How many years of riding do you have

[the inspector]

And on another note....I truly love the people on this site and value everyones opinion, my Valk is the best motorcycle I have ever owned (do have another bike but won't go their now) as per someone's other reply.....But I'm sticking with Timbrwolf on my take on this issue. I'm a gun owner, AF Vet 66-70, motorcyclist, x drag racer, sometimes off the wall American, American Legion & Patriot Guard Rider, all the things JUST like you guys. But like I said I'm sticking with Timbrwolf as he sounds like he came from the same mold as I. Thanks to all who chimed in......solo1,  FLAVALK , Key Boarder, Big IV..., RJ, Grunpy,
DFragn, hubcapsc, Brovietnam, JoeValkIS and all the others....your the best. But my #1 is still Timberwolf........

safe riding to all and proud to be an American......"the inspector"

[the inspector]

Puffs Daddy....you don't have to pay for my decisions, if you insurance cost to much that's because the same aholes who come up with all our laws also control how they can suck the rest of your money through the insurance issue scam....I guess you don't mind paying for all the people who are in our jails and costing us a ton of money.....I pay for my own decisions made (good or bad) and their have been many in my years.......

"the inspector"

[Chrisj CMA]

EEEEEK...........never really did the math before.  I got my license and first bike 36 years ago.  Before that I had the normal dirt road experience with minibikes and small motorcycles for 3 years...............so my complete experience on two wheels is THIRTY NINE YEARS.  That cant be correct, I cant be that old......how does this happen,.......LOL 

[Cruzen]

Got my first Honda 350 in 1970 and with the exception of about three years have been on a motorcycle much of that time.  Moved to Arizona in 1988 and found you can ride about 365 days per year. I do about 364 of those days. 16-21K miles per year and thank the Lord for the right to enjoy every single day.

I stay out of the helmet debates except to point out that a helmet is NOT a SAFETY device.  It is a protective device.  (Anyone who has taken an OSHA course will know the difference and the importance of understanding the difference.)  I also believe such decisions should be up to the rider, not some legislative committee who do not know the difference.  Otherwise the next step might be to mandate the use of protective materials when having sex to keep those they consider as stupid from having unprotected sex.  If that happens it will drastically impact the number of people available to run for political office.

Maybe they will force people to wear bullet proof vests.  I can hear it now on the morning news as you get ready for work, “two people were shot last night in the grocery parking lot today is a high mugging alert all citizens are mandated to wear their bullet proof vests.  Road blocks will be set up to check for the proper use of vests."

HA! HA!  As I write this, I hear on the news that the right to carry gun law has been changed here in Arizona.  Starting Wednesday you no longer have to wait till you are actually being accosted to pull your weapon.  You can now pull if you only feel mildly threatened.  You can also carry into restaurants and get this……  bars.  Can’t wait to see the next big party at the Billet Bar in Scottsdale or Hideaway in Cave Creek.  Heck with the helmet, get the vest.

[Rocketman]

My reason for not wanting to wear a helmet is just that, My choice!

I fully respect that reason for not wanting to wear one.  I personally don't think it's the right choice, and have less than five miles of unhelmeted riding under my belt, but resent the hell out of helmet laws none the less.

What I don't have respect for are the attempts to convince people that not wearing a helmet is a better choice because:  "I won't get in an accident" (Really?  You can guarantee that?), or "It hampers my vision" (I think your helmet doesn't fit right), or my personal favorite "It's safer without one" and its corollaries of "'dem helmets 'll break yer neck", and "I'd rather die than be a vegetable" (We're back to the "You tell me what kind of accident you're going to have and I'll tell you what kind of protection you'll need" comment.  There's a level of head impact that without a helmet that will kill you, and a smaller impact that will scramble your brains but not kill you, and a still smaller impact that will just give you a headache for a few days.  Exact same with a helmet, but those impact levels are a lot higher.  I'll take the larger "headache" range, even if it means accepting a larger "vegetable" range.  Oh, and if you hit hard enough to bounce your helmet enough to break your neck, an unhelmeted head has bigger problems.)

Bottom line:  I respect choice.  I relish choice.  I despise illogical arguments meant to justify choice, when the driving force is nothing more complicated than "I felt like it."

PS: To keep this (at least minimally) on topic, I started riding a little later in life than most of ya'll, apparently, but have been on two wheels since April of 2000.  I think I've almost got the hang of it.

[solo1]

Very good discussion on helmet wearing.  There were no excuses like "a helmet will break your neck" or "narrows your vision" or "it doesn't save lives",  just honest reasons for not wearing one and that's your right.

I started out wearing a "snoopy" cap with goggles (no scarf though) because helmets were not around then.

