Opinions- selling bike when first born arrives...

[Drew2000]

Gee, I guess if you -walked- in front of a oncoming vehicle, the results would pretty much be the same, and yes, you have to turn the bike on curvy roads. Stupidity and incompetance kills far more people than riding does.

About 1/4 of motorcycle injuries/fatalities are single-vehicle events. The other 75% are vehicles violating the motorcyclist's right of way. Others choose not to wear a proper helmet and riding gear. Riding drunk also plays a very big role in fatal motorcycle accidents.

Another huge factor are mid-life crisis riders who never threw a leg over a bike until their 40's, then get either a poorly-handling/braking cruiser, or liter sport-bike with minimum rider training that leads to disaster.

You learn not to trust other vehicles, you are invisable, and never think the other driver "sees" you. In other words, you learn to ride safely in "their" world.

As I said, the risks and danger can be reduced tremendously by becoming a competant and skilled rider. Millions of motorcyclists are, enjoy the sport safely, and live to ride another day.

A very informative overview of motorcycle accidents...
The Hurt Report (summary)

 

[OAS]

Riding a motorcycle has its risks.
Even a small car can kill you if it hits you.

Then again if your driving a Yugo, getting hit with say a Ford F350 will yeild the same results.

Maybe the solution is an airbag equipped Sherman tank for everyone?
Anyone get the drift?









Ride safe freinds. ;-)

 

[andrewg]

Motorcycling has a much higher risk of death and/or injury involved than riding in an automobile. Anybody that uses silly phrases and sarcasm to try and sway this fact is living in a dream world. I've ridden for years on motorcycles. I enjoyed them. But....statistically I felt like soon my number would be up. You can do EVERYTHING completely safely on a motorcycle....and still die from an idiot rear ending you (and that is just one example). The same accident in a car may only cause a slight injury. Seen it happen.
Some of the pro-motorcycle folks on here astound me with illogical statements to deflect the true dangers of motorcycling.
Look, it is a very fun thing to do. It can be fairly safe if all conditions are right.....but in reality the same conditions that are really not an issue for a car can be a serious one for a bike. Pretending otherwise is foolish.
I have nothing against anyone that rides. I wish them well. But if asked a question, such as the original poster of this thread has, I will answer with what I believe is the truth.....not some sugar coated version, enflamed with corny 'macho' visions of a 'free' man roaming the wild backroads like some Hollywood bad-boy. Reality is that you have a higher likelyhood of death or serious injury....and with a loving family and children at home....what in the world would you want to risk losing all that for?

 

[Redline955]

You could get hit by a bus crossing the street. Don't stop doing the things that you love, even if they are potentially dangerous. Just use good judgement, and wear the gear.

 

[andrewg]

"You could get hit by a bus crossing the street"
Kinda makes my point for me, don't it? I mean with reasoning like that, why not do anything dangerous, right?

 

[OAS]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Motorcycling has a much higher risk of death and/or injury involved than riding in an automobile.
Look, it is a very fun thing to do. It can be fairly safe if all conditions are right.....but in reality the same conditions that are really not an issue for a car can be a serious one for a bike. Reality is that you have a higher likelyhood of death or serious injury....and with a loving family and children at home....what in the world would you want to risk losing all that for?


Very much agreed.

Although i have seen arguments on other message boards (no motorcycles involved) about which CAR is safer.

The guys who will not let their familys ride in anything smaller than a Suburban or a Excursion because of the safety factor.
Wifey just HAS to drive a 2 1/2 ton behemouth to make sure her and JR are safe.
More power to them, it just depends where you draw the line.
To those people a standard automobile is just TOO risky.
Ford Taurus?
Chevy Malibu?
Toyota Camry?
They wouldnt even consider it.

Think about it.
When "wifey" is yelling back at her brood to "settle down or im gonna stop this car right now", and rear ends you at 50 mph, do you REALLY think its gonna help if your in a Corolla or on a bike?
It just makes it easier for the cops to find the body parts.

 

[andrewg]

Where I live we have many of those small 'Smart' cars on the road. They make a Cooper look large! Kinda interesting though....and in the right place I can see the use of one being a pretty good idea (like within crowded cities). But out on the interstate or suburbia? Maybe they have a good safety rating....but common sense tells me to stay away. I drive a small Ford Ranger to work every day. Sometimes I feel highly vulnerable even in that. To the folks that like huge vehicles for safety, I say good for them. If I could afford it I would have a large Ford Expedition. As it is I got the girlfriend a Mercury Grand Marquis partly because of it's size/safety factor in an accident.

 

[Drew2000]

Another option is to forgo street riding and ride exclusively on the track. Track days are a highly addictive and exciting way to get your motorcycling fix, and much safer than street riding.

Bottom line, life is full of risks, some greater than others. We decide what's right for us. If you are no longer confident in your ability to ride safely or comfortable with the increased risks associated with motorcycling, hang up the gear.

But this obsession that some Americans have with driving humongous vehicles because "I rather kill you than me" is pathetic. America needs a licensing system like Germany has, where you must display a fairly high level of competance before you're allowed behind the wheel. Driving is a priviledge, not a right and it's time that most Americans learn to take drivng seriously.

