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Based on statistics provided, I would rather be in the 59 % category, no lid?
So, Bikes and Beer.....The brand new Harley dealership (It is HUGE for a smaller town, very impressive by the way) is providing free beer and music this weekend. There is a Biker bar down the road 1/4 of a mile from the dealership with music and sells liquor and beer. Then you got another Biker bar about 20 miles away in the swamp with live music. There is a poker run this weekend too, more Biker bars, more beer. People from all over come to our County to ride, it is Biker friendly
My point with all this is you have to make choices, some make good ones, some not so much. Then you meet Mr Old and we have a bunch of these in the county too, and wait until Snowbird season (pic stolen from ShovelEd) He can't see, rides in the left lane, don't use his blinkers or his mirrors. Recipe's for disaster that screw up all those statistics. Ride safe Brothers
Most folks think these oldsters are just old and slow when in fact many of them are on so many prescription meds that they're driving around legally impaired most of the time. Add to that a couple of whiskey highballs with their earlybird special and they're a rolling disaster as they try to get home before the sun goes down.
As a cancer survivor who is eventually going to need an organ transplant; I wholeheartedly support someone's right to ride a motorcycle after drinking and/or not wearing a helmet
There are several different opinions in this post, I am not saying anyone is right or wrong. It's clear to me from the statistics that numbers can tell a story that anyone is passionate about. The facts as stated by some who posted regarding what they have seen leads me to believe that someone has seen with their own 2 (two) eyes things that they will never forget. What I have seen with my 2 (two) eyes in over 30 years of public service...know one here needs to hear or ask about. I believe that when you're number is up the grim reaper is coming for you, period. Helmet, no helmet, sober or drunk. If not why do people die on their knees in church praying, in their bed sleeping, on their couch watching the Television and the list goes on. I am in no way advocating drinking or drugging and riding, what I am saying is none of us can choose how or when we go. We all make choices, some good some bad, but the freedom of making the choice is available to many of us in many ways. Bitch if you want to, can't stop the reaper.
The vast majority of deaths are from riders doing STUPID stuff!!!!! Speeding... weaving... following too close. Not slowing down around traffic.. drinking too much. Most are sport bikes. I hope that tells you something.
The problem is that "lid deaths and no-lid deaths" don't define what the accident and death-cause was.
E.g. If there were a sub group of fatalities where the head was the sole subject and 95% of them did not wear a helmet... then the helmet saves lives.
The 5% who died while wearing a helmet is not statistically significant (maybe massive squash damage where the helmet can't possibly help, maybe poorly fitted helmet, etc)
In those stats up there - the 59% (haven't gone back and checked, is that 59% number correct?) who died while wearing a helmet... the helmet might have been untouched and they died of blood loss from a wound or torn off leg, massive crushing damage, impaled on metal spike, heart attack/shock, etc... where the helmet couldn't play any part in saving them.
(This is part of the logical fallacy someone else pointed out)
However - it does tend to annoy me a little when the media play up the "his helmet saved his life" - and you know the helmet didn't even get a scratch let alone "save his life". But then, flip-side, if it encourages more to wear them, it's not too bad.
Originally Posted by medicmike
Bitch if you want to, can't stop the reaper.
You might not be able to stop him... but it doesn't mean you have to willingly help him!
I don't see death as an entity, a "reaper". If our lives are predetermined to be "x" long then there's no point in doing anything... why ride or train or work or play if that "x" date is this hour? Or that one?
But, yes, there are cases where you can plan and organise and be as safety conscious as you can... and it still buggers over. And there are people who do the craziest riskiest things with little to no equipment... and survive day after day.
It's just life - wake up, roll a role-playing game 100 sided dice (D100)...
1 (critical failure) = you die today or major crash or loss.
100 ("00", critical win) = you get a prize (lotto win, bonus pay, etc)...
The rest in between those two extremes, the "criticals"... it's just life.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Aug 28, 2018 at 04:23 PM.
Reason: Multiple posts
There is one stat we cannot argue. EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE A PHYSICAL DEATH.
If you look at the thousands of ways people die everyday all around the world that are not motorcycle or helmet related it is crazy.
There are ways to die that I fear, but on a motorcycle is not one of them.
God gave us a brain. USE it and you will have a good chance of navigating this crazy world as safely as possible. When your time is up on this earth I hope you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
I often wonder, is it better to die in a traumatic event? or shutting down in hospice like we do when we get "old" ..... I suppose there is no "better" however, cant let fear of dying keep you from living.
Looking at some quick data dumps, here's my real concerns (some depending on where you live)
A) Gramps having no business behind a wheel - physically, mentally, medically or pharmaceutically impared
B) Under 21 - Not enough driver and too much vehicle
C) Distracted driving
D) ******* soccer mom and her really big, shiny new SUV that she sees as her empowered bull dozer (This is a rising segment)
E) Get this - the angry Prius driver - in certain areas they lead the road rage charges - honorable mention a.the rice rocketeer in a Civic or the young money in a BMW
F) Fuquads moving here from new countires who do not have a civilized driving environment or they grew up in a non-driving culture and just because you passed a test, makes you a driver in the US and a major rising statistic.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Oh my, not another D U I thread......
