Why I Sold My Harley

If you need to convince someone to wear a seat belt or be careful on a motorcycle, just ask them if they would ever go skydiving. Most will say "No way", but about 10% will say “yeah”. Then ask them if they would jump without a parachute. Most will say “no”. When you ask why, they say "I don't want to die".

Then you explain that it's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop. When you skydive, you reach terminal velocity. Essentially, it's the amount of resistance (friction) that the air causes as you fall through it. In the standard freefall position, that speed is 120 m.p.h.

Then explain that if they are going 60 m.p.h. on a two lane road and approaching traffic is also going 60, they are essentially skydiving without a chute. If an oncoming semi swerves to miss an animal as he approaches a motorcycle. The rider is toast.

That’s just one way to look at it.

I've had this video in the back of my mind all day.

I keep coming back to the same thing:

Life is a great gift.

Too often, we take it for granted.

That, and one stupid act can end everything.

Food for thought.

-Russ H.

@Sparlin: and one doesn't even need to be at 60 mph to crack his skull wide open.

Interesting video. First off, I'm not sure who here has driven these types of trucks but the glass is low to the dash, the seat is high, and there is no hood. To not see this guy is near impossible, especially in the distance traveled before the collision. Secondly, as the scooter goes across the lane it looks like the scooter slows down for no reason.

The scooter should have been over to the left of the lane to begin with if he was in the lane. That is the most visible position for him, or at the very least, should have been in the center. Why the hell would he be all the way over to the right?

The trucker had to have been aware that the scooter was there, hell he had to have been behind him for a while. Its like the scooter got over to the line and decided to stay in the lane. The trucker figured he was turning quick enough, and with a full load wasn't going to be able to brake regardless.

My thoughts. The Scooter is at fault for staying hidden. For him to not know the truck was there was retarded. The trucker is also at fault because there is no way he didn't know the scooter was there unless he was distracted. Especially in the distance that was traveled before the accident. He should have created more distance between them.

As far as motorcycles go, I had bikes all my life. That's why this was stupidity on the scooters side. It doesn't make me afraid to ride, but it opens my eyes to the fact that crap happens and people refuse to pay attention.

I completely agree. There has been a huge jump in the number of scooters on the road. The problem is anything under 50cc you don't need a driver's license...at least in NC you don't. So that creates a huge problem since you have complete idiots who can purchase a little scooter and ride like a jackass on the road. MOST scooter riders don't have any common sense.
[B]

+10000000

No matter the amount of experience you have, you will always learn something from the MSF, but $500?!? It cost $130ish here.

What a lot of people don't realize is that when you see a person on a scooter, there is a good chance their license is suspended. This usually occurs after a DUI arrest. They dont have a valid license so they are forced to drive something that will only hurt themselves if they get drunk again (in theory). The rest of them are environmentalist

You also had a big, fat, iron pig to man handle Ironically a friend of mine dropped his VRod last night after the weight got away from him while braking quickly.

In all seriousness, you need to relax while riding. If you ride stiff armed and nervous, this is going to put unnecessary stress on you. When you do this, you become anxious and make stupid moves. Get comfortable, but not too comfortable. Just stay alert, use "fluid" motions, and respect the bike.

If you're scared of the bike, you're going to screw yourself up.
If you're too comfortable, someone else is going to screw you up.

I'm willing to bet a very high percentage of wrecks is a result of new riders making irrational decions(lack of MSF training) or of idiotic riders who got too comfortable and sped through traffic or tried to pull stupid stunts in traffic.

My only alternative will be a Ariel Atom.

The tools are the idiots the cause trouble; revving their engine, tailgating, trying to race. At 7am, they're in bed. Cops? They never sleep...

Lol, I'm just messing around. My "anti-Harley" comments are only sarcasm. I could see myself on a custom cruiser soon. I've actually thought about a custom V-Rod. It would be a strict bike night/bike week cruiser.

I remember visiting my brother (in Detroit) and he drove me over to see the Boss Hoss at the local custom shop. Then Dodge came out w/their 10 cylinder monster . . .

Why it took so long for car/bike nuts to strap 2 wheels on a car engine, I'll never know.

-Russ H.

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You are always learning when you are on a bike, have you ever read Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Why do people buy sports cars, why do people buy high performance cars, why do people buy convertables, why do people buy exotics? You get all this combined on a motorcycle, in fact with the new technology the level of safety and performance has increased! The physical experience as related by others in not unlike the cowboys and their horse in the old days. I wonder how much risk there was in breaking in a horse and riding? The law of the West was that if you stole another man's horse you were hanged. The motorcycle with a motor in a frame is the most basic transport with the asthetics of the motor completely visible, this merging of many many variables combined with the physical sensation is the price paid for whatever risk is taken. Risk is relative to learning and preparation. The more you learn the more you have control.

