I saw this a week ago on RRW, now that a few days have passed and still no positive progress, it might be very bad and permanent.
While I frequently disagree with his writings in Sport Rider, he is one of ours and it saddens me he was hurt due to such stupidity. Driver gets a ticket, he gets a wheelchair.
I have really been questioning my decision to ride a motorcycle of late....could just be the winter setting in but, with all the idiots on the road ,the high cost of insurance (ONT. CAN.) the short riding season and the inherent dangers of motorcycles etc......thinking about hanging up the gear. Not sure the brief high of a perfect ride on a twisty road is worth the possible outcome.
I've got a fantastic wife, two adorable little girls and a dream home....a great job and all around a good life. I don't want to ruin that with a chance encounter with an idiot cager or other.....I couldn't imagine trading any of that for a wheelchair or worse...
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Honda Interceptor (best "do it all "bike)
First Jessica. Now the Geek! I know Jess's condition wasn't m/c related, but what's up with our motorcycle family. Get well everyone! Man....thats awful news.
My prayers go out to Andrew Trevitt. I hope for the best possible outcome for him.
I gave up riding on the street long ago. I do track days with a few select organizations. I also do whatever riding schools I can. I feel the risk of a bad injury or worse is less on the track. I might be fooling myself. I control some of that risk by choosing which organizations I ride with carefully. By riding in the intermediate group regardless of my ability to go faster and ride the fast, play racer group. I try not to bring an ego to the track, if that means breaking my rhythm and losing a string of fast laps so be it. I pull off before the session is over if I loose my concentration or there are riders making mistakes on track. I know the end of a long hot day is sooner rather than later, especially when you have the "I've got to ride every session no matter what" attitude out there. If that means riding a motorcycle at only a handful of track days a year instead a few times a week, or every day a week, that's life.
Just some thoughts.
I have really been questioning my decision to ride a motorcycle of late....could just be the winter setting in but, with all the idiots on the road ,the high cost of insurance (ONT. CAN.) the short riding season and the inherent dangers of motorcycles etc......thinking about hanging up the gear. Not sure the brief high of a perfect ride on a twisty road is worth the possible outcome.
I've got a fantastic wife, two adorable little girls and a dream home....a great job and all around a good life. I don't want to ruin that with a chance encounter with an idiot cager or other.....I couldn't imagine trading any of that for a wheelchair or worse...
Boy I feel the same way... it's becoming like a job just to put your gear and be worried about what's going to happen around the bend... I'm married and 2 kids as well and when I told my wife I was going to sell my bike so that I can buy new camera gear her face light up... she couldn't wait.... I love my RC51 which I crashed twiced already and fortunately non were serious that it was just damage to the fairings... and none on me... My buddies told me that I will regret it if I sell it but I can't say that I will be safe even on the car but I guess to give my family peace of mind I might just sell it....
Best wishes for his recovery. Some lamebrain pulled the same manuever on me @6 yrs ago, luckily I did a full grab on the front brakes, and was wearing full leathers, tumbled over his rental car hood and no bones or skin issues, just $6k repairs on the Ducati, and one less Shoei.
You never think some dumbass is going to do an illegal u-turn over double yellow lines at an intersection with on-coming traffic. I was lucky no one was in my lane behind me.
Be careful out there, wear your gear, and treat the streets like Baghdad Avenue where the driver's are self-centered Jihadists with low IQ.
One of the things I liked about his writing is he never really came across as egotistical, some journo's like to toot their own horn about their riding ability every chance they get.
Unfortunate and I hope he recovers quickly. These are the reasons I've left road riding behind. Only when riding to a trackdays or to a trail do I do any sort of road riding. Two major accidents, neither of which were my fault legally, rationally or even avoidable have certainly said to me your luck is only so good. That I've walked away from two major accidents, where a car and truck respectively cut me off and wrote off my motorcycles sending me yards down the road says its time to rethink the sport. The first accident I was willing to keep road riding but noticed considerably how much more leery I was. The second, I rarely pass a truck/intersection without a wince. Moving to trackdays only and trail riding has returned the joy of riding for me and more importantly pointed out the unnessary risks I "enjoyed" on the road. Something most road riders are oblivious to simply because the consequences are accepted. I certainly was of that mindset. Starting trackdays nearly a decade ago certainly showed me how unsafe road-riding could be but it wasn't until those two accidents that I simply had to acknowledge that no matter how well trained you are or how competent the other drivers on the road are, the risks simply aren't worth it. I'm certainly not the only one realizing this as my core group of riding buddies are either road or off-road exclusively these days. Also it's a hell of a lot cheaper (insurance) and, in terms of road riding the risk of tickets is negligible.
