And I expressed to him that "I didn't like the fact that he would be on a motorcycle" He seemed a bit taken aback. Now because he's family I can tell him that. Actually, I'd express my concerns to anybody I considered close.
It's not that I don't "like" motorcycles themselves, or the motorcycle culture, of which there are many derivations. I think they are kinda cool, although I don't know that much about them.
I am concerned for his safety...."Oh Uncle Ken, I'll be careful, you just have to watch, and plus I took a motor cycle safety course sponsored by the state, and I learned a lot". I told him that I am not concerned about the way he drives, but rather the other drivers and unanticipated situations that that can happen. Things that, if in a car, are a fender bender, but on a motorcycle can tragically end a young life.
I don't like the way I sound when I express my concerns to people who drive motorcycles, I sound like an old kvetch-y grandma. I guess there's not much to be done, and perhaps I shouldn't have voiced my concerns, but if my comments do the least little bit of good, I'll feel like I accomplished something.
I don't think I'd ever drive one, mostly because I am certain I would love it. So before the love sets in, why even do it?
Am I wrong?
I'm not a motorcycle guy, either -- been on one twice, felt VERY unsafe.
If your nephew's head is reasonably level, and he's not the kind of kid who's going to go, "Hey, watch THIS!" on the bike . . . just cross your fingers and say your prayers. But if he's a reckless moron (as so many young men are/were, including me), it might be worth saying something to his parents. Is he paying his own insurance?
I'm not a motorcycle guy, either -- been on one twice, felt VERY unsafe.
If your nephew's head is reasonably level, and he's not the kind of kid who's going to go, "Hey, watch THIS!" on the bike . . . just cross your fingers and say your prayers. But if he's a reckless moron (as so many young men are/were, including me), it might be worth saying something to his parents. Is he paying his own insurance?
He's well beyond that age, He is in his early 30's and he's a CPA. Yes, he's a level headed guy.
That being said you cannot live your life afraid.
That being said you cannot live your life afraid.
^^^^THIS is what scares me^^^^^
These kinds of things DO happen...I mean, is it worth it? He'd probably be alive if he was in a car, right?
What kind of bike did he get?
As a former motorcycle owner/rider myself, I see both the good side and the dangerous side of riding. As already stated, as long as your nephew is taking safety seriously and paying attention to those around him during his rides, I think it's fine for him to ride.
When I moved up to MD and got married, I made an agreement with my wife that I will stop riding and will get rid of my Harley. And that was a conscious decision on my part knowing that riding up here is a bit different from down in NC.
One of the best advice I was given by a long time rider friend of mine was..."When you stop feeling that twinge of anxiety/nervousness when you start your ride, you probably should stop riding since that's when you do stupid shit and get yourself killed."
For first time riders, it's not if you're going to lay your motorcycle down but rather when you will. Safety is key.
What kind of bike did he get?
a fast looking one? no idea...looks like a sport bike, Japanese, I'm sure..
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...he's going to do, to work, only on weekends, alone, with a group, city or country, etc.
What kind of bike did he get?
a fast looking one? no idea...looks like a sport bike, Japanese, I'm sure..
It's difficult to generalize, and I can only speak strictly anecdotally, but the rice-rocket riders seem to be the most consumed with really high speeds. That doesn't really signify when it comes to your nephew, however, it's just my own observation over the years.
We're you showing off for the ladies doing burn outs at Americade? : )
I've been on a motorcycle once and it was awesome, so I get the appeal. But I've got 4 little kids and I'm already brainwashing them on how bad motorcycles are. If they really want one when they are older I think I'll tell them to go spend a day in one of those rehab facilities first then get back to me.
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In comment 12401077 BMac said:
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...he's going to do, to work, only on weekends, alone, with a group, city or country, etc.
What kind of bike did he get?
a fast looking one? no idea...looks like a sport bike, Japanese, I'm sure..
It's difficult to generalize, and I can only speak strictly anecdotally, but the rice-rocket riders seem to be the most consumed with really high speeds. That doesn't really signify when it comes to your nephew, however, it's just my own observation over the years.
found a partial picture on Facebook...it says "Aprilia" on the gas tank
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was in Lake George village, right on the main drag. Woopsie.
We're you showing off for the ladies doing burn outs at Americade? : )
I was at Americade, but it was a drunk stepping off the sidewalk in front of me!
Hate bikes
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In comment 12401113 I Love Clams Casino said:
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In comment 12401077 BMac said:
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...he's going to do, to work, only on weekends, alone, with a group, city or country, etc.
What kind of bike did he get?
a fast looking one? no idea...looks like a sport bike, Japanese, I'm sure..
