I Understand Risk, I Don't Understand Delusion. (Or do I?) (Part 5 of 5)

OK, the previous posts have been about understanding how others can have a different level of risk assessment than I might and I've come a long way to accepting that they are allowed to do that and it will not hurt me or any website I might operate. I also will defend my opinion that I can talk safety, provide good examples and not have to fight every person that does not adhere to what I think.

I recently met a group of individuals that are so militant in their safety beliefs that they categorize any advanced training or event including Total Control and Trackdays as irresponsible. They say this because they believe that these things only encourage riders to ride above and beyond what is legal on the roadway. I can only assume that they ride in a manner that obeys every written law, and I'll even accept that as possible. But, I get lost in their understanding of how advanced understanding directly means that a person will automatically use that understanding or skill inappropriately.

I can imagine this as a misguided approach of saving people from themselves and have even fallen into the trap of thinking I could help people avoid pain by trying to change their behavior, but never did I think someone would think learning how to better ride a bike would be bad, let alone trying to stop the process all together.

As I said recently I met a group, well specifically I interacted with an individual who slammed the Ten Step To Proper Cornering as presented in the Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic by Lee Parks. His misunderstanding of the 10 Steps are what he first started to slam, but once corrected on the actual step he stepped further back in his defense and eventually it became clear he was simply against any training of the sort.

Of course this was all based upon what he believed the training or curriculum was about, not from any real attempt to understand any of it at all. In fact he has never cracked Lee's book open, nor did he take advantage of actually sitting through the Clinic (which he was offered, for free.) To be clear, he didn't even sit in the classroom segment, nor did he ride. So, in the end of my interaction with this gentleman I decided it is impossible to respect a negative opinion, when the person doesn't even bother to understand what they are critical of in the first place.

In the end, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and as such it is my opinion that people who ride with our regard to others are rude and those who simply throw stones at things they clearly have spent no time to understand are sad.

While both being rude and sad in my above statement come from the lack of understanding, I am a lot more tolerant of rude, unless it becomes obvious that they do not want to understand, versus those I define as sad. Because the sad folks refuse to understand and ultimately must really be missing the point of riding a motorcycle.

In my mind, when riding is 100% safe, it is boring.

I can't imagine anything worse than riding without any thrill, just using a motorcycle for simple....boring transportation. I know that some have a motorcycle as their only choice and may choose to ride a lot safer, that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about riding a motorcycle and missing the whole point of riding a motorcycle!

So, the next time you go on a ride, take a deep breath and soak in the reality that what you do is dangerous. Then seek comfort in your ability to understand risk, manage it and be truly in control. Because a life without risk, at least in my mind, just simply isn't worth living!

Why Do They Ride Without Helmets?!? (Part 4 of 5)

I know people that will ride a bike 160 MPH on a public street who can't stand that other riders will ride a bike at any speed without a helmet. I've always found this as the most interesting contradiction, but until recently couldn't tell either group (which don't understand the other by the way) why each does what they do.

The simple answer goes back to why most all of us ride, which is....because it is dangerous!

The 160 MPH rider feels safe in the helmet and gear, so to get closer to the thrill they must go faster. The helmet-less rider feels safer riding slower, so they ride without as much gear and no helmet to feel the thrill. (Is either really safe?) And then, we have the rider that needs to ride without a helmet, without gear, helmet, at 160 MPH and even added risk to truly get a rush.

These folks are essentially the same, they simply have different thrill thresholds, thus the difference in choices. You can look at most all riders and you'll see this logic holds true. Of course you'll need to set aside what you feel is responsible for your life or you'll constantly disagree with their choices. (Just as they don't understand your choices...)

I still shake my head when I see a guy on a bike with a helmet, shorts and a T-shirt. Not because I think they should have gear, but because I wonder why they bothered with the helmet.

Ultimately however I'll never say a thing to them, because they don't affect my physical or mental condition.

Personal Safety vs Safety Enforcement (Part 3 of 5)

Talking safety is the best way to put a target on your riding or opinion. People will line up and start throwing stones almost immediately, in fact they'll go out of their way to call you a hypocrite and try to cite everything you've ever done. If they can't find something you've actually done they will put you on trial by association and if that doesn't work they'll finally move to criticism based upon things you haven't done to help stem the tide of unsafe acts. The bottom line is that they are very good at tearing things down, so they don't have to feel judged. When in reality they are self-judging and simply trying to feel better about that judgement.

Now, here is the most misunderstood part of having an opinion. Even though you have one you can let others to have their own. I'll use knee-dragging on the street as an example. (It could be wheelies, stoppies and a bunch of other horseplay items.)

I don't think it is responsible to drag a knee on the street and I don't think it is safe to drag a knee in front of others on a group ride. (Note, I did not say the act was unsafe alone on the street.)

I say this because I don't believe it is a skill that should be used on the street unless you are put in a situation where that much lean angle is needed to avoid a hazard. If a rider is paying attention as they should, that situation is one in a billion.

It isn't safe on a group in front of others because it is a skill that requires understanding of proper body positioning and done wrong can lead to a crash fairly easy. A crash on a group ride is disrespectful of other people's time and that's the real reason I don't like it. I feel if you are going to ask others to accommodate you during the day, you should be respectful of them and not do something that would encourage them to crash or risk a crash yourself.

I'll take respectful riding over safe riding every day, as ultimately the mere act of riding a motorcycle is less safe than the accepted norm, so trying to define the one true "safe" way becomes ludicrous. (I did not just say I am OK with riding with unsafe riders.)

