The weather is beautiful. Everybody is getting their machines out from the winter hibernation. Everybody is riding. People are buying bikes for the first time.

And the stories about downed riders won't stop.

The texas sportbike association http://www.tsba.org has their safety coordinator in a coma after an oncoming car decided to use his lane. He was one of the most safety-conscious riders around here, and there was nothing he could do.

I just told this one by a coworker, last week he was making a left turn and a kid on a sportbike with a girl on the back with NO HELMETS slammed into the side of his truck FROM BEHIND as he turned. The kid, with a shiny new R6/R1 tried to go around him as he was slowing down to turn. The girl is busted up but ok, the guy is in and out of consciousness with a fractured skull and broken neck.


The stories keep coming.

 

The town of hempstead Long Island loses i think 18 riders a month during summer, something horrible like that. I already have seen some not so good stuff during winter. I hope everyone lives to see and WALK another day. - Mike

 

buy gear. who cares if you look like a storm trooper. at least you wont look like a hospital patient.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RedStarGsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">buy gear. who cares if you look like a storm trooper. at least you wont look like a hospital patient. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Seriously, I try to stay as 'normal' looking as possible on most rides with at least the 5 basic essentials.

1. Helmet
2. Jacket
3. Jeans
4. Shoes above the ankles
5. Gloves

And if I'm full tilt (besides the suit)

1. Helmet
2. Jacket
3. Jeans
4. Racing boots
5. Gaunlet style gloves
6. Back protector
7. My new Icon knee/shin armour

I'd like to pick up a pair of those kevlar lined jeans tho.

 

I've already heard of I think 6 people going down already this season. Locally. No serious injuries, though.

 

I've heard of at least 6 deaths in the area so far and I'm sure there are a lot more that I never hear of

 

i saw a guy get hit in chicago last week brand new r6 he was ok though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RedStarGsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">buy gear. who cares if you look like a storm trooper. at least you wont look like a hospital patient.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RedStarGsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">buy gear. who cares if you look like a storm trooper. at least you wont look like a hospital patient. </TD></TR></TABLE>

it really bums me out that even with top-tier gear, you can still be turned into a vegetable by an oncoming car.

 

Tell me about it. We've already had a couple local BAD accidents. No fatalities, thank goodness.

There are about a dozen or so people at my work that ride. Two have gone down already. One just got a '98 CBR600F3 first bike, beginner rider. Like second day riding, hit some gravel.

I was riding home from work one day. One of the first days it was nice out. Guy on a BRAND NEW ZX6R, temp tags and all comes flying up past me downtown. About a block from my apartment. There is an attractive female walking down the other side of the street. I glance over and keep riding. The other fellow (who is rocking a helmet and street clothes decides to gawk at her instead and next thing you know "OH **** CAR!" is what I'm sure crossed through his mind. He slams on the brakes, misses rear ending the stopped car in front of him by about an inch and proceeds to teeter on the point of flipping over his front tire. Rear wheels SLAMS back down on the ground and he falls off to the left and drops the bike. It's a shame really. He's lucky he didn't get hit by the car behind him.

I know it's nice out and it's great to be back out on the road again, and I know everyone wants that adrenaline rush back, but PLEASE be careful. I mean I know there is only so much you as a rider can do, but at least make sure you are doing it. Stay alert as much as possible. It's tough to predict what some of these people out there will do.

 

Yeah man, I just went riding today for a little bit, but the key is to lower your exposure, don't try and go ***** to the wall. Just ride sparingly.

 

Happens every year. It cant be stopped. At least there is always an abundance of parts.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Newkleus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah man, I just went riding today for a little bit, but the key is to lower your exposure, don't try and go ***** to the wall. Just ride sparingly.</TD></TR></TABLE>

my words exactly

 

I've met some dirt riders at work. Thinking of getting into that cause it seems like TONS of fun and can gain some skills that might be useful on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Seriously, I try to stay as 'normal' looking as possible on most rides with at least the 5 basic essentials.

1. Helmet
2. Jacket
3. Jeans
4. Shoes above the ankles
5. Gloves

And if I'm full tilt (besides the suit)

1. Helmet
2. Jacket
3. Jeans
4. Racing boots
5. Gaunlet style gloves
6. Back protector
7. My new Icon knee/shin armour

I'd like to pick up a pair of those kevlar lined jeans tho. </TD></TR></TABLE>

heh that's EXACTLY what i wear too. one last thing i'm thinking about adding is a pair of those icon field armor shorts. if i'm sliding, at least they'll protect my *** from road rash a bit better.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Phaze2 Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The town of hempstead Long Island loses i think 18 riders a month during summer, something horrible like that. I already have seen some not so good stuff during winter. I hope everyone lives to see and WALK another day. - Mike</TD></TR></TABLE>

wow that is ridiculous.
do you guys have a helmet law in NY?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Seriously, I try to stay as 'normal' looking as possible on most rides with at least the 5 basic essentials.

