Saw a guy make decision that killed him

20 yards ahead when he nailed throttle. Then we met at stop light a few seconds later.

 

Doesn't say if the bike was speeding or the car had the right of way (traffic light).....not enough factual info to pass judgement on anyone.

There are GOOD, responsible riders and also total assholes who ride .... cracks me up at times passing a yard sign reading 'watch out for motorcycles' and then being passed by one doing 75 mph on a turn.

Ran over a dog one time on my bike - had slowed to about 35 mph when the dog started running at me - dumped the bike after (unfortunately) running over and killing the dog.....3 broken ribs and other assorted small issues. Good thing I had a helmet on - was on my way to EMS training, so I knew not to move till the squad got there. Couldn't imagine a high speed accident on a bike - never been on another one since that day, either.

 

When I was younger I had a Honda CBR and a Ninja and I’m lucky to be here today. When your young you make bad decisions. everybody does!!! Just gotta hope you live long enough to realize it..

 

90 percent of all will get hurt or die on a motorcycle. Those are not good odds for anybody but the house. No matter what you can still be dead, right or wrong. Riding a bike only increases those chances 10 fold.
Either way my earlier statement still stands.

 

Yep. Some think bikers are asking for it or are wrong for being able to accelerate faster than a car. Most people barely pay any attention while driving and pull out in front of obvious cars and trucks. Sometimes bikers don’t have a chance. I ride every day and get my fill of the average drivers out there.

 

I don’t know who was at fault. I just know the dude was riding reckless before the intersection and took off like a raped ape from the intersection. The intersection and dollar general are pretty close together so I would doubt he shut her down to the speed limit in such short distance.

 

Saw a guy go flying past me on the 710 north at sunset. He was 20 or so car lengths in front of me when we hit the transition to the 105 west. He hit a 2x4 laying in the road and down he went. His friends were in a car a following. I pulled up and blocked the lane and tended to the guy. He was hurt pretty bad, but nothing he was going to die over.

 

As does mine as the OP witnessed the Motorcycle Driver riding like an ass hat, and also saw the Motorcycle Driver remove his helmet which is another stupid move. So even if the car pulled out in front of him if he didn't have his helmet on and smashed face first into the car stupid gets what stupid deserves.

 

When I was deciding whether to get a bike or not, I looked up some statistics. I don't remember the exact numbers, but basically, if you take the msf course, wear a helmet, and don't drink & ride, you're statistically WAY safer. Avoiding cities is also very wise.

So far, so good. If I had anyone that depended on me though, I probably wouldn't ride.

 

I am 63 and sold my last motorcycle, a 1000cc Kawasaki crotch rocket, back in 1984.
Looking back I see how stupid/foolish we were on our bikes in those days.
God must have intervened in my case as I am still here.

 

I took both MSF basic and advance rider safety courses because they were offered free on-base when in the service. I already had my motorcycle endorsement but those courses were eye opening to developing defensive driving habits and improving skills. The whole idea was personal assessment and responsible riding. Choices were made and an accident happened with death resulting. Others involved lives changed forever. It makes you think how quick it happens.

 

Coming home yesterday on the freeway biker comes up to me in the middle lane, he's riding on the limiter, slows way down and cracks a 12 o'clocker all the way up to the traffic in front of him. Proceeds to do this several times while me and everyone else commuting home slowed to about 25 expecting a crash. But his stunting fuct up traffic for quite a ways back because 3 lanes of commuter traffic expected him to dish it. There's a time and a place for everything. This was neither.

 

No helmet law here in my state and it kills me when I see a rider with a helmet an the passenger not have one on. Hope she makes it.

 

Nobody saw the accident but this guy knows exactly what happened People drive too carelessly, the main reason I have no interest in being anywhere near full size vehicles while on a motorcycle!

 

Certainly a sad scenario and unfortunately there's countless cases of this happening daily. A few members of our team ride and you always know the risk (although when you're riding daily you start to become more comfortable). While there's definitely ways to reduce the risk, risk will still always be there. It sounds like this guy was riding recklessly but regardless a life was lost and that's a horrible thing for a for any parent, friend, or family member to deal with.

 

It was a scooter..

 

I live in a suburban/city area where traffic is a virtual constant even at 1am on a Tuesday night. Factually speaking if you stay away from city areas you are way more likely to be on the safer end of the riding safety spectrum. I have never wiped out, but came close to it a few times. During my time behind the handlebars I saw tons of people in their cars totally distracted, texting, or not paying attention. Like bad. Luck must've been smiling upon me. I stopped riding back in 2015 and have not wanted to get back on one since. I just treasure my life too much at this juncture in my life.

My bike currently collects dust in the garage. A 2014 Victory Vegas 8 ball with less than 2000 miles on it.

I actually took an MSF course on base back in the day too. Excellent course and the fact it was free only encouraged me to attend more.

Of course it had to be here in the Bay Area. There's a lot of stupid out here.

 

Yeah, I avoid cities as much as possible. The reason I ride is to get away from people usually, so I end up being way out in the middle of nowhere without any other vehicles.

And yeah, drivers these days are horrible, they're way too distracted. I feel like every time I go somewhere I'm stuck behind someone sitting at a green light fiddling with their phone.


Edit thought: Whats funny is we keep adding more and more technology to make drivers safer - blind spot warnings, automatic braking etc. Something tells me its just enabling people to be lazier and more distracted.

 

I bet some of y’all are afraid to drink from the water hose too. Living ain’t for the faint of heart. I ride daily. My kids both ride. If you understand the risks and how to avoid them, riding isn’t that dangerous. In 48 years of living I’ve done a lot more dangerous stuff than riding.