Hey everyone. In the past month there have been 2 deaths in the VA/MD/DC area in group rides that I was considering attending. Some reason it has me questioning if I want to ride street anymore. I love to ride, but I am not sure if I really want to take the chance. In both instances no cars were involved, just rider error. Its just sad how I could be talking to a person online one day and then hear news the next they are gone.

 

Dont go on group rides

I'm done with them. The largest group I want to ride in anymore is 2-3.

 

Everyone chooses the path they walk in life so everyone knows the risk they take when riding a motorcycle. Just because they died riding street doesnt change the fact that it also could have happened on the track. People die everyday and no one cares. If everyone thought of stopping what they are doing just because some died from what you like to do in life, then I dont think anyone would be doing anything.

It always sucks to hear about someone going down but that shouldn't stop you from doing something you love or dream of doing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dont go on group rides

I'm done with them. The largest group I want to ride in anymore is 2-3.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Last time I went on a big group ride 2 people totalled their bikes. Now I just ride with 3-4 other guys who have been riding longer than I've been alive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DC2_fan1999 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everyone chooses the path they walk in life so everyone knows the risk they take when riding a motorcycle. Just because they died riding street doesnt change the fact that it also could have happened on the track. People die everyday and no one cares. If everyone thought of stopping what they are doing just because some died from what you like to do in life, then I dont think anyone would be doing anything.

It always sucks to hear about someone going down but that shouldn't stop you from doing something you love or dream of doing. </TD></TR></TABLE>
+1

I'm on short term right now cuz I broken my clavical (and other things) from hitting a guardrail a month ago. Then just friday someone died in the same spot I wrecked. I have no thoughts of giving up or even avoiding that spot.....just try to be a little more aware of it.

People die, others get really hurt. It's all in how important it is to you.

 

group rides are dangerous.. ride with friends you trust, and always keep your own pace even if you friends are faster

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DC2_fan1999 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everyone chooses the path they walk in life so everyone knows the risk they take when riding a motorcycle</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep. Every time you thumb the starter button you could be coming home in an ambulance, or a box. I think everyone has their time, you could get hit walking down the street, or in a car accident, or who knows.

 

i for one am going to hang it up................................................ ......................
.................................................. .................................................. .....................................well in november till april

 

true, I have never ridden with anyone else before. I think I may keep it that way now. Thanks everyone

 

hanging it up for the street yeah... I've given up explaining to some people like my parents that street riding is more dangerous then the track. They don't understand why I wanna go back after crashing last time and getting knocked out. Thing is it's more dangerous for me to ride around here with the moron drivers not paying attention then it is on the track. That's not to say track riding or racing which I'd like to try at some point isn't dangerous, just that other things are as well and we just don't perceive them to be

 

i hung it up for two years .. i was so sick of the street. i don't go on group rides either, and all my riding buddies have moved away.

i ride now but mainly to commute, retiring from the street for a couple years was good because i'm not as crazy as i used to be. i wish i could ride track only, i'm so paranoid on the street i barely even break the speed limit when i ride now....just waiting for a cager to try and kill me.

 

ive seen a few people eat **** in person, which is pretty traumatizing, atleasdt the first time. Made me think about how i ride but i never really ever thought of hanging it up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .paul &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">group rides are dangerous.. ride with friends you trust, and always keep your own pace even if you friends are faster</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly

 

i pretty much only ride with close friends. I don't associate with squidly people, and I ride because i like to, not because i like to ride with other people. I've never questioned riding.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rdblckSV650S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i pretty much only ride with close friends. I don't associate with squidly people, and I ride because i like to, not because i like to ride with other people. I've never questioned riding.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've had a few close calls myself and seeing one of my best friends go down almost took me out of the game. I just love motorcycles for the technology and sport of it. I rarely ride canyons and never do big group rides anymore. I am looking forward to some track days tho

 

there's only two types of riders..one that has been down or one that is going down. unfortunately some do not get back up. we all know the risk of riding and the dangers around us, but we still ride. why? because we love the sport/feeling. Whether riding or driving we all have our time.. for some people it comes way too soon. unfortunately this is how life is, but if you choose to hang it up that's all on you. Some would even say that we can't live in a bubble forever. I personally like cruising by myself or with my very trustworthy friends. We cruise and don't push too many limits... limit pushers or alway pushing thier luck as well. as you can tell most incidents occur during group rides when these guys try to be hot shots and go up and above their limit. Its all about the respect for the sport, respect for the bike and respect and even being the adult to know what is your own personal limit. RESPECT

 

I use to love to get up on a Sunday morning and get on my bike and just ride by myself. Believe it or not before i hit the little red button i use to say a prayer to keep me safe and for me to make it home every day. Life is about choices and chances you make and take and to enjoy it because your not here forever. After my accident i realized that even though i was injured after i was healed and it was possible i was going to ride again and thank god i was able to make that decision. Now i will just get together with close friends and or family to ride with not some idiot that want to ride wheelies down the highway. If anything happens on the street together we have a better chance to get though it and ride another day. Not getting together to cause a problem by acting like a fool.

