I wrote for 30 years, commuted, traveled, rallies, turned my own wrenches, saw the typical riders change from total enthusiasts to boutique shoppers with cashflow, jet skies, and bassboats and garage queens that saw barely the light of day...
I’ve seen motorcycle manuals regress from how to adjust chains, and make valves adjustments to cautioning phraseology advising owners to take their machines to a certified dealer mechanic and “do not drink the battery fluid.”
Car drivers are just as bad they don’t even see bikes or they don’t even look for that. That has always been a problem.
I almost got T-boned once by a truck pulling into a chicken joint and the only thing on the drivers mind was a bucket of chicken as I turned the wick up and maneuvered past his front end, missing me by inches...
Most motorcycle periodicals at one time or another express the following... and it’s a cautionary quote and one that is not only true but is taught in MSF training...
“There;are two kinds of riders, those who go down, and those who will go down.”
The term donorcycles is not surprising.
When I was in the military if you wanted to ride on the base you had to be qualified, and that required MSF certified training, proper safety gear, and verification of periodic follow on training.
I have come to the conclusion that motorcycles are very dangerous given the externals... but TBH I’ve had more accidents on my bicycle then on my motorcycles.
How many M/C owners don’t have any of that training? Plenty. And they might not know how to tighten their chains either.
I got off the bikes primarily because of my back and neck but also because there’s a lot of jerks on the road that are in small zippy little cars and they’re distracted, speeding, and not even paying attention.
That’s just the fact of the matter.
I agree I ride.
Motorcycle riding demands riding very defensively.
It is true that MC’s and bike cycles have the same right away as other 4+ wheeled vehicles.
But no matter how much right away you have if a larger 4+ wheeled vehicle hits you.
YOU LOSE.
The law of gross tonnage or the lug nut theory what ever you want to call it.
the larger vehicle wins in a crash.
I have a friend who wrecked his Harley on gravel 30+ years ago. His doctor told him he would have problems later on. Today, he can walk only with pain, and he can’t ride anymore, because of his back.
Another guy I used to work with had his bike fall on his leg, and broke it in 3 places. He was off work for months.
I have nothing against them, I’m just glad, for MY sake, that I never had one.
They are cool.