Spewgore
Well-known member
All be it a delusional idea of safety which is perhaps deterring him from gaining practical experience which would contribute much more to actual safety. If you're riding scared you're not safe.
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Riding local = safer
- Thread starter 23sigma
- Start date
HELLBOY
Well-known member
Understood. I just don't get the overwhelming hate that comes from gear nazi's.
Spewgore
Well-known member
Griffin
Well-known member
He may have a desire to be safe, but he is uninformed and ignorant of risk. That won't lead to safe riding. And the OP is asking for insights. The lack of gear is merely ironic for someone that claims concern about their safety. I couldn't care less whether the OP's friend wears gear or not, but don't tell me he's legitimately concerned about safety.
-D-
Banned
The gear comment is secondary to his perceived sense of safety on local roads. Frankly for short trips around town Jeans are perfectly fine. I don't think everyone wears gear 100% of the time.
So forget about the Jeans comment. I think he's view of local being safe is going to get him in trouble. Since he's not aware of the potential hazards. Riding with a false sense of safety is nothing but trouble.
When I look through the fallen riders sub-forum I see a lot of accidents with left turning cars, cars pulling out of side streets etc. To me riding on local streets should require a lot of diligence no less than riding on the highway (if not more). If one thinks local streets are safer and ride "relaxed" then he/she is not being safe, but rather careless.
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Volvo syndrome.
I used to be a gear nazi, but I find my attitude and opinion shifting the more I ride. maybe it's just me: whenever I put on full gear, I get a false sense of security because I feel protected, and I ride a bit more aggressively when compared to riding with less gear on.
At the end of the day, it's everyone's own choice. I wear what I wear knowing the risks involved.
To the OP, there's nothing more you can do. You had the chat with your friend, that's all you can do is to express your concerns, but ultimately it'll be your friend's choice in doing what he does.
p.s. on a seperate note: no helmet law in the states. Don't knock it unless you've tried it. (it's not my favourite, and I do not endorse this behaviour, but I can see why some would like it)
At the end of the day, it's everyone's own choice. I wear what I wear knowing the risks involved.
To the OP, there's nothing more you can do. You had the chat with your friend, that's all you can do is to express your concerns, but ultimately it'll be your friend's choice in doing what he does.
p.s. on a seperate note: no helmet law in the states. Don't knock it unless you've tried it. (it's not my favourite, and I do not endorse this behaviour, but I can see why some would like it)
kiley
Well-known member
I have different groups or buddies that I ride with.
I love to ride in Pennsylvania.
Not all my buddies have passports.
Should that mean I don’t ride in PA?
Screw that…..I go without them.
And then show them the pictures afterwards.
We all ride motorcycles and when we purchased these bikes we accepted the fact that yes riding to a degree is dangerous.
There can be a huge difference in a fender bender in a cage as appose to a bike.
If one of my buddies was that scared about where he rides I would question why he bought a bike in the first place.
That being said….I would ride with my buddy knowing his limitations.
But that wouldn’t stop me from riding with others.
Maybe its best that he avoid highways for now if he isn’t comfortable on them.
Throwing him to the wolfs so to speak.
Gosh I remember learning how to swim as a kid.
My brother threw me in the deep end and said “swim or drown *****”.
Wow….times they are a changing.
I love to ride in Pennsylvania.
Not all my buddies have passports.
Should that mean I don’t ride in PA?
Screw that…..I go without them.
And then show them the pictures afterwards.
We all ride motorcycles and when we purchased these bikes we accepted the fact that yes riding to a degree is dangerous.
There can be a huge difference in a fender bender in a cage as appose to a bike.
If one of my buddies was that scared about where he rides I would question why he bought a bike in the first place.
That being said….I would ride with my buddy knowing his limitations.
But that wouldn’t stop me from riding with others.
Maybe its best that he avoid highways for now if he isn’t comfortable on them.
Throwing him to the wolfs so to speak.
Gosh I remember learning how to swim as a kid.
My brother threw me in the deep end and said “swim or drown *****”.
Wow….times they are a changing.
Talk to this guy:
Huge helmet opponent in California, until he lost balance and very low speed and put himself in a coma.
"Passing Bartels', I approached a corner where a bus was letting off passengers. I swung to the left of the bus, then turned right in front of it to turn onto the cross street, which leads to the freeway. But the cross street had an island, and I had to turn more sharply than I had anticipated. There were gravel and rocks and a little bit of slickness on the street, too, and I went into a skid. I hit my rear brake, which is what you're not supposed to do with a big bike—and it whipped around like a fish."
In summary, Gary Busey is an idiot.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20120285,00.html
I totally hear what you are saying. However, this is a clear case of rider error and it was totally preventable, gear or no gear. He could've waited for the bus to move on instead of passing it.
Back on topic, safe is all a matter of perspective. Statistics show travelling by air is much safer than travelling on land, yet there are still a huge # of people feeling differently about this.
OP if you buddy feels safer riding locally, then let him ride locally. It really comes down to what makes him happy and what he feels comfortable with.
Back on topic, safe is all a matter of perspective. Statistics show travelling by air is much safer than travelling on land, yet there are still a huge # of people feeling differently about this.
OP if you buddy feels safer riding locally, then let him ride locally. It really comes down to what makes him happy and what he feels comfortable with.
Talk to this guy:
Huge helmet opponent in California, until he lost balance and very low speed and put himself in a coma.
"Passing Bartels', I approached a corner where a bus was letting off passengers. I swung to the left of the bus, then turned right in front of it to turn onto the cross street, which leads to the freeway. But the cross street had an island, and I had to turn more sharply than I had anticipated. There were gravel and rocks and a little bit of slickness on the street, too, and I went into a skid. I hit my rear brake, which is what you're not supposed to do with a big bike—and it whipped around like a fish."
