Time to give up the street
 

Well folks, there comes a time when we have to instinctively know that our biking days are over. There have been so many senseless and violent motorcycle deaths here in the Las Vegas area in the last months that I really wonder how I have survived any of it this long. So, at this point I am officially hanging up the helmet and callling it a day. The last victim was just down the block from me, a young guy about 25 who was speeding riding recklessly, possibly wheelieing and lost control, was hit by a car, then thrown off and was polished off by oncoming traffic. The scene was very ugly and there are paint stripes that show the travel lines of the bike and the spots where the victim ended up on the road. This was right before Christmas and Im sure his family was devastated. There is so much of this happening each week here in town and it seems like all these younger riders are either just getting bolder or just stupid. An old fighter pilot once told me that "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold, pilots. I am 66 years old now and bike riding was fun and I was proud of the fact that I did not wreck my bikes and did not end up maimed. Not sure what I will do with my 95 CBR1000F for now, maybe just let it rest in peace. Gary C.

Sorry you feel this way, Gary, but I respect your perspective and understand your decision. Jacksonville, FL, is no less of a kind place for motorcyclists. As I am commuting mostly via my CBR right now, I know that from a risk-based perspective it is not ideal - and as my finances improve over the near future I intend to resort back to a 'cage' for a little more security (and weather protection - it rains a lot here in the summer). Is it "worth" the risk? Good question, and a fair one I ponder often. I can only hope so, and as such, ride by faith whenever I venture out on two wheels.

I do work hard at mitigating my personal risk by not trying to "cash checks I can't afford" or engaging in very risky acts as illustrated by the story you shared. It's a performance machine (albiet an older one) and I enjoy leveraging its capabilities but there is a right place and a right time for everything, and it appears he chose wrong on both accounts. There are things one can 'get away with' on a motorcycle but also things one cannot - understanding this is a key to longevity.

After not owning a motorcycle personally for over 18 years I'm very happy to be back in the saddle. I look forward to many more years of riding, hopefully with my son one day, should the Lord allow me to do so. That said, I'm not out testing the limits of His patience. ;-)

I wish you the best and hope you have or find some other 'thing' that gives you as much pleasure and enjoyment. For me, it has been playing bass guitar (1200 watts and a tall stack of speakers helps) but I'm glad I can still enjoy riding now.

Best wishes,

Eric

As of this writing, I will be 65 tomorrow. I've been riding since I was 16. I also have doubts about continuing to ride. There are way to many distracted drivers out there. I don't know what happened to common courtesy either. It was never like this before. My son almost got taken out while sitting at a stop sign by a guy texting behind him. At the last second the guy hit the brakes and went up over the sidewalk and almost hit a power pole. He would have killed a pedestrian on the side walk if one was present or made the decision to take out my son. I have had way to many impatient driver swerve around me at the last second in an intersection damn near clipping right leg while waiting for traffic to take a left turn. That leaves me in a situation where the cars behind them come close to rear ending me. Just about every 4-way stop I have to deal with near death.

This year, I stopped at a 3-way, two car to my right looked at me and then bolted to their right. Two cars straight ahead, one went straight the other cut me off so I hit the brakes in the intersection. Then another car to my right went taking a left almost hitting me while I was still in the intersection. To top it off the next two cars straight ahead started blowing their horns at me while rolling down the windows and flipping me off. Six cars went before I dropped the clutch to get out of their. WTF? This keeps happening.

Last year a good friend of mine was heading to work when a lady pulled up, stared at him and them pulled out. He totaled his bike in her door.
Both my older and younger brothers both sold their Goldwings last year due to having to many close calls.
My best friend pack it up last year and said he is done riding, to many close calls.

I think I'm the only one still riding around here. I keep asking myself, how much longer will I last out there. I have ridden 49 years. There are more vehicles on the roads competing for the same patch of asphalt as there was years ago. Maybe its time to quit while I still can.
Like my friend says, "I really love to ride but its not worth it anymore".

For me, I don't don't know what I'm going to do. I stay out of the city and stay in the hills for now.

After seeing an awful crash ten feet away from me in which a rider was seriously injured I returned to the start line where my son lined up again for the race restart.
During that walk I decided that I was going to tell him that it was time to call it a day with racing. I was the proud father of his racing son but could not do it anymore. For years we had been inseparable trawling over the country with highs and lows. I just felt I couldn’t cope with the stress any longer. There had been broken bones, injuries and everything else associated with competition. My wife had started donating to the air ambulance seeing as it was in attendance so frequently.
i knew he would hate me for withdrawing him from the restart but ultimately I was in charge. He is my son and I was protecting him from danger, the same as any father would be thinking after he had witnessed what I had just seen.
As I approached the riders, I noted they were all gathered simply chatting, some laughing about something else. There was no prolonged discussions about what had just happened. This is what they do I thought, they race, they understand what they do and are willing participants.
How was i going to tell him I’d had enough ? That he personally was more important than the race team we were.
Quite simply I couldn’t. How could I justify taking away what was his everything because I thought I should. Before I new it they were under starters orders and all had revs built for dropping their clutches and pinning it hard. I will never forget thinking how fragile I thought everyone of those riders were under all of their race gear.

