Rider goes riding , nothing bad happens

[oldbike54]

 All of this gloom and doom is depressing . Got me to thinking about all of the times I've gone riding W/O any drama . Grass clippings didn't cause a crash , nor did the pine straw along the Talimena Drive . No cars behaved in a threatening manner , no LEO was involved except the occasional wave from an officer . Didn't breakdown , or have a flat , young girls smiled and waved , folks on tractors out in their fields did the same , as did folks sitting on their porch on a lazy afternoon . Shocking I know , but it can and does happen 

 Dusty

[Ncdan]

I know Dusty, the glass is HALF FULL sometimes,  right👍👍👍👍👍:)

[Beowulf]

Im probably a little sick in the head. But i died laughing when i saw this. I ride very often as my means to get around. I enjoy it and it saves gas. Some of my friends over the years are convinced im on a ticking time bomb.

But i feel its really arrogant to assume your safe on four wheels. Anything comes with risk. Motorcycles are no different. ride like an idiot , die like an idiot.

Little harsh maybe but just my opinion.

Riding can be approached safely and unfortunately its often to easy to pick out why someone died on motorcycle.

No helmet, speeding, complacency, achohol, lack of skill and sometimes a lovely mix of all them.

I appreciate people who ride without thinking its a matter of time to get into an accident. Too often its a self fullfilling prophecy.

Im probably preaching to the choir.

[nick949]

All of this gloom and doom is depressing . Got me to thinking about all of the times I've gone riding W/O any drama . Grass clippings didn't cause a crash , nor did the pine straw along the Talimena Drive . No cars behaved in a threatening manner , no LEO was involved except the occasional wave from an officer . Didn't breakdown , or have a flat , young girls smiled and waved , folks on tractors out in their fields did the same , as did folks sitting on their porch on a lazy afternoon . Shocking I know , but it can and does happen 

 Dusty

This pretty much describes most of my riding Dusty (except for the Talimena Drive bit).  I suppose I could sit on the couch waiting for the 80/90 in my arteries to congeal, but I'll take my chances on the road while I can. I accept that things can go pear-shaped in an instant. It's called life.

Nick

[centauro]

It is all about "Risk Management".

By riding responsibly, we assume an intrinsic risk that HAS to be offset by a commensurably much higher reward, that is the sheer joy we derive from riding.

When a serious accident happens to others, we stop and think if we are doing all we can to "manage" the risk. Managing the risk is the operative word, here; we'll never be able to eliminate risk, unless we consciously decide to stop riding altogether.
 And, occasionally, we do read from some members here that they have given up riding, usually because of medical conditions or some life-altering even that result in that person no longer feeling at the top of their game when straddling a motorcycle.
Nothing absolutely wrong with it, that is how that person has chosen to manage the risk.

Some others among us (usually from the younger crowd) rely on the latest and greatest technological equipment on modern bikes, such as ABS, Traction Control, Smart suspensions, etc. as their way to overcome the perceived risk from riding older machines built without these systems.

Some others rely on ATTGAT as the ultimate saving grace from an untimely spill following a close encounter with a large object.

Some others, and these  are the professional riders, such as motorcycle policemen and riding instructors, rely on sharp riding riding skills to avoid threats and to pass on to beginning riders. Motorcycle racers depend a lot more on their skills, for example.

All things being equal, there is no magic total solution to assure one's survivability on two wheels; it takes a combination of the above measures, and all of them depend on the riding environment to arrive at the optimum level of comfort with our bike, our skill, and our physical and mental condition on each second we spend on the road.

[John A]

I learned of Talimena drive from Texas Turnip in '82. The Winding Stair mountains made me glad I had a motorcycle.  The  Ambassador ran up and down those hills like an old  gravel truck. wish I was back there..

[lucian]

 
Thanks for that dusty.  First laugh I've had in two weeks, despite trying hard.   

[fubar guzzi]

    YOU JUST HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND fubar ON A ROAD TRIP   

[jwinwi]

 

[Cam3512]

Riding a motorcycle has made me more aware as a driver, even in 4-wheels.  Shit you don't always notice in a cage becomes acutely aware after riding a bike.  It bumps up your situational awareness big time.  Everybody lighten up.

[kirkemon]

Open the throttle a little more, maybe it will cause some excitement 

[Muzz]

.  Shit you don't always notice in a cage become acutely aware after riding a bike.  It bumps up your situational awareness big time.  Everybody lighten up.

Had this very discussion with a guy this morning.

A trip on a bike is always far more memorable than the same trip taken in a car for this very reason, without being too zen about it.

[AMGeneral]

I had to think about it a bit, but I've been driving trucks for 27 yrs now. I see it all. Good bad all of it. Only one person in control of the chossen mode of transportation and thats me. Be it a truck, car, motorcycle, atv, bluebird. I pay attention to where the deer splatters are. I am in a high deer density area. And i drive or ride accordingly. If that means I drive ride at a slower speed, ok. I am waiting for the time when a vehicle passes me and prompty smashes into a deer.

Seems fewer motorists give a damn. So I drive ride to keep myself safe. If that means I take a longer route then so be it. If that means I drive ride slower then so be it

I hate to see these stories on wrecks, but they serve as a good reminder to never get complacent. Always drive ride like your invisible.

