2006 ELECTION. PEW

[limitdeditionlayla]

kool said:

Motorbikes are evil. My bro-in-law was in a motorcyle accident back in '92. He was hospitalized for about 2 months and had to undergo surgery for about two years so he could pee and take a dump the natural way again. His jaw was also knocked out of place so his upper and lower teeth were wired shut for 30 days so it could heal. He ate out of a straw that entire time and lost 20kgs in the process. He also broke his arm and cracked his skull and pelvis. And to top it all off, he was impotent for about 3 years. Still want that bike Ken?

Thats very unfortunate for your brother-in-law mate

BUT

Ken, if you want a bike & you're trained/licensed, go for it. My dad has been riding for more than 30 years, my husband for 10 years (both own bikes), and both have been v. lucky to get away with minor scrapes etc. I don't own a motorcycle but am licensed to ride - I just kinda prefer not to b/c OTHER drivers are the problem.

OTHER drivers. People in cars don't notice motorcycles (as well as regular cycles) on the road, or think they have MORE right to be on the road. So they cut them off & that is the most dangerous fucking thing about motorcycle riding you'll experience. Thats why I'm not out on a bike of my own (bit too scary for me).

Then again, my last car was wrecked by a drunk driver in the middle of the day, so assholes are gonna hit you no matter what kind of vehicle you're sitting on.

[Kensterberg]

I completely missed Kool's post about his brother-in-law. Damn. He's got my sympathies. I'm a bicyclist, too, and one of my worries on the road is the way car drivers become absolute ass-holes with cyclists or simply don't see us.

I haven't had a motorcycle safety course since I was in the army ... damn, it was like 1986 or '87. Our commander made all of his take it b/c some guy on post got himself killed on a motorcycle. But if I get serious about getting a bike, I'll be taking another course pronto.

I was looking at a Mini the other day, though, and thinking that I sure would like one of those with a big-ass sunroof. That could be my next car. I dunno, I'm gonna enjoy looking for a little while. Probably won't buy anything until August or September, anyway. I'll be largely debt-free by that point, and will feel comfortable with another big expense.

[kool]

After my brother in law had the accident, he swore he'd never get back on a motorbike. He did, after about 3 years. Although he's toned it down a lot since becoming a father. These days he's usually riding a bicycle (for the exercise...and so he won't speed as much). He doesn't remember the accident at all, and since there weren't any witnesses, he doesn't even know how it happened or if it was his fault to begin with.

But you're right Layla. It's all a matter of luck. You could ride one your entire life and not even suffer so much as a scratch, and drive a car and be hit be some drunken bozo like you said. When you're number's up...

[limitdeditionlayla]

So he doesn't even know if someone hit him or maybe he spun out? That sucks, I'd understand not wanting to get back on another bike then. I'm glad he doesn't remember the actual accident.

One of my dad's friends lost his foot in a motorcycle accident. He still rides, with a prosthetic. When I was a kid he used to take the foot off & leave it lying around our house.

[phil]

I must have been in over 8 automobile crashes when I was young
and I've walked away from every single one of them ...

One of my best friend was a passenger on a motorcycle when they got hit
by a car who failed to make a stop at an intersection.

The doctors had to amputate her leg 4 inches below her hip ...

Get me in a steel cage when I'm making over 20 mph on the road !

[RocDoc]

I had 3 good friends AND a cousin in LIthuania die on motorcycles within a maybe 5 year period....and I also still rode myself.

Then I hit a slick of trans fluid while cruising through a tricky interchange at about 35 mile per...it was like stepping on a banana peel. My head slammed into the ground (I was only wearing the helmet because it was a cold September night, while coming home from my UPS job) and I tore off a jacket sleeve and a pants leg...