Years later he was still racing and still loving it. I’m forever glad I didn’t stop it all that day. The lad in the accident had recovered quickly. My son doesn’t ride competitively now but still has a sweet bike that’s for fun.

If you want to hang your helmets up at anytime that’s your choice, which of course is up to all of us independently.
For me, I can only see old age restricting me from riding and I don’t want to even think about it.
Each to their own my friends.
cheers

The last victim was just down the block from me, a young guy about 25 who was speeding riding recklessly, possibly wheelieing and lost control, was hit by a car, then thrown off and was polished off by oncoming traffic.

Seems to me that his decisions were the cause of his demise, not the bike.

Do what you feel is best for you. There is a risk to everything we do, All you can do is be smart and take steps to reduce it and minimize damage should something happen. Don't let the outcome of something stupid tear your lifelong passion from your life.

I decided not to take any more showers, since my neighbor broke his neck in the shower. I must say, he liked to get drunk and tap dance while showering.
I'm just trying to make light of a terrible sad situation. The rider was doing something all ready dangerous, because cagers are distracted on their phones, plus they don't look for out for motorcycles. He increased the odds against him, by acting a little irresponsible? on public roads. This not only put himself in more danger, but he also exposed other as well. I am not, by any means implying he deserved what he got, but he didn't think twice the alternative or consequences of failing the stunt. Sometimes there are no do overs in life.
I am 60 yo. this coming June, been riding since 12 yo., no accidents, but too many scares to count. I will probably end my life while riding, but I can almost guarantee you, it will not be, because of my stupidity. As a rule, every time I ride, I leave the house in peace. I kiss and hug wife and teen daughter, as they may never see me again. This allows me to enjoy the ride and not think about what I left unsaid or undone.
Ride like it was the last time and be on guard, ATGATT.
To the fallen comrade, god speed.

Happy B'day Tim, you and I are the oldest registered members in this section.
2006 and 2005 respectively.

A guy I worked with crashed his brother's Ducatti and got messed up. He got addicted to the pain killers. The found him dead in the shower last October with a bump on his head and figured he slipped.

But, two years ago my younger daughter got rear ended sitting at a stop sign by illegals who fled.
Last year my older daughter bought a new Jeep and less than two weeks of owning it got rear ended sitting at a red light by a guy texting.
Her and her husband both stopped riding 7 years ago.
If either of my daughters were on I bike, I don't think they'd be here today.

I have had several close calls by other vehicles last year. Texting or talking in NY gets you 5 points. 11 points you loose your license. They simply will not stop.
NJ is starting to treat distracted driving like DUI. Last fall a texting lady rear ended a car that was stopped waiting for a pedestrian. that car was hit so hard it went forward hitting and killing the pedestrian. Now the texting lady is facing vehicular manslaughter.

I had breakfast at the gun club this morning and met a guy that gives me thumbs up when I ride by his house. He said he has ridden all his life and quit seven years ago. He's 78 now. When I asked why he quit he told me its not safe out there now.

Every tine I go to Texas I think it would be a good place to ride. Houston and the D/FW loops I'd stay clear of.
Around here its become dangerous.

Still riding
 

I don't commute anymore ,
my biggest concern is kangaroos and wild life .
drivers on their bloody phones .
I don't ride as much now , but geez I do love to use the power of the old girl

1/2 hour ago while coming home in my car, a guy with both hands at 12:00 o-clock on the wheel, texting, came into my lane and came very close hitting me head on. The only thing was he saw me at the last second and moved over slightly the best he could with his hands not holding the wheel. Our side mirrors came close to hitting as I swerved against the curb. He would not have seen me if I were on the bike. He would have taken me out for sure. I have no idea what the hell is so damn important that it is worth killing everyone and yourself.

I forgot to mention, a friend of mine that lives in a suburb of Chicago got taken out by a guy in his thirties last year. The guy pulled up from a side street and stopped as my friend was riding toward him. The guy look directly at my friend and was waiting. He then looked down to his lap, looked back up at my friend, looked down, looked up again and then pulled out at the last second. My friend hit the curb while swerving to miss the rear of the car and slid down the road. The guy hit the brakes realizing what he just did, look at my friend laying there and then took off. The vehicles behind my friend stopped and call far an ambulance. It only took a split second for this guy to loose tract of what he was doing. It happens quick.

Last week while waiting to cross the street I had to wait for a 10 wheel dump truck poking along with a line of cars behind him. It was agonizing waiting and as he passed I could see he was fully engaged in texting. I can’t help but wonder what would happen if he rear ended someone.