For me, being responsible means that I'll return home to my wife in the same basic physical condition that I left. Doing something that places me in a hospital with tons of bills would beyond that commitment I've made to her. Others might not have the same level of responsibility and as long as they don't threaten my physical or more importantly mental condition (keep in mind that riding is more a mental activity than a physical one) at risk, I have no issue with the risks they take.

In the past I've tried to explain this to others and I know they simply hear that I personally don't want them doing wheelies or stoppies on a ride and not what I'm actually saying, which was that it made others uncomfortable and there is nothing worse than a mentally stressed rider for everyone concerned. I've recently decided to abandon this approach as it puts me in an odd position and gives people and inaccurate assessment of my views and why I have them. Quite simply I'll avoid riding with the folks I don't like and if they make me feel uncomfortable on a ride I'll simply distance myself from them. If they continue to try to ride directly near me I'll say something.

If they ride near someone else inappropriately I'll leave it to that person to move away or speak up. In the past I've had people complain to me and I then approached folks, but no longer. In the future if people are upset I'll assist them in approaching the person, but they'll have to express the issue themselves as once again I'm done have my time affected in such a way.

The bottom line is that if someone wants to drag a knee on the street (or any other of those items) I don't care, as long as they are not placing me in danger or being disrespectful of my time.

Why Do I Ride? (Part 2 of 5)

If you ask most riders why they ride you'll hear a whole bunch of stuff. Usually it is feel good, wind in your hair, freedom of the road, if you have to ask blah blah stuff, that I myself have even stated to others, quite frequently. But recently I've changed my answer to something that is a whole lot more clear, and when another rider gets upset with my answer....well, I have to call BS.

I ride because it is dangerous.

Plain and simple, it is something that makes me different and it makes me feel alive. Not a drone stuck in a box moving through life one block at a time. I can use more of the road and can control how much or how little risk I can take almost every instance of a ride....including when I choose to sit still. This obsession called riding is easier to obtain than driving a race car, more easily repeatable than skydiving and a lot cheaper than a dozen other things that would give the same thrill. Now danger doesn't mean purposely placing myself in danger and don't confuse dangerous with a death wish, those two are completely different, as the goal when riding is not to die, nor is it to get closer to death!

Once I came to the above conclusion about riding it made it a lot easier to understand squids and other high risk takers, but honestly the discovery came because I finally met the complete opposite of a squid, which I though was a cager that doesn't understand bikes, but in reality, much, much worse.

What could be worse, than someone who doesn't understand riding slamming the draw to riding? Well, that would be a rider who believes the only proper way to ride is to ride so safely, it removes all the fun and excitement completely. I'll delve into this a bit more soon.

Anyway, back to my statement about danger. Anyone who has ridden with me, or talked to me would make the determination that I am more often than not safe. And those who would be quick to point out moments when I've taken risk would also have to say that I only put myself at risk. I don't dive head on at other vehicles, but honestly I understand the rush. (Just not gonna put myself there if it is avoidable.)

Riding and Living (Part 1 0f 5)

I got back on a street motorcycle eight years ago and I've made quite a few discoveries in that time. One of the most surprising things I've found is how aggressive some riders can be about how "they" think people should interact. They have opinions about riding, what they consider to be safe and unsafe and then what they feel comfortable about talking about, but the more opinionated they are about "their" approach the less likely they are to "allow" other opinions, including trying to discredit people's riding, calling them names and even sometimes threatening physical violence over how someone else chooses to do something by themselves.

Now, let me be clear before confusion arises, that I am talking about personal choices that are made on solo rides, or decisions made in small groups when all the riders know one another, not people unknown to one another riding together. When taking a personal risk directly affects the risk level of others, respect must be given to the safety of other's.

I've always accepted other's opinions, regardless if I agree with them or not. That is until they try to shove it down my throat, or if that opinion places me directly in risk and then I'll stand up and defend my position, right or wrong. Even then I don't ask that others accept my position, just that they consider there may be another viewpoint.

Anyway, this all leads me to the recent discovery that those who risk everything sometimes are a lot less worse than what I'll call safety Nazi's. And I'm not talking someone who has the balls to talk safety, but those who state that advanced training and trackdays are unsafe because they teach people to ride at a risky level.

As I continue I'll set a few definitions and then maybe my point of view will make more sense to others.

More Control - Better Looking

I've had a custom lever from CRG on the clutch side of my ST1300 for some time know and I truly loved the way it worked and how it felt while in use. My only complaint was that CRG did not spend the time to make a matching control for the brake side.

While the factory brake side lever is adjustable it was a huge, bulky lever that did not lend itself to trail braking and extended, constant use. On long cross country hauls it was fine, but for use in Ironman events and tight control issues it got to be slightly bothersome.

I had always wanted a better brake side control and there are a couple options but nothing I was willing to jump at until a group buy for the ASV levers was posted on SouthWestRides.com. When this group buy was posted I checked out the options and decided to jump. The price certainly made it easier, but I can tell you full price is worth the cost.

I mentioned the CRG's which I loved. I loved them because of their adjustability on the fly and the feel. Well, so far the ASV's have a similar feel and are infinitely more adjustable, due to their clicker adjustability, which gives about 60 to 160 positions between full-in and full-out.

My only concern about the ASV's is the replacement for the brake plunger that doesn't seal like the factory one did, but with the way I maintain and clean a bike I should be fine.

Now functionality aside, I also love the look of these new levers. Gold and black is the standard option, I traded the black wheels for red and I think I have some pretty nice new bling on my one of a kind ST1300.