Now I wear one because I want to. For those that don't, that also is your choice and I respect you for it

As far as insurance is concerned, there have been some states that had laws saying that if you don't want to wear a helmet, sign a waiver.  THAT is a slippery slope.  Pols are just looking for a signed self admission that riding is dangerous. Next would be laws that make mandatory helmet wearing seem like a mild intrusion.

My .02

[Black Pearl's Captain]

My reason for not wanting to wear a helmet is just that, My choice!

I fully respect that reason for not wanting to wear one.  I personally don't think it's the right choice, and have less than five miles of unhelmeted riding under my belt, but resent the hell out of helmet laws none the less.

What I don't have respect for are the attempts to convince people that not wearing a helmet is a better choice because:  "I won't get in an accident" (Really?  You can guarantee that?), or "It hampers my vision" (I think your helmet doesn't fit right), or my personal favorite "It's safer without one" and its corollaries of "'dem helmets 'll break yer neck", and "I'd rather die than be a vegetable" (We're back to the "You tell me what kind of accident you're going to have and I'll tell you what kind of protection you'll need" comment.  There's a level of head impact that without a helmet that will kill you, and a smaller impact that will scramble your brains but not kill you, and a still smaller impact that will just give you a headache for a few days.  Exact same with a helmet, but those impact levels are a lot higher.  I'll take the larger "headache" range, even if it means accepting a larger "vegetable" range.  Oh, and if you hit hard enough to bounce your helmet enough to break your neck, an unhelmeted head has bigger problems.)

Bottom line:  I respect choice.  I relish choice.  I despise illogical arguments meant to justify choice, when the driving force is nothing more complicated than "I felt like it."

PS: To keep this (at least minimally) on topic, I started riding a little later in life than most of ya'll, apparently, but have been on two wheels since April of 2000.  I think I've almost got the hang of it.

I agree with that Rocketman. I want everyone to have the choice but that does not mean I have to agree with their choice. Your words: "What I don't have respect for are the attempts to convince people that not wearing a helmet is a better choice because:  "I won't get in an accident" " matchs my thoughts exactly. Good statment.

It's a given Timbr and I will never agree. The only thing he and I have agreed upon is an arangement we have. We agreed that everything I says is right one day and everything he says is right the next day and today is my day. Isn't that right Timbr?

Raymond

[Whistler]

Started @ 21 with a CM400T, rode that for a couple of years then got a Shadow 700 rode that till kids and bills forced it's sale @ 32. Took a break for 14 years till June 08 when I bought the Valkyrie. Relearning and enjoying every mile. Wanted a bike since I sold that Shadow, but with family obligations I just could not justify it, my wife is the one who pushed me to buy the Valkyrie she knew how much I missed riding, the drool running down my face everytime I saw a Valk may have had something to do with it as well! JDW

[doubletee]

When do we stop people who are just plain stupid from being on the roads, so that our insurance premiums aren't so expensive?

Texting while driving, DUI, not wearing seatbelts......the list goes on and on.

Even if it was possible to ensure every single rider wore a helmet, I really doubt that insurance companies would lower our premiums. Afterall, they're in business to make money.....no other reason.

[Michael K (Az.)]

I started my 2 wheel adventures in 1959 on what was called at the time, a doodlebug! 2-1/2 hp 2 stroke clinton engine with 1 rear brake. A real Flintstones mobile for sure!!
Always ride with a skid lid. I've said before, if I thought with my knees, I'd wear helmets there, too!
The Pic shows my Sis and moi on a Phoenix,Az picnic back inna day. This weekend, Sis and I will be riding the "devils highway" for fun and profit, ok, maybe profit not so much. Ahh, the circle does go round don't it?

[ThreeAces97]

27 years of riding and approximately 95K to 105K of street miles.   Prior to street I had an Honda CT70, progreeses to a Suzuki RM 80 and then a Yamaha YZ 125.   First street bike was a KAW KZ 400 (metallic brown), 1984 Honda VT 700 c Shadow (put 12K on it in 3 months while I was stationed at Fort Rucker.   Sold it with 50K on it (speedo was broke for a full year, guessing another 10K).  1993 VT 1100 c Shadow sold it to by the 1998 Valkyrie Standard.   Marriage, house, kids and all that goes with it has curtailed my riding to "limited".   Wear helmet about 80% of the time.   No excuses, but there are days where I just want to feel the wind on my head.

