Lets ride a little smarter everyone

[jeffspeak]

Hey Everyone.

I haven't posted in a long time, but I've been witness to some exceptionally stupid behavior lately and I feel the need to remind everyone to think about what they are doing out there.

This morning, around 11:30 am., a rider was reported ripping through traffic. He wound up running into the back of an SUV. He flew about 75 feet through the air before landing on a parked car occupied by a mom and her two small children. The rider died on the scene and fortunately no one else was seriously hurt. Of course the children will have quite a story to tell.

Last night around 10:00 pm., while cage bound and heading to watch a friend sing with his band, we were passed on a freeway off ramp by a rider doing about 100mph. He was closely followed by an undercover car, several cruisers and as we found out later, a helicopter. The guy stopped at the top of the ramp and the HP surrounded him. We were stopped at the light right next to them. The only gear the rider had on was some light gloves and a flack vest. His passenger, who was obviously pregnant, was decked out in capri pants a tank top and flip flops. At least they both had on helmets. From listening to the cops as they pulled up, the guy was racing another bike and was clocked at 106+. Who knows how long you have to exhibit this kind of behavior to get a helicopter escort. When the light changed, the rider was on the ground and cops were still pulling up.

Now I'm no safety Nazi and I, on the rarest of occasions, have found myself redlining 6th gear, but ripping through traffic at speed, especially with someone on the back, is a bit foolish.

I guess all I want to say is that lets just think a bit when were out there and remember that old line about this not being a video game and there is no reset button.

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by jeffspeak

Now I'm no safety Nazi and I, on the rarest of occasions, have found myself redlining 6th gear, but ripping through traffic at speed, especially with someone on the back, is a bit foolish.

I guess all I want to say is that lets just think a bit when were out there and remember that old line about this not being a video game and there is no reset button.

Hey Jeff, glad to see you around here again...

Excellent post. I think most here have had a bit of hooligan fun once or twice, the key thing is to pick a time & place where you can have your fun without impinging on anybody else...or having them impinge on you! That tends to disrupt MY inner tranquility at least!

[bwoso]

When I am on a divided road, or have a passenger I am always super careful. I like to go fast, and sometimes choose stupid times to do so, but always on back roads that I assume, sometimes wrongly, are empty.

[HondaJim]

There seems to be a lot of inner-city, late night/early morning, alcohol fueled motorcycle deaths around here lately, with the alcohol going in the rider, not the engine. A large percentage are riders without gear, specifically helmets. Seems to be a nice mix of ingredients to meet your maker. It's hard to ride smart when you're impaired. Fearless comes easy at that point though.

[marylandmike]

Great post Jeff. I saw something a few weeks ago I couldn't believe. Two guys on Gixxers, riding in heavy traffic. One of the guys was sitting on the bike backwards, left hand on the throttle side, and right on the clutch side, weaving in and out of traffic. I couldn't believe it. He rode better backwards than I do forward.

[rmb]

I agree, lots of stupid people out there. Three weeks ago me and a couple friends went for a ride and rode through "Hawk's Nest" in NY (google "hawk's nest ny", cliff on one side with a rock wall on the other, it's several hundred feet down to the river on the other side of the wall) we passed a group of 4 sport bikes going the other way, the lead 2 were riding side by side and doing wheelies. I slowed and got to the right side of the road to let them pass. Last year a guy on a sport bike was killed there when he lost controll, it was reported the bike was unrecognizable it was so badly damaged. In such tight quarters it blows my mind that people are willing to take such chances with the consequences potentially severe for them and anyone around.