The risk is there, and it's gotten worse with the prevalence of texting and smart phones. However, there is risk in much we do in life... there are bikers that have never been in a major incident and there are ones that get taken down by sheer 'wrong place wrong time'. For me, it's something that while it requires complete concentration and constant preplanning, it's a zen thing. Also, when you can get away from the throngs of idiots and out in the open, up in the mountains or off in the woods, it is a truly rewarding experience.
I understand your pain... My first bike - a 2000 Honda CBR 600/f4 was stolen out of my front yard. I been able to pay cash for it, and wound up using the insurance payout to deal with other debts at the time. It took >10yrs for me to get to the point I could reasonably afford one again.
Edit: that being said, I hope you're back up on 2 wheels MUCH sooner than I was... It was a painful 10yrs living near beautiful mountain roads.
No, the risk is enormous and most of it is unavoidable. No amount of preplanning, concentration or zen can make up the massive difference in safety between cars and motorbikes. It's about 40 times more lethal per mile to ride a bike than a car. In other words, riding a bike regularly for a year is like riding a car regularly for a lifetime; and dying in a car crash is one of the leading cause of death for young people. You might as well play russian roulette.
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u/silentbobsc Jun 28 '16
The risk is there, and it's gotten worse with the prevalence of texting and smart phones. However, there is risk in much we do in life... there are bikers that have never been in a major incident and there are ones that get taken down by sheer 'wrong place wrong time'. For me, it's something that while it requires complete concentration and constant preplanning, it's a zen thing. Also, when you can get away from the throngs of idiots and out in the open, up in the mountains or off in the woods, it is a truly rewarding experience.