Motorcycle Vs Car

I'm not buying a bike but did get into a big discussion with a friend. I like motorcycles don't get me wrong, DH would like to have one someday. But he would like our kids to be grown so they can take care of themselves should there be a fatality on the bike.

My friend debated that that logic is ridiculous, that it's just negative thinking AND THAT MORE PEOPLE DIE IN CARS THAN MOTORCYCLES.

I pointed out the fact that while that SEEMS logical, there are more people that die in cars because THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE ROAD THAN BIKES.

In my 28 years I know of one young girl who died in a car. I personally knew of 4 people who died on bikes. She said the only people who die on bikes are ones without proper safety gear or are inexperienced riders.

What's your take? Seriously. This just boggles my mind.

I would like to point out, most life insurance will not pay out (they have a clause) if you die on a motorcycle. Again, another reason to put it off until the kids are grown.

I am not condemning those who choose to have a bike now. Just our preference for our family. And felt attacked for my reasoning. Or lack thereof.

Reckless driving in a car is probably not fatal as often as reckless driving on a motorcycle. I think motorcycles are safe if you (1) wear a helmet (2) drive defensively (3) assume that all the other cars & trucks on the highway can't see you & drive appropriately.

Thank you Angelsong. I quite agree those are the safety rules to follow. Didn't mean to suggest car drivers are any more attentive to the road ;).

Can't speak much on the topic, but I can google. Here are some percentages, etc...
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/48_TX/2005/48_TX_2005.htm
http://www.cwcd.com/motorcycle-accident-lawyer.php
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/motorcycle/

It gets down to how much someone cares for his/her own family. To risk body and limb for a thrill ride in the country is very selfish. Marriage and family bring on responsibilities; only intelligence will give a true understanding.

A hidden wet spot and some loose gravel is all it takes to earn a trip to the hospital. I doubt if anyone would say they would do it over again, speaking from a wheel chair or with artificial limbs.

Motorcycle riding is one of the more enjoyable activities, but it needs to be throttled down with responsibility. There are plenty of other 'high' activities with less chance to disrupt family unity.

For whatever reason, boys seek out dangerous activities, but as husbands and fathers, they must remain healthy for the sake of others.

My earliest memory is coming home from the babysitters at age 3, on my step dad's motorcycle. My uncle who is now gone, had a motorcycle from the time he was a teenager (he did not die in a motorcycle wreck), and he had numerous accidents (some resulting in hospitalization, some not), but most of his accidents involved deer on the roads of West Virginia, not cars.

My 6 year old son got his first dirt bike for Christmas this year, and my sisters entire family (her, her husband, and their 5 children ages 11, 9, 6, and twins that are 3) all have dirt bikes and quads, and she and hubby have a street bike. My DH (well, he isn't but might as well be) is a biker.

My 17 yr old has a street bike and a dirt bike and isn't responsible enough for either IMO but he lives with grandma so I have to bite my tongue.

I think, it comes down to:

1) The riders level of responsibility.
2) A good approved safety course (and a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license.)
3) Proper safety equipment. For street riding, that means full leathers, head to toe, including gloves and boots, an ODOT approved helmet, and I'm sure there is more I can't think of right now. For dirt bike riders, that means helmet, gloves, a chest protector, a kidney belt, riding pants, and a good riding jacket. Its a big investment, (couple hundred dollars for a 6 year old, easily) but totally necessary. My 6 year old did not even sit on his bike until he had all his gear on.
4) Good common sense. IE: don't drive and drive any motorized vehicle EVER. Always assume that other drivers don't see you. I personally know a person that would pull out right in front of a motorcycle, change lanes into the lane a cyclist was in, things like that, even though he saw them, because he didn't like "bikers".
5) Take a good motorcycle defensive driving course.

Motorcycling isn't for everyone, but for those of us that do enjoy it, I don't think about getting into an accident or leaving my kids alone when I get on a bike. No more than I do when I get into a car.

And, golddog, I have a friend that is a paraplegic from a motorcycle accident. He doesn't regret it for a minute, never has, from the moment he woke up in the hospital after the accident. He is trying to find a way to ride now. Its not just a hobby for some people, its a way of life.

"And, golddog, I have a friend that is a paraplegic from a motorcycle accident. He doesn't regret it for a minute, never has, from the moment he woke up in the hospital after the accident. He is trying to find a way to ride now. Its not just a hobby for some people, its a way of life."

As I said, not very intelligent.

Leaving the conversation now, before this turns ugly. Tir, sorry, I didn't not insult anyone, and I won't be insulted in a thread.

Janis

Sorry Woffens, I lost 2 wonderful friends, and see things differently. Never anything personal.

TNN, you and your DH have to do what's right for you, no matter what anyone else thinks or says....or how passionately they feel about it. Only the two of you know what's best and right for you.

I don't believe it's negative thinking to realize that you can be severely injured in a motorcycle accident. I think that's wisdom...and I think most riders, or bikers, would agree. There wouldn't be protective equipment if it weren't needed.

Honestly, I think your friend's logic is the same as the argument when folks say they don't wear their seatbelt because they knew of or heard of someone who once was trapped in a car because of a seatbelt. Yep, that can happen, but how many more lives are lost or damaged because someone wasn't wearing their seatbelt? When I put my seatbelt on it's not because I expect to be in an accident or because I'm a bad driver. It's a measure of precaution because of "what if."

