Why ride street bikes?

[Garandman]

The ground breaking study in 1981 by Doctor Hurt (real name!) remains the primary guideline for deciding how to mitigate risk.

List of findings in the Hurt Report - Wikipedia

Their have been several European studies and a New Zealand study that confirm most or all of that report.

All of my friends wear full face helmets. Most wear safety gear all the time, and high visibility jackets or vests and helmets.

A lot of my friends who race and an increasing number who ride street are wearing airbag vests.

 

[3930dave]

This is a if you gotta ask, you aint ever gonna know Question, isnt it? You are free to decide to ride or not, and no one will argue the low state of driver skill in the US.

Because iits fun, because it teaches skills and responsibilities, because its an exciting family sport in a nation where 70% of Americans are overweight or obese and most die from cancer or heart disease. Because with the appropriate riding gear and rider training, the risk is much lower than the overall death rate for motorcyclists, most of whom do not have any rider training, are not wearing a helmet, and half of whom are impaired.

My wife got her motorcycle license two years ago, my 18yo daughter last summer. 16yo daughter will be up next summer, 15yo son 2020.

Enjoy the family rides..... I know you have/will :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

The ground breaking study in 1981 by Doctor Hurt (real name!) remains the primary guideline for deciding how to mitigate risk.

List of findings in the Hurt Report - Wikipedia

Their have been several European studies and a New Zealand study that confirm most or all of that report.

All of my friends wear full face helmets. Most wear safety gear all the time, and high visibility jackets or vests and helmets.

A lot of my friends who race and an increasing number who ride street are wearing airbag vests.

After hearing my brother's description of the cycle rider who hit the asphalt face first, I can understand why.

 

[Garandman]

After hearing my brother's description of the cycle rider who hit the asphalt face first, I can understand why.

Nobody had to tell me twice.

You’d be amazed at how much yakking I get from “Lifestyle” riders about wearing gear. My response is, “I’d already be dead.”

Got hit from the side by a car in a construction zone going 40mph in 2007. The Honda in the pic came racing up the closing lane, then swerved in when he saw the signal and couldn’t stop. The front of his car clipped the rear of my bike and knocked me over.

Five state troopers showed up because they could not believe I wasn’t badly injured or killed.

Rode back to work. Consider it a failure on my part to not be aware. This was a tough one as there was an entrance ramp so cars were converging into the lanes from both sides.

 

[k0ua]

I knew my friend was in for a serious time when on the day of and shortly after his motorcycle accident. (10 wheel truck turned across his path, with the rider having the right of way) a highway patrolman answered his cell phone. He said "I bet you wanted to talk to xxxx" I said yes, and who are you? He advised he was MSHP, and my friend was just about to "dust off" on a life flight to Springfield Mo and a hospital. He was happy to report he was still alive, but had some serious injuries. He is still recovering, and making progress. The Harley has went its last mile.

 

[Sigarms]

It is not about fear. It is about looking at the odds as well as realizing that other drivers on the road are a major killer of bike riders and the bike rider cannot control those drivers.

Well said.

 

[beemerphile]

Riding 51 years and counting. Over 700,000 miles now with no injuries. If I get creamed tomorrow, which I recognize could happen, it will have been worth it. I will also have lived three times longer than my only son who was killed in a car accident at age 23. I care more about the life in my years than about the years in my life. Feel free to choose differently as suits you.

 

[LouNY]

Riding 51 years and counting. Over 700,000 miles now with no injuries. If I get creamed tomorrow, which I recognize could happen, it will have been worth it. I will also have lived three times longer than my only son who was killed in a car accident at age 23. I care more about the life in my years than about the years in my life. Feel free to choose differently as suits you.

View attachment 570531

:thumbsup::thumbsup:
riders will ride, the naysayers can walk or stay home, not going to:mur:

 

[Garandman]

I knew my friend was in for a serious time when on the day of and shortly after his motorcycle accident. (10 wheel truck turned across his path, with the rider having the right of way) a highway patrolman answered his cell phone. He said "I bet you wanted to talk to xxxx" I said yes, and who are you? He advised he was MSHP, and my friend was just about to "dust off" on a life flight to Springfield Mo and a hospital. He was happy to report he was still alive, but had some serious injuries. He is still recovering, and making progress. The Harley has went its last mile.

Sorry to hear.

Left turners account for the majority (over half!) of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, as reported in the Hurt Report and other studies.

The problem is common enough that the Brits have a name for it: SMIDSY, or "Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You." The reasons - and the countermeasures - are well understood.

It's just that many riders don't bother to educate themselves. If you are a rider, watch this video. If the background behind the driver's head is not moving, you are not moving relative to the driver's field of vision, and he is unlikely to see you. I discovered the anti-SMIDSY maneuver by accident in 1985 but didn't understand why it worked until I saw this video.

 

[Garandman]

Riding 51 years and counting. Over 700,000 miles now with no injuries. If I get creamed tomorrow, which I recognize could happen, it will have been worth it. I will also have lived three times longer than my only son who was killed in a car accident at age 23. I care more about the life in my years than about the years in my life. Feel free to choose differently as suits you.

My project bike.