[LowRyter]

Dusty went riding yesterday in Okla?

I am surprised the humidity didn't kill him.  The weather here is nearly fatal.  Grateful he survived it.

[oldbike54]

Dusty went riding yesterday in Okla?

I am surprised the humidity didn't kill him.  The weather here is nearly fatal.  Grateful he survived it.

 Oh heavens no , the HIF was 110 here yesterday , after a couple hours working on the Bassa a nap became necessary 

 Dusty

[80CX100]

I hate to see these stories on wrecks, but they serve as a good reminder to never get complacent. Always drive ride like your invisible.

     ^^^^^This^^^^^ (Check it out ^Dusty^ lol)

    There's been lot's of talk lately, and rightfully so, about the inherent dangers we all face riding. I'm thankful for it, keeps me mindful and aware, thank's to all for sharing.

    Lady Luck has saved my ass a few times,, , as I get wiser I'm learning to help her out

    The same day recently, that the Truck & equipment trailer apparently crossed into the oncoming lane in NH,causing such carnage,,, I had the very same thing happen to me on a twisty back road, hwy #512 as I descended from Foymount Mountain down to Brudenell on the CalVin; a large commercial truck&trailer swerved into my lane as he approached me.

     From discussions here, I was already very mindful of my sight lines & speed, thankfully the shoulder had just been graded, so I was able to avoid the head on collision, slowed considerably and rode the dirt shoulder reasonably smoothly; the driver of the truck woke up or put his beer/phone down and managed to get back over towards his lane just as I went by him, still doing 60-70 kmh,,, so we missed each other by feet, not inches, which suited me just fine,lol.

    All that to say, sometimes Lady Luck is the only thing holding the reaper at bay,,, some times it's being aware and making the right choices; and having a horseshoe up your ass also helps as well.       

    Ride safe and often

    Kelly

[LowRyter]

Oh heavens no , the HIF was 110 here yesterday , after a couple hours working on the Bassa a nap became necessary 

 Dusty

93 degrees + 65% humidity = 105 HI

I was done after riding until 11 am.

[tommy2cyl]

This thread is sadly very timely. I was riding with 3 friends on Saturday on SR 514 outside Danville, Ohio.  We came upon the scene of an accident and we were stopped by the LEO's and medical vehicles. The road was closed and we were instructed to turn around.  Our lead rider spoke briefly with the officer who told us that a motorcycle and car was involved.  We rarely come out on top of those encounters.  I read today that the motorcyclist failed to negotiate a turn, lost control of the bike, was thrown into the opposing lane and was struck by the oncoming car.  Trajically he lost his life after being life flighted.  The article stated he was not wearing a helmet.  A few comments:  I have no way of knowing whether he would have survived had he worn a helmet but I know that his chances would have greatly improved had he been.  My thoughts are these:
1. I road raced both 2 & 4 wheeled off & on for 30 years.  I know the absolute necessity of ATGATT.  Non negotiable. Period.
2. Concentration is paramount. You do not need to have a stereo blaring either on the bike or thru ear speakers.
3. You shouldn't be fiddling with all the electronics that many new bikes have today while riding.  If you have them, set them and ride.
4. Why ride on marginal tires to eek out the last 500 miles.  Beyond stupid.  If you can't afford decent rubber on your bike, you can't afford to ride.
5. You don't need to take that call thru your bluetooth.  Convenient? Sure.  Necessary: Absolutely not.  Catch up on your calls when you gas up.
We have all noticed a dramatic difference in the distraction level of drivers over the last 10 years with all the our electronic devices.  We have all noticed how people no longer respect the left lane as the passing lane and just stay there jamming up traffic and people  then swerve across and
pass on the far right lane.  There were a lot of bikes out on Saturday. It was a nice sunny day which have been few and far between so far this year.  I would estimate that 50% of the bikes I passed the riders were not wearing any type of adequate gear, let alone helmets.  What other activity in your life would you consciously make a decision to increase your chance of serious injury or death by taking inadequate precautions.  If you have any friends that are EMR's or ER room surgeons/nurses, ask them what the the outcomes are with properly attired riders verses those that don't.  Riding motorcycles is motorsports folks.
Wear the gear, prep your bike, turn off electronic distractions, don't drink alcohol until your done,  be aware of your surroundings, get in the zone with your bike and perform to the best of your ability.   

[Sheepdog]

C’mon Dusty...pessimism is the only thing getting me into a mesh jacket. The heat has been pretty brutal...

[JC85]

Hear, hear. I'll toast to the good days of perfect riding. Stack them all up against the accidents we hear about, and the first outweighs the second by far.

[John A]

Well said Tommy2cyl. Absolute concentration is what I strive for.

[Rick in WNY]

This past Saturday, my wife and I went for a ride around Keuka Lake. The only "event" worth mentioning was we saw a pair of bikes pulled over on the side of the road. We stopped to see if all was well... it was another husband and wife team, and they were just stopping for a moment because her sheepskin seat cover was slipping off. Not a big deal, he had duct tape in his saddlebag, so we said our goodbyes and finished our ride.

In that time, 4-5 cars went by... and they barely noticed. As we were getting ready to leave, we saw another rider, on their side of the road, slowing down... The man smiled and waved him by. Stuff like that is part of why I ride... because we won't leave another rider behind.