I do believe I have taken more risks in business, have gotten more ulcers from legal battles, and had equal joys from accomplishment. As with motorcycling you master business over time. You also appreciate it more. Certain risks take more preparation like being in top physical shape, this would also help you in motorcycle riding. Taking classes are highly recommended as they allow quantum jumps in learning, these have much more depth than drivers license training. If you wished to experience the joy of flying would you think the training would be more intense? Would the joy be incrementally greater for the new skills learned?

A motorcycle combines all of the above but as mentioned you must also have and understanding of human behavior, yours and others. This will also help in prevention and lower risk. There is a risk/reward ratio just as in a business venture.

I have 5 bikes and probably have been an above average rider, I also sold a Harley 30 years ago after moving back to Pasadena Ca from up north and got in a high speed wobble - was able to pull out of it.

My interest was renewed about 15 years ago after seeing the improvement in technology and training and the new bike designs that took it to a whole new level. I suppose the pull is different for different individuals. Generally the feeling of physical freedom on a bike is the draw, living in the Northwest it is magnified. Living in California in the big city would certainly take more control away from the rider and the risk would go up incrementally.

Each persons risk level is relative and like business the first question is about capacity. If you are handicapped you would certainly be less inclined to ride. If you are in good shape and attracted to a physical lifestyle nothing may be more important to you. Your fears are not others fears.

Red's pictures are enough to get me salivating to even buy another bike just like that V-Rod. Frankly it draws me more than a Lambo. But I also would have no problem owning BOTH!!!

A Picture is worth a thousand words!

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I stay away from riding a bike because I don't like the idea of being the bumper of my vehicle. Accident will/do happen. Does not matter who is at fault, in either case the bike driver/rider acts as the bumper or shock absorber... I don't think I have the balls for that.

I'd heard you had pretty big cajones, Andres-- but you're right-- I don't think ANYONE has ones big enough to protect them if they get hit by a car or truck!

. . . perhaps testicles w/built in air bags . . .?

(boy, you sure wouldn't want *those* to deploy a the wrong time . . . )

-Russ H.

Add me to the list of motorcycle rider for years. I have been riding dirt bikes since the age of 10. I had a road bike for many years and in some cases it was my only transportation.

I hung up my helmet many years ago after a number of close calls. Some of them left me laying on the ground although I was not hurt. The final one came on a rainy day. I was going slowly around a clover leaf exit due to the potential slippery conditions. A car was tailgating me. If I slipped, I would be hit. The bike went up for sale that week. I have not ridden on the street again since.

You guys are sure making me feel good about trying to bike this summer for the first time. (except a small bike back in the day)

We are doing dirt biking - two people who have done it both fell and hurt themselves.

And I thought about getting a bike later in life.. but now I am not sure.

I met with a life insurance agent yesterday for the first time, and he had me fill out an application. I was very surprised to find that they didn't ask me if I owned or was licensed to ride a motorcycle, especially considering the other kinds of questions they asked...

In fact, I was very surprised that they asked if I flew airplanes but didn't care about motorcycles. Having done both (I have my pilot's license), I can honestly say that riding a motorcycle would be tremendously more dangerous than flying a plane, at least for most people I know.

And while it's a bit off-topic, that whole situation reminded me of something I saw online the other day:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3...9705983724.jpg

JScott-- That surprises me, too. Could it be that if you have some type of catastrophic event while flying solo, your options are quite limited? Can't see any other angle here.

I have read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance when I was riding a lot. I was shocked to find that it didn't have much about motorcycles (at least the book I read!). Father/son stuff, yes. And psychological ruminations on the meaning of life and death.

Aside from some regular comments about oiling up this or that, and regularly checking what every bike owner does, I found very little "connection" between true Zen and maintaining a BMW bike. Maybe I just missed the point.

Riding can be a very Zen experience-- but I didn't think this was explored much in the book.

Just my 2¢ . . .

-Russ H.

Pssssssshhhh..........please, 8 and 10 cylinders are weaksauce.

Real men ride helicopter turbine engines.

Cool backstory on those jet powered turbine bikes:

Leno cruises the freeways on a jet-powered motorcycle - Popular Mechanics

And here's a *real* jet bike (who would strap themselves on to a jet engine?!).

-Russ H.