Motorcycle Insanity

I've had multiple crashes at 100mph+.  Walked away from every one of them without a scratch (although, the bikes didn't fare that well ).  Of course, this was all on the racetrackm and is why I gave up my street bikes and ride strictly on the track.  If I ever move to a less congested place where I felt safe riding on the streets, I'd get another one in a second.

Everything we do is a lifestyle choice.  You could just as easily be hit running as biking.  The "worth" of it all is relative to what makes you happy...

I just crashed last weekend in a race, hitting the ground at about 50mph on my left elbow. The elbow got bruised and a gash, but other than that, the armored leathers, boots, gloves, and helmet all did their job.

The riding gear folks wear can really make a difference in injuries. A 1/4 helmet and a leather vest don't do much.

Now the folks that are crazy are those that can cruise down mountain roads at over 45mph on their bicycles.

We have this discussion lots...

last year at work a 26 year old kid took a fall on a snowboard, groomed run...going slow...fell in just a way to break cervical vert. 5 and 6. He is a quad.

I was 2nd on scene to that wreck, and it just so happened that I was skiing with my 11 yo daughter at the time. Later that day, when I ran in to my husband and daughter again my first instinct was to tell them to go home. Go home, sit on the couch and watch tv...

the things we love...skiing, playing soccer, backpacking in the woods with lots of bears- these all carry an inherent risk. Everyday that we get in a car...ride a bike...you name it, all of it has risk.

But what kind of life would we be living if we didn't do the things we love because we are afraid of getting hurt.

I try to teach my girls a HUGE respect for nature, the many ways to be as safe as possible...but at the same time that bad things happen. We all can't live in a bubble. Just count our blessings, live day to day and hope for the best.

Awesome post Willow.

I don't find motorcycles to be any more dangerous then bikes if you're geared properly.  In fact I think on a motorcycle you at least have a fighting chance (speed and maneuverability with traffic).  With a bike I feel like I'm less likely to be seen by cars and more likely to be hit in a bad way as traffic is going way faster then me.

That said I don't ride mortorcycles on the road.  Like others above it has been a track pursuit for me.  Laying one down at 80+mph you can dust off and walk away on the track, less likely on the road.

I'm with Willow though, it's all about taking the risks to do what you love because there is risk in anything worth doing.

Ya roll the dice ya take your chances.

Just remember next time you see a motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic. A vast majority of cars are oblivious to whats around them, and motorcycles aren't that easy to see. I've been in situations with my father where a car/truck/whatever puts you in its blind spot or otherwise. Yeah, there are some idiot bikers out there, but in many cases the motorcycle is just getting out a potentially dangerous situation.

When on your bike (motorized or not), always "ride like you're invisible".

Keep something in mind.  That is not how responsible adults ride a motorcycle.  My husband loves his Harley, and he would not behave that way in a million years.  But that is NOT a motorcyle issue, that is a personality issue.  An a$$ is an a$$ no matter what kind of transportation he drives.  If that exact person was behind a wheel of a car, they would be putting you and themselves in just as much danger.   And accidents are subjective things. Someone can be killed in a 30 mile an hour car crash if something goes terribly wrong(like they are not wearing their seatbelt, for example), and someone can walk away from a 100 mile an hour motorcycle  accident if things go lucky.

I agree that motorcycles are dangerous,  I am fearful for my husband, and I never ride on it.  But he is a grown man, and this is something that he loves very much, so I would never ask him to give it up.  The same way he would never ask me to give up riding my bicycle on the road. 

Interesting anecdote....in Sao Paolo, Brazil, this IS a way of life.  And there are only 2 traffic deaths a day from it...and considering the number of motoboys (they're everywhere, flying around), it's a very small proporation of the overall population of cycle riders. 

I attribute the relatively low accident rate to 1) skill of the riders (they're amazing), 2) respect for the riders by the drivers (the road truly is shared), and 3) skill of the drivers, and 4) relatively few distractions for drivers (you don't see many people on cell phones, reading newspapers, doing makeup, shaving, whatever). 

I wish we had that in the states...but the "I drive a Suburban, so I'm protected in spite of my own lack of skill / attention to driving" mentality prevails, and I won't ride a bike until it changes - or I live someplace where this isn't the case.

It's called lane-splitting, and legality of it depends on each state. In some states it is legal.

I have had 3 different bikes and really did love riding them. I was always much more worried about those around me than my ability to control the bike and there is good reason for that. I had people pull out right in front of me and get over on top of me many times. I do miss having a bike but living in Houston, I don't think I would want to ride one here. My prayers are with he who was injured.

and as far as I know, lane splitting is illegal here in TX. 

According to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the following states do not reference lane splitting in Administrative Code or Statutes: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia.