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http://gawker.com/man-buys-motorcycle-o ... -801737298

After 38 years of trusting after one, you'd think he would've taken an MSF or Rider's Edge Class by now.

Sad result. I think everyone can benefit from taking a MSF type class before buying and riding a motorcycle.

yeah thats a shity string of events

If he really visited the H-D dealer every week for 38 years as the article says, I find it hard to believe that they didn't at least push a Rider's Edge course on him, so he could experience what it's like to ride a motorcycle. Did he refuse? Did he think cruisers were "safer" than other kinds of bike? Did the dealership offer to deliver the bike to his house? So many ways this could've not ended in tragedy.

I read about this and told my wife. She gave me "poo poo" about it. I suppose if the saying is every biker has either been in an accident or will be - statistically speaking if he got the driver's education or not his number might have been 3.

Which goes to something a friend of mine said about my skydiving... There is a number out there. It might be 1 it might be 100,000. That's the number of safe jumps you have. Only problem is you don't know the number.

RhadamYgg wrote:I suppose if the saying is every biker has either been in an accident or will be.

I've always disliked this quote. I’m not a fatalistic person by nature, and I don't believe that accidents (or any other life event) are inevitable, unavoidable, beyond your control. I think most people on this forum are "risk managers" as opposed to risk takers. We get trained, we beef up our skills, we try to ride within our limits, and if the poop hits the fan, we’re dressed appropriately.

Grey Thumper wrote:

RhadamYgg wrote:I suppose if the saying is every biker has either been in an accident or will be.

I've always disliked this quote.

Me too. Same for landing an airplane gear up. Same for crashing in a car. Etc etc.

Been riding 34 years, driving cars for 40 now and no crashes so far. But most of that is because I'm actively working every trip to avoid making this the trip that changes the stat. (though there have been a couple of incidents that were just plain good luck.....)

But I DO have the mindset that this could be the one so I try to be as prepared as possible - just in case. And there have been a few trips where they nearly were the one.

I've not flown retractable gear airplanes so that one is a great big ZERO CHANCE (same with skidiving - don't do it and there's zero risk)

But life is too short to not do some fun things. Just be smart about how you go about them.

Yeah, I know. I've become very pessimistic lately. I haven't been in any accidents in my motorcycle riding and a one not even fender bender in cars. Literally, stop and go traffic on the exit to 280 off the GSP and this guy bumps me. Bleh. Not even worth reporting to the police.

I am definitely in to risk management! Especially with the skydiving. Definitely want to do it again sometime.

Grey Thumper wrote:

RhadamYgg wrote:I suppose if the saying is every biker has either been in an accident or will be.

I've always disliked this quote. I’m not a fatalistic person by nature, and I don't believe that accidents (or any other life event) are inevitable, unavoidable, beyond your control. I think most people on this forum are "risk managers" as opposed to risk takers. We get trained, we beef up our skills, we try to ride within our limits, and if the poop hits the fan, we’re dressed appropriately.

^^^ Ditto what Thumper said. ^^^