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2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
Unfortunate and I hope he recovers quickly. These are the reasons I've left road riding behind. Only when riding to a trackdays or to a trail do I do any sort of road riding. Two major accidents, neither of which were my fault legally, rationally or even avoidable have certainly said to me your luck is only so good. That I've walked away from two major accidents, where a car and truck respectively cut me off and wrote off my motorcycles sending me yards down the road says its time to rethink the sport. The first accident I was willing to keep road riding but noticed considerably how much more leery I was. The second, I rarely pass a truck/intersection without a wince. Moving to trackdays only and trail riding has returned the joy of riding for me and more importantly pointed out the unnessary risks I "enjoyed" on the road. Something most road riders are oblivious to simply because the consequences are accepted. I certainly was of that mindset. Starting trackdays nearly a decade ago certainly showed me how unsafe road-riding could be but it wasn't until those two accidents that I simply had to acknowledge that no matter how well trained you are or how competent the other drivers on the road are, the risks simply aren't worth it. I'm certainly not the only one realizing this as my core group of riding buddies are either road or off-road exclusively these days. Also it's a hell of a lot cheaper (insurance) and, in terms of road riding the risk of tickets is negligible.
My thoughts exactly. Instead of myself involved in street accidents though,it was my best friend who was killed in one that made me "see the light". If you are in this sport for any amount of time you know someone who was killed or critically injured on the street.
My thoughts exactly. Instead of myself involved in street accidents though,it was my best friend who was killed in one that made me "see the light". If you are in this sport for any amount of time you know someone who was killed or critically injured on the street.
Yes, often too many. I've known a few who have been killed but TBF I've also known that they were not the best/safest riders around. They fit into the squid brigade of riders, constant street stunting etc. The writing was on the wall; there were no surprises when these guys passed on. But more and more I'm seeing competent trained riders killed. By trained I don't mean trackday junkies who can run rings around someone. By trained I mean people who have taken it upon themselves to take numerous riding defensively oriented courses; courses designed for the street. By trained I also mean instructors.
Now I know there are no guarantees in life or in riding but for me it's probably a product of getting a bit older, a bit more cognizant of the world around me and more aware of my own mortality as more and more of our riding brethren and riding gods (Dunlop, Jeffries etal) pass away. My two incidents, no matter how I've reviewed them, had no out for me. There was nothing I could have done to avoid those accidents despite all the training, experience and prudence allowed.
So do you abandon the sport you love or find an alternative. I encourage anyone who has similar doubts to try the alternatives, you may just realize it's a lot more fun. Dedicated trackday riding doesn't mean tons of money. It's likely the same money you spend on insurance, gas, tires, and maintenance in a season. It's just more focused so the hit seems harder.
For example.
I pay the current for road riding (my road legal enduro)
$800-1000 full coverage insurance
$200 set of enduro tires (3-4 sets a year) = $600-$800
gas - 20,000 km a year divided by 250 (tank range) = 80 fillups at about $15/fillup = $1,200
total = $3,000/season
Contrast to trackdays only. I would likely get in 10-20. 10 without vacation days, 20 with. Tires last 3-4 (4 is pushing it) trackdays. No slicks and only 95 bhp. Lack of insurance puts me $1,000 ahead but tires will take up that surplus. Find a privateer supplier who will cut you a deal and you can save some money there. 10 trackdays a year is a lot for most people. I don't even envision making anywhere near 20. I tried this year and failed miserably. Overall the benefits are solid safe riding, skillset improvements in leaps not increments and the satisfaction of really riding your motorcycle closer to its limits. For sportbike owners, certainly it's intended purpose.