[T-Bird]

I'm 52 and started on a mini-bike at age 10. My older brother and cousin both 7 years older than me were both working at the local motorcycle shop at the time and had been riding for about 4 years. They were part of a local motorcycle club, that mostly hung around our house after school, and it wasn't long till they started me and my younger brother riding. I remember that a few of the "gang" were riding Hondas, and several were riding british bikes and harleys. I enjoyed this just about everyday for about a year, it wasn't unusual for 10-12 bikes being at our house with the guys and their girlfriends just hanging out. Then when the boys started to turn 18 they were being drafted or were joining the service. It semed like the club ended overnight. Many of the boys went to Vietnam with my brother going to Germany. Little did I know that those good times of the gang hanging around were gone for good. The next 3 to 4 years while they were gone, I had moved up to bigger bikes, and started riding dirt bikes. I started seeing  some of the boys returning home from the service,  most were married to their highschool girlfriends and starting families, others were picking up where they left off...riding motorcycles. That's when honda was getting very popular, they were very reliable and inexpensive and the choice for most vets. My brother and cousin both went to work for the local Honda shop at night just putting together new bikes. Just like the gang, I was getting older and my interests turned from gas fumes to perfume. Just like my brother and most of my friends, I married my highschool sweetheart just out of school. The war and draft ended when I turned 18, so off to college I went..Even though I had a bike, between working going to college, and having a family riding my motorcycle was a seldom seen luxery. Since my first minibike, I have never been without a bike, always having more than one. My wife quit riding with me after we had kids, and doesn't ride to this day.  My 2 brothers and I ride together when we get the chance they both live in different states, but like myself they continue to ride.   I enjoy riding today as much as ever, riding with several old highschool buddies when we can. I enjoy riding with VRCC every chance I get.

[Steve K (IA)]

43 years for me.  Started when I was 10.  Grew up out in the country, so I would sneak into small towns by way of the back roads.  Laid in the tall weeds in a ditch a few times hiding from the sheriff.   Cause from time to time a neighbor down the road would call them because their kids didn't have a MC and also I obviously wasn't old enough to have a license.

[Jabba]

21 years.

not too many miles compared to a lot of you.  My estimate is about 100K. 

Many many hours on dirt bikes too, additional to that, and frankly, THAT helped me become a better rider than anything else.
\
Jabba

[Valker]

You all make me feel like a pup! I started riding in 2002 when i was 15. First motorcycle I ever rode was my dad's '79 Suzuki 850. Bought an old Honda Hawk a year ago, and then went casually shopping for a motorcycle, stumbled across my Valk and the sales guy saw me looking at it. He walked up and without saying a word, started it up and gave it a few revs... SOLD!  

As for the helmet thing, I wear a helmet about 85% of the time. I live in a non-helmet state, and generally wear a helmet. But I still like to enjoy the wind in my face every now and then!

Mikey,
Most of my wife's family lives in Winona. I got up ther sometimes. I'll definitely be there for the Valk rally next June in LaCrosse.

[Momz]

I started riding street bikes at age 17 in 1971. I crashed my first bike within minutes of starting.
Since 1971 I've owned and ridden in excess of 40 motorcycles. I've had one year that I rode in excess of 35K (1975) and another in excess of 25K (1984). I have never been without at least two motorcycles since 1972 and as many as 12 in one year. in the last 20 years i've averaged approximately 9K per year.

Last year I started to wear a little CF beanie, but for the prior five yearsI had worn a bicycle nelment while riding in Michigan (otherwise,...no helmet).

Riding a motorcycle means assessing your personal safety and risk. If you do take responsibilkity for your own actions,....get off that bike!

[hubcapsc]

I crashed my first bike within minutes of starting.

I crashed my first bike twice within minutes of starting. I'm talking ripped seat,
busted turn-signal, hit Mark Petropolis' dog, road rash on my elbows...

-Mike "no dogs were harmed during these spastic events"

[Windjammer]

  Good Grief!!! 45 years already! But there is some time in there when I had to give up the bikes (Married with children) years. So probably a lull of 18 years no riding give or take. 

[the inspector]

I'm back....was out, still working for a living. I did not realize this topic was so intriguing and have the amount of responce it did. One thing about this site is the upmost honesty it brings out in riders. I was NOT telling anyone to not wear a helmet or convince them it's better, I was only expressing my feeling toward it. You all do what you do and thats your choice, I did go to the Blue/Gray ride and seen alot  of riders without helmets and some chose to wear theirs everyday, I did'nt say a word just watched. Oh and let me ask did you all be as safe as you could have been??? Were all your decisions the correct ones??? Did you drink and ride??? Did you break the speed limet??? Look I'm not trying to break your balls here, just stateing a fact, hell when we eat to much we can't even move but we ride, were your tires bald??? You know as well as me the list can go on and on....did you make the right choice? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. As far as years riding their is no substitute for experience. Do you think Smoking Joe just hopped on his bike and can ride like he does....I don't think so. I do beleive the more time in the saddle will make you a better rider and more aware of danger lurking and trying to get you. Ride straight, be aware, watch and anticipate all others around you and beleive me I know how much it hurts when you hit your head on something that doesn't move. But I still prefer not to wear mine. I met some fine people at the B/G...Smoking Joe, Steamer, Skinhead and his posse...Fugie & Kit in the back ground, so many people around them two I couldn't even get near them.....Kit I really did like that one picture of you at Strugis (really nice) your a lucky man Fugie. I do hope to meet more of you in the future, so ride safe. I really can't wait to retire so I can ride more....also have to move to a better climate too.

