Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Zoo,

The emphasis on safety is pretty common on general MC sites, particularly the ones that attract noobs. It's just a fact of life. Personally, I don't ride with all of the safety gear that's often referred to on this site. People will weigh their risks and make their own choices. That said, it certainly doesn't bother me that other people are talking up all of this safety equipment. I think it's good for the noobs to at least know what's out there. Whether they make an individual choice to ride fully armored and leathered, really doesn't matter to me. I think they're smart enough to figure that out on they're own. They really don't need me to tell them that it's more fun to ride wearing nothing but a thong (not that I actually do,,,very often ).

Would it be more fun to tell stories about last week's 130 mph run down the freeway? Maybe. If you care to tell 'em, I don't think anybody will stop you. I do think you'll get to listen to others opinions about that kind of stuff, but that's pretty much what you get on a public forum. No way around that. If it's any consolation, most of the aviation forums I belong to are exactly the same.

flynrider wrote:The emphasis on safety is pretty common on general MC sites, particularly the ones that attract noobs. It's just a fact of life.

Yeah, I know. And there's nothing wrong with that, per se, but it does begin to wear you down when it's not balanced-out with some positive stories. Go to any news site, even Yahoo's main page, and look for a news story about something good that happened. With all the negativity and personal tragedy in the news, I'd like to see some more upbeat stuff in the threads. it's probably not gonna happen, but at least I tried.

macktruckturner wrote: I can't say enough good stuff about the SV650S, I love my bike. The fairing doesn't offer a whole lot of protection unless you tuck in, but the wind isn't too bad. You can lean over and be sporty on it, or sit straight up, and it doesn't mind one bit.

stock28 wrote:Surely that picture was taken just to show off the bike, what with no jacket, no gloves, and loafers on your feet

swatter555 wrote:I hope your leather jacket,boots,and gloves just arent in the picture.

You see...this is the kinda stuff I'm talking about. I saw the picture of the bike (nice, BTW!) and the "lack" of gear never even occurred to me, especially since he's actually way more protected than I was on the ride to and from work today. All I see is a hella nice bike and a proud, happy owner. And I'm glad to hear he rode his bike out of harm's way. But for stock and swatter (not pickin' on ya, guys!) their automatic response was about the gear. Now, again, nothin' against safety because I know the consequences of putting skin against asphalt at 80mph, but what is it that makes people notice this stuff? It's kinda depressing, really. I don't want to be reminded constantly that the one joy I have in my life right now could kill me. It's like going up to one of your friends that smokes every single day and saying, "You know those things cause cancer don't ya?"

Live and let die!

I thougt that this thread was about riding in numbers, not who wears what.

funinaz wrote:I thougt that this thread was about riding in numbers, not who wears what.

Well, stick around long enough and you'll soon discover that ZooTech likes to pull threads way off topic and start debates.

He seems to think that us safety conscious riders are riding around scared all the time.

Joe Mc wrote:

funinaz wrote:I thougt that this thread was about riding in numbers, not who wears what.

Well, stick around long enough and you'll soon discover that ZooTech likes to pull threads way off topic and start debates.

Ummm...read my first two replies and you'll notice a complete lack of any reference to gear. It wasn't until someone else mentioned it that I said anything about it, and even then I said I didn't intend on getting into another gear debate.

Joe Mc wrote: He seems to think that us safety conscious riders are riding around scared all the time.

Well, what's your view on it? Would you be "afraid" to ride to work tomorrow wearing only a pair of Sketchers, some jeans, a polo shirt, and sunglasses? There's an obvious fear of going down that is common among many here, and even a seemingly unconscious social responsibility to point out when others aren't "properly" equipped.

In any case, had you read my initial reply, all I was saying is that I personally don't put so much dang thought into a ride. Riding is my escape. Some drink, some smoke pot, some get into sports (I hate sports), and some get into other forms of self-medication to deal with stresses in their life. As a single dad, I can't afford to become an alcoholic or drug user, so biking is pretty much it for me. And if I get invited along on a group ride with a group that may very well consist of "newbie" riders, I don't bother with thoughts of doom and gloom regarding the possibility that one of them may exceed their limits and wipe me out.

