Driving habits of rural folk

[Sigarms]

Motorcycles are 2 wheeled suicide machines.

I'll respectfully disagree being that suidcide implies self inflicted.

Long time ago I rode a pretty fast bike in the 80's. I gave up bike riding on the highways/roads because there were way too many idiots driving cars and I had some pretty close calls of no fault of my own (for whatever reason, people tend to see cars much easier than bikes). Got into other things after bikes that gave me a thrill that I alone was responsible if something were to happen to me.

Perhaps later now I may go to an enduro, but that would be mostly for trail riding. That said, they didn't have 2 person vehicles for rough terrian like they did in the 80's (I'm thinking the RTV type vehicle will be easier on 4 wheels rather than riding 2 wheels with the wife on the back:laughing.

 

[5030]

I'd say self inflected as the operator has direct control of the machine. Only his or her direct input to the machine will ordain the outcome.

 

[Sigarms]

My obsevation is that all Harley riders, while not strictly obeying speed limits, tend to ride safely and usually in groups of 6 to 20 or more.

My observation on harley riders is that they like to make a lot of noise.

That said, they ride as safe as anyone on a Honda Goldwing for the most part.

 

[Sigarms]

I'd say self inflected as the operator has direct control of the machine. Only his or her direct input to the machine will ordain the outcome.

My only point is if as a bike rider someone kills you with a car, the car driver, due to negligence on thier part, the death was not self inflicted on the bike rider's "death wish".

If a car speeds out of control and hit's you as a pedestrian, I think we can both agree that the pedestrian didn't think a car would hit them (bad luck as anyone's day can be numbered).

My only point is that as a bike rider sharing the roads with cars, you greatly increase the odds that some numbnutz is going to kill you. I've dealt with too many close calls with car drivers to decide that bike riding was not woth the risk.

Anytime I rode stupid on a bike, a car was NEVER around me. The issue became when I drove safe with cars around me.

 

[Sigarms]

Side note, today, taking a backpack blower in to my local shop, coming back home, some idiot drove past me on a double line road back home in the rain. I was doing the speed limit. Very rural road.

If a bike was coming fast in the other direction (double line road, no expectations that some idiot would be passing coming the other way), good chance there could be an accident and the biker would end up on the short end of the stick).

Perhaps as we get older we see all the idiots we use to be when we were younger, I'm not certain.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Sometimes a story like that would never play out like this...(even has a Porsche in it!)

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That guy starting out like that couldn't have been going that fast to just walk away like that.

 

[Fuddy1952]

OK, I'm calling BS on that story. I ride most every day, and often "enthusiastically". There is no way in the world that ANYONE can be riding at a high rate of speed and drop his drawers.... probably not even at a sedate speed. One's right hand must stay on the throttle, right? So your buddy had to stand up while playing cat and mouse, and drop his pants using his left hand only? Sheesh

You'd have to know this guy. For all I know he had on elastic waist shorts...who knows.
If you knew him, you'd believe it...he was(is) a great rider and crazy.
I've had some really bad wrecks, one a BMW pulls right in front, I T-boned him going about 50. For me it was in super slow motion.
Years ago, guy had been drinking, but in court had the best lawyer in town.
He got off free, I was the loser...and almost lost my life.

 

[cqaigy2]

I used to ride motorcycle, mostly off road. Most of the "close" calls were 4 wheeled vehicles that i was keeping an eye on that predictably were going to have a problem seeing me. One was during rutting season and a bull elk took umbrage with me, btw, they can accelerate and run pretty fast. :laughing: My bike riding days stopped when i got married and had a son that were somewhat dependent on my good health. Kept the endorsement for many years, but finally dropped it. Now im old and everybody can take pretty good care of themselves without my help, i may get a dual sport, maybe not. Too many hobbies, not enough time and money.

 

[Jstpssng]

A relative is a paramedic for the air ambulance service. He says his most common customers are on Harleys. His second biggest are Jeep Wrangler occupants. Having said that, Sigarms' post #64 is spot on... also why I haven't been on a bike since 1990.

 

[MossRoad]

OK, I'm calling BS on that story. I ride most every day, and often "enthusiastically". There is no way in the world that ANYONE can be riding at a high rate of speed and drop his drawers.... probably not even at a sedate speed. One's right hand must stay on the throttle, right? So your buddy had to stand up while playing cat and mouse, and drop his pants using his left hand only? Sheesh

Maybe he was a plumber.....