It's difficult to generalize, and I can only speak strictly anecdotally, but the rice-rocket riders seem to be the most consumed with really high speeds. That doesn't really signify when it comes to your nephew, however, it's just my own observation over the years.
found a partial picture on Facebook...it says "Aprilia" on the gas tank
It's Italian-made, and very high tech. It depends on the model. It looks like the Caponord 1200 is designed as a road bike. It's a nice looking machine and, I'm sure, offers significant safety features (except for other drivers, of course).
The safety thing, however, really weighs heavily though. I don't think Id ever own one in this country (where the culture is tailored to cars and highways, instead of zipping through narrow lanes in scooters).
it's the Aprilia RST1000 Futura
is this a speed bike, touring bike? dangerous?
it's the Aprilia RST1000 Futura
is this a speed bike, touring bike? dangerous?
Like any larger bike, it can get up and go, but it's designed as a Touring machine, so no, it's not a rocket by any means. The styling is somewhat controversial because of its angularity, but it looks to me like it would provide a level of protection in case he has to lay it down.
Looks to me like a nice, comfortable road machine, so I wouldn't worry too much.
A good friend of mine bought a 1000cc crotch rocket for his first bike and promptly got into an accident. Spent six months with both his arms in casts after spending four weeks in a coma.
A good friend of mine bought a 1000cc crotch rocket for his first bike and promptly got into an accident. Spent six months with both his arms in casts after spending four weeks in a coma.
Not a crotch rocket, Ronnie, it's a Touring bike.
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Yeah, I would have suggested against getting that as his first bike.
A good friend of mine bought a 1000cc crotch rocket for his first bike and promptly got into an accident. Spent six months with both his arms in casts after spending four weeks in a coma.
Not a crotch rocket, Ronnie, it's a Touring bike.
Ah...thanks. It looked like a crotch rocket in the big picture. No matter though, it's still a 900+ cc bike with over a 100hp. As a young guy, my fear is that he'll put it to the test as all young guys do. Whether a crotch rocket or a touring bike, it still has enough power to kill a first time rider if he isn't responsible.
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In comment 12401283 RC02XX said:
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Yeah, I would have suggested against getting that as his first bike.
A good friend of mine bought a 1000cc crotch rocket for his first bike and promptly got into an accident. Spent six months with both his arms in casts after spending four weeks in a coma.
Not a crotch rocket, Ronnie, it's a Touring bike.
Ah...thanks. It looked like a crotch rocket in the big picture. No matter though, it's still a 900+ cc bike with over a 100hp. As a young guy, my fear is that he'll put it to the test as all young guys do. Whether a crotch rocket or a touring bike, it still has enough power to kill a first time rider if he isn't responsible.
True, but 300/400/500 cc bikes have plenty enough power to get a novice into serious trouble in no time at all. The thing I'd worry about with a heavier bike like that is keeping it upright when you stop. I know it's just a matter of getting accustomed to it, but it would suck to do it at a traffic light!
Everything else depends on the rider and his reasons for riding and, unfortunately, on the great unwashed masses out there in their cars and trucks.
When I went from a crotch rocket to a HD VRod, it was a strange transition. Not only was the riding style different, but the sheer size/weight difference was really noticeable. Man, I miss it.
When I went from a crotch rocket to a HD VRod, it was a strange transition. Not only was the riding style different, but the sheer size/weight difference was really noticeable. Man, I miss it.
You miss riding in general, or the rocket? I know up above you mentioned moving to MD and quitting riding (whipped ;)), so I'll assume you miss riding in general.
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As you said, it's more the rider than the kind of bike one has that will ultimately determine the level of danger in riding.
When I went from a crotch rocket to a HD VRod, it was a strange transition. Not only was the riding style different, but the sheer size/weight difference was really noticeable. Man, I miss it.
You miss riding in general, or the rocket? I know up above you mentioned moving to MD and quitting riding (whipped ;)), so I'll assume you miss riding in general.
Yes...riding in general. And while my wife asked me to stop riding when we started trying to have a kid, it was ultimately my decision based on the shitty driving style of people in MD. My wife's logic was that I was lucky to come back from all of my deployments without any lasting physical impact, so why then risk it riding in MD with potential kids in the picture.
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In comment 12401360 RC02XX said:
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As you said, it's more the rider than the kind of bike one has that will ultimately determine the level of danger in riding.
When I went from a crotch rocket to a HD VRod, it was a strange transition. Not only was the riding style different, but the sheer size/weight difference was really noticeable. Man, I miss it.
You miss riding in general, or the rocket? I know up above you mentioned moving to MD and quitting riding (whipped ;)), so I'll assume you miss riding in general.
Yes...riding in general. And while my wife asked me to stop riding when we started trying to have a kid, it was ultimately my decision based on the shitty driving style of people in MD. My wife's logic was that I was lucky to come back from all of my deployments without any lasting physical impact, so why then risk it riding in MD with potential kids in the picture.
