Sure Way To Save Gas...

[Swamp Fox]

I don't worry about gas, it's a company car.

 

[Gunny]

I don't worry about gas, it's a company car.

Same here. I drive 4 miles to the shop and pick up a company truck. The rest is on HIS tab.

Still, if I wanted to go somewhere a decent distance away, a 2500HD with a 6.0 ltr engine isn't the most efficient and I am NOT driving no stinking car.

Therefore, I need a bike.

 

[007]

Think I might have to choose a different color, but that's it. We're currently have the great debate on what exactly it is I am allowed and not allowed to kill myself with.

I've been riding non stop for over 40 years Gunny, and I'm not dead yet...

 

[dread]

I've been riding non stop for over 40 years Gunny, and I'm not dead yet...

I realize that but I can fully appreciate WHY Gunny's wife is fighting him tooth and nail over what he can buy to kill himself with..I have had countless other friends with motorcycles get injured and one got killed by other people who dont obey the traffic rules.


Needless to say Swamp Fox will never have one.

 

[007]

I realize that but I can fully appreciate WHY Gunny's wife is fighting him tooth and nail over what he can buy to kill himself with..I have had countless other friends with motorcycles get injured and one got killed by other people who dont obey the traffic rules.

Needless to say Swamp Fox will never have one.

My wife used to ride with me. She loved it too, and whether I owned one or not was never a significant others choice. It was mine. I'd never be with a woman that was that dead set against it. Since I've been riding, the number of WOMEN that ride has probably quadrupled. They no longer want to be on the back of a bike, they want to be driving it.

I know people that have been killed on bikes too. My service managers dad at Reno H-D was killed in a bike accident among others. No one knows just how dangerous it can be other than someone who rides, and I ride. But I also know how many people "drink" and ride. I also know how many buy bikes that are beyond their level of expertise, or don't have much experience at all. I also know people that fool around and take far too many chances making bad riding decisions on bikes. Like the rice rockets you always see passing everything on the road on Geiger Grade going up to Virginia City. A twisty, windy little road that's a lot of fun to ride, but these rice burner riders fly up and down it like maniacs, consequently, they are the only ones I've ever seen crashed on that road.

I am 100% comfortable on my bike, even in busy traffic on the I system. I'm far more maneuverable than a car, and I keep my eyes on what's going on, in front of me and in back of me, ALL the time. I never look at one thing for more than two seconds. Your eyes have to be scanning ALL the time. Riding a bike can be a very safe experience, IF you know what you're doing. It's more fun than anything else I can think of doing, and I wouldn't quit for any reason.

 

[editec]

FYI

When I was a corpsman in the NAV, we had two orthopededic surgery wards going full time.

This was during the the asolulute worst year of for Vietman casualties, bear in mind. That was roughly 1970-71.

One of the wards was filled with guys wounded in the Nam. No surprise there, right?

The other?

Mostly motorcycle accidents.

Use your own judgement.

Bikes are a blast to be sure.

Sadly, they are also targets for every idiot on four wheeler on the road.

 

[Paulie]

CBR 600... Honda hasn't made that model for decades... it would practically be a collectors item.

In any case, it probably got around 75 miles to the gallon, and was fun to ride.

I think you're confusing that with a different model. The CBR is Honda's main "crotch rocket" model.

Mine was a 2001.

 

[Paulie]

I realize that but I can fully appreciate WHY Gunny's wife is fighting him tooth and nail over what he can buy to kill himself with..I have had countless other friends with motorcycles get injured and one got killed by other people who dont obey the traffic rules.


Needless to say Swamp Fox will never have one.

I know a good amount of people who have been killed in car accidents. Should we never own cars again?

I know people who have fallen off Casino parking garages. That happened just a few months ago. Should we stop going to Casinos, and using their provided parking garages?

As with anything, there is going to be risk involved. You could miss a step walking downstairs and fall and break your neck. Should we stop living in multiple-story houses?

When riding a motorcycle, there is a bit more awareness and caution that must go into it. If you know how to ride a motorcycle, and are aware while you are riding, most likely you will be fine. Same thing with a car.

 

[editec]

If you know how to ride a motorcycle, and are aware while you are riding, most likely you will be fine. Same thing with a car.

True, if you are very cautious, you're safer than if you're not.

Still, there is absolutely no doubt that riding motorcycles ont he streets of this nation is far far far far FAR more dangerous per mile riden than driving a car.

I'm not suggesting that people should stop riding the things.

I was just trying to put that inherent risk into some perspective with my story about the wards I worked on in the early 1970s.

Riding motor cycles on the streets of the USA was more dangerous than having been posted in Viet Nam even during the worst period of casualties of that conflict.

FWIW, I rode Hondas and then graduated to a BSA 650 Lightening back when I was an indestructable young man.

One of the people I started riding with back then died in the late 60s.

He was not at fault at all. He was a very cautious rider who'd been riding since the late 1950s.

He was hit while sitting at a light by an old lady who hit him from behind.

She "didn't see him".

Another acquaintance (not a friend, but someone I occassion rode with) is now a quadraplegic.

Shit happens, man, that's all I'm saying

 

[007]

I think you're confusing that with a different model. The CBR is Honda's main "crotch rocket" model.

Mine was a 2001.

You're right. I was thinking of the "CB" 500.

