As most of you know, I'm a crash survivor.. the truth is, I've been hospitalized three times in my life from motorcycles, this last one almost killing me...
That's not the point of this tread though, just that I do have a heightened awareness for risk (and I'm almost 54, so I know I'm not immortal)...
Anyway, I'm working in Jackson, WY which is a HUGE Mecca for the Harley riding community as they go on their sojourn to Yellowstone National Park. Packs of them every day in and day out... you rarely see Goldwings, maybe the occasional BMW and a few dual-sport riders. I've never seen a Rocket and only the rare ******-rocket. So, when I share these two experiences and discuss them, it is about Harley riders, however, their actions are not necessarily unique and limited to Harleys, so the food for thought is universally applicable.
Common instances here in town.. a gaggle passes through (gaggle being a gaggle of Harleys, like a gaggle of geese) being led by your typical wife-beater shirt clad rider, no safety gear except a leather vest, chaps, no helmet, no gloves.. wife on back dressed similarly but likely with a bandana or head scarf to keep her hair in tow. Bottom line, they go down, no protection. The leader will push the crowded traffic and lights... I've seen it many times, leader pushes the yellow light, gaggle follows through on the red... uh, what if someone busts the green and broad sides them?.. kay typical experience #1...
Unique experience #2 (but based on my observation of these guys that pass through here, I doubt it's that unique). I rode south along the eastern side of Wyoming a couple weeks ago and got caught in a rain and hail storm. Me and two Harleys (both completely decked out $40k 110 Harleys and typical riding gear (nothing) with wives on the back all about my age, mid 50s) hid under the gas station awning to wait out the storm.. it passes and I rain-gear up as I know we'll pass through the tail of it on our way, then we go, they don nothing (I also wear full gear).
I'm tailing them (lead has a radar detector which is nice), they ride 80mph into the hail and don't slow down... it sounds like rocks hitting my helmet and hurts my legs even through riding pants.. I know they are in major pain.. no let up in speed.. I back off and re-join after we pass storm... The leader is driving like he's trying shake not only me, but also his partner... 100mph, blind passes.. I know he's pushing that 110CI as hard as it'll go.. and he's fully loaded.. I'm solo, and sporting WAY more power than him so no way he could shake me if I wanted to hang tight.. but I refuse to blind pass or pass on curves at those speeds.. Both me and his partner work hard to catch back up as he doesn't wait for us to re-join.
All I can say is WTF? both examples they've got their precious cargo on the back and taking risks like that? We all take risks, no doubt.. we all drive too fast on occasion, go when we shouldn't, all kinds of things.. but when our Ego drives our ability to see and reduce risk? Clearly these examples show ego driven risk taking, but where is the line?
So this isn't really a bash Harley thread, its more of a "risk taking attitude" thread (for example if you're going to ride with no gear, maybe think about NOT adding risk to the ride)... something we could all benefit from anyway.. or, it's just an observation.
John