I'll buy that for a dollar. It'd be a different story if you lived way out in the hinterlands, with nice back-country roads to ride, but the more traffic, the more likely you are to get messed up by someone who just isn't paying attention.
Even here, though, and believe me, we're in the boonies, a kid who was always racing around with two of his buddies on crotch rockets (and make life miserable for everyone else) lost his in a head-on with a pick-up. Totally the kid's fault, but you hate to see it happen.
Good chatting with you.
The majority of motorcycle accidents happen at night when riders cannot see the road surface in front of them.
Coming from a dirt riding background helps a lot because it teaches you to check for your terrain constantly.
Another big mistake riders make is not turning on the high beam on their bike.
Visibility is a huge issue for oncoming cars as well because most people's eyes are trained to look for a wide dual front headlight pattern, like the front of a car or a truck.
I mounted wide PIAA HID's on my K1200RS and run them in the daytime for higher visibility, not for me, but for oncoming cars. And I obviously don't ride at night, unless it's an emergency circumstance.
During Marine Infantry Officer Course training, we have to spend one night on the weekend in a local emergency room/trauma center in DC. When I did my night, the nurses gave me a huge binder of injuries to look at, and I would have to say about 50% were motorcycle injuries. They usually referred to motorcycle accident patients as organ donors when they would be brought in.
After posting that, my then coworker Janet seemed very surprised that I posted it. It seemed to match a call about a motorcycle accident a coworker at her previous job got about her boyfriend who lost his leg in a morning motorcycle accident. We compared times and details and we're pretty sure that was him.
Agree with Jon. I have been riding a long time and still commute on my Ducati. I LOVE to ride. I have a friend who discourages me, who then goes rock/cliff climbing on the weekend... LOL. You can't be afraid to live life and do things you enjoy, SMARTLY. It is a different way of driving for sure. You HAVE to be a defensive driver. You have to EXPECT that the guy/girl waiting to pull out of that side road, will do it right in front of you. If you do that you are well ahead of the game. I love it. I have known people who have crashed. But I have known many, MANY more people who were killed or incapacitated in car wrecks. Wear gear, take the course and drive defensively.
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but as someone who's been riding since age 6, I'll echo you can't live in fear. Be aware, constantly scan 180 degrees, ride defensively, and you're ok.
Agree with Jon. I have been riding a long time and still commute on my Ducati. I LOVE to ride. I have a friend who discourages me, who then goes rock/cliff climbing on the weekend... LOL. You can't be afraid to live life and do things you enjoy, SMARTLY. It is a different way of driving for sure. You HAVE to be a defensive driver. You have to EXPECT that the guy/girl waiting to pull out of that side road, will do it right in front of you. If you do that you are well ahead of the game. I love it. I have known people who have crashed. But I have known many, MANY more people who were killed or incapacitated in car wrecks. Wear gear, take the course and drive defensively.
Do you have a specially built Ducati for midgets? I'm kind of curious how you can even reach the ground...HEYYYYOOOO!!! :)
Nice... LOL. Actually I have a 2012 Monster 1100 EVO. It is high for my inseam, but I can tiptoe it and you get used to sliding to one side to get one foot flat. Mine is an air-cooled fire breathing monster... when I want it to be... lol. But I have ABS and traction control, so it has good safety features.
To the OP, depends what type of Aprilia it is... if it's a Shiver 750 that is a very good and fairly docile engine. If it's an RSV4... well that bike is putting out about 200 HP (compared to the Shiver's roughly 75 HP). Completely depends on the bike. But it also depends on being level-headed on street riding. Most of the crashes I know of personally, the rider was going to fast for the road they were on (which is easy to do on most of todays bikes). If you stay within posted speed limits that eliminates A LOT of potential mishaps.
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Do you have a specially built Ducati for midgets? I'm kind of curious how you can even reach the ground...HEYYYYOOOO!!! :)
Nice... LOL. Actually I have a 2012 Monster 1100 EVO. It is high for my inseam, but I can tiptoe it and you get used to sliding to one side to get one foot flat. Mine is an air-cooled fire breathing monster... when I want it to be... lol. But I have ABS and traction control, so it has good safety features.
To the OP, depends what type of Aprilia it is... if it's a Shiver 750 that is a very good and fairly docile engine. If it's an RSV4... well that bike is putting out about 200 HP (compared to the Shiver's roughly 75 HP). Completely depends on the bike. But it also depends on being level-headed on street riding. Most of the crashes I know of personally, the rider was going to fast for the road they were on (which is easy to do on most of todays bikes). If you stay within posted speed limits that eliminates A LOT of potential mishaps.
Read above. It's an RST1000 Futura Turing bike.