I got into the office and found this on my desk, I think someone is concerned. Although I did not have the extended layoff mentioned, I did switch to the Vfr from a Buell Lightning last year, before that a HD Sportster Sport. I am taking it slow and with caution, as Clint said in Dirty Harry "a man has to know his limitations".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4208163.stmstic3, Feb 11 2005, 05:04 PMI got into the office and found this on my desk, I think someone is concerned. Although I did not have the extended layoff mentioned, I did switch to the Vfr from a Buell Lightning last year, before that a HD Sportster Sport. I am taking it slow and with caution, as Clint said in Dirty Harry "a man has to know his limitations".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4208163.stm
People's good intentions sometimes are incorrectly communicated. I had a friend say, when he saw my new bike at home, something like "
Shit - everyone who gets on one of these things dies!". I replied "
Gee Craig - Thanks for that reassuring and positive message!"
He meant well. Like everyone else they read papers, watch the news, etc., which report that there's been a 3% increase in bike injuries & fatalities in the past 2 years, or whatever. What they don't add is that there's been a corresponding 7% or 8% increase in the number of bike riders during the same period. So, proportionally, no more people are falling off these things than there were 20 years ago. (Just like they could say "
Thousands more people died in airplane crashes in 2003 than in 1908." And they'd be dead right.)
Yet, curiously, they never mention that a lot of those accidents are proven to have been caused by inattentive drivers not aware of the motorcyclist. No, easier to taint the motorcycle fraternity. More 'dramatic' a story.
It is a fact that older rider fatalities have increased significantly during the past few years, due in part to increasing numbers of older riders. The causal factors are the subject of much speculation, e.g., too much bike, too little experience/training, age-related issues, etc. But one possible causal factor does not receive enough publicity, IMO: Many older riders drink and ride.
In 2002, 32% of all fatally injured motorcycle riders were intoxicated (BAC 0.08 g/dl or greater). An additional 8% had lower alcohol levels (0.01 - 0.07 g/dl).
The intoxication rates were highest among operators between 40 and 44 (47%), followed by ages 35-39 (42%), and ages 45-49 (39%).
So, about 40% of the fatalities were alcohol related and the older riders are the worst offenders. Nothing to do with training, experience, or age-realted reaction times......just plain STUPIDITY, IMO.
So, who are these older riders who drink and ride......any guesses?
Data from: Click
curt, Feb 11 2005, 05:46 AMSo, who are these older riders who drink and ride......any guesses?
Data from: Click
I'll give you a hint, Potato, Potato, Potato.
I started riding again in 2001 after a 15 year layoff, and I rode cautiously for the first few months. Then I hooked up with Lee and John, and started riding faster and faster. Almost 4 years later, I finally keep up and am having more fun than ever. Nothing beats riding with your buds on a Sunday afternoon, well almost nothing. :beer:
Unfortuantely, sometimes people speak without thinking about what they're saying........You could always point to nasty auto accidents or skiing, horse riding, flying, surfing, bicycle accidents, etc. etc............
Yes, riding motorcycles is obviously dangerous.....but then again, so are many other activities.
Training helps minimize the risk.
Das Bone, Feb 11 2005, 06:29 PM Training helps minimize the risk.
Unfortunately training fails to reduce collisions, which are primarily caused by poor judgement and lack of good driving habits that could prevent crashes.
SAFE-T, Feb 11 2005, 07:34 PMUnfortunately training fails to reduce collisions, which are primarily caused by poor judgement and lack of good driving habits that could prevent crashes.
:huh: Seems to me this is exactly what training is supposed to help with.....judgement, good riding habits, bike control, technique, etc.
Of course it does require that the student be willing to apply these teachings in their riding.