New rider falls, i worry im gonna see her in the news

[jwhughes3]

Never seen her before

I have no idea where she lives...never saw her before or since (maybe a glimpse riding by when we were on driveway at rally but couldnt turn around fast enough).

And I too wear the Symax II

John

[tv5150]

Big Kudos

I have to give credit for people who wear doo-rags...
I'm sure the paramedics are very appreciative that
there's less to clean-up of what gray matter (prolly a small amount)
that'll be oozing from your skull if it's contained within the doo-rag
FWIW...I used to be an X-Ray Tech in the A/F and I have seen
gray matter oozing from the ear canal while trying to take x-rays
in the ER...But as I previously posted, IF you've never suffered
a head concussion, believe me, you'd wear a helmet...ALWAYS...

[planedick]

Rag on

I know that you think I don't wear a helmet, but the doo rag is between the helmet and the head to prevent the helmet liner from getting rotten and smelly from the sweat. All you guys think you are soooo perfect because you always ride with an expensive helmet. I rode for years before there were any helmets and had some really nasty accidents while never hitting my head. I think there is a place for helmets, especially for those who don't know how to "ride to impact" and instead just freeze when they see something about to happen. I've ridden in AZ and TEXAS in 100 plus degrees of heat and on certain occasions I have ridden without one there, but not on the freeway. I am tired of seeing some belittle others for the choices they make. It's really none of your business.

[Bonz]

JWHughes and MotoMan can vouch for me on this one...

At 6'11" and 270# I make any bike look like a moped. My 80 SG gets me around fine, but I do fold up on it with my long legs.

And I will never give JW any crap for his day-glo yellow vest, he wears it for good reason. More importantly in most everything he does he is setting an example for his kids, and for others around him.

In 2006 I started riding again after a 20+ year hiatus, and started back with a well used but good running Bandit 1200s. I had to go with a larger bike, period, because of my height, so I had a safe fit on the bike.

The main thing I had at that point was maturity, and a Bandit 1200 was not a problem for me. I used what power and performance I needed to ease back into things, and the bike allowed me to grow into what it could do, and I am sure I only scratched the surface of what the bike could do in the time I owned it.

Since the Bandit, I've had a number of different bikes, my current bikes are the 80 SG, 2001 ZRX 1200, and a recently purchased '83 Nighthawk 550. The 550 is a hoot to run around on, I have to splay my knees outward to do tight turns, but who cares, its FUN. Yeah, it looks like I'm riding a mini circus clown bike. It's nice to be able to run a bike hard and not feel like a felon, but also the bike is to have so my boys and wife can spend some parking lot time on it this summer if they choose to and see if they like riding.

Honda was onto something back then with the hydraulic valve adjusters on a good performing bike in conjunction with shaft drive and a 6 speed tranny.

[DGXSER]

I am tired of seeing some belittle others for the choices they make. It's really none of your business.

"If you can't figure out what happened before you push it a long ways, maybe you shoudn't be astride something that's gonna bring things to you quite so fast. I've tried to start many times after leaving it in the off position. Takes me less than 5 seconds to figure what's wrong."

Maybe they are just reacting as they see others react.


As we discussed at XS East, I agree with those who want to wear ATGATT, but the helmet is the only piece I personally will not leave home without. Then again, you would be hard pressed to see me riding in shorts or open shoes of any kind. But then, I was in the minority at XS East to and from dinner and I consider all of those folks good accomplished riders.

[cywelchjr]

I know that you think I don't wear a helmet, but the doo rag is between the helmet and the head to prevent the helmet liner from getting rotten and smelly from the sweat. All you guys think you are soooo perfect because you always ride with an expensive helmet. I rode for years before there were any helmets and had some really nasty accidents while never hitting my head. I think there is a place for helmets, especially for those who don't know how to "ride to impact" and instead just freeze when they see something about to happen. I've ridden in AZ and TEXAS in 100 plus degrees of heat and on certain occasions I have ridden without one there, but not on the freeway. I am tired of seeing some belittle others for the choices they make. It's really none of your business.

I would never rag on someone for their choice. My choice is personal and based on having had accidents both where the helmet was not needed and where it saved me from injury (and one where having a full face instead of a 3/4 would have saved me from injury), but that is a personal choice. I believe in helmet use but don't believe in helmet laws. I rode in Az with no helmet laws and wore a helmet 100% of the time, both on and off road.

