Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I don't know what you mean by motorcycling not being my "thing"....but I'll take it as a truth in the end anyway. I used to ride thousands of miles for what it's worth. Mountain passes, deserts, cities, you name it. I've owned six bikes. Wasn't my thing? Well, it was until I realized that the risks were to great for me. Where I live the traffic has increased tremendously.....and so did my corresponding need to pay ever more attention to the others on the road that OFTEN did not see me. Not fun....and it is work as well as a chore. Sure, it comes natural to the rider. But it isn't very natural nor enjoyable when those levels of awareness tell you that you are in ever increasing danger of being struck.
Yes, I too am glad I got off the bike. Shortly before I did that TWO highly skilled riders in my place of employment crashed while riding. One was struck and his wife was killed (at a stop light....ZERO he could do about it), the other was forced off a mountain pass from an oncoming car. He survived....but after hitting a tree and being in a coma for a month....plus a year of rehab and the eventual resulting medical retirement...he's just now having a normal life (years later).
Yep....best choice I made getting off the motorcycle. I wish you many safe years of riding.
I didn't mean anything derogatory when I said it wasn't your thing, I just meant it didn't get in your blood to the point where you couldn't give it up...that's me...sure, I've had some close calls in my 40+ years of riding, but that wasn't enough to make me walk away...could I walk away if I were in a bad accident? I don't know. Maybe, I just hope I never have to find out...
No problem....and I hope you don't ever feel the need to stop. I just know that for me, it just wasn't worth it. Much of my concerns may in fact have more to do with the area I live than anything else. I can assure you if I didn't live in a crowded...angry area, I would most likely still be riding. I do however enjoy an even better feeling of freedom and fun when I ride a PWC. On big, open water with miles of space, my safety concerns are minimal and I can cut curves....jump...and go about as fast as I want to.
Good luck to you and ride safe.