[..]

BSA C15
249 cc.
Single cylinder, chain drive. First motorcycle ridden at the age of 13. Belonged to a Sixth Former (Senior) at boarding school. How he persuaded the authorities to let him have the bike on premises I don’t know. An older fellow student, Charlie, once tried to attack me with a brick whilst I was riding on the driveway towards the paddock; I let go of the clutch by mistake, did a wheelie and nearly flattened him. He left me alone after that not realising that I had reared up by mistake. Charlie much later took part in a bank raid near London’s Heathrow airport. Was cornered by the police, shot his female accomplice dead and then successfully shot himself.




Honda Benly CS90
90cc, single cylinder, chain drive. Mine had a full fairing on which was very handy for riding to my first job at age 16. Worked for a local newsagent, had to be at work at 5.30am rain, snow or shine. This machine was used and abused. I learnt a lot about engine maintenance!!!


650cc twin
2 cylinder, chain drive. This bike belonged to a big burly biker guy who had a large double adult sidecar fitted. He parked it most days behind the local newsagents I worked at by the railway station. I eventually realised that all I had to do was turn the ignition knob to on (no key) and I could kick start the monster to get it going. Then I used to borrow it (steal to be truthful) at lunchtime and go tearing around the local country lanes. After a couple of weeks I realised that I must have had a death wish, the owner would have beaten me black and blue.




Lambretta TV175
Engine: 175cc
H.P. 8.6hp @ 6000rpm
Fuel Consumption: 123mpg
Top Speed: 56mph

Quit the newsagents and started work for a commercial grass cutting landscaping company working at the local R.A.F. base. This scooter had such tight steering that I could lay down on the seat at 60mph and it would track straight and true. Stripped the engine down once and after reassembly had about 6 pieces left over. The thing still ran!!!



Velocette LE MKII
200cc
Shaft drive, water-cooled, flat twin, hand pull start, hand gear change. Ridden by the Police in England, known affectionately as a Noddy Bike (after a storybook character – Noddy). Eventually the left hand spark plug thread stripped so I took the cylinder head off and rode the bike side saddle for a couple of weeks so as to not get petrol and oil on my left leg. Eventually sold to a mechanic who wanted an old project bike.



Honda CB 200
200cc, 2 cylinder. This bike heralded my return to 2 wheels some 5 years later. English law at the time dictated that a learner could only ride up to a 250cc bike. I wanted something bigger and borrowed this from a local dealer on the understanding that I would take my test and purchase a bike from him. At the time I was a driving instructor in Leicester so knew the test route like the back of my hand. I had a couple of adventures on the bike before taking my test. Approached a large junction on a horrendously rainy night only to have a stop light change to red in front of me, the back wheel locked up and I skidded nearly sideways through the junction. Seemed that the rear shocks were shot. Dealer was embarrassed and changed them. I rode to see some friends one night about 20 miles away on twisty country roads. Came around a bend to find about 15 large white cows in the roadway, how I swerved and weaved through them I don’t really know, I ended up as white as a milk shake.
Took my test and passed even though during the test a car drove at me the wrong way down a narrow one way street. The test examiner told me that the sight of me standing on the foot pegs yelling at the driver had made his day.




400cc, 2 cylinder, chain drive
Honda CB400T. The bike I bought and regretted after running it in. A bland, boring, gutless piece of Jap Crap. Sold it.



Laverda 1000cc, 3 cylinder, chain drive. Fast, wonderful handling brute. Pulled to 60mph in first gear. Terrible to ride around town but orgasmic on the open road. This is the bike that took me to over 150mph on the M40 early one fine summer morning – Wheeeee.
Sold so I could pursue a new job as a despatch rider in London, had to have a more suitable bike.


 Honda CX500
500cc, V twin, water cooled, shaft drive, 112mph (not). Not a patch on the Laverda but a great despatch bike. Comfortable saddle (riding 1,000 miles a  week), low maintenance. Had this for about 2 years. Very early one morning in the company of a friend on a Suzuki GS1000 I raced down the Edgware Road in North London. Keith got chased by a Flying Squad (police) car and was stopped doing 130mph in a 30mph zone. He didn’t get a ticket they just wanted to make sure the bike hadn’t been stolen.



Honda CB400F,
400cc, 4 cylinder, chain drive. A great mini version of the CB750. Rode quite a few of these belonging to friends. Very nimble but too small for prolonged riding. I’d see other despatch riders on the motorway riding these and they would look shaken about.


