| Author | Message | ||
     J_s_machine |
I'm sure alot of you all experience the same comments I do while Riding or talking about motorcycles. It seems that people have such a negative image of motorcycles. I cannot go anywhere without someone telling me "you're gonna get killed on that thing" or "you're crazy"...I'm always at a loss for words because I mean, What can you say? Does anyone have a polite response to comments like this,that will either put someone in their place or make them hush?? Thanks | ||
| Disturbed |
Well it's not really them needing to be put in their place. It's more them being uneducated to all that is motorcycling. "I'm gonna go sometime." Cord | ||
| Skully |
You could say, "I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death."  | ||
| Freesh |
Tell them not to run you over... From my experience, the only people that say that have never ridden a motorcycle, and probably shouldn't. In that position, you only hear the horror stories. | ||
| Sub65chris |
I'd rather go doing something i love. That one has worked for me . | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
When you get so old that they move you to "that ole rocking chair" and you have no fond memories,what do you think about? | ||
| Diablobrian |
"I refuse to give up something I love to do out of fear of someone else's lack of situational awareness." is one of my usual answers. They then say "look what's already happened to you!" to which I reply "If it happened while driving a Chevy would you expect me to give up driving Chevrolet products? It makes the same amount of sense." | ||
| Cycleaddict |
i always tell 'em that motorcycling is "worth" all the risks involved ! | ||
| 4cammer |
I tell people, and this is the G-ds truth, that my riding keeps me from being 250 lbs and a near drunk, again. Who needs a pizza and 12-pack when you can go riding instead? | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I tell people that the increased risk gives me a healthier respect for life and an appreciation for all the little things that make it worth living. I explain that riding sportbikes is what I think a bird feels like soaring through the air. There's no greater joy and freedom out there IMO. Usually by the time I'm done talking to these type of people they have a whole new outlook on what it must be like to ride, and never talk to me like that again. Actually, they typically develop a greater respect for me as a person because I do ride and take risks. Matter of fact, one of the things that got me a second look from the big boss for the job I have now was my fearless image partially created by being known as a sportbike rider. They needed a go-getter and figured I fit the mold better than anyone else because I talked about mitigating risk, but not avoiding opportunities. I think it's funny that I was asked specifically about my love of sportbikes in the promotional interview and my answer got me promoted. The director said it was that answer, my education and experience, and the fluorescent orange tie with our company logo emblazoned on it I kept wagging at him intermittently through the interview that got me the job. I'm the only rider in the office and they all think I'm crazy, but are in awe of my riding experiences. Unfortunately the director was not impressed at all when I decided to get someone to hold the front doors open one day and rode my bike down the hallway and parked it outside my office in the hall. LOL! The look on his face was classic. He walked up and stood in my doorway, and I looked back at him with a straight face and just said, "What?" He just shook his head and walked on down the hall. It's not like I did a burnout on his carpet or something. (-: | ||
| Metalstorm |
"you're gonna get killed on that thing" It is very possible but at least I will have had a say in how I go and I will be living life when or if it happens rather than simply existing. "you're crazy" That has not been clinically proven  | ||
| Ekass13 |
Tx05xb12s I agree 100%. As far as the office stunt, your lucky you have job... f-in great! | ||
| Bigblock |
That has not been clinically tested... | ||
| Fpresky |
I read a story in a motorcycle rag a few months ago that hit home with me. The author now around 60 or so said "if you ride a motorcycle you will die on it" before everyone bashes me on this he went on to say with the proper gear and experience that you could easily die of old age FIRST.That it is up to us to watch all directions at all times because no cager is watching for us.As far as what I say " I hope so , I want to go doing something I love ."This shuts up most people since the majority of them are afraid to face their own mortality. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
The old man's got a sense of humor. He knew I was just messing with him because I did it the first day on the job in my new position. Maybe he shouldn't have told me the bike question/answer in the final interview swung the promotion my way. (-: | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I'm on the 100 year plan myself, but if I've gotta go early, I sure hope it's at redline on a fast bike and not cancer or violence or something meaningless like that. I love life, but if I knew I was headed into a possibly lethal crash scenario and I couldn't avoid it, there'd be a smile on my face behind the face shield. I know this because I've had several close calls, and I am always amazed how cool-headed I've been able to handle each situation. There was no fear because I love what I'm doing so much. I don't have a death wish by the way, but if it happens and I can't get out of it, well then that's better than other ways to go. Years ago before I started riding street, I had a good looking chick tell me she fantasized about dying by riding her sportbike into a brick wall at redline while naked. I thought she was suicidal or something at the time, but now I get it. I don't think that would be nearly as much fun as she made it sound, but I get it. | ||
