Those of us that ride motorcycles

[aliendroid]

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What do you ride?

How long have you had your bike?

Do you ride to school?

Post up a pic if you can.

I ride an '04 Honda CBR 600rr, same as the one in my avatar.
I've had her for one year.
I ride to school sometimes.

 

[Elastase]

I volunteer at a SF ER. I see about 1-2 motorcycle acidents every time I volunteer (5 hours a week)...I can only imagine how many there are a week total. Its dangerous because:

1. People don't see you.

2. You have virtually no protection for your body (scrambled egg brain in your helmet if you collide).
3. You can easily slide on gravel/rain.

Also:
Everyone in high school dropped their bikes at least once. I know a friend that I used to work with (went to school with) that got hit by a drunk driver and died. I also knew a girl in college that was riding a harley with her fiance in the back, and they slid on gravel. She got spinal fusion (lives in constant pain), and her future husband died.

Sorry for making your post a downer....

 

[sunny123]

What do you ride?

How long have you had your bike?

Do you ride to school?

Post up a pic if you can.

I ride an '04 Honda CBR 600rr, same as the one in my avatar.
I've had her for one year.
I ride to school sometimes.

Ask and ye shall recieve:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=200834

 

[FutureOrthoDoc]

I volunteer at a SF ER. I see about 1-2 motorcycle acidents every time I volunteer (5 hours a week)...I can only imagine how many there are a week total. Its dangerous because:

1. People don't see you.

2. You have virtually no protection for your body (scrambled egg brain in your helmet if you collide).
3. You can easily slide on gravel/rain.

Also:
Everyone in high school dropped their bikes at least once. I know a friend that I used to work with (went to school with) that got hit by a drunk driver and died. I also knew a girl in college that was riding a harley with her fiance in the back, and they slid on gravel. She got spinal fusion (lives in constant pain), and her future husband died.

Sorry for making your post a downer....

You are obviously biased against motorcycles. Pick a topic about anything, and I'm sure all the dangers about it can be listed. Motorcycles, are an expression of freedom and a long sought after lifestyle. What a sad existence staring at life from inside your protective bubble.

 

[Tra La La]

You are obviously biased against motorcycles. Pick a topic about anything, and I'm sure all the dangers about it can be listed. Motorcycles, are an expression of freedom and a long sought after lifestyle. What a sad existence staring at life from inside your protective bubble.

Ride on!

 

[hopefulneuro]

You are obviously biased against motorcycles. Pick a topic about anything, and I'm sure all the dangers about it can be listed. Motorcycles, are an expression of freedom and a long sought after lifestyle. What a sad existence staring at life from inside your protective bubble.

LOLLOL....but, he may have a point. Better to be in a bubble than be paralyzed.

 

[greendot]

I've owned three bikes: 99 CBR 600 (stolen), 00 GSXR 750 (stolen!!), 02 GSXR 600 - sold in December. I had a 16 credit semester plus MCAT prep to deal with, so wouldn't have time to ride, and the money came in handy as I didn't work last semester. Anyway, I miss her a lot. I don't know how to attach a pic, or I would. To all you still riding, ride safe, and I'll be back as soon as possible.

 

[windzilla]

I volunteer at a SF ER. I see about 1-2 motorcycle acidents every time I volunteer (5 hours a week)...I can only imagine how many there are a week total. Its dangerous because:

1. People don't see you.

2. You have virtually no protection for your body (scrambled egg brain in your helmet if you collide).
3. You can easily slide on gravel/rain.

Also:
Everyone in high school dropped their bikes at least once. I know a friend that I used to work with (went to school with) that got hit by a drunk driver and died. I also knew a girl in college that was riding a harley with her fiance in the back, and they slid on gravel. She got spinal fusion (lives in constant pain), and her future husband died.

Sorry for making your post a downer....

I work at UMass Worcester; A Research Doctor on my floor is also an ER doctor. When he heard that I was going to be riding he had allot to say. He has had plenty of run-ins with motorcycles and their dangers.

Obviously he sees plenty of accident victims in the ER However he is also an avid motorcycle enthusiast, and, for many years, raced competitively. When I wanted to begin riding I asked him for pointers.

Here is the short form of what he said.