__________________
2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
I wish Andrew a speedy recovery. Doesn't anyone ride to just get out and see the world? Having done my share of track days they kind of suck going around in circles with the same go fast arrogant pricks who seem to live at the track. You can have all that. You will find me 4 hours out in the country somewhere on dirt or street with less people and rules not MORE.
I wish Andrew a speedy recovery. Doesn't anyone ride to just get out and see the world? Having done my share of track days they kind of suck going around in circles with the same go fast arrogant pricks who seem to live at the track. You can have all that. You will find me 4 hours out in the country somewhere on dirt or street with less people and rules not MORE.
Gonna have to agree with that. I think everyone should do a few track days. I also think that if track days are your thing month after month, you're a bit simple minded, or you like being told exactly what to do and when to do it. Also, you're seriously stunting your growth as a motorcyclist. Think Rossi got great doing track days? Hell no - he rode dirt bikes at the quarry, screwing around.
You owe it to yourself to find fun on a motorcycle outside of a rule book. Otherwise you're just some loud variety of golfer.
You owe it to yourself to find fun on a motorcycle 'outside of a rule book'. Otherwise you're just some loud variety of golfer.
Wow, 20+ yrs of riding and this thread is the first Im reading about this kind of mindset.
So now it's the responsible bunch who choose to fill their 'need for speed' at a closed circuit who are that simple minded golfer types [pussies...more or less]. Am I understanding this correctly......if yes.....amazing rationale folks!
Then on the other side of that viewpoint you have arrogant types saying anyone who rides a 'track oriented' motorcycle on the street is a wanna be racer, who probably cant ride.
Any other ideas how we can divide us into other micro groups of riders/elitists?
Wow, 20+ yrs of riding and this thread is the first Im reading about this kind of mindset.
So now it's the responsible bunch who choose to fill their 'need for speed' at a closed circuit who are that simple minded golfer types [pussies...more or less]. Amazing rationale folks!
Then on the other side of that viewpoint you have arrogant types saying anyone who rides a 'track oriented' motorcycle on the street is a wanna be racer, who probably cant ride.
Any other ideas how we can divide us into other micro groups of riders/elitists?
Thin skin alert! This one is touchy!
I do track days. They are good.
I eat watermelons. They are also good.
I wouldn't dream of eating watermelon to the exclusion of all other foods. I wouldn't dream of riding track days to the exclusion of all other motorcycle activities.
You are right - the need for speed is best satisified at the track. But I also feel the need for skill - let's get this bike turned in deep sand. Let's see if I can cross that log, or that creek. Let's see if I can jump that gap. Let's see if my little brother can catch me on a hot lap of the pasture. I feel the need for exploration - Is the BBQ in Imperial Missouri as good as they say? Where does this road go?
I've told everyone I know that owns a sportbike that they need to do one beginner session at a trackday and not only have the most fun you have ever had on a motorcycle, but you will learn more about riding a bike "proper" then you will in ten years on the street! Having said that, I would never do trackdays only. I do 4-6 a year and have a blast, to the point where I'm looking to build a track only bike. But riding on the street is great fun and going on weekend trips or all day blasts on the backroads of WI and MN are one of the great enjoyments I look forward to after the long winters. I ride an RC51 currently but am looking to pick up a HD street glide in the near future for not only work commutes but also for the days I want to put Cross Canadian Ragweed on the radio and take in some scenery without being in a cage! Jim Mcdermott wrote a great article here Soup ::Taking The Long Way To Indy (But Definitely Not The Hard Way) :: 09-10-2008 about riding a HD up the MotoGP race at indy, it kinda sums it up for me. Sometimes its nice to slow down and enjoy the view, and other times it fun to let it hang out and see what your capable of. Being a well rounded rider is more satisfying to me then only picking one. We choose to ride not because its dangerous, but because we enjoy it. Being well rounded improves your odds that much more in a great hobby that has odds against you to start with!
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I understand, it's understanding that makes it possible for me to tolerate a person like yourself!
Journalist Andrew Trevitt Injured
What the.......................
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