I ran across an article while researching the American Motorcycle Association’s position on helmets and motorcycle training. Here the AMA’s Rob Dingman talks about helmet use and rider education. Even I was shocked by what I read. The AMA doesn’t support helmets because they promote the idea of safe crashing. Fair enough, don’t wear a helmet and support unsafe crashing. They want to avoid accidents, that means training, right? Nope, mandatory training is not an option. What? You don’t support training or helmets? Do you support mandatory health care because those riders will need it!
Basically, the AMA does not support ANYTHING mandatory. What about insurance? Against that? Safety inspections? Not if they are mandatory! Special license to ride a motorcycle, better get rid of that too. After all you can choose to ride drunk, better make riding sober optional.
How can people be so stupid? If you want to reduce fatalities wear gear and educate cage driver or better yet just teach them to drive. Outlaw all cell calls except to 911, retest driving skills every 5 years. Please don’t preach safety to me when the real answers are ignored. Why isn’t seat belt use optional? Because it saves lives. No, not ALL lives but some.
Motorcyclists, wake up. Do not listen to these idiots; wear gear, support laws that save lives. Our leaders support our right to die, our brothers right to die. And they wonder why the sport isn’t growing.
Quotes from the article.
So why does AMA oppose helmet mandates? Where’s the harm?
RD; Because mandates have unintended consequences. Proponents of mandatory helmet laws see these laws as a cure-all for motorcycle injuries and fatalities, when in fact they do nothing to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place. We want to prevent crashes, rather than simply deal with their consequences.
RD; Yes, we oppose mandatory rider training. Some states have gone so far as to mandate rider education, but we don’t agree with this strategy. While on the surface this argument may have a nice ring to it, the reality is that every state program is currently stretched to the breaking point just trying to meet the needs of motorcyclists who seek training. When states pass these unfunded mandates, they force riders to wait many more months for training.
Feb 12, 2009, AMA
This is why I feel motorcycles are all women!
I just finished judging a motorcycle “Civilian Top Gun” contest. To explain; “Top Gun” is usually a term used to describe a contest held for police motor officers. They ride full dress motorcycles, usually Harley’s, around impossibly tight turns defined by cones. Sort of autocross for motorcycles. The “bagger over 1000cc category” had 8 riders, all accomplished and all dedicated to this sport. I got a real charge out of watching them ply their craft and motivated me to practice tight space maneuvers more often.
It was held at a dealership so there were the usually Saturday customers coming in for service, parts, and just to be seem. If you motorcycle, the truth is, you are part of the worlds largest freak show. It’s your extended family, Ozzie Osborne and Mick Jagger may as well be your creepy uncles who randomly show up for Christmas dinner, drunk, accompanied by a hooker.
Oh, and stereotypes are sometimes true. The Harley guys were, for the most part, in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. (think Santa in leather) Still good riders, friendly, with a touch of the “gay pirate” look. They were often veterans, very pro America, and I would not want to cross some of them. Their bikes ranged from loud rat style to absolutely beautiful touring rigs that appeared to have been build by jewelers. Then there were the “Ducatists”. Diavel, and Panigale owners looked ever bit the part of rich-guy-poser. Accessories on these things cost more than my entire bike, everything matched, looked new, and was SO clean. I’m not much of a matching riding gear guy, Triumph jacket for a Triumph bike thing, but it’s fine if you are. However, people WILL judge you!
Then the new group. Hipsters, my personal favorite. 3/4 helmet, clip-ons, brown seat, wax cotton jacket, cafe racer style bikes. Many were wearing messenger bags, I threw up a little in my mouth writing that. But, none the less, they are the sexually confused cousin who ran off to backpack across Europe and is now managing an herbal healing store in Spokane.
My point is, this freak show of humans is our family. There was an impossibly old man on an Adventure bike, by himself, who came to see what was going on and quietly left. I can really understand him. A couple douches drove their Ferrari and Corvette through the parking lot for fun, random sport bikes from Japan no one payed attention to, and a few CanAms/trikes everyone secretly felt sorry for. 3rd and 4th cousins on your mother’s side, twice removed.