Good for you


1. Take an MSF course
2. Wear full faced Snell approved (or better) helmets, no older than 2 years.
3. Gloves boots and a good jacket can really save your life.
4. You will eventually get into an accident.
5. Save racing for the track, if you want to get a motorcycle so you can go fast on public roads, you shouldn't get one.
6. Ride like you are invisible and everyone is trying to kill you.
7. Pulling a wheelie on sport bikes has absolutely nothing to do with the rider’s skill. On the other hand, fast smooth acceleration, tight cornering and safely regaining control during a skid do.
8. Wear a helmet.

I love riding, and realize the extreme danger it presents. However with the right attitude and vigilance bordering on paranoia, you can reduce the frequency of accidents, and hopefully hold onto your life.

My first bike was a 750 kawa Vulcan, great for commuting and taking short camping trips with my girl.

Let’s see about a pic

 

[MaryWrathers]

What do you ride?

How long have you had your bike?
2 years
Do you ride to school?
no
Post up a pic if you can.
some day
It's a Honda Nitehawk 750 sportbike/kinda old but still looks nice/black color

 

[Tyler Derden]

I volunteer at a SF ER. I see about 1-2 motorcycle acidents every time I volunteer (5 hours a week)...I can only imagine how many there are a week total. Its dangerous because:

1. People don't see you.

2. You have virtually no protection for your body (scrambled egg brain in your helmet if you collide).
3. You can easily slide on gravel/rain.

Also:
Everyone in high school dropped their bikes at least once. I know a friend that I used to work with (went to school with) that got hit by a drunk driver and died. I also knew a girl in college that was riding a harley with her fiance in the back, and they slid on gravel. She got spinal fusion (lives in constant pain), and her future husband died.

Sorry for making your post a downer....

I have been riding for over 10 years and yeah it is dangerous, but not like most people make it out to be. For sure if you ride long enough you will have an accident but if you are smart and use caution you will be that much better off (I have had one acccident where a car pulled right out in front of me and I T-boned him, and one minor laydown on oil). Sorry but most people you see in the ER are yahoos that should never have been on a motorcycle to begin with, and all of your freinds from high school 🙄 , yeah high school kids with 400lb objects that have more HP than their cars are a good way to judge the safety of something. All I am saying is that responsible motorcycling is much safer than what your view of it is. Yeah it is dangerous, but tell me something fun that isn't?

 

[Tyler Derden]

A side note- I took a Motorcycle Rider Course 10 years ago, and my fiance took it last year. I've been lucky enough to stay out of trouble, but he was cut off by another motorcyclist on a ride last year and laid his bike down. He saved his skin by wearing jeans and a leather jacket. No damage at all. I can't believe the people I see wearing shorts and sandals riding cycles. Now THAT's silly. Oh, and wear a helmet.

FWIW I usually ride with full racing leathers, and only for toodling around will I wear jeans and jacket. Those Harley guys you see wearing shorts, sandals, t-shirt, and no helmet are total idiots. If they ever get in an accident, they will wish they didn't live as you lose so much skin in a bicycle crash at 30mph can you imagine what it is like at twice that speed and 8 times the momentum??? For their sake and someone elses, hopefully they will die and they are organ donors.

 

[indo]

somebody should create a section of SDN where people can discuss things totally unrelated to medicine with other pre-med and med student folks.

 

[Tyler Derden]

What do you ride?

How long have you had your bike?

Do you ride to school?

'02 Triumph Daytona 955i previously '96 GSXR750, and '92 CBR 600 before that.

Current one since new, 3 years.

Finished my MS about 5 years ago, but ride to work and will most likely ride if I return. 😉

 

[eddie13231]

I've been riding for over a year and have a 1991 kawasaki ninja (first bike). Yes the people in the ER are mostly the squids you see riding around in shorts, flip flops, and oakleys. You need to dress for the crash not the ride.

 

[aliendroid]

I've had two friends that died in motorcycle accidents. One at Baylor hit a curb and he went head first into a tree. The other was in Houston, a friend of my Dad borrowed his son's motorcycle and had a fatal accident.

I've seen lots of motorcycle accidents in the ER and while I was an EMT.

I'm perfectly aware of the dangers but I still enjoy the ride.

The guys I used to ride with did crazy tricks, took turns so fast they were almost dragging their knees and often ran from the cops. I stopped riding with them because all they did was go downtown to pick up girls, whereas I don't like having passengers and they drove like idiots and they'd lose me all the time.

