Author |
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Oldog
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 12:52 am: |
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It seems like every time I turn around a non rider is telling me about some KID (Im 49 this year) buying the farm usualy at a high rate of speed in town hitting a fixed obstacle or a car, the cager is not allways at fault. Or this old guy got hit at so and so and is dead We won't discuss the young man who was drug down the road under a car at Myrtlebeach this year I usualy just knod politely and indicate that "Yeah its sad" or some thing along that line maybe speculate about why? I wonder if the non riding public ever stop and think about that some day they too will die? Some days I just want to say Im' realy sorry for them but I don't want to hear about it today or maybe this I enjoy riding and understand the risks quite clearly I have the steel in my left arm to prove it, The thing that I would apreciate would be, remember that I am almost 50 and have been riding longer than alot of these young folks have been around If you care please drive safely any thoughts ? |
Chasespeed
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 01:35 am: |
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Yeah, honestly, I usually dont read them, or pay attention. Insensitive? Maybe.. We all understand the risk of this, for me, its a hobby, my transportation, and my escape...has been that way for the last 10 years, longer if you wanna count the years with dirt bikes and what not... Anyway, yep, it happens. No, I ma not dehumanized, but it getting trumped up like it is, just makes a better case fro people that try to make it so hard for others to own a bike. Listen, ride hard, ride safe, and if you gotta go...hopefully it will be quick and with a smile... That simple... Back to bed..... chase EDIT. If you are riding a motorcycle, and DONT understand teh risks, and implications, GET OFF THE BIKE, AND WALK AWAY....Either educate yourself, join reality...something... (Message edited by chasespeed on June 13, 2006) |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 03:46 am: |
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Life is a constant weighing of risk vs. reward. Every single day when it comes down to it those 2 factors dictate your choices. If your personal threshold of risk becomes too low or if the reward becomes less enticing it is time to quit. That holds true for any activity you care to plug into the equation. I fully understand the risks. I'm carrying a load of titanium plates and screws in my hip and my left leg is paralyzed due to an accident that was no fault of my own. However I continue to be a rider because I LOVE riding. It is a passion. |
Jlnance
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 07:44 am: |
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Hey Jim - I've never been quite sure what motivates people to do this. Pregnant woman complain about something similar. As soon as they bring up the fact they are pregnant, someone tells a story about so and so who had a bad pregnancy, lost the baby, and died. I don't think it's their goal to upset these women, but it does. They day I bought my first motorcycle, a coworker left me a newspaper article about a local MSF instructor who had been killed on his bike. I'm not quite sure what his motivation was. I don't think he was trying to be mean, and I don't really think he thought he was helping me be safe. Perhaps he just saw the word motorcycle in the headline, knew I rode, and was making conversation. |
Glitch
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 08:27 am: |
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Ever get tired of the fatal wreck stories? Yes. |
Mikej
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 08:43 am: |
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In the last 10 days or so I've driven or rode past at least 10 car or truck wrecks, haven't personally driven or rode past one single bike wreck. The biggest danger to me on a motorcycle is car/truck drivers, the biggest danger to me on a bicycle is car/truck drivers, the biggest danger to me as a pedestrian crossing the street in a marked crosswalk is car/truck drivers, the biggest danger to me while driving my car or truck is car/truck drivers and the occasional bus driver. Next time someone tries to tell me about the dangers of riding a motorcycle I'm going to ask them about how safe their own driving is to the people around them. People die, it's a part of life. |
Aldaytona
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 08:50 am: |
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More people get killed every year falling through shower doors than get killed on motorcycles, yet that doesn't stop most people from taking showers (except French Canadians) JUST KIDDING! |
Ceejay
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:03 am: |
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A friend and I were discussing this after the big ben incident-will helmet sales go up, bike sales go down, bike car accidents go up, or will it stay static? Not sure on any of those but I do know that the majority of car drivers will not take it upon themselves to keep a look out for motorcycles, when in this case(ben) as in many others, it was the drivers fault |
Chainsaw
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:15 am: |
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I wonder if the non riding public ever stop and think about that some day they too will die? I always tell them 40,000 people died in car wrecks in America last year. Then I ask if they've stopped driving. CDC reports 1.7 MILLION people died in vehicle accidents worldwide last year. Cars are dangerous boys and girls...stick with two wheels. |
Djkaplan
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:48 am: |
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As far as getting killed riding... I want to die in bed, but that doesn't make me afraid to get in it every night. |
Madduck
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:42 am: |
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Worked with a doctor that used to bring in every article about fatal motorcycle accidents. I returned the favor by bringing in every article about doctors dying in plane crashes and suicide. After about 10 years it became sort of funny as I had more to bring than he did. Stopped him cold one day, brought in the plans to build a Bede jet plane in a garage. He might not have liked me on a motorcycle but he really didn't want me in a jet up there with him. People die, some stories carry hints of how we can avoid the same, I try to read and learn from all. |
Mikej
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:50 am: |
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Neat! found here: http://www.bd5.com/bd01001.htm Kind of reminds me of the BeeGee GeeBee for some reason though: (Message edited by mikej on June 13, 2006) |
Vegasbueller
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 06:31 pm: |
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The BD5 was wicked! Now the GeeBee, talk about the tin can O'death! but FAST! I think the yhad one at Reno last year that went down. Beautiful airplane! I hope I can make it down to the museum sometime this year. |
Oldog
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 06:55 pm: |
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Neither aircraft have a reputation for being "user friendly" Both are quite fast for their type, the GB,( the original) is reputed to have been flown by James Dolittle (who survived) IIRC the GB was said to have poor control authority at low speeds and because it was so short it was sensitive at high speed, the thinking was ( obviously,) big motor small plane go fast they were built for air racing using a radial engine .. Kinda reminds me of Pammys X1 Black & yellow with the motor from hell |
Curtyd
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 07:05 pm: |
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Human life; it has an expiration date, just glad I don't know what that date is. I guess folks who never take risks think they can effect that date. Does anyone, but them, think they are right? |
Slaughter
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 07:53 pm: |
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I seem to see more postings of fatal motorcycle stories on motorcycle boards than I hear in casual discussions. |
Skyguy
| Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:16 pm: |
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My worst fear is of dying of old age. I am in no hurry to go. However, about the time quality of life fades out and I am looking at living my last days in a hospital I am heading up a mountain with a bag of heroin, a bottle of tequila and two 18 year old hookers............ Go ahead run a sentence on longer I dare ya! |
Bomber
| Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 12:09 am: |
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GeeBee is the cooled plane ever, I believe I get tired of the stories, too, but I almost always scan em (at least) to see if I can learn -- been riding for, lemme see, cosin the 7, carry the 4, turn around three times and spit, for a LOONNNGGGG time (even longern Thang!, and for 2 years longer than Grounder's been drawing breath), but I keep learning new stuff . . . now THAT'S the coolest don't stop learning, please |
Rich
| Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 06:16 am: |
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I love those stories! And the fact that people, especially ones that don't know me, seem to NEED to get them off their chest. Makes them feel that they've warned me I guess, so I know what could happen. |
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