Latest saga of my event filled life......son bought a motorcycle.
He's a grown man....I'm not saying a word to him about it, but my tummy is flipping and I find myself just staring off into space every once in a while picturing him going down the road. I hope after he rides a bit I'll calm down.
The reason this has me so torn is that he HAS NEVER RODE A BIKE and has bought a Honda Shadow Phantom.....its not a little bike or a dirt bike. This thing is for getting out onto the highway in the traffic with all the weirdos and morons who might kill you.
He's going to practice on some less traffic filled areas and I've got a couple friends that ride who have said they will help him out....so I've got a lot of reasons to not worry as much as I am. It would be different if he knew anything at all about riding and bought this thing.
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Smitty500mag: 30503060113179/comments/30503048292763
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11326346#Comment_11326346
You've had no accidents because you've been lucky. When a drunk suddenly crosses the center line and hits you head on or a tire blows out at 65 or 70 mph you're gonna crash no matter how good a rider you are. Then there's the little old lady that misses the brake peddle and hits the gas and runs over you from the back while your sitting at a traffic light. There's only 2 kinds of motorcycle riders...those that have crashed and those that are going to crash.
I would be afraid to get back on a motorcycle if I said "I've never had an accident" 'cause something is going to fall out of the sky and create a fiery crash with me in the middle of it . The cycle gods don't like being taunted.
Sorry, I disagree about an accident waiting to happen.
May of the things mentioned can be avoided with proper riding skills. My riding habits have keep me safe. Keeping speed under control, watching ahead for obstacles, both road and people created ones. Backing off when I see a situation that I am not comfortable with. Just way too many factors to list.
Unfortunately I see too many accidents from riders, who are going too fast, they have been drinking, they are not paying attention or not riding according to road conditions.
My group of mostly Vietnam vets, some in their 70's have ridden many years far and wide without accidents.
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The formal training is required in Florida, it's the smart way to go and it will help reduce the insurance premiums also.
When I had my Harley, I was a member of the HOGs which is "Harley owners group", most members were lifetime riders but all decided to take the motorcycle course anyway (why not) and to help cut insurance cost.
Motorcycles are dangerous to ride mostly because of the other drivers on the roadways so the more training and experience he has the better off he will be. My son bought a 1200 Sporty and I wasn't happy either but he survived the experience and eventually sold it.
I have been riding most of my life but due to my age and back issues I have downsized to a couple of vintage Hondas. one is a 42 year old 400T and the other is a 26 year old 250 Rebel, I also have a little dirt bike that I shouldn't be riding at all but .............. well, I like it.
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Some incidents are unavoidable, but in almost every other case the rider could have done something different to avoid the outcome. Mentally challenged people should not be on two wheels.
As previously stated, riders should start in the dirt. Easier said than done for city dwellers but not out of the question.
Sport bikes are the safest bikes on the road. They go better, handle (turn) better, have the best rubber and have the most stopping power.
"I had to lay'er down" is just another way of saying 'I crashed". That phrase comes from the early days of motor cycling when roads were dirt and brakes were horrible. Not relevant on today's modern roads and bikes.
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hope for the best Plan for the worst
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Wife and I took the class back in '03 when we got the Harleys, she had only ridden in the dirt before that and had probably been at least 20 years for her, I had started on minibikes when i was about 4 years old, rode dirt and first street legal vehicle was a '68 kawasaki 250 IIRC... many other Honda and Yamahas after that then quit riding when last street bike got stolen around 1984 or so, told myself I'd not buy another until I could afford the Harley I wanted... never thought it would be close to 30 years and then I bought 2 (one for her) and figured I could use the class also. It was excellent and taught me to correct some bad habits I had from riding in the dirt as a kid... The class will be very good for him and he might meet some folks to ride with, we did!
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Don't worry, he will be fine.
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As others have stated, it is the others on the road, both 2 and 4 legged.
Back in 1961, I had a NSU 250. I was following a friend who was on the loudest Indian you have ever heard. A dog came out to chase him and after he passed, the dog continued to the opposite side of the road. All of a sudden he decided to cross back to where he came from right in front of me. I hit him broadside at about 40 MPH. Fortunately, my wheels hit the ground going forward and I managed to stay upright. The dog died instantly. That scared the living H out of me.
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I grew up in South Carolina, (no helmet laws), bought a Honda moped in 9th grade with proceeds from my paper route, but only really rode it on my paper route, to school and off road trail riding. Had a few bigger bikes in college but after a few close calls gave it up. Driving a bike around Atlanta is a death wish. One of our shotgun instructors is a student with an older Harley and an 87 F150. His biggest threat is getting run over when either of his vehicles goes DRT on the side of the road.
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In 1971 my brother had a Kawasaki Mach 111 500. Two stroke, three cylinder. Billed as "the fastest production vehicle in the world."
One summer night he let me ride the bike. I got on the Atlanta Perimeter at Ashford Dunwoody and headed east. In two miles, I saw that I was doing 125 mph. And even a dumb 20 year old kid had the brains to say "If you hit a board, laying in the road, at 125 mph you will die." I took the Buford Hwy exit, took the back roads to my parents' house at about 30 mph, and parked that bike and never touched it again.
Two months later, brother totalled the Rice Rocket, a granny pulled out in front of him on Peachtree and he Tboned her. He flipped right over her car and landed on his back on Peachtree Rd.
Yes, young men and motorcycles, dangerous combination.
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Riding honda 350 home from HS I was trying to catch up to the other bikers that left before me. Little did I know the county had spread pea gravel in an intersection that had a slight curve. Usually could could do the curve around 70 mph. I went straight that day into a cement culvert before a driveway. Bent the folk clear under the bike like the exhaust. Threw me over the handlebars 300+ feet across one homes lot and into the neighbors flower bed. Almost made it to the bay window. Biker ahead of me turned around and said... I was as high as the crossbars on the power poles flying like superman with my arms straight out. I don't remember anything except the rough landing.
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That had to hurt @select-fire , but it is a funny story...
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select-fire: 30503060113179/comments/30503095616667
Riding honda 350 home from HS I was trying to catch up to the other bikers that left before me. Little did I know the county had spread pea gravel in an intersection that had a slight curve. Usually could could do the curve around 70 mph. I went straight that day into a cement culvert before a driveway. Bent the folk clear under the bike like the exhaust. Threw me over the handlebars 300+ feet across one homes lot and into the neighbors flower bed. Almost made it to the bay window. Biker ahead of me turned around and said... I was as high as the crossbars on the power poles flying like superman with my arms straight out. I don't remember anything except the rough landing.
Good ole’ tar and gravel! Got me many times on a bicycle growing up, but you took it to a whole new level!
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Around here we call'em Killasakis and murdercycles.😲
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