To start with, I want to send my condolences to family and loved ones of the 17 year old who passed away last night as a result of a motorcycle accident.
Now I want all young and old people (who reads LTWWL/B )who are learning or just got their license to ride motorcycles to take HEED to what I’m writing.
Motorcycles always have been very unforgiving machines, you input what you ask of it, it will do just that. Many times I’ve seen people not understanding the power they have beneath them, you pass that limit or your experience limit, I can guarantee hurt and sometimes death will visit you quickly. I have been driving for years and to this day there are instances where I’ve come close to an incident.
All too often I’ve seen drivers zoom past me like they’re in the Indy 500, SLOW THE HELL DOWN, a rock, a twig, dog, cat, you name it, it will get you when you least expect it.
Your new licence doesn’t come with experience and common sense, that I’m afraid is a learning curve.
Please, motorcycles are fun to ride and experience, don’t try to impress your new love or family member by being an idiot showing off, you only scare the hell out of them to never want to step foot on one again. How would you feel if they got hurt as a result of your stupidity? Could you live with your conscience ? I know I couldn’t.
Think carefully next time you ride, the life you save may very well be your own. Happy Motoring. —Klyde
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2013.
2 relevant, logical and superbly written traffic bitches on the same day.
Kudos, Klyde and Ginger. You guys are kicking on all cylinders.
Well put Klyde.
For the motorcyclists part of the equation, always drive to your skill level and drive like everything is out to kill you. I can’t promote the Safety course enough either. Shit will happen still, but keep a cool head and keep control of the ride.
Well said Klyde. I’m too chickenshit to ride motorcycle but to those that do, heed Klyde’s words.
True story:
My first day riding, I was practicing on a nice grass patch… cool, dewy morning. I gave it too much gas, started to wobble, grabbed the front break and next thing I know I’m laying with the (700 lb) bike pinning my left foot and gas pouring all over me out of the tank. It took a few seconds to even realize what had happened. I then had to haul myself out and pick the fucker up. Got the scar to prove it.
It’s tough to learn on your first day that:
1. had that been on a road with someone following me, I’d be dead. *revelation*
2. the power they have is indescribable and must always be respected
3. bandage yourself up and get back on or you never will
4. there is NEVER a need to rush while riding. Slow and steady and just enjoy the ride
5. and probably the most important… NEVER NEVER NEVER panic
hard pill to swallow on day 1.
They still terrify me… and I suppose that’s why I love it so much.
Whatever, people who ride donorcycles all think they are the only ones that can properly operate them. I saw some asshole the other day riding down the white line between two lanes of traffic on the Bedford hwy during rush hour traffic.
I hear ya Edward. Those first days are…interesting.
I also had a lovely single vehicle bike accident when I was younger. Broke a bunch of stuff, my pride and nearly a lamp pole.
But what do you do? You learn and when the bug hits again, you get back on. And remember every time an ache hits the bones.
Donorcycle. Darkly humourous Mr. Harper.
As well, I believe that manoeuver is legal in Europe and some parts of the U.S. Sort of creating a third lane for themselves.
That’s zZzedward… and do you mean literally when the bug hits?
Because that’s when it’s hardest not to panic, hit in the face by a bee is always rough.
That and when they manage to crawl inside your sunglasses at 80 clicks.
My personal favorite was a fist-sized rock off a dump truck into the chest at 60.
Governments these days always seems to be making new laws , looking at ways to restrict our rights push forward the agenda’s of the minority & so called disadvantaged ,bullied etc etc
So why not the Organ Donor Law , no sign the donor card no motorcycle license no excuses allowed.
After all with 9 fresh (& some quite young) bodies recently collected there’s a potential to help a lot of people on donor lists .
I think this would be a law well worth passing & before you all start flaming me & my idea , & while I am no longer a motorcycle rider , I am a donor card signee anyway.
I was riding with my bf out by barkerville when we hit a rabbit. it died, but I still wouldn’t marry him
I MISS riding. country roads, pockets of warm and cool, the scents you catch. so alive and ‘in the moment’
First, you send condolences.
Next you infer he was riding recklessly and that it’s his fault.
Good for you. Feel good to do that? think it will help the boy who was killed/his family/others…?!
Nope!
Darwin rules !
Pretty sad that I have to defend my column, but Mister M, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I was that kid 31 years ago who went over a station wagon going approx. 50 mph (not 50kph) in Stewiake believing I was bulletproof chasing my friends to P.E.I. God was on my side and i was lucky to walk away and like another commenter, I have the aches and pains of that day forever etched in my body and memory.
How you surmised that in any way i inferred that it was his fault or being reckless goes beyond any comprehension?