Yamaha RD400, two stroke twin, power band crazy, wheelie at 40mph.



Kawasaki GPZ550, four cylinder, chain drive, pocket rocket.
This replaced the CX500 and what a transformation. Like getting off a broken down horse and climbing into a F16.  This made despatch riding even more fun. The footpegs had small balls welded on the underside of them and the footpegs also folded up about 5 degrees. I wore the balls off the underside of the footpegs. With a new set of Dunlop TT100’s this bike would handle so well. I really enjoyed roundabouts; on a dry day I had a smile wider than a Cheshire Cat.




Yamaha XS750, three cylinder, shaft drive. Rode one of these about 10 yards down a dirt road, fell off and unfortunately the owner riding pillion ripped his brand new imported Levis 501’s. Didn’t get to ride the bike again.


  
BMW R100RS. Flat twin, shaft drive.
Rode a friends that had cylinder head crash bars fitted and managed to chamfer off a good portion of the right hand one.



Honda Benly 200cc, 2 cylinder, chain drive.
The Kawasaki died a sudden and painful death when its rear mono suspension collapsed. This Benly became my despatch bike. Luckily the friends I worked for gave me pickups and deliveries that entailed chugging from one side of London to the other. The Benly would cruise at about 65mph all day and return about 70mpg around town. Took me to the South of France 3 times in the company of larger bikes. Never missed a beat and was eventually retired after 35,000 miles of use when I quit despatch riding. Ended up giving it to a collector of motorcycles who wanted a small project bike to work on.



Now I live in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and had a 1998 Valkyrie Honda which I bought in April of 2002. Ridden over 50,000 miles in 4 years. A very large 1500cc, 6 cylinder, six-carb behemoth that handled very well. Bit of a gas guzzler. Gets about 32mpg to the American gallon. The bike has took me out to Colorado, Sturgis – South Dakota, western Canada and the whole length of the Blue Ridge Parkway (twice). Mostly ridden around north Georgia and the neighboring states of North and South Carolina with frequent forays into eastern Tennessee.

Picked up a lightly used (1,500 miles) Honda ST1300 on April 17th, 2006 in Fort Worth, TX. Rode it back to Atlanta, 850 miles in 14 hours of riding. 5,400 on April 12th, 2006. 27,000 miles March 12, 2007, 46,000 January 28, 2008. 70,000 miles September 22, 2009.

There are other bikes I’ve ridden or owned but nothing really stands out about them. Apart from the Yamaha 90cc step through moped, which would stand on its rear light when you quickly engaged the foot operated clutch/gear change. A great post pub trick to amuse the onlookers.

More here under my handle Britman

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375701&page=6&highlight=motorcycle+courier  

[Mikey]

You all make me feel like a pup! I started riding in 2002 when i was 15. First motorcycle I ever rode was my dad's '79 Suzuki 850. Bought an old Honda Hawk a year ago, and then went casually shopping for a motorcycle, stumbled across my Valk and the sales guy saw me looking at it. He walked up and without saying a word, started it up and gave it a few revs... SOLD!  

As for the helmet thing, I wear a helmet about 85% of the time. I live in a non-helmet state, and generally wear a helmet. But I still like to enjoy the wind in my face every now and then!

Mikey,
Most of my wife's family lives in Winona. I got up ther sometimes. I'll definitely be there for the Valk rally next June in LaCrosse.

I was unaware that there was going to be a Valk Rally around here! You just made my day! Beautiful area for a Ride In! Look me up if you're ever in the area, I'm always looking for an excuse to ride!

[3fan4life]

I learned to ride on a mini bike when I was eight.

That gives me 38 years of riding motorcycles of some kind or another.

My dirt bike put me in the hospital for a week when I was 19, other than that it has been 38 very pleasurable years.


I had a woman today glare at me as I was getting off of my bike and say: "Do you know that you're doing something that casn get you killed riding that thing?"

I just smiled and said, "Yes mam, I know that. But, it brings me great pleasure and besides I can't live forever anyway."

[ChromeDome]

Not enough ... but I am working on that.

[HotRod]

I'm 48 and been riding since I was knee high to a grass hopper. Dirt bikes,mini bikes,quads, street,little bit of everything.

[Dag]

I had my first bike when I was 14. That`s 36 years ago.....

[Jay]

Let's see, it's hard to count that high with my fly up....34 years.  Kawasaki 175, 78 Honda 750, 78 Goldwing, 84 Goldwing, 99 Valk Tourer.  My guess, in excess of 250,000 miles.  Goes without saying, the Valk beats them all!

