time to stop riding?

[Stephen072774]

I'll tell ya... I DON'T live to ride.  After my "could have been fatal wreck" I was off a bike for almost a year.  Even now after buying the DRZ i plan to ride much less in traffic than I did before.  In other words, after much thought, i will continue to ride because i like it, but i have tried to minimalize some of the risks by limiting my on road riding.  It also helps to have a supportive wife that wants me to be happy.

[Cal Price]

Oh to be 22 and have such worries! I have just retired at 60 after a modestly successful career. I did give up riding as a callow youth after a bad accident and I stayed off two wheels for years. I started again in my 50s and realised just how much I had missed it and how much pleasure it gave me. yes there is a downside to being a biker, we are probably the most vulnerable road user-group, we probably have most fun as well. As long as you are aware of your vulnerability and assume that he/she has not seen you rather than they have and ride accordingly then the bike as safe as lots of other things.

Only you can make your lifestyle choices for yourself but if you enjoy it you WILL miss it, possibly more than you think. Whatever your chosen path in this life you will need distractions and diversions, we all need to relax now and again what are you going to do, Bungee jump? Climb mountains? Ride a motorcycle? collect stamps?? Over to you.....

[GeeP]

I'm sure your family is in a big hurry to get you off the bike. 

You need to make the distinction between your work and your life, never should the two mix.  Why do you live?  Is it so you can get up each morning and go to work, or is it so you can enjoy your life and do whatever you want?

Don't make a life decision based on your job.

If riding worries you, maybe you should stop for a while.  The alternative is to practice your skills.  That will give you confidence in your abilites and increase your ability to manage the risk.

I can tell you that I don't live to ride.  Riding is simply one of the many, many things I enjoy.  That little tinge of fear when I get on my bike is what keeps me on my toes and honest!  I ask myself when I get on a bike "why do you do it"?  When I answer "I don't know" you'll see my 96 in the for sale section.  Somehow, I don't think that is going to happen.

That's my bit, but don't let me or anyone else sway YOUR decision.

[aqxea2500]

dude if its your time to go its your time, you could slip in the shower and die, but we all run the risk of getting hurt everyday, just ride carefully.

[Codger]

Before you start listening to pseudo safety professionals like the medical profession.  Just remember that they see the results of the accidents, very few know the actual rider statistics to be able to state probabilities with any accuracy.  As David Hough of Proficient motorcycling says, if your doctor harps on you about motorcycling risks, ask him about the statistics on errors in surgical procedures.

If you have riding as a casual hobby, but you aren't really attached to it, you can walk away and never think about it again.  If it is part of your DNA, you won't regret it, you will be back, as long as you do what you want.

My father in law fell asleep in a pickup and the front wheel caught the stump of a tree and flipped it, probably not over 40 mph.  Roof crushed in killing him instantly.  When I looked at the stump where the front wheel hit, 6 inches left and it would have hit solid tripping the airbags and staying rubber down, 6 inches to the right and it would have coasted down the ditch to a stop.  6 inches of deviation and he would still be here.

The moral of the story is that you can protect yourself as much as possible, you can do all that you can to reduce all risks, but for a lack of better definition "shaZam! happens".
Do what makes you happy. 

[Grainbelt]

I'm single, 24, and have solid cashflow. I ride every possible moment. The GF seems to think that if I ever get around to proposing and we crank out a few kids I will stop riding. When I called  she lit into me about responsibility and safety.  I refuse to modify my behaviour based on other people's perceptions of risk.  I'm insured in the event (god forbid) that anything might happen.

I love riding, and I'm not stopping because of my good job, my overly cautious gf, or my worried parents.  It is part of who I am. 

[Cal Price]

So that's sorted then....lets all go for a ride, ride, ride.

[yamahonkawazuki]

 

[pandy]

k...we'll all meet at my house this Saturday and go on a HUGE GS ride!!! 

[3imo]

I'll need to leave now to get there.

[pandy]

Well get going! 

[manofthefield]

k...we'll all meet at my house this Saturday and go on a HUGE GS ride!!! 

Ugh... I guess I'll have to leave now... see you saturday



edit: Aww... 3imo beat me to the punch line

[pandy]

Ugh... I guess I'll have to leave now... see you saturday

I posted early so that everyone has enough time to pack their lunches and sleeping bags and get going! 

[toole2go]

Your stock?  Dude, I make like $40,000.


That's $40,000 a week!  And I still ride!

For goodness sake, Gary Busey rode a bike with no helmet when he was in his prime (after Silver Bullet, Point Break and Lethal Weopon).  When you get to Gary Busey status, then consider hanging up your spurs.  Until them, make as much money as possible, ride as much as you can, and try to make to Vegas at least once a year so you can pull a Fredo out at the Bunny Ranch.

I'm out!  

Yeah!!!!
Gary Busey Rocks!!!!   

lol... his seed brought us shasta mcnasty... maybe it's all that open air riding 

[scratch]

k...we'll all meet at my house this Saturday and go on a HUGE GS ride!

I'm in!

[pandy]

Oops! Outta town Friday/Saturday....how about Sunday AM? Gives everyone more time to get to San Jose! 

[3imo]

  now where am I gonna stay?  I am just outside of Arizona.  man
forget this I'm going home.   I drove halfway across......wait no i didn't 
Yup, Sorry. I'm still in Alabama. still at work pretending to type something really important, so no one tries to bother me.

sh*t..I hate when that  happens.  I was having such an nice ride too.  I-10, beautiful weather. no traffic.  oh well.

Lets see, I think I'll head to Mexico to make up for you not being there till Sunday. 

See ya then.  (not really but I need to daydream bout somethin.)

[pandy]

Lets see, I think I'll head to Mexico to make up for you not being there till Sunday.  See ya then.  (not really but I need to daydream bout somethin.)

That's where we're going! For reals! We'll seeya in Mexico! 

[3imo]

I  just drank the  water...........

btw  this isn't a  smile.

omg omg omg omg    gas station    gas station    gas station.....BUSH!!


AHHHHH   all better now 

[3imo]

~mental note. - when driving through the mexican desert , bring TP~