Surely recent events, including Wiehann’s accident must also serve as reminders to ourselves on exactly why we choose to ride a bike?
Firstly a quote I blatantly “stole” from another international forum:-
“I actually wasn't sure I'd be able to get back into riding. I'd spent all this money, angered my wife beyond belief, and wasn't sure I could still do this. Well, it turns out that I can; whew! It is different this time around. More attention to skills, more planning and preperation before I get on the bike, more awareness, and less expectations from others. A year and some later, I still look forward to getting the bike out of the same garage that was too much trouble to deal with before. Even if it's just a quick ride down to the hardware store for a new latch, I can find the time to get suited up. I still get the "grin" and there's a silly little voice in the back of my head that says, "Hey, look at me! I'm riding a motorcycle! All by myself!" If the cagers don't envy me, they should.”
My own personal thoughts on the subject:-
It took me many years to be able to afford my dream bike & I guess a few people around here would agree and some even reluctantly agree that the Beemer R1200RT must be amongst the ultimate touring machines out there today. Nothing left to prove, no ego problem whatsoever, I do not have to go faster than anyone else and I will do everything humanly possible to extend my riding years by not doing something stupid. I read on the think-bike site every Monday morning of another rider that IMHO did something stupid. Most of them blames the stupid cage driver & never try to find the reason for the accident within themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, accidents do happen, that is why they are called accidents and not deliberates. Maybe it is because I like the hint of danger that comes with riding. I commute almost daily on the RT and I unlike most, also like riding in traffic. I like the feeling that my safety, whether I get home in one piece or not, is largely in my own hands. Maybe the sheer size of the RT intimidates cagers, but I have not yet had even one “oh sh1t” moment in traffic. Taxis? I was pleasantly surprised – they actually make space for me to get past & a thank you nod never costs anything.(someone once told me it’s because the RT looks like a cop bike)
I sincerely hope that I will be able to make the call one day by myself, when I realise that I am no longer able to ride responsibly and that if I continue to ride I will only be endangering other road users. Thinking about it, I have seen and know a few super bike riders that must make that call sooner rather than later, before it is made for them.
So, why do you ride and when will you call it a day?
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