[Rocketman]

One thing about this site is the upmost honesty it brings out in riders. I was NOT telling anyone to not wear a helmet or convince them it's better, I was only expressing my feeling toward it. You all do what you do and thats your choice, I did go to the Blue/Gray ride and seen alot  of riders without helmets and some chose to wear theirs everyday, I did'nt say a word just watched. Oh and let me ask did you all be as safe as you could have been??? Were all your decisions the correct ones???
[snip]

If you're responding to my message, I think you took it the wrong way.  I was not criticizing, simply stating my opinion on gear.  I tried to state several times that your choice is yours alone, you choose your acceptable risk level, and you go with it.  My acceptable risk level is above not riding, but below helmet-less riding.  The only thing I criticized was the all-too-common tendency (no, not saying you personally) to try to manufacture a logical justification for an illogical choice.  (Note:  Lots of things we do are illogical.  Spending more money and time to ride to an out-of-state trip rather than fly there was illogical.  I did it anyway.  If I had tried to say that I did it because riding is safer than flying, or some other phony reason, I would be manufacturing a logical justification for it.  I had none.  I just felt like doing it.)
If you simply choose to not wear a helmet, I may think you made a bad choice, and if you honestly ask, I'll honestly tell you so, but I feel strongly about your freedom to exercise that choice.  I feel just as strongly about my freedom to exercise that choice.  I believe that my choice to wear a helmet full time has no bearing whatsoever on my freedom to choose.
I have ridden with lots of lid-less folks.  The only time I've asked anyone about it was an "Aren't you cold?" question, but then I realized he was from Michigan.  (:
It's rude and pointless to criticize someone for their choices that don't affect you.  The only reason I commented was because you asked in your original post.  (If someone starts spouting misinformation for the "benefit" of others, all bets are off, though...)

As for experience:
Yes, experience has made me safer.  I have no doubt about that.  I made some stupid mistakes when I was a newer rider that I'm glad didn't hurt more than they did.  I like to think that I won't make them again.  However, I may.  I may probably will find a brand new mistake to make.  Someone else may make those mistakes for me, as well.  I'll do whatever I can to make those mistakes hurt as little as possible.

[Duey]

        

[the inspector]

Hi Rocketman....no my posts are NOT aimed at anyone. I understand why someone might think so, but no there not. And I do understand your outlook and it is a good one. I like you, say as long as it does not effect others, do whetever you please. It's a free country, a great country and with that said I want to thank all you Veterans for your service to our country, because of all of you we have the freedom to do what pleases us, whenever we want. This is the best country in the world. All I want is to continue to have those choices and not let goverment take them all away. Be it motorcycles, guns, flu shots, excessive insurance costs, taxes, gasoline, airlines, holy crap the goverment is into everything, Chevrolet, real estate, wall street. Wearing a helmet is small potatoes next to all this crap. And oh don't forget HEALTH CARE for our guys, don't ever let them stop or alter that.

Ride safe my friend.....

"the inspector"

[hillbilly]

4 years, 3 months, 9 days, Bought 05' 1300 VTX June 20, 2005 rode 38,500 miles. Bought 99' Green/ silver Interstate March 2 2008 with 23,850 miles. Just turned 57,000 Sunday, 71,500 total. Never dreamed I'd enjoy it this much! Don't have alot of experience but can't imagine anything could be better than the Valk. My journey is complete, totally satisfied with my ride. Sad to think there are no more being made, :'(after the Valk,for me only one way to go Goldwing. Hard to go back to two after riding six. 

[Stanley Steamer]

I started riding a 1982 Yamaha 550 Vision back in 1990....I got it from my Brother-n-law....after spending MUCHO dinero on it, I rode it on and off for a few years, but never had a bike that was for serious riding until I bought a brand new 2003 Honda Shadow 750 ACE back in Sept. of 2002....rode it 2 years before getting the Big Green Girl....

[fudgie]

OK all....1st. I want to clear up the issue from Raymond. My reason for not wanting to wear a helmet is just that, My choice! No excuses, you riders can make up your own minds. But let me point out the reasons you ride a motorcycle in the first place. It's not the safest hobby you can find, you can fish or knit or paint. I suspect you all ride because of the way it makes you feel....even though you know of the danger of riding. The politicians already told you it's dangerous. To the old riders that started riding before the law bout helmets, you road in the wind, pretty much everyone told you (mom's, dad's, friends) your crazy.....it's dangerous. But you did it anyway, you liked the way it made you feel,  (Flirtin' With Disaster) as per Molly Hatchet. You were a wild child, doing your thing......until some politician said hey you should and we should.....fill in the blanks. With all the rules and laws today it seems like hey I'm really safe now and I'll live to a ripe old age. Bull, playing with guns, adultery, drugs, race cars and street racing, crap even going to church or mickyd's is dangerous, so whats the point. Their are only a few things we do in life to enjoy ourself's, most are dangerous but we still do them. All I'm saying is do what you want, it should be your choice, don't break the law and try to be as safe as you want to be...and don't play with matches. I am very conscientious about my safety and not as reckless as I was as a young man.....but still do like riding in the wind without my lid, and so if I hurt myself it's my fault for riding a motorcycle in the first place, it's a dangerous hobby. If you worry about hurting yourself try knitting.........