In the end, I'm not trying to change anyone. Ya'll gotta do/wear what ya gotta do/wear. But just as I have a hard time understanding how my dad can enjoy a motorcycle ride if he's constantly looking for and analyzing skidmarks and going over every possible "what-if" scenario in his mind, I have a hard time understanding why you would spoil a good group ride by worrying about possible noobs coming along. It's like a thread is started to discuss every possible (regardless of how remotely so) negative scenario and how each person would deal with it. In short, my answer is that I don't worry about it. And as far as what's better for a newbie rider, riding solo or learning from others in a group (as I gather Keyoke was getting at), that really depends, too. If the rider is too arrogant or immature to take the road at his/her own pace (ride your own ride mentality), then they will make stupid mistakes regardless of whether they're with a group or not. You have to bear in mind that stupid people are stupid...and that a stupid person cannot be made intelligent for the duration of a motorcycle ride, only to return back to stupidity at the end of the ride. With this in mind, there will always be people on bikes (and in cages, for that matter) that really don't deserve to be. This is something you either accept, or worry and fret over. Because if it's not the newbie biker trying too hard to keep up with seasoned riders and wrecking on a curve, it's the idiot cager in the oncoming lane going left of center and taking you out. Either way the only thing left to do from a safety standpoint is never leave the house.

Another Thread read !!! just killen time..

ZooTech wrote: You see...this is the kinda stuff I'm talking about. I saw the picture of the bike (nice, BTW!) and the "lack" of gear never even occurred to me, especially since he's actually way more protected than I was on the ride to and from work today. A

I think you're making this argument in the wrong forum Zootech, this one is called Safety, Security, and Rider tips.

If you don't like what you read here, there are lots of other forums on the site, I've noticed a lot of really funny stuff going on in the New Riders forum... and there's a couple of really sweet pics in theretoo, Verm makes some funny threads, and he takes some really good pictures. I personally spend a LOT of time in the blog section because I like reading about other people's rides might be worth checking it out.

I'll admit that some people don't always post their scary stuff in the right forums, but that's no reason to make a fight out of it.

ZooTech wrote:Well, what's your view on it? Would you be "afraid" to ride to work tomorrow wearing only a pair of Sketchers, some jeans, a polo shirt, and sunglasses? There's an obvious fear of going down that is common among many here, and even a seemingly unconscious social responsibility to point out when others aren't "properly" equipped.

And yes I would... it's like -10 out and there's a foot of snow on the ground! LoL. In all seriousness though, I don't like the idea of riding without a helmet (even if I was sure I wasn't going to get in an accident). I have to wear regular glasses, so I couldn't wear your cool shades that semi seal around the eyes, so I'd be 1/2 blind.

There's also a lot of gravel on the roads around here all the time, so getting hit in the head with little rocks is a very common occurance, not to mention the bugs. I've caught a butterfly in the throat doing 70kmh and GOD DAMN THAT HURT! Poor little thing was still alive too.

To me the argument comes down to this, you're welcome to not wear your helmet, but the way you present it sometimes makes new riders think that a helmet won't protect them, or that they don't need one. Do you wear your seatbelt? Would you tell someone else not too?


as for riding scared, no, I fully enjoy that the sport is dangerous, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't minimize the risks, I mean you see football players wear all that padding, you see hockey players wearing helmets. And racers all wear full body leathers and full face helmets. LoL, even sky divers wear helmets, though from that height I cannot imagine why, you're going to splat regardless, "I just fell 50000 feet and landed on my head... but I was wearing my helmet so I lived." Anyways this is WAY off topic now, and I'm sad I got in on this thread this late.


When riding in a group I try to give the newbs and REALLY old guys a wide bearth. Riding with a grop can definately improve the new guys skills, but the experienced guys need to ease up a bit, or make it clear that he not push to hard to keep up with them. Basically you just need to be more careful with a new guy around. Make allowances for his lack of skillz.

I don't group ride that often... I am a bit of a stoplight racer, which doesn't lend itself to a group

If you are with a group and are not comfortable, with them or the ride, you can always bail.

The best group riding advice I ever got was gas when they gas, eat when they eat, and if you can't remember the last time you went to the bathroom, you are getting dehydrated.

--Dave

Thanks for responding to my post so quick, Sev! Only took ya six months...

Ride your own Ride
With whoever you want to..........Geared up or not

Make the memory last !!!!!!