A perspective on riding, life, and when riding is done

[Bob R]

I see so many video's showing guy's just riding off the road because they r afraid to muscle it over.

I ride with one axiom in the back of my reptilian brain, when in doubt push/throttle it out. I have amazed myself at times with how far over I have pushed a bike and guess what, it didn't fall over. My sports bike riding days taught me that at least. It takes a long ways to get the bottoms of the footboard on my Touring to scrape the road and then there is just a little more as they fold up a bit.

bob

 

[Navigator]

It was right for them, but it feels as if they are prematurely old! I'm older than both of them, and but I never feel old when I've got on my gear and heading out on the road. There was a guy in the east--short, white haired, Bernie, I think his name was--who rode a Vincent. He'd make all the bike shows or swap meets, and always had a crowd around the bike. Had to be near 80, but he beamed like a kid. Haven't seem him in a few years, and he might have passed. But I think he had the same feeling of youthful freedom when he was hooning that Vincent around the roads up here. I plan to ride til 80, then either add a sidecar or get a Ural--but that's assuming I can no longer keep the R3 upright. I can't imagine not riding, and as long as the body and brain are both willing, I'll fire up the engine and go. I assume most R3 riders feel the same way--there is nothing like Rocket time to make one feel young!

Well said Mike and I feel the same. I just downsized a bit when the Touring became it bit much for me at 70. I'm still riding though.

Paul, I'd have liked to read the article but I log on to the site without being a subscriber. The Post allows non-subscribers to read 5 articles a month and I apparently passed that.

 

[atomsplitter]

Farewell, see you on the road............

 

[1olbull]

Washington Post - Tuesday 7 May 2019 Health & Science
We sold our bike - it was time

While a fine writer, this lady knows nothing about riding motor, or driving cage for that matter.
1) Human reaction times are the same regardless of the vehicle operated.
2) In 44 years working as a court qualified collision expert, I have never seen collision circumstances that required anything remotely close to a 10 second reaction time! Near 3 seconds is the longest I have seen.
Be carefull not to make statements unsuppirted by science facts.

 

[1olbull]

i am 74 and when i grow up and lose the need for speed i will sell the beast

Atta-boy, Herman!
Semper Senex!!!

 

[idk]

While a fine writer, this lady knows nothing about riding motor, or driving cage for that matter.
1) Human reaction times are the same regardless of the vehicle operated.
2) In 44 years working as a court qualified collision expert, I have never seen collision circumstances that required anything remotely close to a 10 second reaction time! Near 3 seconds is the longest I have seen.
Be carefull not to make statements unsuppirted by science facts.

Cars like Mercedes Benz and BMW have collision mitigation technology built into their new cars. This includes things like putting the passenger seat into the upright position, closing the sun-roof and windows, broadcasting pink noise to help prevent hearing loss from the sound of the collision, etc. Some of these things take about 3 seconds to happen, but the car knows that it is going to have an accident at least that long before it happens. If the car knows, then so should the driver.

Unfortunately most drivers do not consider the fact that they are controlling a couple of tons of machinery, which will happily kill people unless it is prevented from doing so by the operator.

 

[1olbull]

I remember reading a magazine article written by an accident investigator that specialised in motorcycle fatalities and one thing he said that has stuck in my mind. He said he had never seen an accident where the rider went off the road on a curve where he figured the rider couldn't have made it. Panic, target fixation, alcohol etc. Always ride within your limits

And I made 2000 posts

I thought of Joining the Blue Knights but didn't like that there was no prospect period. It seemed like all you needed to join was a badge or shield. Riding experience should be considered before letting someone into the club. He is after all representing the entire club When he dons his cuts. Anyone who knows who the blue Knights are knows they are or were cops . Cops aar expected to be above reproach. Just my 2 cents. I'm not trying to start a pissing match. I have friends in the Blue Knights and other LE clubs.

Amigo,
Other than you are correct on some and incirrect on some, I have no comment.
Secretary BKWAVI

 

[1olbull]

Cars like Mercedes Benz and BMW have collision mitigation technology built into their new cars. This includes things like putting the passenger seat into the upright position, closing the sun-roof and windows, broadcasting pink noise to help prevent hearing loss from the sound of the collision, etc. Some of these things take about 3 seconds to happen, but the car knows that it is going to have an accident at least that long before it happens. If the car knows, then so should the driver.

Unfortunately most drivers do not consider the fact that they are controlling a couple of tons of machinery, which will happily kill people unless it is prevented from doing so by the operator.

FYI -
Most car ACM (airbag control module) do not sense an impending impact that soon, but will hold the 5 seconds prior to impact in memory for possible download.
These control modules operate in milliseconds. Humans can not do that.

 

[idk]

FYI -
Most car ACM (airbag control module) do not sense an impending impact that soon, but will hold the 5 seconds prior to impact in memory for possible download.
These control modules operate in milliseconds. Humans can not do that.

The airbag reacts, and very quickly, to a collision. The new technology with radar and laser sensing is amazingly predictive. It will stop the car, or at least slow it down as much as possible, to avoid hitting another car or even a pedestrian. Strangely enough, when they were developing this technology, they had more trouble getting the computer to recognise motorcyclists than pedestrians.

 

[Tripps]

My Touring has collision mitigation technology, when I go too fast my wife punches me in the kidneys.