In summary, Gary Busey is an idiot.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20120285,00.html
good - glad someone else acknowledges that cuz the stats show on serious accidents the gear ( aside from helmets ) is not a serious factor for mortality.
I think it's a good practice to once in a while ride squid and see how it feels to keep things in perspective ( corner store etc )
I like ATGTA
all the gear that's appropriate.
Agreed. I noticed a big difference when I squid from reviewing my gopro clips.
ATGTA is a good motto. Just because I squid sometimes, doesn't mean I go with a TapOut tank top and flipflops, because that's just crazy
Again, depends on your own confidence & comfort level, and making your own decision based on the risks you are willing to take on.
moarmoto
Well-known member
My leather pants for 2 piece is actually very confortable. More so than any pants I've worn riding. Its got stretch panels here and there for ease of movement whereas my normal pants aren't stretchy.
Plus one of those moisture wicking shirt/pants combo in 2 piece in summer and I'm much cooler than naked.
Plus one of those moisture wicking shirt/pants combo in 2 piece in summer and I'm much cooler than naked.
First off, why do the gear Commies have to jump in and try and hijack threads like these?
Second off, he might be right. There hasn't been a study in a long while, and studies rely on reported accidents.
My personal view is that there are many single vehicle accidents occurring out on the smaller highways where people miss a turn.
If the EMS isn't called, the people limp home and visit the family doctor, since they might be charged with careless if the police show.
This would also account for an disproportionately bad view of motorcycles by doctors.
But that is my anecdotal opinion and not a proven fact.
The way in which you ride may have a greater influence on your safety, then where you ride, so I just hope that both of you are riding safe.
Second off, he might be right. There hasn't been a study in a long while, and studies rely on reported accidents.
My personal view is that there are many single vehicle accidents occurring out on the smaller highways where people miss a turn.
If the EMS isn't called, the people limp home and visit the family doctor, since they might be charged with careless if the police show.
This would also account for an disproportionately bad view of motorcycles by doctors.
But that is my anecdotal opinion and not a proven fact.
The way in which you ride may have a greater influence on your safety, then where you ride, so I just hope that both of you are riding safe.
TiburonJA
Well-known member
Wow, are people in here serious?
I'd argue that your safety on your motorcycle is almost 95 percent based on your riding abilities and 5 percent on others. I take my bike to clubs, to school, to work and the majority of the time I'm on local streets. I don't even mind riding in traffic and I've had maybe one "real" close call (that was when I was brand new to riding plus riding above my abilities)
You're going 60km/h and you see someone waiting to turn left, your brain should tell you to already slow down prior to going into the intersection. Bunch of babies crying about how left turning = imminent death. It's not hard to stop or avoid someone... Most of the people getting into accidents are going way too fast or trying to beat risky yellow lights. Someone show me an incident where someone is going 60km/h or less and gets killed by a left turner.
Riding on the highway is obviously more efficient and allows you to have fun and go faster... but how can you call someone who only rides on local streets a pussy, then argue you don't like to do it because it's too "dangerous."
From my experience, local streets are safe and sound, gridlock or not. Maybe my perception of local streets will change when I finally get my SS (in terms of local being boring) but I still won't be afraid of riding on them.
I'd argue that your safety on your motorcycle is almost 95 percent based on your riding abilities and 5 percent on others. I take my bike to clubs, to school, to work and the majority of the time I'm on local streets. I don't even mind riding in traffic and I've had maybe one "real" close call (that was when I was brand new to riding plus riding above my abilities)
You're going 60km/h and you see someone waiting to turn left, your brain should tell you to already slow down prior to going into the intersection. Bunch of babies crying about how left turning = imminent death. It's not hard to stop or avoid someone... Most of the people getting into accidents are going way too fast or trying to beat risky yellow lights. Someone show me an incident where someone is going 60km/h or less and gets killed by a left turner.
Riding on the highway is obviously more efficient and allows you to have fun and go faster... but how can you call someone who only rides on local streets a pussy, then argue you don't like to do it because it's too "dangerous."
From my experience, local streets are safe and sound, gridlock or not. Maybe my perception of local streets will change when I finally get my SS (in terms of local being boring) but I still won't be afraid of riding on them.
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ridden in Brampton much?
Riders aren't likely to get killed in a local street accident but the risk of accident is higher for obvious reasons.
But there still seriously stupid and inattentive drivers everywhere...and if you tell me you can anticipate a driver on your left stopped at a red light suddenly deciding to accelerate through it ( I was second vehicle through coming from a stop and then the light turning green for us)......then you should go on television as a fortune teller of note.
Yeah I got stopped and he got stopped but it was not all that fun going from accelerating to cold stop in a few yards.
There are more distracted drivers in the city streets so more chance of random events like that.
That one rider downtown was killed when a pedestrian decided to jaywalk in front of him.
You can minimize the risk with smart attentive riding but it does not go away and I'd not describe the local streets in the busier part of the GTA as safe or predictable especially around rush hour and worse on a Friday around rush hour.
U turning drivers are the worst and stats show a high percentage of accidents.
My highest risk of getting hit on any ride is 200 m down the street as drivers ( including bus drivers ) blow a stop sign to my left just about 90% of the time and since the corner curves away from your vision they are right on top of you as you pull out.
Can''t count the number of times I've nailed the horn there.
So no, riding local in the GTA not safer and the insurance stats prove it.
It used to be that riding highways was more predictable (safer), but the higher speeds meant more fatal injuries (less safe).
I find in the gta these days: highway drivers are less predictable and local drivers are driving faster, so it's a wash.
I find in the gta these days: highway drivers are less predictable and local drivers are driving faster, so it's a wash.
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