 

[andrewg]

Good points. Life is full of risk....but in my opinion it is intelligent to minimize those risks....while finding enjoyment at the same time. As I've matured I don't need the same level of danger or 'thrill' that I once did. For my lack of a motorcycle, I've compromised for safety and ride a utility ATV in uncrowded local trails on occasion. Never very fast nor on any trails where I can get seriously injured from a fall. Granted, an injury can occur anyway, but I have REDUCED my risks substantially as opposed to street motorcycling, and found all the 'thrill' I need. I enjoy watercraft as well.

 

[Zedhed]

Risk analysis is best accomplished by not using the "precautionary" principle which basically states that unless all risk can be eliminated from an activity, then that activity should be curtailed.

Risk is a function of benefit versus risk, if motorcycling offers more enjoyment than the risk it entails, then it would be worth doing.

If the risk of flying is less than the benefit of time savings or convenience, then you fly.

 

[montero1]

Originally Posted By: Drew2000
Gee, I guess if you -walked- in front of a oncoming vehicle, the results would pretty much be the same, and yes, you have to turn the bike on curvy roads. Stupidity and incompetance kills far more people than riding does.

About 1/4 of motorcycle injuries/fatalities are single-vehicle events. The other 75% are vehicles violating the motorcyclist's right of way. Others choose not to wear a proper helmet and riding gear. Riding drunk also plays a very big role in fatal motorcycle accidents.

Another huge factor are mid-life crisis riders who never threw a leg over a bike until their 40's, then get either a poorly-handling/braking cruiser, or liter sport-bike with minimum rider training that leads to disaster.

You learn not to trust other vehicles, you are invisable, and never think the other driver "sees" you. In other words, you learn to ride safely in "their" world.

As I said, the risks and danger can be reduced tremendously by becoming a competant and skilled rider. Millions of motorcyclists are, enjoy the sport safely, and live to ride another day.

A very informative overview of motorcycle accidents...
The Hurt Report (summary)



The most intelligent post I've seen in a long time.....

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Zedhed
Risk analysis is best accomplished by not using the "precautionary" principle which basically states that unless all risk can be eliminated from an activity, then that activity should be curtailed.

Risk is a function of benefit versus risk, if motorcycling offers more enjoyment than the risk it entails, then it would be worth doing.

If the risk of flying is less than the benefit of time savings or convenience, then you fly.

Well understood. But one thing to keep in mind is what is the actual risk? In other words....is the risk most likely a human life or is it an injury? For me, to seriously risk my life (such as daily riding in my busy metro area), the benefit (enjoyment? not around here unless you feel invincible) is so small that to use ones life as a gambling chip is not wise....unless the value of said persons life is not that important to them. It's a choice for sure and one the original poster solicited opinions on. The answers here have been from top to bottom. For me, when a child enters the picture you have sort of 'lost' some of your choices and rights to treat your life the same way you did before you became a father. You OWE that child a long life if possible....unless you are selfish, immature, and unable to grasp responsibility.
But...what do I know.

 

[Yagenta13]

Well, I decided to keep the bike(although I did change types of motorcycles just based on my own preference). I ultimately had to think about things a bit differently than when I first began to debate this with myself. First, I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" answer- it just depends on your own views and life situation.

I changed my perspective on the question and thought about how I felt as a kid looking at my own father. I asked myself if I would prefer to have a father around for a long time who had given up the things he loves, the things which make him who he is, or if I would have prefferd to have a father who "followed his bliss" and had a passion for life who may have either died early or at least risked an early death.

I can say that I, from the child's perspective, would rather have a father who died being himself, living with integrity, than a father who gave things up and lost some of the things that made him who he was. I want my own children to see a man who isn't reckless, but who also isn't afraid to live and do the things he loves. I think those lessons will stay with them far longer than having a dad with a pulse but no real passion for his own existence.

Having said that, I respect each person's choice based on their own particular situation. If riding really isn't that big a deal, then it probably isn't such a big deal to give it up. If you really love it though, I think showing your kids your true self will go a long way to teaching them to find their own passion in life.

So, the bike stays! If I do get smashed, maybe my future minions will read this and know they shouldn't mourn a well lived life. My .02 cents!

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's perpective. That one photo on the first page really captured something that made me think twice about all this..Thx!

 

[andrewg]

Good for you. You've made a valid argument and made a decision after gathering many opinions.
As you say, right or wrong doen't matter. It is your life.
Good luck to you.

 

[Drew2000]

Glad you came to decision that satisfies you. Heck, maybe in 18 or-so years you can can ride with your kid when he gets his/hers own bike!

 

[Cujet]

I've owned 43 motorcycles. Mostly off road bikes, but a few big street bikes too.

Consider the risk/reward ratio in everything you do. Believe it or not, the motorcycle has a favorable risk/reward ratio when: Ridden responsibly, when ridden away from traffic, when not racing, when trail riding, etc.

The risk/reward ratio with the motorcycle includes the fact that it can be hours of fun for minimal risk. Quite unlike some other risky things. Walking a pipe, 24 feet above a concrete culvert is an example of a poor risk/reward ratio. 15 seconds of fun, but a very high risk of falling off with fatal injuries.

 

[SteveSRT8]

all this risk analysis is no fun when you become the statistic.

I've put too many friends into the ground, all ages, varied experience, many kinds of bikes. It's almost NEVER them at fault. Small consolation.

I have many 2 wheeled miles, been riding since I was a kid without a scratch. I even raced flat track 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile.

Not for me, but I respect anyone's right to choose.

 

[Randy_O]

Though I didn’t sell my bike, it did go into the garage for about two years, but after that I used it extensively to give my twins and their friends joy rides across the neighborhood.