Why I QUIT Riding Motorcycles (This EVENT Changed Everything!)

In today's video, I talk about why I stopped riding motorcycles after this event happened.

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[RealMenRealStyle]

In today's video, I talk about why I stopped riding motorcycles after this event happened.

[Thirsty_Fox]

I took a break from riding as well, but I ended up studying motorcycle accidents quite thoroughly and concluded that it could be done with acceptable risk if you commit yourself to several important safety decisions (and don't let yourself give in):
1. High-visibility airbag vest -- expensive but incredibly valuable in an accident, and high-vis makes such a HUGE difference. Helite Turtle is a great option as it expands massively and locks your helmet in place, acting as a neck brace. There's no doubt that these alone save lives.
2. White (gloss) full-face helmet -- get whatever is 3rd-party tested to be one of the best since the standards are iffy
3. ABS -- will never ride another bike without it. It makes such a huge difference in the "oh @#$%" moments, different weather or road conditions, gravel, tar snakes, etc... it sucks cause it means no vintage bikes but it cuts your risk almost in half right there
4. Absolutely zero alcohol or drugs, and recognizing when you're too tired or distracted to be riding
5. Bike must be visible, preferably bright red bodywork as it contrasts well on green wooded backgrounds, and must have the orange running lights on all the time, can't just be one white light on the front as it's impossible for other vehicles to tell where you are or how fast you're going or even that you're a vehicle at all
6. COMMIT to not getting angry with other drivers. I've decided before I get on the bike that I will forgive others and not get angry. I've seen so many crashes and dangerous situations resulting from riders trying to assert themselves and it's completely pointless
7. Be extremely mindful of speeding. It helps to get a slower bike that you can rev out a bit and not be flying. Getting a bike that does 140 km/h in 1st gear is asking for trouble in my experience. There's a time and place to get on it, and it definitely isn't everywhere. I've found the sweet spot for me is around 10-15 hp per 100 lbs of bike.
8. Full riding gear with level 2 CE armor -- jacket, pants, gloves, boots (in addition to FF helmet and high-viz airbag vest) and commit to wearing it. You can get really airy stuff for the hot weather.
9. Practice essential riding and emergency skills. We all know how valuable it is but almost nobody actually does it. Emergency maneuvers should be muscle memory, not learning on the fly under duress. Quick lane changes, emergency braking (including within corners), and a big one is learning to recognize and fight object fixation. So many accidents happen because the rider looks at the place they might crash into rather than snapping out of it and focusing on turning the bike.
10. Avoiding certain routes/times that are considerably dangerous. Whether it's a stretch known for animal crossings at night or a city road that's really sketchy during rush hour, be mindful of whether or not a road should be avoided.

Anyways, there are more ideas than just those, such as group riding and maintenance considerations, but those are what I consider to be the essentials. If you do all those, I think the risk of riding can be lowered to an acceptable level to be worthwhile. Riding is inherently dangerous but so is driving, cycling, many jobs, boating, etc... it's all about identifying the risks and mitigating them. I'm on bike 5 now and do things very differently than I used to. Thanks for coming to my TED talk!

[chrisb]

"Here's why I don't ride motorcycles anymore...."
*Proceeds to make riding a motorcycle sound freaking awesome*

[robertswitzer]

When I woke up in the hospital after my motorcycle accident my father, a trauma surgeon, was there. I asked him: " Why did you let a stupid kid like me buy a motorcycle?" HIs response: "All guys want to ride a bike; and they inevitably have an accident. Your bones heal so much quicker at your age."

[christinegariepy]

As a woman who began motorcycle riding in my fifties it was the best thing that happened to me in YEARS... Cruisers not racers...No passengers whatsoever don't wanna be responsible. Too dangerous. More reliable, fun and less pain than relationships in general (friendships or men-women). Less hassle, good for your ego, independance, developping skills. I understand your points but still... These machines were better that any psychologists for my mental health...

[darrelwells]

Nothing wrong with putting your family first and taking a break from motorcycles, I did the same. Currently retired and I keep a motorcycle at my home in the USA and store another bike in Europe. Good for you that you put some miles on the bikes you had and wore proper gear.

[jouwenlee]

Antonio, fantastic for you to remind that ‘been there, done that’ and know to move on with the responsible decisions in different chapters in life. Good advice.

As a side note, for many depending where they are from, riding a motorcycle is not a leisure activity or hobby but a necessity probably the viable mode of transport. So I always try to be courteous and careful when driving on the road, sharing with other motorists like bike.

Happy Weekend.

[captainblue]

I own my dream bike. 2022 Triumph Bonneville T100. I take it for a spin on my lunch break whenever weather permits and it's great for my mental health. I rode dirt bikes as a teen but didn't get back in the motorcycle until my '50s and I think that was wise I am a very cautious rider, I do continual training, and I never ride outside of skill level. Totally respect your reasons for not biking. I understand why you want to get back into it too. Best of luck.

[Alberto-mqjm]

I think it's admirable to make such a decision, I wish I would've had a father as responsible as you, congrats! Not many people do it

[wegotbrent]

Saw someone die in a motorcycle wreck when I was 17 years old. No way I would ever ride one with how bad drivers are.

