motorcycles, and why I'm not buying one

[speedracer95v6]

Recently a lot of my friends have been wanting motorcycles. A few months ago one of them (a guy I used to race with) bought an R6. Now, the guys closest to me understand that safety comes first, hell, I wear helmets in cars (fast cars that is...).

Anyway, so this guy never wore a helmet. I mean never. So the other day he was driving around at the school (ECU). He apparently popped a wheelie in front of some people or something, but it went south real fast. He ended up hitting a pole and getting hurt real bad. He died before they got him to Oklahoma City.

The sad part is, the people he hung around with told him he should be careful and that he should prolly wear one. One of them is a local firefighter, and he said that one of the firemen that made it on scene said it looked like a survivable accident with a helmet.

We all met at the local shop that he worked at and hung out at (like 20 cars...subarus, corvettes, etc.). From there we convoyed to the funeral a few miles away. When we were pulling out of the shop's yard, a guy blocked one lane of traffic to let everyone out...unfortunately as the last car pulled out and he joined our column, a highway patrol pulled him over and was a real dick to him.

I mean god, we were on the way to the guys funeral...we didn't disturb traffic ...what an *******.

That's neither here nor there. The point is, a good guy is dead at 19. The funeral was yesterday with hundreds in attendance (big for this town). Basically all the guys that are in car clubs or that I have raced with were there, fraternities, people who witnessed it, family, friends.
It was real depressing. It really sucks.

Wear your helmets and be safe people!

[jola]

i'm sorry to hear this. it sucks to the max. i don't quite understand why it isn't illegal in every state to not wear a helmet. i had to wear a helmet when i was riding a bicycle!

[BLLDOGG]

im sorry for your lose buddy

[96RS Alex]

Hi Jola, I just want to comment on your opinion about the illegality of not wearing helmets.
Each state in this nation has tried successfully or not to amend a law requiring the mandatory use of a helmet.
While many people consider the safety aspect of wearing one, there are those today who voice against it. Their primary purpose is to protect and advance the interests of motorcyclists in the political process.
In addition to their agenda, it includes improving motorcycle safety through education, motorist awareness, the defeat or repeal of all motorcycle related legislation that is unjustifiably restrictive, and improving the public's perception of motorcycling.

It's up to YOU or anyone who decides to ride to acknowledge the risks and keep the balance by riding safely. Motorists today are frequently careless yapping on their phones.

Starting tomorrow on Oct 1st, Connecticut will have imposed a complete ban and law against talking on cellphones while driving. A major step to reduce accidents & fatalities caused by this idiotic practice.

CT successfully defeated the proposed helmet legislation bill here. There was enough support by the riding community for this to happen.
You can still wear one if you like to but as they say here..."Let those who ride STILL decide!"

[L32Projekt]

Bah, sucks about your friend's death. This is why I wear a helmet without fail every time I ride. Anyways, I have to due to being in the Military and if I died without one on, my wife wouldn't get the SGLI... $400K cash money, playa! ;)

[Dojo2000]

That is depressing, but how exactly does the lack of intelligence on your friend's part sway you from getting a motorcycle? Lesson learned: wear a helmet and don't show off.

[jessica2112]

Sorry about your friend. I would not be here today if were not for a helmet. I will not get on a bike without one. I see people here (Florida) going by me on bikes on I-95 (65 speed limit) going about 90 wearing shorts, no shirt and no helmet. About once a week, they are on the front page of the paper and also in the obituary section. It's a law in alot of states, but personally it's just common sense. You don't look cool without one, you look like someone that's not thinking. I wouldn't let that stop you from buying one though. Ride it like your life depends on it. It does.
My .02

[Johnny Ray]

I also am sorry to hear about your friend.

I have been riding 30+ years now and from owning a motorcycle shop for 16 years I have lost quite a few friends from automobile and motorcycle wrecks.

I doubt if I quit driving or riding because of it though.

:cool:

[Earnhardt132000]

Originally posted by 96RS Alex:
Starting tomorrow on Oct 1st, Connecticut will have imposed a complete ban and law against talking on cellphones while driving. A major step to reduce accidents & fatalities caused by this idiotic practice.

That law was passed here in NY a while ago, but I still see plenty of people doing it. Nothing has really changed, so don't expect a big decrease in cell phone use.

[vanbibber]

man that sucks, sorry to hear about that.

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by Dojo2000:
That is depressing, but how exactly does the lack of intelligence on your friend's part sway you from getting a motorcycle? Lesson learned: wear a helmet and don't show off.

Originally posted by Johnny Ray:
...I have lost quite a few friends from automobile and motorcycle wrecks.

I doubt if I quit driving or riding because of it though.

Sorry about your friend speedracer, thats crappy. :( But, you can't just live life in fear.

[Camarorulz]

It really sucks to hear that. :(

The thing about laws requiring helmet use is that it is too restrictive: by not wearing a helmet I am not endangering ANYONE other than myself. It isn't the government's place to protect me from myself. The same thing goes for seatbelt laws. If I want to refrain from wearing a seatbelt, that is MY choice, and the government shouldn't have any say, but it does. If my car doesn't have signals or the brakes don't work, that's a different story: I'm endangering others because of the state of my vehicle.

I think government-funded education about the use of seatbelts/helmets on motorcycles, etc. would be good (the government spends money on much more worthless ****.) However, mandated laws related to individual safety are wrong.

speedracer, sorry to hear about your friend. He made a dumb mistake (something a lot of people have done at some point or another) and paid for it with his life.

[Mighty Thor]

I already know 3 people that died from Motorcycle accident. I don't think I'll be getting one. If I did though, it would be a nice chrome Harley.