your Harley hogs gets much better gas mileage than any car, including hybrids(though they come close). In addition, except for your two stroke dirt bikes, they all emit less pollution than cars also.

But even though we on two wheels don't cause the vast majority of accidents, even though those of us who ride are burning less gas and spewing less pollution, it is us who you choose to vent your anger on. I'm sorry, but that's just wrong.

Look, I'm sorry your friend died, truly I am. But perhaps you should redirect your anger towards those who are really at fault in motorcycle accidents, and that is car drivers. Get them off their cell phones, put the food down, stop turning around to talk to the kids in the back seat, whatever, but get them to actually LOOK and PAY ATTENTION to what is going on. That is the single biggest thing that you could do to prevent motorcycle accidents, and we on two wheels who've been fighting this battle would greatly appreciate it, as I'm sure that your friend would also.

But blaming the victims is unseemly and simply wrong. Most bike riders are smart, save, and intelligent drivers. Sadly it seems that the ones behind the wheel are those who really need the lesson in how to drive and watch out for your fellow motorist. Four wheels and two wheels get along fine in many other countries besides ours, why is that? Education, all motorists get drilled into their head not to be distracted behind the wheel and to really pay attention in traffic. Sadly, that lesson isn't taught in this country, and bikers pay for that lack with their lives. Rather than climbing all over us because of that, work to promote better driver attention. Those of us on two wheels, who are conserving gas and polluting less, would really appreciate it.

Crotch rockets have a death rate of fifty percent for riders age 25 and under. That's why my dad, a motocross racer until he was 68, wouldn't let any of us get one.

That said, dirt bikes, while dangerous, don't go as fast and are ridden with more safety stuff. My brother's running his own company making motocross racing bikes for kids, and they always stress the need to wear all the protective gear before starting the bike up.

I come from motorcycle folk. I've seen bad injuries, yes, but thankfully nothing as awful as what you're going through. For that, I'm truly sorry.

I have to call your 50%....

I don't drive a bike. I wouldn't, because I wouldn't feel safe on one, but that only makes me look out for them all that much more on the road. I personally feel black should be outlawed as a motorcycle color, though. These things have a greater need for visibility than cars do; they should be any color but a dark one.

I will, however, agree that the vast majority of bike/car accidents are very likely caused by the car, not the bike, simply because cars are enclosed and can carry somewhat "free" passengers (free in the sense that they have space and room for 'stuff') and therefore have a greater chance of distraction. And I can't even begin to count the number of complete fucking idiots who talk on cellphones while they're driving.

That, to me, is one whole hell of a lot more dangerous to everyone in the vicinity than any bike is to its owner.

And, I've seen the aftermath of many a car accident, but never a bike accident (not that I want to). I'm 31; I've had my license since 16. That's quite a while not seeing an accident when "they're so dangerous". In fact, now that I thin about it, I've seen the aftermath of an accident involving almost every major passenger vehicle type- including big rigs- except one involving a motorcycle.

I'm very sorry for your loss, but I think you should understand, it's not the machine itself that makes it dangerous, but the behavior of its operator and those around him on the road. ANY vehile is dangerous if operated in an unsafe manner; even a factory tow tug can kill under the correct circumstances.

He'd read it in an AMA mag, from what I remember. It was awhile ago, so later studies might have better numbers.

country?

http://www.arthurhu.com/index/health/death.htm
http://www.epicentro.iss.it/ben/precedenti/febbraio/1_en.htm

That was awhile ago, though, and I'm sure the latest studies are more accurate. Still, the death rate is awfully high for those things. I'm not saying that they can't be ridden responsibly, but they sure are tempting to go too fast on.

are all dead anyway. Motorcyclists, or otherwise...

Sorry to sound flip, and sorry for your loss. It was your friend's decision, try to look at in terms of he felt the risk was worth it, and it was something he wanted. Life isn't all about quantity. You gotta factor in some quality. Would you feel any better if he'd slipped and hit his head in the shower?

Just got my motorcycle license and will be buying a bike in the next week or two.