A shot at motorcyclists ...

[GoldOxide_imp]

This annoying perceptive of motorcycling was published in June 2019:

[url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-put-your-motorcycle-in-the-garage-never-take-it-out-again]BRAUN: Put your motorcycle in the garage & never take it out again

I thought it would be useful to, um, appreciate others' opinions so we can be aware of the perspective.

" ... Just leave the bike at home. Everyone who loves you will be grateful. "

Yeah.

Fortunately, this article responds frankly:

[url=https://driving.ca/features/feature-story/motor-mouth-more-ignorance-about-motorcycling]Motor Mouth: More ignorant grandstanding about motorcycling

Remain aware and alert.

[ishouldbuyatacotruck_imp]

Shrug. Like David said in the second article, “[url=https://youtu.be/loT_pYzi3Vw]mama tried.”

I’m still a new rider (not quite a year) but I know that despite every precaution I take there’s some idiot in a car not paying attention that could take me out. I accept it. Perhaps it’s the healthy respect of death we have that makes non motorcycle-riders so anxious?

Memento Mori and all that.

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Wow. That lady is special.

[Gone in 60]

Meh. Already got the talk, not from my mom, but from my mother in law. A shut-in who also is upset when I climb a ladder to fix her roof, get under their car to fix it, or get on an airplane to do my job. Because to her, as it is with some people, everything is a threat.

And to her old country way of thinking, the man is the provider in the family and if something bad happened to me, my wife would be penniless. My wife is a doctor, I am a glorified roady and warehouseman.

Basically I don’t ride to her house, and we don’t talk about motorcycles.

My mom? I showed her a picture of my CB when I bought it and she said it looked very neat and pretty. Recently, I took her to lunch, and on the way, I asked if she would mind if I stopped at a motorcycle shop to pick up a part that I had ordered. She wanted to come in with me to browse. She picked up a jacket and felt the armor, and looked at all of the helmets. “You wear all of this safety stuff, right?”

Yes, Mom.

Ok then.

[Retsel_imp]

Yep, we should give up hang gliding, mountain climbing, bicycle riding, snow skiing, etc. While we are at it maybe we shouldn't do anything that posses danger! Who needs to go to the moon or the deepest parts of the ocean? That would be way to dangerous! And once we get all those crazy people off of those deadly motorcycles let's take a close look at those deadly autos! Let's not even look at the biggest killers smoking, obesity, and low activity. Those would be way to difficult. Ya, let's focus on motorcycles. Low hanging fruit!

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[2017EX_imp]

I have been riding motorcycles for 50 years now, and I think several things come into play here. Any new rider I come across, I always recommend they take a motorcycle safety & riding course. Aside from a wealth of valuable information, the completion certificate is usually good for a discount on insurance premium.

My partner at the P.D. had a favorite saying everyday when we set out to catch criminals, "dont get complacent". When I ride, I am always riding defensively, watching out for what the other guy might do, and always scanning down the road for problems and a "way out". Unfortunately, almost daily, I do see motorcyclists doing dumb things. Things like hot dogging, not maintaining safe following distances, and riding in car blind spots. I wont even get into wearing minimal to no protective gear.

Every bike has a different feel and familiarity learning curve, so every time I have gone to a different bike, I spent quite a bit of time driving it around the neighborhood to "learn it" before venturing farther afield on it. Fortunately I have never lost respect for safe riding practices, and the potential for bad things happening if I ever loose that respect.

[suhawk305]

I am sick of people telling me how to live my life! Whether it is some media, political, or Hollywood self-proclaimed “expert”!
That said, as the counter article said, we are aware of the risks we face when we ride our bikes. Ride defensively, etc.
I personally do not trust any driver of an automobile, or even some other motorcyclist. I am especially cautious of unpredictable critters along the road.
Mr. Ferret or Mr. Cormanus, if you think my little rant needs to be softened, please edit.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Suhawk, I believe your words are just fine.

[Guth_imp]

There are always going to be people, or groups of people, telling others what they can or can't do. (Yes, I realize the irony in my pointing this out as I do that here on the forum.) Plenty more will tell others what they should or shouldn't do. I'm guessing that many of us have similar feelings about other activities that some choose to participate in that don't involve motorcycles. Of course most of us are not members of the press with a large readership at our disposal.

If Ms. Braun wanted to rail on a group of people I would have preferred to see her rail on all of the inattentive motorists that she mentioned numerous times in her article. Focusing on addressing the poor habits of the masses behind the wheels of their cars has the potential for a much greater gain in general safety and lives saved. But people are going to do what they are going to do. People are going to drive the way they drive. People like Ms. Braun are going to write what they choose to write. While I'm going to hit the road on a motorcycle if that what I choose to do.

After this thread has moved down the list and off of the front screen I will still be very aware of the risks that I take every time I choose to ride. I'll be doing my best to circumvent those risks. What I won't be doing is thinking about Ms. Braun.

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I'm assuming this sort of thinking is why motorcycle sales are down. The snowflakes are scared to do anything beside play video games and stare at their phones. There are inherent risks in everything we do including walking out the front door. The trick is to be aware of dangers and mitigate their consequences. Common sense really.

And as my dad always said, "If the left one don't get ya, the right one will." So I suppose we should all just have fun doing what we love while we are above ground.