While I believe that each rider has the right to choose to wear or not wear protection of whatever type, but I disagree on there being a way to "ride to impact" as there are impacts that are not able to be avoided.

[BA80]

I've been on motorcycles, race cars, and/or horses all my life, I have had 2 concussions I can recall right at this moment, probably more, and I agree it ain't any fun.

All I am saying is in city traffic I don't wear the helmet because it inhibits my senses. I would rather avoid the crash than hope for the best wearing a helmet when the inevitable happens.

The law says I still have a choice and based on past experience I have made mine. I was just sharing my opinion.

BTW tv5150, about the doo rag, the same is true of the hemet. In some cases it just contains the mess. Don't tell me you've never seen that

[Bonz]

A quote I heard from someone over the years:

"I never wear a seatbelt, because it traps me in the vehicle in a rollover, I can't get out fast"

Yep, that's a mantra to "live" by....

[BA80]

Well, that's one way to twist my statement.

[Bonz]

Wasn't taking aim at anyone specific with my post, BA80. My bad if you took it that way.

Generally speaking, I am saying there is usually an exception to any situation we encounter. Some folks feel the exception is how it will happen to them, if anything happens at all, and live for the "ride" so to speak, and not the "crash".

I ride with a few people who don't wear a helmet at all, it's their call not mine. I ride with more people who wear a half helmet shell, it's their call not mine as well. For the record, my helmet of choice is a full face.

I can't say I'm above it all by any means because I have ridden a few times down the street or whatever without a helmet.

It is a choice and if there is anyone of us that has ridden without a helmet or without the best protection available (i.e. full face helmet as the example of "best" head protection, then there is whatever choice of other gear) then we all are in the same boat and no one should be throwing any stones in the glass house, per se.

The main thing I hear from my brother who is a doctor is that he will not ride a motorcycle. He's seem it all from the squid who ends up in the ceiling of a Taco Bell afer going through the plate glass windows to Ma and Pa who were just out for a ride, and no manner of protection will convince him riding a motorcycle isn't life endagering.

It's cliche, but to each his own and take care of your own business on the bike as well as the business of all the idiots on the road, and you will do as well as you can.

[BA80]

It did kind of seem as though it was aimed at me but no biggie. It's all good.

The best protection in my opinion is to to be acutely aware of all that's happening around you at all times.

[Bonz]

Awareness is the key, and not just in the form of how you are riding, but more importantly how everyone around you is driving.

[jwhughes3]

awareness

(John climbs on soapbox)

Howard - I agree awareness is a huge factor - in fact I bet those time Greg ISN'T wearing a helmet he is more careful and watchful than when he IS wearing one -

But beside that point - we are most of us old enough to choose where we want to place our "Risk Line" having lived a good portion of our lives - knowing what the risk is and choosing to still risk it is a choice we can make and perhaps WANT to make - riding a motorcycle can be more invigorating when the wind is in the hair and such and maybe that is the reason some want to ride -

Even seeing the accident victims first hand in the ER I still choose to ride - not because I think I am smarter or better skilled and can avoid it - I will always choose to ride defensively but know it isn't magic - tragedy can and will still happen - but I ride because it makes me happier.

And if I wind up leaving this earth happy because I am doing what I love then I cannot really find fault with that.

I stopped riding for 20 years while my kids were growing - mostly to reduce risk of leaving my family in financially bad straits - but being older and having setup safety nets of insurance and pension - I feel free again to ride and even have my sons ride - they have no families and can make the same choice I did when they do or not - its THEIR choice.

So whether we ride ATGATT or not - its a choice and I support YOUR choice however you choose.

John

(I give up the soapbox now)
.
Oooh - BTW I think I saw her a few minutes ago ride by out the window and it LOOKED like she was on a different RED Harley instead of a BLACK one - maybe she went and traded it in for a smaller one - couldn't get a good look - maybe I need to ride around and look for her

[Bonz]

Utimately, what you shared sums up a lot of bits and pieces from the thread, and as a collective, we do a pretty good job of coming around in the end to support the freedom we have to make choices, not in small part to the fact we live in a great country where we are able to state our case/opinion and still ride next to eachother down the road.

[Elevener]

He's seem it all from the squid who ends up in the ceiling of a Taco Bell afer going through the plate glass windows

Is this the internet famous one where he was mad at his girlfriend or something and ran into taco bell at 100 miles an hour? Gruesome pictures. I dont think gear would have helped him,