 

[aliendroid]

I have been riding for over 10 years and yeah it is dangerous, but not like most people make it out to be. For sure if you ride long enough you will have an accident but if you are smart and use caution you will be that much better off (I have had one acccident where a car pulled right out in front of me and I T-boned him, and one minor laydown on oil). Sorry but most people you see in the ER are yahoos that should never have been on a motorcycle to begin with, and all of your freinds from high school 🙄 , yeah high school kids with 400lb objects that have more HP than their cars are a good way to judge the safety of something. All I am saying is that responsible motorcycling is much safer than what your view of it is. Yeah it is dangerous, but tell me something fun that isn't?

I know what you are saying Tyler, the power these light weight bikes make is simply amazing. What's amazing is that it's legal to sell machines that are this dangerous. Mine goes to 80 in first gear and if I go full throttle it feels like I'm going to fly off the back. I love the 1-2 gear shift wheelies. But always wear a helmet and your gear; it won’t save you in a high-speed accident, but at least they’ll be able to id the body. For low speed accidents it’ll save you some skin.

-Avoid tricks
-don't hit the gas in turns
-don't drop the clutch too fast when downshifting.
-Don't hit the rear brake hard
-watch the road in front of you at all times (One time I had to dodge tires that were flying out of some idiot's pickup)
-watch your rear view mirror when you slow down
-when you engine brake also hit the breaks to let cars behind you know you are slowing down.
-stay out of other car's blind spots
-always be ready for someone to turn into your lane, happens to me all the time
-watch people trying to turn onto the road, the might not see you
-don't hit the front brake too hard or you might flip over forwards
-losing traction with the rear tire can be deadly, change the tire before it goes bald.
etc, etc, etc

 

[AWhitehair]

I know what you are saying Tyler, the power these light weight bikes make is simply amazing. What's amazing is that it's legal to sell machines that are this dangerous. Mine goes to 80 in first gear and if I go full throttle it feels like I'm going to fly off the back. I love the 1-2 gear shift wheelies. But always wear a helmet and your gear; it won’t save you in a high-speed accident, but at least they’ll be able to id the body. For low speed accidents it’ll save you some skin.

-Avoid tricks
-don't hit the gas in turns
-don't drop the clutch too fast when downshifting.
-Don't hit the rear brake hard
-watch the road in front of you at all times (One time I had to dodge tires that were flying out of some idiot's pickup)
-watch your rear view mirror when you slow down
-when you engine brake also hit the breaks to let cars behind you know you are slowing down.
-stay out of other car's blind spots
-always be ready for someone to turn into your lane, happens to me all the time
-watch people trying to turn onto the road, the might not see you
-don't hit the front brake too hard or you might flip over forwards
-losing traction with the rear tire can be deadly, change the tire before it goes bald.
etc, etc, etc

Thanks for the tips. My husband and I have been thinking about getting a bike. He has been using his fathers on occasion and is begging me to let him get one. I love the ride, but I have fears at the same time. It doesn't help my insecurities that he is a twig and a small gust of wind on the bike would probably send him flying.

 

[freesolo]

whats the chances of these ppl avoiding "tricks" slim for most ppl that want to ride.
my freind died from a car running over him after he fell off his bike trying to do a wheelie. I think everyone knows somebody thats gotten injured pretty bad from a bike.

I hate riding behind bikers worrying about not running there *******es over while there trying to race each other. And the jackasses doing wheelies arent dressed well either.

I dont understand how bikers can trust other ppl not to **** up one day and really hurt them, alot more than if they were in a car.

I use to ride dirt bikes offroad, i just cant trust ppl enough to ride it on the streets.

 

[aliendroid]

whats the chances of these ppl avoiding "tricks" slim for most ppl that want to ride.
my freind died from a car running over him after he fell off his bike trying to do a wheelie. I think everyone knows somebody thats gotten injured pretty bad from a bike.

I hate riding behind bikers worrying about not running there *******es over while there trying to race each other. And the jackasses doing wheelies arent dressed well either.

I dont understand how bikers can trust other ppl not to **** up one day and really hurt them, alot more than if they were in a car.

I use to ride dirt bikes offroad, i just cant trust ppl enough to ride it on the streets.

It looks dangerous when you see someone riding, but when you are on the bike you feel invincible.