"the inspector"

That's fine. As long as you're willing to pay your own hospital and rehab costs without taking my insurance premiums, I'm happy to let you do whatever you like.

He will be fine.... He has Obama care......

[fudgie]

I'm back....was out, still working for a living. I did not realize this topic was so intriguing and have the amount of responce it did. One thing about this site is the upmost honesty it brings out in riders. I was NOT telling anyone to not wear a helmet or convince them it's better, I was only expressing my feeling toward it. You all do what you do and thats your choice, I did go to the Blue/Gray ride and seen alot  of riders without helmets and some chose to wear theirs everyday, I did'nt say a word just watched. Oh and let me ask did you all be as safe as you could have been??? Were all your decisions the correct ones??? Did you drink and ride??? Did you break the speed limet??? Look I'm not trying to break your balls here, just stateing a fact, hell when we eat to much we can't even move but we ride, were your tires bald??? You know as well as me the list can go on and on....did you make the right choice? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. As far as years riding their is no substitute for experience. Do you think Smoking Joe just hopped on his bike and can ride like he does....I don't think so. I do beleive the more time in the saddle will make you a better rider and more aware of danger lurking and trying to get you. Ride straight, be aware, watch and anticipate all others around you and beleive me I know how much it hurts when you hit your head on something that doesn't move. But I still prefer not to wear mine. I met some fine people at the B/G...Smoking Joe, Steamer, Skinhead and his posse...Fugie & Kit in the back ground, so many people around them two I couldn't even get near them.....Kit I really did like that one picture of you at Strugis (really nice) your a lucky man Fugie. I do hope to meet more of you in the future, so ride safe. I really can't wait to retire so I can ride more....also have to move to a better climate too.

My answers to your questions are... Yes. But I don't recall my front tire being bald..... 

[fudgie]

Graduated in 94 and found my uncles 72 cb350 in the barn. Been there since the mid 80's, laid on its side. Put in gas and new battery and it started right up. It would only run in 2 gears at 1st. Married in 98 and bought a 94 VLX 600 in 99. 2000 bought the 98 Tourer. Divorced in 06 and barely kept it. Still got it now and since the 'D' I've ridden where I wanted and when I wanted, with Kit of coarse. Maybe 60,000 total. Jeez thats sad.    35,000 of those are with Kit.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I'm back....was out, still working for a living. I did not realize this topic was so intriguing and have the amount of responce it did. One thing about this site is the upmost honesty it brings out in riders. I was NOT telling anyone to not wear a helmet or convince them it's better, I was only expressing my feeling toward it. You all do what you do and thats your choice, I did go to the Blue/Gray ride and seen alot  of riders without helmets and some chose to wear theirs everyday, I did'nt say a word just watched. Oh and let me ask did you all be as safe as you could have been??? Were all your decisions the correct ones??? Did you drink and ride??? Did you break the speed limet??? Look I'm not trying to break your balls here, just stateing a fact, hell when we eat to much we can't even move but we ride, were your tires bald??? You know as well as me the list can go on and on....did you make the right choice? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. As far as years riding their is no substitute for experience. Do you think Smoking Joe just hopped on his bike and can ride like he does....I don't think so. I do beleive the more time in the saddle will make you a better rider and more aware of danger lurking and trying to get you. Ride straight, be aware, watch and anticipate all others around you and beleive me I know how much it hurts when you hit your head on something that doesn't move. But I still prefer not to wear mine. I met some fine people at the B/G...Smoking Joe, Steamer, Skinhead and his posse...Fugie & Kit in the back ground, so many people around them two I couldn't even get near them.....Kit I really did like that one picture of you at Strugis (really nice) your a lucky man Fugie. I do hope to meet more of you in the future, so ride safe. I really can't wait to retire so I can ride more....also have to move to a better climate too.

My answers to your questions are... Yes. But I don't recall my front tire being bald..... 

Wel duh! Did you expect to be able see bald spots after all those drinks? 

Raymond

[daytona]

41 yrs and counting seeing those youngsters hi/lo side @ 150 mph get up and run to the mangled bike to get back on the track kinda makes one think there maybe somthin to the rider eqip they make these days! 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I didn’t see the helmet part of the thread first time around. When riding dirt bikes as a kid I always wore a helmet. It’s a good thing too since I broke several helmets.

I still nearly always wear a helmet even though I live in a state which gives me the freedom of choice. The reasons are simple. It’s hard for me to ride in the rain or into the sun without a helmet and helmet visor. Also, if I’m in need of a haircut I arrive at my destination looking like I slept under a newspaper on the courthouse lawn if I leave the helmet at home.

