Life Son of a ****ing bitch

**Bob Dole** · 05-19-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Horrible. I now wear a helmet when I ride after years of not. I hate it, but I hate it less than not seeing my kids grow up.

Which brings to light the wonderful media bias.

The newspaper article makes specific mention of his lack of helmet, but fails to mention that a helmet wouldn't have prevented the broken neck that lead to his death.

**Mr. Kotter** · 05-19-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THISBobDole

Which brings to light the wonderful media bias.

The newspaper article makes specific mention of his lack of helmet, but fails to mention that a helmet wouldn't have prevented the broken neck that lead to his death.

Understood, Scott. Please tell me, though....you ARE aware of the very clear and unmistakeable "advantage" of riding with a helmet, as opposed to not riding with one. The stats, in this case, don't lie....

Although, I agree...in the egregious cases you've "witnessed" the last few weeks...it wouldn't have mattered.....

**pr_capone** · 05-19-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Understood, Scott. Please tell me, though....you ARE aware of the very clear and unmistakeable "advantage" of riding with a helmet, as opposed to not riding with one. The stats, in this case, don't lie....

Although, I agree...in the egregious cases you've "witnessed" the last few weeks...it wouldn't have mattered.....

I ride without a helmet.

I would rather check out than burden my wife with a drooling mess that she is forced to take care of for the rest of my "life".

She knows this and understands it.

In fact, she will start riding this summer and the same goes for her.

**Mr. Kotter** · 05-19-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

I ride without a helmet.

I would rather check out than burden my wife with a drooling mess that she is forced to take care of for the rest of my "life".

She knows this and understands it.

In fact, she will start riding this summer and the same goes for her.

I know the ABATE arguments....very well. I understand, we are all endowed with free will.

I will not begrudge you for your choice, brother pr_capone; but, please, don't begrudge me for mine....

FWIW, I salute/greet all bikers...not just the helmeted ones I meet on the road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

On the flip side, some motorcyclists are dumbasses. Just tonight as I was driving home, one was entering the freeway, and I was going to get off at the next exit. I saw him back there and turned on my signal to get in the right lane while he was well behind me, luckily I waited to see what he was going to do before I got over, because instead of allowing me to get over and jumping into the traffic lanes behind me, the idiot decided to blow by me on the right and then jump lanes. That's the kind of stupidity that also gets people killed.

And, unfortunately, it's the kind of stupidity that gives all bikers....a bad "name" with many people.

OTOH, I'd be willing to bet the average age of such bikers is 25 years or less; the "seasoned" riders and vets....we'll happily give you access to your lane, as we swap lanes with you.

Radar Chief · 05-20-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

I ride without a helmet.

I would rather check out than burden my wife with a drooling mess that she is forced to take care of for the rest of my "life".

She knows this and understands it.

In fact, she will start riding this summer and the same goes for her.

I was watching the qualifying for the 500 GP bikes at Hockenheimring in Germany, a track famous for it’s long straights where bikes even back in 1990 were running past 200 MPH, when Eddie Lawson pulled into the pits to change tires. Exiting the pits leads to one of the longest straights and Eddie quickly got his Yamaha up to speed, but when he sat up and grabbed the brakes for the first turn it revealed that someone had made a mistake replacing the front wheel and the brake pads literally fell out of the calipers. He headed off track in excess in excess of 190 MPH without brakes. I thought for sure he was dead, he slid forever after laying the bike down, but he raced the next day having suffered only minor bruises and scrapes.
The proper safety gear will save your life.

DJ's left nut · 05-20-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

I ride without a helmet.

I would rather check out than burden my wife with a drooling mess that she is forced to take care of for the rest of my "life".

She knows this and understands it.

In fact, she will start riding this summer and the same goes for her.

I got driven into a median about 8 months ago by a jackass that didn't check mirrors, didn't flip a blinker, just came and came quickly (and kept going). I was right at his A-pillar with no shoulder so there was nowhere to go but down.

But/for the helmet I was wearing, I'd have been the drooling mess you are referring to. Hell, a simple bump helmet probably wouldn't have done any good, the impact was right at the temple and cracked the damn thing. It was a Shoei, so I didn't even get a headache (just some MFing wicked road rash and a very torn groin)

The #s don't lie, but to each their own.

Bob,

Sorry as hell to hear about your week, man. And what concerns me is that they are NOT going to get any better. This will go from a hobby to a survival sport in the next 15 years, I fear.

The cages get dumber daily. Just this season alone I've had to take it onto the shoulder twice when someone came over into my lane without looking. Fortunately the wreck I had last fall prepared me for it, I can recognize the assholes before they do it for the most part.

But people are going to get more distracted, not less. As more of the 'tweens' that have grown up in constant communication end up with drivers licenses, you're only going to have more idiots to avoid and they'll be worse than ever. Living in a college town is doubly dangerous for me because I know have the HS kids from that generation driving around town with the same general attention span.

I'm considering selling mine myself. The constant stream of ****wits is making it less and less fun for me out there. I've only been at it for 5 years or so, so it's not the lifestyle change it would be for you and I understand that, but this just hardly seems worth it anymore.

Good luck, man. Hope things head up for you soon.

**Donger** · 05-20-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THISBobDole

Which brings to light the wonderful media bias.

The newspaper article makes specific mention of his lack of helmet, but fails to mention that a helmet wouldn't have prevented the broken neck that lead to his death.

I don't know what article you are referring to, but how do you know he would have still suffered a broken neck if was wearing a helmet?

**Bob Dole** · 05-20-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

I don't know what article you are referring to, but how do you know he would have still suffered a broken neck if was wearing a helmet?

In many cases, the helmet is the cause of a broken neck. How the hell would something on top of your head keep your spine from snapping from the impact?

**Donger** · 05-20-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THISBobDole

In many cases, the helmet is the cause of a broken neck. How the hell would something on top of your head keep your spine from snapping from the impact?

Well, in this specific case, the helmet wasn't the cause of his broken neck. My condolences to you for your loss, but it seems clear that more injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet than not.