Motorcyclest please wear leather and a proper helmet

Exactly! Too much keeping stupid people "safe" = more stupid people breeding. Survival of the fittest is a good thing for a reason.

Yes, I agree with texican. I want steel all the way around me - to the right, to the left, in front, in back, below me, and above me. I also want something that has 4 wheels.

It always amazes me the number of motorcyclists that go flying by me on the interstate. Speed Limit of 65 - and I usually go 65 - 70. Some fly by you like you aren't even moving - and I think - all it takes is a turkey, dog, or deer to be on the road in front of you and chances are you will be 6' under.

Of course, I'm also amazed at the people riding motorcycles where the people have flip flops, shorts, and shirt (or the lady has a tank top on). There again, it only takes some loose gravel or something, and all that skin is going to be peeled off - and that is the very MINIMUM that will happen.

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Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania

"Everything happens for a reason."

When DH took his first EMT classes, he had to observe in all sorts of hospital situations. During the ER rotation, he and our neighbor who was taking the classes too, were brought to the table where a young man had skidded on his face for about 50-60' of the Missouri River bridge just east of Jefferson City MO then DH and Dale were asked to stay against the wall. He'd lost skin, muscle and skull plus quite a few more brain cells than he could afford. He died while DH and Dale were still in the ER.

I want that steel and a heavier vehicle, too. Right along with my seat belt. I even have a harness to belt in our dogs when I need to travel with them.

We ride bikes. My husband was an avid "stupid" rider till one day his bike came out from under him. We just had the twins and it scared him enough to gear up. By the grace of God he was fine. Sore but fine.
I fully believe in the right to choose your gear. But we have seen a lot of accidents. Dh buddy wrecked his bike a few years ago drunk driving didn't have a helmet. He lived. But has lost his freedoms. Partially retarded, handicapped. Lost his trucking fleet, house, lively hood. Now is Left to be cared for by his parents. Well till they die and he goes to an assited living place.

It's always your choice.but make an informed choice. I just think if it was my children having to deal with the aftermath how would I want it to come out. Ultimately it's not my choice when I die. I fully believe it wil happen when God says. But I sure don't want to be a massive burden to my family the rest of my life.
The couple was going to see their grandkids. Several states away. The normal road is detoured due to construction. So a normal quiet road became a super highway today.
The deer is who knows where. It was not mentioned where the deer ended up.

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I'm so done here.

You can always come up with a story about how this guy died because his helmet got caught on something or that guy died because his seatbelt trapped him in the car and he burned to death. There's probably a story about some guy who died because the airbag pushed his false teeth down his throat and he choked to death. However, in vastly more incidents than not, seatbelts and helmets save lives. I understand that people don't want to be told what to do but it mystifies me why it seems they need to be told.

I was on the back of a buddy's bike back in 1986 when a drunk driver turned in front of us. We t-boned him right on the driver's door and I ended up flying over the car into oncoming traffic. Fortunately I wasn't hit by traffic but I was wearing an open face helmet and my face hit something (I was unconscious on impact) which pushed my glasses up into my forehead, cutting it badly. I was lucky because it could have gone straight back and taken out my eye. Haven't been on a bike since but I won't go on one again without a full face helmet and leathers. I was also wearing a sleeveless t-shirt when we left his house but when we left for the trip back, his Mom's friend gave me an old aviator's jacket to wear because the evening was getting cold and I"m sure it saved me some nasty road rash. Safety first!

Wouldyou feel the same way if it was your family members?

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I'm so done here.

Funny how most of the cars of today are fiberglass or thin sheet metal, that even leave out the spare tire so they can meet EPA and fuel mileage requirements.. The heavier cars of yesterday are gone..

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Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 21 "The Right of the Citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned"
www.pafoa.org
http://www.45thpacok.com

I worked in a trauma ICU for a while. Please don't assume that if you wear a helmet you're safe. We saw a lot of brain injury caused by shearing - or the brain bouncing back and forth inside the skull from rapid deceleration. Just as deadly as a concussive injury

I support everyone's right to do what they want with their life but I won't be riding a motorcycle. I've seen too much death and disability caused by them. Our bodies are fragile things.

Riding isn't for everyone, just like owning guns isn't for everyone.. Parachuting isn't for everyone.. All we ask is the Right to choose!..

But I see that the nanny state will prevail..

It's a shame.. I've got just about as many miles on a bike as I do a car.. Will it kill me? Maybe, but then so can my car/truck..

I guess we should make those who ride horses wear a full face helmet.. That way they can be safe, in fact they should make bicyclists wear full face helmets also... We all know that a bicyclist almost always loses when in a traffic accident...

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Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 21 "The Right of the Citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned"
www.pafoa.org
http://www.45thpacok.com

Any stupid decision can lead to death, whether it's my family or yours. Doesn't make it less stupid because it's a relative. All we can do is try our best to educate them.

