Safety...at what price?

Went for a ride yesterday and saw a sight that is becoming more and more common. This fella was in my rear view riding a big touring bike with the headlight that constantly cycles between highbeam and low beam. It was very annoying and I can imagine how oncoming traffic felt about it. I had a quick stop to make so I didn't have to endure long. As he passed I noticed he was wearing an optic yellow jacket and pants with reflective tape sewn all over it. This thing is so bright I'm pretty sure it can be seen from space! Really fella, if you are so scared then what is the point of riding!!!

I started riding on the road when I was sixteen because I enjoyed the excitement of being on a small quick vehicle. I'm 49 now and still ride for the same reason. I grew up in Oregon but have lived all over the US and spendt about half my adult life in Europe. I have always owned a motorcycle and have toured on some of the fastest and most dangerous roads in the world (try Amsterdam traffic in late afternoon or Boston during the mid-90s) so I know the dangers of the sport. But it is a sport, not just a way to get around, and each rider has a responsibility to develope the skills to deal with the dangers out on the road. I don't think wrapping yourself in optic yellow, refelective tape and flashing lights is the answer, you just look like a freak.

I cannot understand these super-safety-freaks.

I agree with you clickster. If you think bright clothing will make you safe, when is it bright ENOUGH?

Fortunately those modulated headlights have off switches. I would never tolerate on in my rearview mirror for very long.

Safety on a bike has a number of dimensions, going too far with anyone of them would ruin the sport for me as well.

Bill

I haven't always been the most safety minded person out there, but one thing has always really gotten to me, tailgating. I hate tailgating! When I see someone doing it, or when someone is right on my tail.
I used to ride a LOT of highway miles, and on the interstate, doing 75 or so, that's the last place I want someone right on me. So I rigged up a flamethrower for my exhaust.
On my way up 95, this car was so close to my rear end, that I swear he could've smelled what octane fuel I was using. Traffic sucked, so there was nowhere for me to go or to let him pass me, so doing the afore mentioned 75mph, I hit the button for my flamethrower. I tell ya, all 4 lanes of 95 slowed down. They all kept about an 8th of a mile behind me for a good 20 minutes. Gave me plenty of time and distance to safely get out of their way.
I promise though, no flamethrower on my KZ.

Wow, as much as I enjoy the thought of a flamethrower for preventing tailgaters I wouldn't go there. Considering the current climate amongst law enforcement, it's sure to land you in jail. Heck, you might wind up at gitmo for something like that nowadays.

I think the most important piece of safety equipment any motorcyclist should have resides between his ears. Don't forget to bring it with you when you go. I have had more that one close call in my pickup truck due to a motorist that didn't see me. It's 20' long and weighs 5500 lbs. I don't care what color your jacket is, if they aren't looking, they aren't seeing. That's one thing that drives me crazy with all the dark window tint these days. You can't make eye contact with another driver.

One thing I have learned about common sense is, it aint real common!
There is a lot of people who compensate the lack of it with gadgetry and it doesn't work. The older I get the more safety oriented I get but I am not getting any reflective clothing yet.

I've had about 5 close calls within the last three weeks. The worst happened while I was at a redlight: the light turned green, I started to enter the intersection, saw movement out of the corner of my eye and slammed on the brakes (only going about 5 mph at that point- I was lucky I didn't gun it like I do too often). Some SOB FLEW through the intersection at 55+ mph (it's 45 mph in that part of town), the light was red well before he entered the intersection. This part of town has long blocks with lights that aren't smart (they constantly cycle and do not have magnetic sensors, so if you catch a red, you'll be there for longer than you'd want.), and I've seen more than a comfortable number of jackass blatantly run red lights, not just floor it to beat the yellow, I'm talking balls-to-the-wall running a red light just so they wouldn't have to wait, because they are obviously the most important people on the road in a 50-mile radius. Those incidents (or lack thereof), really got to me, a lot more than any other incidents- what if he had t-boned me? I figured the best case scenario would be for me to have lost my left leg and the bike would have been totaled.

Which reminds me, I was so pissed off I was going to write a letter to the chief of police around here and forgot to do it.

Dear Redlands Police:

Start enforcing the god damn traffic laws before someone gets killed.

I'll agree, the strobing lights are anoying to say the least. I'd never run one. The bright clothing may or may not have any merit. I don't mind it. If you watch out close to other drivers, you are going to avoid 99% plus of the idiots, the remaining 1% is the problem, but I don't think color of clothing, flashing lights or a siren will ever dent their idiot level. Idiot will be idiot, and there are some out there, which is where you need to concentrate to stay alive for a long motorcycling life.

I ride all black in cool weather but the mfg of the jacket has those piping's that look black during the day but at night when headlights hit them they glow bright white, didn't know it until someone took a photo of me on the bike at night. I ride like a pilot on a mission in enemy territory, looking in every direction for something coming to take me out. I've seen where every color helmet, jacket and bike gets hit so it may help but it won't guarantee it, to each their own. I used to have a yellow helmet but that was more from taste that safety.

KZ_Rage wrote: I ride like a pilot on a mission in enemy territory, looking in every direction for something coming to take me out.

Exactly the way I ride also.

I don't agree that motorcycling is only a sport:
For some it IS a sport, others an economical and quick way to commute, and for others it's a way of life. IMHO there isn't one clear definition of motorcycling that applies to everyone - different models, different riding styles, different age ranges of riders, etc, etc.

I totally agree with the views on over-the-top safety gear. What's more disturbing is when riders wearing their flashy safety vest/helmet/jacket think it is going to automatically protect them from anything and everything.
It's easier to just NOT rely on the other drivers on the road to be looking out for you, YOU need to look out for yourself.
For me, I simply treat every driver on the road like they are out to ruin my ride. It's kept me alive so far, and I tend to ride in a "spirited" fashion. :whistle:

See the following post...

www.kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-related/46...d-10-or-20-years-ago

Those flashing headlights are ****ing annoying! Just leaave the high beam on!

I saw a touring HD with one of those, I think it might give a false sense of security to the rider. Him thinking "I have all this bright crap everyone will see me, that means I can chillax and ride with no worries."