Look, I'm not here to preach but let me share a story.

 

A girl who my wife works with (and is pretty close to - she just threw my wife a baby shower two weekends ago)... her husband wanted a motorcycle. She happened to get an insurance settlement from an accident she was in last year so she took that money and bought her husband a harley sportster. That was Wednesday.

 

Saturday, he lost the bike. They have to amputate one of his legs above the knee because the femor went through an artery and the muscle was shredded.

 

All that happened was a gust of wind caught the bike and he lost control of it.

 

I just can't see why people like motorcycles so much, especially when I hear things like this. Why even take the chance?

yeah just too risky

I dont see why people take the risk to drive a car......

I dont see why people take the risk to drive a car......

I knew someone was going to say that.

 

:headshake

I knew someone was going to say that.

Well, it is a valid point. You are more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than you are an automobile accident, but you're also more likely to die in an automobile accident than you are if you, say, take a train to work. Where do you draw the line in how much risk you think is unacceptable?

Elvis died on the pooper. It ain't safe to ride anything.

i dont see why people like bikes either. too many people who either dont know what theyre doin or are not responsible. and half the time nobodys wearin a helmet. but above all that, i absolutly cant stand those damn crotch rockets!!!

How can you die if you never lived?

 

Backpacking? Bears, rattlesnakes, falls, cell phones don't work.

Surfing? sharks, drowning, (actually the board wacking you is the #1 source of injuries)

Off shore fishing? boat sinks etc.

Airplanes?

Hunting? Well ask Cheney what can go wrong there.

Kite Surfing?

 

It's all relative. I've driven probably 75,000 miles on two wheels and not even a scratch.

 

I will bet more people die sooner from eating at McDonalds (generic term for being 20-30 pounds overweight or more) not exercising, and being too stressed out than a motorcycle. But I'll bet that sometime this month everone here will find themselves with a fast food meal.

 

BTW, I always wear a helmet, but I've read studies that having a 10 pound object on your head may cause more neck and spinal damage than not wearing one.

How can you die if you never lived?

 

It all depends on what your idea of "living" is. Motorcycles and "danger" hold no interest to me at all. "Living" to me is quite different than what it is to most people. I get a rush out of plugging in my guitar, or sitting down with one of them and tinkering with them. Or finding old vintage guitars. Drawing stuff, catching a movie I always wanted to see. Finally finding a CD/album/whatever that I had been looking for.

 

I love playing with other muscians.

 

Backpacking? No form form of indoor plumbing? Sends shivers down my spine. If I don't get a shower a day, I would die.

 

Motorcycles? Heck, I have no interest in car accidents, so I really have no interest in a little bent metal on one of those things. I hate crotch rockets and the idiots that drive them, and I hate the noise of Harley's.

(vids not for faint of heart)

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/wm/183A...DC26EA82722.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/category/BOOM...2043F6C031D.htm

sometimes it doesnt matter how good a driver you are....

They are not as safe as some cars. How many people here are driving one of the safest cars?

 

http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/...opten_crash.htm

All I'm saying is - you're playing with fire if you ride a motorcycle. He didn't mess up, it wasn't his fault, a semi passed him going at a pretty high rate of speed and twisted him clean off the bike. And now he doesn't have a leg.

 

It's really sad for me, because I know this guy.

All I'm saying is - you're playing with fire if you ride a motorcycle.  He didn't mess up, it wasn't his fault, a semi passed him going at a pretty high rate of speed and twisted him clean off the bike.  And now he doesn't have a leg.

 

It's really sad for me, because I know this guy.

 

You are correct, there are risks. Some people have a higher tolerance to risk than others. Climbing mountains, SCUBA diving, solo exploring, drinking and driving, not exercising, bungee jumping, being in the Army, etc all are in that risk/reward ratio.

 

This seems like a freaky accident, I've passed and been passed by a lot of trucks and never was even close to losing control. I'm not saying that it doesn't and didn't happen, but if motorcycles were that dangerous, there would be a standard disclaimer and disqualification on all life insurance and medical policies. I know that if I hurt myself skydiving or SCUBA my insurance will not cover me. So I don't skydive, well that and I think anyone who jumps out of a perfectly good airplance is out of their minds.

 

Prayers to your friend. I hope he has a good attitude and rebuilds his life to the fullest.