But they ride, they have gained entry, they are relatives. Some you like, some you don’t. And in some way the family will continue long after you’re gone. Welcome to the freak show, pull up a three legged stool and tell me your story.
It is my pleasure to have a very talented guest blogger today. Ania is an avid motorcyclists and frankly, a great writer. She has been fascinated by this sport since the age of three and has grown into an accomplished rider. We hope to feature more of her work in the future!
The Best Ride for You – A Motorcycle or a Car?
Driving can be one of the great experiences you can have each day. Your daily drive to work, the weekends you spend just going out to see what is around or even just casual trips to visit family and friends can offer you the chance to see the world and enjoy what is around you. Of course everyone has their own preference as to how they want to drive around. While some people love riding in their car all of the time, others prefer to get out on their motorcycles each day. You may be trying to decide for yourself just which is the best choice for you and there are a few things that you may want to consider when choosing between a motorcycle and a car.
The Benefits of Motorcycle Riding
Riding a motorcycle each day certainly provides you with a number of benefits. First, most motorcycles are going to get much better gas mileage than your typical car. While cars have become more fuel efficient in recent years with the introduction of more hybrid cars and electric cars, motorcycles can still be much better when it comes to fuel consumption. This can add up to quite a savings for you over the year. Insurance for motorcycles is also typically cheaper than that of a car, giving you even more savings. Riding a bike also gives you a much greater sense of freedom while you are driving. You are out in the fresh air and get a better experience of the world around than you do when you are inside of a car.
The Pitfalls of Riding
There are some other things to consider when riding a motorcycle versus a car though. Motorcycles are more commonly in more accidents and the accidents can be much more severe for you as a rider. Because you are outside and do not have the same types of protections that you do when inside a car such as seat restraints, air bags and other safety features, there is a much greater risk when you ride. You are also more at risk to the elements when riding a bike. Getting caught in a rain storm, heavy winds or even the hot sun can all have an effect on your riding. Weather can cause you to have to stop and pull off the road where in a car you could simply keep going.
The choice between riding a motorcycle and driving a car is of course going to be up to you. There are many motorcycle owners that also have a car to use when the weather requires it and this will depend greatly on where you happen to live. Areas where there is warm weather or good weather the majority of the time may lead more people to have bikes in that area. You may find that you enjoy riding your motorcycle more often and use it more throughout the year once you start using it regularly but don’t forget to buy the safety gears for you.
I’m calling BS on the doom and gloom safety clowns
Posted: September 18, 2016 in Editorial, Motorcycle
Lately, I’ve been hearing many of the self proclaimed “safety” profits quoting that motorcyclists are 70 times more likely to die on the highways than a car driver.
On average? There is no average. Let explore some of the variables that change your odd, significantly.
How many miles a year do you ride? Where do you ride? Congested highways during rush hour are higher risk than country roads on a Sunday morning! What do you ride? My opinion is risk takers tend to ride a certain type of bike, as do people more likely to drink. Do you drink and ride? Beer counts. Do you wear gear? ATGATT makes a difference, BIG difference. How experienced are you on your bike? The first year of ownership is critical in learning your bike, how it works, and what it does well, and not so well. Do you take extreme risks? I was passed at night on a busy freeway by a race preped GSXR 1000, he was doing , maybe 100mph, weaving in and out of traffic, wearing sunglasses and a tee shirt. Yea, he’s prob driving the 70X up a little.
By now you get the point. I’m sick to death of the “scare bears” who quote all the misleading “averages” that apply to no one. Sure, as riders get older some risks go up, but some go down. My reflexes are not what they were, but I now have traction control and ABS on my bike. But I have 45 years of experience. I’ve seen a lot. Not in one long ride, over many rides, in many places, under many conditions. I am better able to AVOID risks.
SO true! The drinking thing can last more than a day, and the year is optimistic in my opinion
The Ride 