Motorcycles

[MoneyGuy]

I've ridden a motorcycle for several years, incident free. I can't say that I have decades of experience. However, I have a number of friends who have ridden for longer than most of you have been alive, without any accidents. You can be stupid about it and your risks are magnified, or you can be very cautious and always work on your skills and enjoy many, many years of accident-free riding. I know there are no guarantees and there are risks, but there are risks in everything we do. You can't go through life trying to avoid all risks. If you'll be careful and keep your skills at a high level (takking new training regularly), I encourage you to get the bike and enjoy riding. If you're going to get one of those high-powered bikes and do stupid things, then it's a recipe for disaster and you're better off in a car.

[Bobblehead]

I think BBS actually said it best: "Riding a bike is inherently dangerous, which is something I've accepted."

I'm not sure how many riders, especially younger riders, appreciate that. They were interviewing riders on the news last night, and one guy said that he has gone 220 on his bike. Bikes have such great acceleration and are so fun, I can definitely see how they almost beg you to push the envelope, but they are a vehicle that can't save you from your mistakes; there are no seatbelts or airbags on a bike.

Be safe, be courteous.

[Engine09]

Great post by MoneyGuy, well said.

If you're a bad driver and can barely handle a car then stay far away from motorbikes. It takes a lot more concentration and skill to operate a bike and do it safely. You have to watch traffic in front of you, behind you and all around you at all times and resist the urge to zip through traffic like many of the idiots I see everyday.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Agreed...and I second the sentiment that you can do a lot to keep yourself from risky situations...for example I'll never drive the Deerfoot, Crowchild, Glenmore Downtown etc. since the risks are irreducible..

Also, I would strongly re-emphasize a headlight modulator (makes your headlight flash during the day) as it makes you much more visible. As an experiment I turned mine off and within 5 min someone almost pulled in front of me (the only time that has happened to me...yet)...who knows how many absent minded motorists would have done something dangerous without that light drawing their attention to me...it is by FAR the best $40 I have ever spent

[Sample00]

I also always have my brights on. I have a large head light with two smaller ones on the sides and ride with all of them on. I have been told on several occassions that I can be ticketed for this. So be it! If I get pulled over for riding with my brights by a Police officer, write me the ticket. I'd rather take the ticket than reduce my ability to be seen.

I also have a set of Vance and Hines Short shots on my Harley. Yes they are louder and yes they have saved my ass. I had someone try to cut into my lane, I cracked the throttle and the car shot right back into their lane. The guy didnt see me, but he heard me. I know I know, loud pipes dont save lives but again, I'll take all the advantages I can get.

Thats my story and I am sticking to it.

[Engine09]

I haven't heard the "loud pipes save lives" argument until just a few months ago on this board. Sounds ridiculous to me, if someone cuts into your lane or you need their attantion just hit the horn. No one needs to hear you coming from 4 blocks away.

Yeah, Harleys are nice but most of these guys riding them are hilarious, they sit at a red light twisting the throttle just to make noise. And when it turns green they give it way too much gas to make a lot more noise. Look at meeeeee!!!!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

I haven't heard the "loud pipes save lives" argument until just a few months ago on this board. Sounds ridiculous to me, if someone cuts into your lane or you need their attantion just hit the horn. No one needs to hear you coming from 4 blocks away.

Yeah, Harleys are nice but most of these guys riding them are hilarious, they sit at a red light twisting the throttle just to make noise. And when it turns green they give it way too much gas to make a lot more noise. Look at meeeeee!!!!

Ugh, totally... Those guys are near the top of the cool scale. Just one notch below the dorks with the thumping stereos and the cherry bombs mufflers on their '98 Cavaliers.

Pulling up beside either of these types at a light is annoying and funny at the same time. Annoying because you have to close your windows and funny because you see them casually looking around to see who's impressed with their chest thumping and you get to roll your eyes at them when they look to you for approval.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Ugh, totally... Those guys are near the top of the cool scale. Just one notch below the dorks with the thumping stereos and the cherry bombs mufflers on their '98 Cavaliers.

Pulling up beside either of these types at a light is annoying and funny at the same time. Annoying because you have to close your windows and funny because you see them casually looking around to see who's impressed with their chest thumping and you get to roll your eyes at them when they look to you for approval.

ya well, I don't sit at the lights cracking the throttle, so bite me! I'd rather have a bike you can hear and people know that I am there instead of a bike thats as quiet as a sewing machine.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Growing up with dirtbikes out in the rural areas, I was always comfortable riding. I bought a Yamaha FZ1 right out of college. For those of you who don't know, it is a 1000cc sport "type" bike, with less plastic and a more upright riding position. I was WAY too young for that kind of power. I soon realized that I could go as fast as I want.........as fast as I want.

Well wouldn't you know it I am going up a coulee hill, not speeding or anything and a little deer comes out of knowhere and I slammed into it...........no jacket on or nothing. I just couldn't get out of the way. Thinking back about how lucky I was to not break any bones and still alive, although I lost a few small pieces of skin. But I was upset about my new bike more than anything!
So to you young guys, if you're gonna buy a bike keep your head up and look WAY down the road.....realize that even hitting a dog can take you down.
Anyways I went up to Calgary and bought mine at Bow Cycle......pretty good place and staff I thought. Oh and if you get a chance to ride a Yamaha V-Max(power-cruiser)..............just do it. Will smoke any other cruiser or Harley on the road period.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Growing up with dirtbikes out in the rural areas, I was always comfortable riding. I bought a Yamaha FZ1 right out of college. For those of you who don't know, it is a 1000cc sport "type" bike, with less plastic and a more upright riding position. I was WAY too young for that kind of power. I soon realized that I could go as fast as I want.........as fast as I want.

Well wouldn't you know it I am going up a coulee hill, not speeding or anything and a little deer comes out of knowhere and I slammed into it...........no jacket on or nothing. I just couldn't get out of the way. Thinking back about how lucky I was to not break any bones and still alive, although I lost a few small pieces of skin. But I was upset about my new bike more than anything!
So to you young guys, if you're gonna buy a bike keep your head up and look WAY down the road.....realize that even hitting a dog can take you down.
Anyways I went up to Calgary and bought mine at Bow Cycle......pretty good place and staff I thought. Oh and if you get a chance to ride a Yamaha V-Max(power-cruiser)..............just do it. Will smoke any other cruiser or Harley on the road period.

agreed, that V-Max is incredibly fast!
I am to a point in my life that I dont need to get there fast anymore, I just want to look good getting there.....and in one piece.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

I haven't heard the "loud pipes save lives" argument until just a few months ago on this board. Sounds ridiculous to me.......

Hmmm. It makes perfect sense to me. Some of the more "crotch rocket" types are so darn quiet, they seem to come out of nowhere, especially when they're movin'.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by pope04

Hmmm. It makes perfect sense to me. Some of the more "crotch rocket" types are so darn quiet, they seem to come out of nowhere, especially when they're movin'.

I've got nothing against loud pipes as long as they're not 'wake up the dead loud' but you can only hear them when they are in front of you, so if one passes you, you don't hear it until its gone. It has little to do with saving lives.

Now my semi-crotch rocket with more or less head down, ass up position, as opposed to the Harley gynecological position, puts a lot of weight on my shoulders and arms when I'm going slow, so I have to go fast so the wind holds me up and I don't get tired.
Yeah that's it and I'm sticking to it.