1. Helmet
2. Jacket
3. Jeans
4. Shoes above the ankles
5. Gloves
</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1 on that except I always wear my A* boots. I have Rocket Textile pants (Alter Ego) to wear over my shorts when I start wearing them to work.

 

Saw a kid crash two sundays ago. The next day I heard there were three crashes within an hour of each other in the tiny town of Laconia New Hampshire. My girlfriend who works at the hospital in Wolfboro NH said two people were airlifted there this weekend that were riders.

I went for a cruise yesterday. Out of the 50+ bikes I saw in my 45 minute ride I counted TWO people with helmets, And they weren't even full face helmets. Idk when people are going to ******* learn.

 

In the Ozark mountains one of my favorite roads is 23 the "pig trail" which is one of the twistiest roads around. Lots of elevation changes and sections are completely grown over so its a tunnel of trees. Simply beautiful. My ride down this road 2 weeks ago felt like my "breakout" ride where I finally put it all together and had a ball setting a good pace for the group I was with...I'll never forget it...

So last weekend, the Texas Sport Bike Association had an event up in the Ozarks. Some riders arrived from houston early on Friday and decided to ride up 23...This is what happened.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, we arrived at the Hotel early, so we decided to go on a short ride through the twisties. At the end of the Pig Trail, a car pull into a driveway right in front of Brian Montgomery. Looks like Brian hit the car almost head on. Luckily, Brandy was not on the bike at the time. Brian had to be care- flighted to Fayetteville. Brian was banged up pretty bad, but he was awake and aware of what happened. He has a least a broken arm, but he said his body was numb from the waist down. Hpefully he will be OK.</TD></TR></TABLE>


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chris and I just got in from Arkansas. Here is the whole story, as I know it to be, regarding Brian.

1. The T-4 vertebra (somewhere close to between the shoulders) was a "burst fracture". To describe the injury to Brandy and me, the Neurosurgeion said, "It looks like someone hit his back with a sledge hammer. The bone was basically disintigrated." He reiterated several times that they do not expect Brian to regain any use of his legs. Brian is paralyzed from the nipples down, and the doctors said this is permanent. They will know for certain once they go in to fuse the bones and can actually examine the spinal cord. However, Brian has no feeling and no involuntary reaction from his chest down.

2. Several ribs were broken - no count on how many. One lung was punctured. With the back injury, the back of Brian's lungs were bruised. His lungs have severe contusions inside and out. That is the reason is and has been on a respirator.

3. Brian's pelvis also "burst". During this, there was a tear and puncture in the rectum. A pelvis injury bleeds very much, so Brian is losing lots of blood, therefore receiving lots of blood.

4. His right wrist was broken in several places, requiring surgery and 4 pins. The orthopedic surgeon explained this all to us, but said that he believes that he has the bones set with just the 4 pins and will not require further surgeries on this as he first told us.

5. Brian has NO injuries whatsoever to his head.

6. He has very few minor scrapes on his right leg, and two of his toes are bruised.

7. Brian NEVER lost consciousness from the time of the impact until they sedated him at the hospital to put in the breathing tube.

All of the doctors speak to us of what will be happening in the next few days, but they always say that we have to get Brian thru these next few days - he's still in very critical condition and has multiple life-threatening trauma. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by falcongsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've met some dirt riders at work. Thinking of getting into that cause it seems like TONS of fun and can gain some skills that might be useful on the street.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

husky sm450.....

 

Damn. That injury sounds pretty damn bad. I went down this season, a week ago tomorrow.

 

Im seriosly thinking of selling my 900RR... to many people dyeing this year... mainly because of other drivers

 

You're more fickle than a 14 y/o girl... oh and Ross too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bottle fed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im seriosly thinking of selling my 900RR... to many people dyeing this year... mainly because of other drivers </TD></TR></TABLE>

I go thru this too. No matter how prepared and careful you are, you're still at risk of serious injury every time you throw a leg over.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You're more fickle than a 14 y/o girl... oh and Ross too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Eat a D.

That story about "Brian" is why I'm really scared to "hit the twisties." Sorry to say, but that story is not just a reflection on how stupid car-drivers are.

I see a lot of motorcycle riders absolving themselves of any agency in a crash, or on the road in general: "I have no control over what happens out there, car drivers are too stupid."

Well, there are a lot of things you can do. Don't ride in blind spots. Use your horn. Don't ride near other cars when speeds get high. And don't take blind corners on public roads at 10/10ths.