 

About four years ago (this October 9th) my friend and I were riding home from a great day of riding. We were heading south on a stretch of hwy 165 between Turlock and Hilmar... a stretch that we had each made an infinite number of times. It was a nice day outside and the two of us were still smiling ear to ear from our ride earlier in the day. My friend was ahead by about 5-6 seconds, and was cruising along at 60 mph on his CBR-929, I followed from a distance on my TL1000r. We were approaching a cross street but there were no stop-signs for us, and the SUV that was at the intersection seemed to be patiently waiting for us to pass. I was wrong. The SUV pulled out right in front of my buddy, and within 1/2 a second my friend had broad-sided a Chevy Tahoe at 55-60 mph. I laid into my brakes as soon as the SUV inched forward and was able to stop, he stood no chance against it, and was pronounced dead when emergency personnel arrived. I sat there on the side of the road helplessly watching my friend die, numb to what was actually going on. There was nothing that he or anybody could have done differently to change the outcome, in the end you go when it is your time to go. I am pretty sure that it all happened too fast for him to even think, and that his last thoughts were probably still of the great ride we had earlier in the day. I was devastated, and a total wreck emotionally. The police recommended that I get a ride home with family, and have my bike ridden home by somebody else... but I was not going to do that. My friend wouldn't want me to finish an otherwise perfect day by stopping and calling it quits. I rode home. I rode cautiously and more attentively than I think I ever had before. My thoughts of the event had not yet set in, and it felt like I should call him the next day to see how he was and if he felt well enough to ride yet... but that couldn't happen. When I got home I knew that I would never be the same as a motorcyclist, that this event would somehow change me permanently. I can honestly say that it did. I became much more aware of my surroundings on a motorcycle, and no longer took some of the un-necessary risks that I once did. I matured by many riding years that day, and realized that we as humans are not invincible, even though every 19 year old thinks that they are. There was a time after the event that I was too afraid to go out on rides. I suffered a great deal of depression after losing my friend and felt somehow responsible, even though it was in no way mine to bear. I did take some time away from riding, but only because I needed to collect myself mentally before I could fully devote my attention to riding. Riding is a calculated risk, and every time you swing a leg over the saddle you should already be fully focused on what is going on. I was hurt to lose a great friend, but happy that he got to go doing what he loved the most. I feel that quiting as a result of his death is not what he would want for me... he wants me to ride until I can't go anymore, and that is what I am going to do.


Modified by Tornadom at 12:33 AM 5/11/2008

 

Im done riding street and track. I might get another track bike in the future but highly doubt it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tornadom &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">About four years ago (this October 9th) my friend and I were riding home from a great day of riding. We were heading south on a stretch of hwy 165 between Turlock and Hilmar... a stretch that we had each made an infinite number of times. It was a nice day outside and the two of us were still smiling ear to ear from our ride earlier in the day. My friend was ahead by about 5-6 seconds, and was cruising along at 60 mph on his CBR-929, I followed from a distance on my TL1000r. We were approaching a cross street but there were no stop-signs for us, and the SUV that was at the intersection seemed to be patiently waiting for us to pass. I was wrong. The SUV pulled out right in front of my buddy, and within 1/2 a second my friend had broad-sided a Chevy Tahoe at 55-60 mph. I laid into my brakes as soon as the SUV inched forward and was able to stop, he stood no chance against it, and was pronounced dead when emergency personnel arrived. I sat there on the side of the road helplessly watching my friend die, numb to what was actually going on. There was nothing that he or anybody could have done differently to change the outcome, in the end you go when it is your time to go. I am pretty sure that it all happened too fast for him to even think, and that his last thoughts were probably still of the great ride we had earlier in the day. I was devastated, and a total wreck emotionally. The police recommended that I get a ride home with family, and have my bike ridden home by somebody else... but I was not going to do that. My friend wouldn't want me to finish an otherwise perfect day by stopping and calling it quits. I rode home. I rode cautiously and more attentively than I think I ever had before. My thoughts of the event had not yet set in, and it felt like I should call him the next day to see how he was and if he felt well enough to ride yet... but that couldn't happen. When I got home I knew that I would never be the same as a motorcyclist, that this event would somehow change me permanently. I can honestly say that it did. I became much more aware of my surroundings on a motorcycle, and no longer took some of the un-necessary risks that I once did. I matured by many riding years that day, and realized that we as humans are not invincible, even though every 19 year old thinks that they are. There was a time after the event that I was too afraid to go out on rides. I suffered a great deal of depression after losing my friend and felt somehow responsible, even though it was in no way mine to bear. I did take some time away from riding, but only because I needed to collect myself mentally before I could fully devote my attention to riding. Riding is a calculated risk, and every time you swing a leg over the saddle you should already be fully focused on what is going on. I was hurt to lose a great friend, but happy that he got to go doing what he loved the most. I feel that quiting as a result of his death is not what he would want for me... he wants me to ride until I can't go anymore, and that is what I am going to do.

I miss you Chris.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Thank you for sharing man, I'm sorry for your loss Bro.

R.I.P

 

My choice has been prefectly wise.

I sold my R1 for a future house purchase.

I ride my dads busa every now and then. But I don't think i'll ever actually own a crotch rocket in my near future. My rebelious stage is over.

I would however like to own a cruiser in the future though.

 

Right, perfectly wise. Of course.

 

Not really per say. The insurance adjuster is coming to look at my GSXR today. I think Im going to put a bike aside for a year or two. A house is in my near future (next year). And im not sure if I want another sport bike. I think I would go the SuMo route.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ASteele2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Right, perfectly wise. Of course.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's true...I'm thinking of the same thing myself.

If I didn't have so little money in the Duc, it'd have been gone a long time ago.

 

It's true, why, because it's trendy to worry about dangerous circumstances?

Surprise! Motorcycles are inherently dangerous... ok, who missed the sticker on the gas tank?

This is not a revelation, folks.