Everybody has a horror story about bike riding. Everybody knows somebody that's been crippled or killed. Well, I've been riding since I was big enough to control two wheels and a motor. There is no way I'll stop now. I have a life time of experience to draw upon, and I feel perfectly safe on my bike, mainly because I trust myself and my ability to keep myself out of trouble. But, one thing about riding around here, I ride a good portion of the time with a club, and when you have eight, ten bikes in a pack, not to mention more, cars get out of your way. They hear you coming, slow down, change lanes to get away from you, and basically give you a very wide berth. I can't think of a more safe way to travel, other than the occasional white knuckle ride... but that's just fun.

 

[Gunny]

True, if you are very cautious, you're safer than if you're not.

Still, there is absolutely no doubt that riding motorcycles ont he streets of this nation is far far far far FAR more dangerous per mile riden than driving a car.

I'm not suggesting that people should stop riding the things.

I was just trying to put that inherent risk into some perspective with my story about the wards I worked on in the early 1970s.

Riding motor cycles on the streets of the USA was more dangerous than having been posted in Viet Nam even during the worst period of casualties of that conflict.

FWIW, I rode Hondas and then graduated to a BSA 650 Lightening back when I was an indestructable young man.

One of the people I started riding with back then died in the late 60s.

He was not at fault at all. He was a very cautious rider who'd been riding since the late 1950s.

He was hit while sitting at a light by an old lady who hit him from behind.

She "didn't see him".

Another acquaintance (not a friend, but someone I occassion rode with) is now a quadraplegic.

Shit happens, man, that's all I'm saying

True. You can't do anything about the "shit happens" variable though, even though we as a society refuse to accept it an ALWAYS have to blame someone-or-something.

I'm a commercial electrician. That translates into spider monkey with a tool belt. We're ALWAYS climbing on, in, over, underm through just about anything can be erected above ground. Naturally, I've fallen off ladders a time or two. Not because of me, but because for whatever reason, the equipment (ladder) failed. Had a 12" ladder knocked out from under me once and was left hanging on the red iron for a few minutes.

Couple of years ago a coworker of mine who I'd seen climb all over just about everything was painting at home and fell from the second step of a 6' ladder (about 2 '). His brain swelled up and he died.

When it's your time to go, you're going.

 

[Swamp Fox]

I'm sorry, but I've seen too many idiotson the road here to want to ride a bike. Then there was the guy I saw wearing his leather riding jacket and helmet (It was only 110 degrees out). I felt for him as I rode by with my AC on MAX!

Besides, the only thing Dread will let me ride is her (Which is a HELL of a ride).

 

[editec]

I ride a good portion of the time with a club, and when you have eight, ten bikes in a pack, not to mention more, cars get out of your way. They hear you coming, slow down, change lanes to get away from you, and basically give you a very wide berth. I can't think of a more safe way to travel,

No doubt riding in a pack of bikes changes the safety equasion in the bikers' favor considerably.

Loud pipes don't hurt, either.

 

[Swamp Fox]

No doubt riding in a pack of bikes changes the safety equasion in the bikers' favor considerably.

Loud pipes don't hurt, either.

Especially if they're all wearing colors. Freaks everyone out on the road.

 

[007]

Especially if they're all wearing colors. Freaks everyone out on the road.

You got that right.

I'm not a patch, nor will I ever be. A "retired Harley Davidson Techinicain?" Yeah right. What do you suppose I'd be doing with my every waking hour while I was a prospect? Yeah... fixing other club members bikes, for FREE! Well FUCK THAT! I did work with the Bordertown Road Captian, and I am very good friends with many, and I do ride with them and go to many of their functions. I'm what they call in the biker world, a "hang around," and I wear a support shirt when I ride with them that looks much like this on the back...

 

[Toro]

Saves on gas and is good for your heart!

 

[Swamp Fox]

Saves on gas and is good for your heart!

Ever try riding one of those when it's 110 degrees out? Your heart starts to tell you to quit being a moron and go buy a car.

 

[Swamp Fox]

You got that right.

I'm not a patch, nor will I ever be. A "retired Harley Davidson Techinicain?" Yeah right. What do you suppose I'd be doing with my every waking hour while I was a prospect? Yeah... fixing other club members bikes, for FREE! Well FUCK THAT! I did work with the Bordertown Road Captian, and I am very good friends with many, and I do ride with them and go to many of their functions. I'm what they call in the biker world, a "hang around," and I wear a support shirt when I ride with them that looks much like this on the back...

I don't know how many calls we used to get when someone wearing anything on the back of his jacket would ride through town.

 

[007]

I don't know how many calls we used to get when someone wearing anything on the back of his jacket would ride through town.

Just about everywhere we go in town security will approach us and tell us just as long as we don't beat someone up or bust the joint up, we're more than welcome, because it's against the law in Nevada to throw someone out just because they're wearing colors. But 99% of the time when trouble does start, it's some moron that thinks he's going to be a tough guy and talk shit to the bikers. I'll tell ya right now though.... they never win.

 

[editec]

But 99% of the time when trouble does start, it's some moron that thinks he's going to be a tough guy and talk shit to the bikers. I'll tell ya right now though.... they never win.

I'm just a soul whose intention are good
Oh Lord! Please don't let me be misunderstood.
(or I'll have to kick some ass!)

Pretty much everybody needs to feel like they belong to some group.

Motorcycle gangs, Shiners, NOW, the Corps, the boy Scouts, the Communist Party, the Crypts, the YMCA, FARC, or your local bridge club....something

We are, after all, social animals.

It's just human nature to want to belong. It's a survival instinct.

And if the group you happen to belong to also happens to be an ongoing criminal organization which sells methamphetimines to support itself?

Well ... membership does has its privileges, after all.