Let's Be Careful Out There...

[Shutterbug]

A good friend of mine was in a horrible motorcycle accident the other night. He's got broken ribs, broken neck, brain bleed and is on a ventilator. There's been zero brain activity since Sunday night. Sadly, if there's no improvement today they're going to disconnect him from life support. It's painful to think of a world without my buddy Forrest.

In the biker community, there's an unspoken understanding that the risks are higher than for those who ride in "cages" and, while those risks are readily accepted, it still hurts like Hell when you lose a brother.

So, if you ride, be safe out there and keep the shiny side up. If you drive, just look twice. Bikers can be hard to see...

[TaylorGirl]

So sorry to hear of your dear friend's accident. Your message is an important one. Whether we choose to ride or not, isn't the issue. We all choose our own risk levels. My husband and I had sport bikes for a few years. We need to watch out for ourselves and others and, like you said....be careful. Keep us posted.

[Shutterbug]

Just got the word that Forrest passed away peacefully at 1:30pm.

This is pretty crushing...

[Strumming Fool]

Sorry for your loss. Prayers go out for all impacted....

[TaylorGirl]

Just got the word that Forrest passed away peacefully at 1:30pm.

This is pretty crushing...

I am so sorry. 

[timfitz63]

Very sorry to hear about your friend's tragic passing.  Condolences and prayers.

[Guitar Cowboy]

So sorry for your loss. Prayers for Forrest and his family and friends

[Marco Polo]

sincere condolences for you and his family

[Munich_ghoul]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Wishing you all the strength you need to make it through these hard times.

[mgap]

As a bike rider myself, I often hear of these tragedies.  It is gut-wrenching.  My condolences. 
Yes be careful out there: Look both ways and get off your electronic device while driving.  Please 

[Earl]

Condolences on your loss.  We rode for many years, without incident but with a few close calls.  Our last bike sold mid-summer, and we are now done.  I've been through several stints of rehab (brain surgery, major rotator cuff surgery, and two knee replacements) in the pasty eight years and have no desire to go through any of that PT again.  So we gladly gave up riding as our risk tolerance declined.

Along the way we lost several friends on motorcycles.  We always rode as if there were a bullseye painted on our backs, and 100% of the time wearing appropriate protective gear (Aerostich suit, helmet).

[Frettingflyer]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss Shutterbug. While I stopped riding after high school, I have lost friends and it is so hard. I hope you find peace and can move forward. I lost my closest friend just a few years ago and still feel the loss, especially as his birthday would have been this week. He will be with you always, make the most of the “extra” days you get from here on out.

[AmericanEagle]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I wish you much strength in this hard time. I am also a bit worried about me, preparing to get my bike on the road next spring, for the first time. I have always wanted one, but my wife, now ex wife, managed to talk me out of it. Well, now I am single and want to go for it, am excited, but am a bit worried as well.

[Earl]

Eagle, my advice is to find a local Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic rider course.  I guarantee that after that weekend you will be a better and safer rider than maybe 85% of the bikers out there.  I grew up riding dirt bikes and then road bikes, and still learned so much in that "beginner" course.  In many states it substitutes for a road test at the DMV to get a motorcycle endorsement on your license.  We used to take the Experienced Rider Course as a refresher every other spring, to shake off the rust after not riding for six months through the long Alaskan winters.

Look at www.aerostich.com for truly world-class and road worthy riding gear.  It is expensive, but you ARE worth it.  I still have the first Darien suit I bought in 1995 and it works fine after all these years and over 70,000 road miles.  (It also makes great foul weather gear on boats, etc).  Aerostich stuff is waterproof in the rain and is both breathable / vented in the heat.  Mine has been worn in everything from 14° in Alaska to 95°F in Arizona.