[fastwalker]

Yup. I quit riding for the exact same reason. Especially when my 3 year old daughter told me she didn’t want me to ride anymore because it was dangerous. That made me quit pretty fast.

[grounded]

I been riding since very young, I currently ride a 2017 Harley Davidson Road King and love it.
I ride every day in the summer.
I wouldn't give it up for anything.
My daughter lost her husband to a motorcycle accident but this has not impacted my passion and desire to ride.
Yes it is very sad that my granddaughter lost her daddy and my daughter lost her husband but I can't let this stop me from riding.
My motorcycle is where I go to cope with the PTSD. It is the only place I can escape my own head.
Living in northwest Minnesota, winters are not PTSD friendly and I ride as early in the spring as possible and as late in the fall as weather permits.

I can honestly say I have never had women drawn to me when on my bike, which is okay, I ride for me and my own sanity.

[johnnymac]

Know 3 guys who are dead, watched a stranger die in front of me. Couldnt even pay me to get on a moped. I'll stick to 4 wheels and crash frames

[spencezx]

Interesting video. My wife and I rode bikes for about 25 years. In our 50s now. Owned many bikes from Harley Roadking, GsXR 1100, Zx14, Triumph Tiger 1050, Triumph scrambler
Took a trip from Pa to Nova Scotia and road the cat you showed. On another trip from PA to Key West Florida took a picture at the marker you showed. 4 crashes over about 200, 000 miles didn't stop me but risking my livelihood as a truck driver, and the need to exercise finally caused the decision to sell all 4 bikes we had. Still miss it.

[stevethebruce]

I started riding motorcycles at age 4. We lived on an acerage and I spent my childhood riding trail bikes. Mid to late 20's I moved to street cruisers. Then my wonderful kids showed up and bikes went away. Now they're heading into high school and I'm looking at getting back into it. My dream bike is a Triumph Scrambler XE.

[marcmiller]

2001 Honda CBR 600 Rossi race replica. Indian Dark Horse and now I ride an Indian Scout Bobber. I love all these bikes and all for different reasons. The Bobber is just so nimble and fun and can always find something to modify on it!

[johnbugnoii]

My uncle did the same things, but his wife encouraged him to get ride of it. I like motorcycles as well, hope to get a electric one in the future. Not much for long distance travel just short trips. One of my high school friends died on a bike, hit a big rig. People have to be careful. I took a safety course as well. Got to be safe. Take care, glad you’re looking out for your family and God bless you all!

[davidgreen]

It was a cool evening on Friday, April 19, 1985.

I was riding my Kawasaki KZ400 (I was poor) in the second lane from the right on the outer loop of the Washington, DC Beltway (I-95), in Alexandria, VA. The interchange of the Beltway with Telegraph Road is unusual in that the Beltway goes up a slight rise to pass over Telegraph Road.

I’m tooling along and suddenly there was a wall of metal in the form of a dark brown 1970s vintage land yacht directly in front of me and CRASH!!, with a fraction of a second of braking I drove right into that fucker going about 60 mph. There were no lights on this car and no flares. I don’t blame the owner; It had gone total system failure on the 65 yo man driving and he lacked the strength to horse it to the side of the road.

My faithful Kawasaki used that half second of braking to turn itself into a lever, one placed against the fulcrum of the car’s rear bumper, throwing me on a trajectory that mostly cleared the car. My right hand hit the car rear window, breaking two bones in my hand. That impact caused me right shoulder to clip the roof, causing me to cartwheel until I landed in the roadway some 75 feet in front of the car.

I lay there a moment, then dazed and not comprehending what just happen sat up slowly saying to myself “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT CAR DOING THERE?” I still chuckle at that.
EMS arrived in about 15 minutes. I was about two miles away from Alexandria Station Five, and that is a long response time). Low and behold, the paramedic who arrived proctored my EMT certification test one week earlier, and he recognized me.

As I lay there, I slowly understood what had happened, but I wasn’t in extreme pain and all my limbs worked. At the scene, my only visible injury was a bad laceration on my left palm from putting it through the windscreen. I was injured more, as it turned out, with broken ligaments in my left thumb, torn right rotator cuff, separated left shoulder, a broken tailbone, and compression damage to my spine from my motorcycle acting like an ejection seat. I walked out of the hospital that evening. It wasn’t until the following week we discovered I had reinjured my shoulders (both were messed up in my first motorcycle accident in 1982), tore my left thumb free, and broke my right hand. It was in 1999 when I discovered how badly I damaged my spine.

The damage to my Kawasaki was impressive. The impact broke literally everything from the front of the bike to the rear tail light. Engine block cracked, gas tank and battery ruptured, front wheel and forks looking like a pile of spaghetti, the frame distorted, rear wheel axle bent, the works.

I returned to riding in 2006, when my commute reached two hours each way, with parking in DC costing $250/month. On the Pacific Coast I bought I was HOV eligible. That cut over an hour each way off my commute.

[hogepoge]

That 4 corner trip sounds awesome! I recently went from Ventura CA to Jacksonville FL. Not on motorcycle, but car. There’s just so much freedom that comes with a solo trip on the road!

[daystarcreations]

Haven't ridden since a serious accident when I was younger. I have many dream bikes. I watch videos like these to keep me away from them.