For the guys that do wheelies and race in shorts and T-shirt with flip-flops I think Darwin might have something to say about that.

 

[tc13]

I haven't had a street bike (CBR600F2) since 1993. But over the last four years I have gotten back into motocross and motocross racing. My current scooter is a CRF450. Doing big freestyle tricks is not my thing, but racing is a great hobby. Yes, I have had a few trips to the ER and sometimes there is a doc who shares his unwanted opinion about "donorcycles." As a nontraditional student my concerns about going to med school is not having the time to ride.

 

[americanangel]

I never had a street bike but I ride dirt bikes and ATVs all the time. But since I moved to Florida, most of trails are over an hour away so I haven't been riding as much as did in the past. I've fallen off a few times...But no biggie, you just get right back on!

 

[oblivious]

I had a '97 Yamaha YZF1000R until two weeks ago...It was stole right out of my front yard...what is this world coming too?

 

[Tyler Derden]

I haven't had a street bike (CBR600F2) since 1993. But over the last four years I have gotten back into motocross and motocross racing. My current scooter is a CRF450. Doing big freestyle tricks is not my thing, but racing is a great hobby. Yes, I have had a few trips to the ER and sometimes there is a doc who shares his unwanted opinion about "donorcycles." As a nontraditional student my concerns about going to med school is not having the time to ride.

Motard that CRF450 and ride it to class! For sure my next bike will be a Motard, they just look too fun to ignore... besides it sucks having a sport bike you need to ride two hours away from the city to properly enjoy on curvy mountain roads.

 

[Tyler Derden]

I hate riding behind bikers worrying about not running there *******es over while there trying to race each other. And the jackasses doing wheelies arent dressed well either.

If they are racing you should have no problem not running them over as they will only be within your site for a second or two. But yeah irresponsible motorcycling in traffic does nothing to help the motorcyclists image. Also the jackasses doing wheels in t shirts aren't motorcyclists, they are kids that bought bikes and will be the ones you see in the ER (or morgue) helping to portray motorcycles as death machines.

I don't understand how bikers can trust other ppl not to **** up one day and really hurt them, alot more than if they were in a car.

Speaking for myself I don't trust motorists at all. I spend way more time on my road racing bicycle than motorcycle, and am thoroughly convinced most people should not have the privilege to drive. Therefore you have to count on the fact they are going to f*ck up somehow and be ready. You increase your survival chances by being way more alert and focused than everyone else (notice I said "chance" 😉 ).

 

[windzilla]

If they are racing you should have no problem not running them over as they will only be within your site for a second or two. But yeah irresponsible motorcycling in traffic does nothing to help the motorcyclists image. Also the jackasses doing wheels in t shirts aren't motorcyclists, they are kids that bought bikes and will be the ones you see in the ER (or morgue) helping to portray motorcycles as death machines.


Speaking for myself I don't trust motorists at all. I spend way more time on my road racing bicycle than motorcycle, and am thoroughly convinced most people should not have the privilege to drive. Therefore you have to count on the fact they are going to f*ck up somehow and be ready. You increase your survival chances by being way more alert and focused than everyone else (notice I said "chance" 😉 ).

Hear Hear!

I'm guessing that the motorcycle riding SDN'rs are, on average not the jack@$$es that give bikes a bad name, or atleast they have grown out of that stage.

So back to the discussion, What are your plans for riding during Med school? Anyone trading in their bike for an education? I plan on riding mine in the northeast (not sure where yet) untill im numb.

 

[Beau Geste]

.

 

[aliendroid]

I would probably ride to school on a day that I had classes only, but no practicals or clinical experiences. Being a female with long hair, I tend to get a weird imprint from the helmet, plus my face gets a little grimy. If I'm in class, I really don't care what I look like, just that I get the lectures down.

My dream would be to take a snowmobile to class - those are FUN too! My fiance and his brothers got me into that a few years ago in the northwoods of WI, and I fell in love with it!

Meg

All you lady riders checking in, where are you? I never see women on motorcycles except the old retired people on harlies. The ones that tell me my bike isn't a real bike and I should go get a real bike like a harley. 🙁

Gentlemen, are your girlfriends cool with your bikes, or do you get a lot of flack for having them?

I think I'll sell the bike when I get married, but even when I'm in med school I plan to ride to class, these gas prices are going to be going back up. I'll bet we'll be paying 4 bucks a gallon within five years.