However on my daily ride home from work when I’m sweaty, dirty and smell like a goat I leave the helmet on the backrest unless it’s raining or cold.

One of the reasons I ride to work even when it’s so foggy it’s dangerous is because every time I submit to Indiana’s new seatbelt law I feel like I’m urinating on Jefferson’s grave. Although I wore a seatbelt most of the time before the law was passed now I angrily hook it under my leg. If Indiana passed a mandatory helmet law I would probably leave my Nolan in the closet and wear an old football helmet with some cow horns attached to protest the law. And yes, before anyone asks, the protesting in a cheap helmet would be worth my life if it came to that.

Better to live a short life as a free man than 100 lifetimes as a slave to the safety Nazis in my opinion. Few things burn my aging rear more than some congressman trading my freedom for a new set of golf clubs, cut-rate insurance and some blonde perks from an insurance company lobbyist.

[Hoser]

OK all....1st. I want to clear up the issue from Raymond. My reason for not wanting to wear a helmet is just that, My choice! No excuses, you riders can make up your own minds. But let me point out the reasons you ride a motorcycle in the first place. It's not the safest hobby you can find, you can fish or knit or paint. I suspect you all ride because of the way it makes you feel....even though you know of the danger of riding. The politicians already told you it's dangerous. To the old riders that started riding before the law bout helmets, you road in the wind, pretty much everyone told you (mom's, dad's, friends) your crazy.....it's dangerous. But you did it anyway, you liked the way it made you feel,  (Flirtin' With Disaster) as per Molly Hatchet. You were a wild child, doing your thing......until some politician said hey you should and we should.....fill in the blanks. With all the rules and laws today it seems like hey I'm really safe now and I'll live to a ripe old age. Bull, playing with guns, adultery, drugs, race cars and street racing, crap even going to church or mickyd's is dangerous, so whats the point. Their are only a few things we do in life to enjoy ourself's, most are dangerous but we still do them. All I'm saying is do what you want, it should be your choice, don't break the law and try to be as safe as you want to be...and don't play with matches. I am very conscientious about my safety and not as reckless as I was as a young man.....but still do like riding in the wind without my lid, and so if I hurt myself it's my fault for riding a motorcycle in the first place, it's a dangerous hobby. If you worry about hurting yourself try knitting.........

"the inspector"

That's fine. As long as you're willing to pay your own hospital and rehab costs without taking my insurance premiums, I'm happy to let you do whatever you like.

 
Inspector, do as you want, and I don't care about my insurance premiums going up, it's on me.  I'll wear mine, you don't, no big deal to me.  hoser

[Steven W.]

I started riding mini bikes in the mid 60's, went to dirt bikes then road bikes.  I guess I've been riding 40 years all told.  Spent many years riding Western New York, even rode all winter one year in Buffalo, just to prove I could do it (I was a lot younger then).  I never wear a helmet unless the law says I have to, never wore seat belts until the LEO's here in Tampa decided that was much more fun to enforce than chasing criminals, but now I do most of the time.  Not by choice, but because my wallet isn't fat.

[Karen]

Bought a 50cc Silver Pigeon scooter from the Firestone store in Anniston AL in 62, rode it to Detroit (3 & 1/2 days, 8 gallons of gas). Shortly after I picked up my luggage at the bus station I got stopped by the cops, saw them laughing in the rear view mirror, knew I was OK. Told me Michigan had a helmet law & I needed to get one, so I did, and just wear one all the time. Went to ride it back down the  following summer, and it died outside of Toledo. My mom drove down, we put it in the trunk of her Buick, we took it to my brother's place & I gave it to him, then mom took me to Sears, where she put an Allstate Compact scooter on her charge card for me. It was in a crate, needed minor assembly, but it had a 3 speed shift! Put 100 miles on it, then left headed south & east,  ended up in Harrisburg PA with a ruptured appendix. After the surgery, my mom drove down to Harrisburg, she was recovering from a fractured hip, and I had a big bandage from the belly button south, so we got a postman to help us put the scooter in the trunk (do you see a pattern here?). The scooter stayed in Michigan, except when I flew up to Alaska in 67, I shipped it up & shipped it back. In 69, I came to Boston, & shipped the scooter over here, great getting around town & parking in front of school. Moved up to a BMW R26 in 70, & sold the scoot for $100. Saw a bad accident, lost my hear for riding in 72, and sold the Beemer. 1987, and a guy at work was selling a 74 CB750K4 for $300, and I figured if I was still that uncomfortable, I could always sell it & get my money back. Got my 99 Valk in 2000 new at the dealer, and eventually gave the 750 away with almost 100K on it. Looks like a little over 30 years, with at least 30 more to go...