I love to ride bikes and quads. I'm not afraid of them, but I do have a respect for them. Just like I do with power tools, horses, guns, etc. I've seen the damage all of these things can do to the human body...and when you use them or climb on them you know you're taking a risk. No matter how good we are, no matter how well we train ourselves or try to protect ourselves sometimes bad things happen that are just out of our control. If you calculate that risk as something that's too high for your children to pay for you to be able to do something you enjoy, well, then no one should disagree with that.

It's a personal decision for each of us, based on many things. IMHO, this is the viewpoint I have. If tomorrow you and your DH decide to get a bike and tour the country, I would never tell you that you were wrong....as long as you were acting responsibly. To ride a bike isn't irresponsible, to ride a bike without calculating the risks is.


PS...MHO and viewpoint stem from seeing many, many folks who have been in accidents....injuries from a sprained ankle to broken ribs, brain injuries to death....and everything in between. I also have a nephew who began riding an adult sized quad at age 7, he had to stand up to be able to operate it. I flipped out when I first found out he was riding at such a young age...then I saw him ride. He's more responsible than most 18 yr olds, seriously.
When I was 15 yrs old my boyfriend had a street bike and I *loved* it! My Mom hated it and all the neighbors thought she was crazy for letting me ride with him. We never had an accident and he wasn't the most responsible driver.
When I was 5 yrs old my oldest DB got his first bike and took me for a ride. I still have a scar on my leg from where the tail pipe burned me, but that didn't stop me from wanting to ride again.
I've been in a few quad accidents, one of which I know I would look much differently today if my helmet hadn't of had a face shield. The quad went one way, I went the other, both of us rolling down the paved road.
I've also babysat my DSis' kids while her and her DH went to Sturgis for 2 weeks. They both have their own bikes, and I'm sure my nephew will too once he's mature enough. My niece hates bikes but loves quads.
My DH isn't into bikes, but is ok with quads. I would love it if he were into bikes, but I've asked him enough times to know it's just never going to happen.
My DB, who is a very responsible rider, had a horrible accident last summer through no fault of his own. He was riding his quad in an area he knew well. I'm still not real clear on all the specifics of what happened, but his quad was smashed. My DSIL saw the whole thing and said she thought she just lost her DH. He's been riding since....sheesh....maybe for about 30 years now (he's old!)
So, I take what I know from my life experiences. I ride any chance I get IF the proper protective equipment is available and the folks I'm with are responsible. I do realize that each time I ride I may come back differently and that I'm taking that risk. However, I only get to ride maybe once a year, so it's a very big deal when I get to go. If I had my own quad I'd be out every weekend.
I also think there's a big difference in what motivates folks to ride. I love to ride a quad in the woods at about 5-10 mph to see the trees and wildlife. One of my DBs loves to ride, but for him it's to reach a destination....going to check on his turkey feeder, going fishing, etc. My other DB is a lunatic on a bike or quad and loves, just *loves* to see how fast he can go, do donuts, and scare the daylights out of whoever is on the back....of course, I won't ride with him. My oldest DB is the same as me and loves to just go out and see what's out there. My DSis, she just loves to ride and it doesn't matter how long or how far or why. Of course, the one of us that's gotten hurt the most is my lunatic DB...he's been in the hospital more times than I can count because of accidents.....however, if he rode normally and sanely, he'd be the best rider out there because he can truly handle a bike....he's just always got to push it to see what else he can do (or what else he can break).

Well thank-you everyone.

I'm afraid to say this topic may have ended a fizzling friendship anyway. Seems the friend felt attacked because I didn't want a bike NOW for sake of family and yet thought I had asked their opinion on it, which I didn't....don't consider it a means of transport from A to B but rather a recreational thing to be enjoyed when one has established themselves so to speak.

At least for US. Again, I don't care if so-and-so wants a bike.



This message was edited Jan 28, 2008 7:02 AM

Good for you, Tir! I think your husband is acting responsibly as the father of a young family. To each his own; the decision is yours and your DH's, not that of someone outside the family. It's hard to understand why your acquaintance took this so personally, especially since you weren't trying to persuade this person to change lifestyles and give up motorcycles. It sounds as if the fizzled friendship was going to exhaust itself anyway, if not over this, then something else.

I'm reminded of the first time I ever went to my DH's home before we were married. I walked into the living room and saw something unexpected. "Is that a parachute?" I asked in surprise. "Yes, I went skydiving this afternoon. You'll have to come down to Homestead one weekend and watch." A month later, knowing that ours was going to be a long-term relationship (it's now a 33-year marriage), he sold the parachute without ever having jumped again. My first husband had died in an automobile accident, and I told my then boyfriend that I knew I just couldn't bear to see him jump out of a plane. He valued my peace of mind more than the thrill he'd experienced on the 25 jumps he'd made.

bivbiv, your story reminds me of something my DH told me about a while back. He was watching some stunt bike rider on TV, the guy was doing some kind of Evel Knievel type stunt. The guy's wife and kids were there, crying their eyes out because they were so worried about him....

Not long ago when Evel Knievel passed I remember my DSIL just being in awe over him, and saying how he had entertained us for years, how great he was, etc. There was a special about him on TV that we all were watching. I, on the other hand, had a completely different opinion, lol! I just kept thinking that all his life he suffered and tortured himself and his family....and for what? Yeah, some of the things he did were spectacular....actually crazy....and that made him famous because no one else had the nerve to try it. I just couldn't help but feel sorry for him and his family....vs.....my DSIL just thinking he was the ultimate. (But she won't let my DB own a street bike!!) Isn't it funny the different takes on things?

More resolved we're making the right choice in waiting.

To each his own.

This message was edited Jan 28, 2008 7:02 AM