| Slaughter |
We have these discussions all the time at work and I've learned to just laugh them off. I know I'm not going to "convert" anybody to my point of view... even harder when I come to work a few times a year kinda bound up from racing crashes. Some things you can't explain... along the lines of the old quotation (don't know who said it) - "If you have to ask, you won't get it." | ||
| Cityxslicker |
My parents dont get it. My grandfather got me my first bike, He also got me my first shot of whiskey, my first gun and got me enlisted into the military. I think fun skips a generation  In washington state last year there were 17 fatalities due to motorcycling. There were 68 caused by hammers... Looks like the business end of a hammer is more dangerous. There should be a 3 day wait on those! Take them out of the homes, add them to a national campaign for the Saftenzi's | ||
| Riclyd |
There is more deaths by smoking than riding a bike  Ride hard die young | ||
| Irideabuell |
I have fond memories of my parents both saying there will never be a motorcycle stored in our garage as they are "death traps". One day my older brother rolls up our road in Vermont from Massachusetts during an Easter weekend snow storm with his wife in tow on brand new Suzuki 185's. I vividly remember my father saying "look at these two morons out there in the snow on motorcycles" as they approached our house (it was always great fodder at our house to watch who was passing by on our rural road). You should have seen the look on his face when they stopped at the foot of our driveway and started motioning for all of us to come and help them get the bikes up the steep drive into the garage. Once my brother and his wife were in the house and had warmed up my dad started his lecture which fell on deaf ears. What happened the next day probably won't be a surprise to any of you. My brother somehow got my dad on one of the bikes and he was hooked for life. The following week dad was at his good friends' Kawasaki dealership buying his own. Next my little brother and I had ours and my mother soon followed. For some reason my sister never got into it, but 4 out of 5 ain't bad. | ||
| Aldaytona |
"Only WIMPS die of natural causes" usually ends the silly motorcycle bashing comments. | ||
| Kdan |
My polite answer: There are plenty of humans being. I want to be a human doing. My normal answer: Yeah, I should ride a couch like you, but it never appealed to me. | ||
| Pso |
I just say "I have had to many friends killed and maimed in automobile accidents. I tell about one friend that was impaled on the gear shift lever until dead." | ||
| New12r |
Everybody Dies, not everybody lives. | ||
| Greenlantern |
Just say "MY EX WIFE!!!!!!! WHERE?!?" | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
what 12r said.... | ||
| Ghalsey |
I think a number of you hit on a good point; that the people usually offering the dissenting opinions about riding have either not been on a motorcycle or have had a serious personal experience with them to change their opinions on them forever. Point being: that each opinion must be viewed within the context of who is expressing it. A classic example of this is when a good friend of mine went to the Music Institute in LA. All the teachers there espoused the fact that making it in the music biz is near impossible. Of course, this was coming from a bunch of people who had not made it in the music biz. And then resorted to teaching. Everyone's opinion is valid but the only one that matters is our own. Motorcycling is a profoundly personal experience. Granted its a very social one too; with the various clubs and events surrounding it, but at the end of the day its just you and your bike and the road. And nothing else matters... | ||
| Jlnance |
Does anyone have a polite response to comments like this,that will either put someone in their place or make them hush? "Thanks, I'll try to be careful," works reasonably well. | ||
| Freezerburn |
I'd rather die free than live in a cage. | ||
| Mikej |
Most bike wrecks are caused by inattentive or drunk or stoned car drivers, doesn't matter if you're in a compact car or on a bike or even in a bus at that point of impact. The second highest cause of bike wrecks are caused by careless or inattentive or over-exuberant bike riders, self-induced crashes. On that point one can only keep one's self under control, the throttle is connected to the hand which is connected to the arm which is connected to the shoulder which is connected to the neck which is connected to the head which contains the brain, the brain is the primary safety device all of us own whether we're on a motorcycle or a bicycle or driving a car or truck. Everything else is simply an accident, be prepared, dress as well as you can afford to, and do what you can to minimize your risks. Hmmm, sort of applies to anything driven or ridden or flown. These "statistics" are just my own personal assumptions based upon what I've observed directly and indirectly in life so far and can not be backed up by any actual numbers or official studies, much like the initial statements saying you're going to get killed on that bike. Ask if the people who are making the dangerous motorcycle statements if any of them ride bicycles, or if any of their kids do. Have any of them ever referred to bicycles as suicycles as some do motorcycles? There is no simple polite response, only an invitation into further discussions. |
