How do you respond to non-riders who say “motorcycles are dangerous”?

It’s difficult to explain the mental clarity and focus that comes with responsible riding to those that haven’t tried it. After some close calls, you begin berating yourself for lapses in attention or judgment. Then you start to realize that driving a car is also very serious business. Or at least it should be.

Paradoxically, the inherent increased risks of riding a motorcycle vs. driving a car seem to make me safer on my motorcycle than a car. Between ABS, traction control, airbags, etc., it’s pretty hard to get seriously injured in most car accidents. Even relatively serious accidents have people walking away from them with just bruises most of the time. This means people often take risks in a car that they wouldn’t on a bike. In a car you will gun it through the yellow light, or try to zip around another car with less than optimal clearance. On a bike, I don’t take those chances because the downside is far greater than a dinged fender.

Nothing compares to the feeling of cruising down the road on a motorcycle. It’s a visceral thrill that a non-rider wouldn’t understand – and it outweighs any increased risk. For me, riding my bike is 10x the fun, so even if it’s twice as risky as driving, it’s worth it.

When someone says to me that motorcycles are dangerous, I try to tell them that I understand and accept the risks. I’ve taken steps to mitigate those risks, including wearing safe riding gear and attending safe riding courses.

And at the end of the day I feel any remaining risk is worth the experience.

How do you respond to someone who says motorcycles are dangerous?

Do you have a name for your motorcycle?

There is nothing more assuring than discussing your motorcycle and your motorcycle issues with fellow enthusiasts. And when it comes to troubleshooting, I find the most comforting and experienced resource is other riders of the same make/model as your bike. That is one of many reasons I am a constant reader and contributor at the Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle forum. In fact, it is my homepage!

An interesting topic popped up the other day that I found interesting and humorous, and I thought it would be interesting to hear from Rubber on the Road readers – Do you have a name for your motorcycle? When you get attached to something or someone it is not uncommon for people to give it an affectionate name. Sometimes the name is only used in private, sometimes you have a special name for it when it is not running or causing problems – regardless, I am curious!

My current Kawasaki Vulcan 800 I haven’t named, but my past bikes all had names – “Six Shooter” for my 83 Kawi LTD 440, “Red Molly” for my red 85 Honda Magna 750, “Lady Triumph” for my 03 Triumph America 800.

Uneasy Rider

I just read a great article in the January 12th edition of the Wall Street Journal, that can be found here, about a man, Ivan Pisarenko, who has spent the last 5 years on the approximately 17,000 mile motorcycle ride from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego at the tip of South America.

It’s a really interesting piece that details some of the adventures he’s had along the way, explaining how a tentatively 9 month long trip has turned into a more than 5 year odyssey. It seems he’s been through everything from get a drink bought for him by Mexican highway robbers to his motorcycle being confiscated by customs in his home country of Argentina.

Apparently, the trip has gotten more popular in recent years to the point where nearly 2,000 people a year attempt the journey. This story seemed to fit in well with Brent’s recent post about the Dumb Way Round. Enthusiasm for epic trips like these are really catching people’s attention, and with good reason too in my opinion. It kind of reminds of the Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to Georgia in the U.S. There are thousands of people a year that attempt the AT, the longest, continuous, marked footpath in the world, where only 10-20% of the people are actually able to complete a full thru-hike. This Alaska-Chile trip seems to be gaining some momentum of its own, and, judging from Mr. Pisarenko’s stories, with new and exciting surprises of its own. Who knows, maybe Brent and I will have to give it a shot sometime!

Check out Ivan Pisarenko’s website where you can follow his trip, see pictures, and even offer up lodging to him! it’s called “America en Dos Ruedas,” which means, “America on Two Wheels” in Spanish. And to Ivan, just remember to keep the rubber on the road!