Motorcycles and motorcyclists

[durrrrrrrr]

Originally Posted by Boots13

I wonder if we can expand this thread into safety and personal experiences? There is so much valuable experience here! I had no idea !

I'd love to also hear from passengers and their experiences ..what makes them feel comfortable? Why they enjoy riding?

LOL, I love Motorcycles, scooters, trail bikes, lawn mowers (firegal, you cracked me up with that one) wheels and a motor counts !

I have several times had to slam on my brakes...and thinking to myself..oh shit, hear i go! and I have seen so many motorcycle wrecks that I will not have a passenger on my bike. If something was to happen, and I came out of the wreck ok, but yet the passenger didnt make it. I would never be able to live with myself because of that. because of the "what if's"

I know i have had a few friends get bummed about me not taking them for a ride..but, i just cant do it. Not when i have no control of some asshat pulling out in front of me.

my bro-in-law and sister was on their bike, he was taking a curve when a car driving opposite direction crossed the yellow line and my bro-in-law went off the road ( on purpose ) to avoid a head on with the car. they came out of this ok, after several stitches, staples, broken bones.

So, your question makes me wonder as well. do y'all take ppl for a ride?

[JAGG]

My first car was a bike. lol 1983 I was 18 and a Marine just reported to my first duty station, and I bought a Honda CB750. I really wanted a Honda Shadow but it was out of my price range. I had the CB 750 custom for 1 solid week when I got hit by a drunk driver. After the casts came off and the burns healed 3 months later with the insurance money I was able to afford the Honda Shadow. Remember that saying be careful what you wish for..... lmao. All is well that ends well I suppose. I have owned yamaha's dirt bikes etc... I have always had a bike. I own a Harley Softail Standard now.
I would like to get a custom bike with the extra wide rear tire, chopped out slightly with 8 in risers and drag bars like I have now, but I want a big fuel tank so I don't want it chopped out too much. Either that or another Harley Softtail or a WideGlide. I don't belong to any riding groups.

[-Red-Flag-]

I take passengers, but its rare, for benefit rides. If I am dating someone, I will take them.

But I totally get what you are saying about the what ifs and everyone else on the road that you have to be aware of.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by JAGG

My first car was a bike. lol 1983 I was 18 and a Marine just reported to my first duty station, and I bought a Honda CB750. I really wanted a Honda Shadow but it was out of my price range.

Ha - same here, almost exactly ..... except I was 21 and got a Suzuki before getting a Magna - but I really wanted a Shadow. I didnt want a car, so I got a bike and that was my car for almost 4 years while living in CA.

[GreeneyedMe]

Never owned my own bike, but I worked part time at a local Harley Dealership for 3 years. I was invited to go on tons of rides and runs....so I was the passenger...

I learned quickly how to jump off bikes that were going down...(sad but necessary) the ultimate importance of proper gear...and to respect and listen to the person driving that bike. It takes a lot to put your life in someone's hands like that, and more than once I seriously questioned my sanity for going with certain people back then! Also was good to have extra eyes...just because people on 4 wheels DO NOT pay attention like they should...it sucks. I am always on the lookout and listening....

I have been on the back of so many different types of bikes from full dressers, to trikes, to even riding in a side car once...omg that was terrifying! One run was a 75 mile Dice Run on the back of a Sportster with ONLY a bitch bar on the back...That ride was hell...with nothing to lean against, and the driver leaning on me! WTH!! Anyway I thought I would never walk again after that ride....and he was not the most responsible driver....and then it rained...oh what an experience that was....

I also belonged to our local chapter of A.B.A.T.E..(American Bikers Aimed Toward Education)We did tons of fundraising, brought wreaths to the local emergency rooms, even sponsored part of the expressway for clean up detail. And so much more....it was a great time in my life...I miss those days...always willing to be a passenger!

[Cowboi]

I sold my bike about 3 years ago. I had a 2004, 1600cc Kawasaki Mean Streak, candy green. I miss it. I took my rear pegs off, so I couldnt ride anyone, and put a single stilleto seat on it.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by durrrrrrrr

I have several times had to slam on my brakes...and thinking to myself..oh shit, hear i go! and I have seen so many motorcycle wrecks that I will not have a passenger on my bike. If something was to happen, and I came out of the wreck ok, but yet the passenger didnt make it. I would never be able to live with myself because of that. because of the "what if's"

I know i have had a few friends get bummed about me not taking them for a ride..but, i just cant do it. Not when i have no control of some asshat pulling out in front of me.

my bro-in-law and sister was on their bike, he was taking a curve when a car driving opposite direction crossed the yellow line and my bro-in-law went off the road ( on purpose ) to avoid a head on with the car. they came out of this ok, after several stitches, staples, broken bones.

So, your question makes me wonder as well. do y'all take ppl for a ride?

I've been hit in accidents more times than I care to admit. I've been lucky enough to walk away several times, I had a few broken bones in my second most serious accident in 2002, and I was creamed in a VERY serious accident in 2011. Ironically, I was going about 15 mph when I got hit from behind by someone who made an illegal turn right through me. The final tally of the breaks they could find was 23. If there were more I'll never know. Despite all that, I take passengers whenever it seems convenient. Yes, something terrible could happen one day, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

I do track days, I teach at the track, and I run a parking lot skills brush-up before our Sirens Opening Ride every spring. Instructing is actually very educational for me. As they say, teaching means learning twice. Even with all the track riding I do, I still take the MSF experienced rider course with the Sirens every two years because I'm serious about keeping my skills as sharp as possible. An MSF professional might find a bad habit I wouldn't be able to perceive in myself. Even with all that, I'm obviously still just as vulnerable as any other rider.

My urban passengers always get a big thrill because I'm an aggressive NYC rider, and I really know my way around my home town. My highway passengers are just as happy. I was terribly ignorant about everything when I started riding. I immediately started carrying passengers who were much larger than I was, and I did it on the hills and trolly tracks of San Francisco where I learned to ride. I just didn't know that my passengers were supposed to be smaller than me. I've never had trouble taking a passenger who is twice my weight or better, and so I do.

So, why am I not reasonably fearful that something bad could happen to my passenger one day? Especially since I would likely sign my house over and put a gun to my head if that ever did happen? I have no rational answer for that reasonable question.