One of my cousin's sons loved motorcycles. He wore full leather and a good helmet and drove safely. Someone hit him. He was in a coma for a couple years and finally died. He was in his early 20's and left behind a young daughter. He wasn't a stupid person per se but foolishly thought nothing could happen to him even though of course his elders were concerned about him riding.

yeppers, and it doesnt have to include riding a motorcycle. Waking up in the morning presents us all with many life and death decisions. Then, once we get out of bed life presents us with even more! The world is not a safe place and anyone who thinks they can make it so is a fool.

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

Yes. I wear my seatbelt even though I am not required by law to do so. I expect I'd wear a helmet and leathers if I had a bike, but making it a legal requirement isn't a good idea.

Any state that requires you to wear helmets or seatbelts really ought to stop raking in the bucks from booze, smokes and gambling first. If what they're actually trying to do is protect us from our own choices, you know?

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The garden's getting bigger this year. Again.

I love how people say those that choose to ride are somehow diminished simply by the meer fact that they ride motorcycles. So does that apply to bicycles and smart cars and anything besides a full size SUV? I don't think so.
We don't know when our time is up, maybe if we were in a car at the same time, in the same place our bike was at the time of an accident, we would end up the same or worse.
I just know when I am on my motorcyles, I feel much closer to the world than I ever feel in my tin cans on the road. I do most of my driving in a truck, but mainly due to not being able to carry my gear on my bike due to storage capacity.
But I don't diminish others right to choose what they drive/ride/steer.

Horses aren't going 65mph surrounded by traffic. Nor are bicycles, for that matter... Though I suppose if either were, full-face helmets might be recommended.

And considering how many nanny-state comments are still coming into this thread, it's obvious people still aren't getting it. Seatbelt laws, helmet laws etc. aren't protecting people from themselves. They're protecting the rest of society from having the expense of caring for vegetables.
The state doesn't care if you live or die. They care if you cost the rest of us money!

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

A good friend of mine was a wrecker driver when he was called to the scene of a motorcycle/semi accident...semi went left of center...head on crash...had helmets on, but he still had to pull the cycle riders teeth out of the steer tire of the semi. When its your time, it won't matter what you are wearing.

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I'm pro freedom and believe safety is but an illusion...

I do know that riding in a blizzard on a bike is a bummer...[Do they have all wheel drive Harleys? Plowing through 4' drifts in 4wd is fun, imagine it'd be truly exhilirating on a Hog!) also in rain pours, in the wee hours of the morning, or when exhausted. I've half slept, dozed, daydreamed, read books, ate meals, and other things, while driving in my tin boxes. I think my survivability calculus would be in the negatives if I'd partook in these activities on a bike...

I don't know, maybe some of you bikers can educate me... Can you eat on a bike? sure you have to be able to drink on one... can you read a book? can you drive with your feet or your knees? Can you lay out sideways to stretch out? Can you close your eyes 'for a while' without eating gravel? Do road bikes handle deep snow, hard rain, or hail very well?

I think I should contact the History Channel with my newest idea... Extreme Biker's~

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Been riding since I was 14. Yes, I rode with shorts and flip flops (the current terminology for such folks is "squid" by the way. This is due to their appearance after they meet the mother road). Yes, I met the mother road due to a careless driver. Yes, I always wear a helmet and impact riding gear...If it's too hot for the gear, it's too hot for me to ride. I DESPISE helmet laws (although you will never catch me not wearing one). To the folks commenting on the cost of care and how that cost should be borne by the rider, how about nursing care for your elderly family members? Their cost imposes a huge burden on society that we all pay for.....? Be careful casting stones.

A Friend just yesterday was driving a 3 wheeled motor cycle for just a short drive with some Bike Friends, No Helmet etc---Some how the 3 wheeler throwed him off, He was air lifted---busted up his head, several broke bones-----fluid on his brain this morning, Blood pressure dropping bad----Not Looking to good, but He is a fighter!! Gotta Protect That Head!!

Eating on a bike is a bit tricky... especially at cruising speed... lotta crumbs get blown right out of your beard... lost forever! Smoking is somewhat problematic if you dont have a good lighter. Drinking on a bike is very easy... especially if you have a rider on the back to fish a cold one out of the saddle bag and pop the top for you. Reading a book??? never tried that one... but would think turning pages could be problematic. "driving" with your knees/feet is a prerequisite. As to stretching out... yep, but not sideways... and again a lot depends on your passenger. If shes "well padded" it can get quite comfy... if he's your boss.... I dont think so! You can indeed close your eyes for brief periods without eating gravel. Once your ears are tuned to the sound of the road... autopilot works just as well on two wheels as it does four. The bikes can handle road conditions much better than most riders do.... even a light rain will make you feel like you are being drug backwards, nakey, through a cactus patch!

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

They aren't fools, they are future organ donors.

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Remember, when seconds count. . .
the police are just MINUTES away!

Congress has no power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. . .Davy Crockett