My column was meant simply to warn motorcycle drivers of all ages whether young or old, experienced or not of the many hazards associated with wanting to enjoy the experience of riding bikes. Just do it safely as best you can.
Do you ride bikes? I think not.
My bad…39 years ago…
I grew up riding dirt bikes. There is no better way to learn to ride than a dirtbike in an open field. If you think you can just go buy a sport bike with 600-1000cc of power and cruise down the pavement with no experience, that’s basically suicide. Smarten up people. I’ve been driving my sport bike for 5 years accident free. I still have close calls now and then but riding a bike is all about reaction time and knowledge of the machine. Ride safe, don’t be a dumb ass.
First of all he didn’t pass away, he died a very horrible and very preventable death. When I hear the words passed away, to me they mean someone died quietly in their sleep. This death is all to common in people who think they are invincible, going to fast, have too much machine they can’t handle, and of course inexperience. The sad part is he is not the first and certainly won’t be the last. The human body hitting the ground at even 50kmh can be damaged to the extreme. So stay safe, ride a machine to fit with your experience, drive safe, wear your leathers and helmet, obey the laws, and keep both eyes open.
Point taken BT, just my choice of words being polite.. hate saying died, perished, etc.
Klyde you experienced too much death during your life.
You’re right about death WAC, I have seen more than enough. I may not have been able to regale this story as that could very well have been me back in ’74 that anyone could have read about then. I still have haunting memories of that night, seeing the tractor coming out of driveway with the station wagon stopping to let him out, there wasn’t enough brakes in the world to stop me, seeing my speedo was the last thing I saw before flying over car. To this day I stop at that location and have a smoke. and say, I guess it wasn’t my time.
Thanks for posting the original Bitch Klyde, that is really good advice and I have shared it on my FB–I have a few friends with bikes, and lots of friends with cars. Awareness is a key factor in accident prevention.
Thanks also for sharing your personal experience–so glad you recovered and are able to deal with that piece of your own personal history, as well as use it to keep others informed in a really salient way.
The death of the young man you speak of in your post was heartbreaking–I am an old neuro nurse and have seen this type of devastation too many times to count. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.
We’re on the same page SheSang. I want guys and gals, (love seeing gals on bikes) to know of my experiences or lack of back then, so they don’t learn the hard way. I want them to learn to truly enjoy a sport I hold dear.
As I type am getting ready to put another 400 or so k’s on my bike today…I live for Saturdays. See you out there, and watch out for critters, lol.
Have a great day Klyde! And a safe and fun ride:)
Yes, I ride my bike daily – everywhere.
I apologize for jumping on you Mister M, but you hit a nerve with your first comment…I wonder how you would have commented had you known about my experience in ’74 where the outcome could have been worse. Would you still have given a smug comment or would you have chosen your words more carefully. Where’s your compassion?
I will answer your questions though
Did I feel good posting my thoughts?…HELL NO.. I shouldn’t have had to but when I read and heard the news about a 17 yr. old it brought me back to that night in Stewiake where I had cheated death. It was a deep reminder of how a life altering experience can change everything.
I was a young person then, full of piss and vinegar, impressionable, impetuous and worst of all, had the mindset that everything happens to other people, not me. That night was a rude awakening for me and changed my whole outlook for a lot of things. Something I’m not ashamed to say.
Will it help the 17 yr. old…that I’m afraid is too late.
Will it help his parents and loved ones?.. Probably not, I just hope that they can take solace and be at peace knowing that someone has the guts to come forward, even sharing his own experience, which I care not to remember, so that others can or will learn from it to not repeat a horrendous error.
Will it help others? MOST DEFINATELY…anybody who reads this here and on Facebook will understand that a motorcycle can seriously hurt or kill someone. You have to have reverence and respect for such a machine.
SheSang and I are on the same page, we need better awareness on the hazards faced by motorists of all stripes, especially motorcycles. They should have a graduated licencing for bikes and limit the size of them as well as speed limits for beginners. Safety is PARAMOUNT. Again She Sang, can’t thank you enough.
I was looking for MontrealMan to shed some light on all this, so I can have a better understanding of what a teenaged boy, such as myself at that time, was going through to have make serious errors in judgement.
Your next comment came as a shock to me, cause if it had been me, I would have said ” Sorry for my comment, I didn’t know you had a deep connection to this. You didn’t do that, in essence you have shown no remorse for your remarks.
If you care to give constructive criticism, I’m all ears, if not, don’t respond to this, cause if you do, you will only show your lack of compassion, remorse and most of all your SINCERITY.
what great posts you make my love! Dont jump on mistermeaty jump on me instead!!