Motorcycling = selfish?

No, riding a motorcycle is not selfish in my opinion.


Getting into a van drunk though...........

[skeetly]

I did post while feeling a bit emotional about it.
I know the van driver was selfish; but he exists none the less.
I don't need the bike. I have it because I want it.
I already have a job that appears to produce more cripples and deaths than most others and that article just made me think.

i have two bikes and a car - no paper commitments but i have a lot of people who would miss me
Riding is a hobby just as is flying. fishing, dancing all have their own dangers but I wouldn't say selfish - its part of me and always will be - slefish is when somebody tells me I can't ride!

[dizzyblonde]

I have always stated that riding my bike is my own selfish pleasure.

Purely as it gets me away from kids, dogs, cats....
I can't drive, and TBH I'd rather not have to deal with kiiddywink distrcting me from my meeee time!

[gruntygiggles]

I've had this question asked of me quite a bit this last part of the year and for everyone that PM'd me, I said the same thing and that was that you can't listen to what other people on an internet forum think about this in order to potentially make a decision.

IMO, it is a decision that only you should make. It is not selfish to ride a motorcycle, but it would be selfish to ignore the feelings and wishes of the people who love you and would be left behind when you are making any decision.

If your OH hates bikes and doesn't want you to ride them....and biker or no biker, we all know full well that you are more likely to lose your life riding a bike than driving a car, getting a train or taking a bus, you should at least listen to them. You can't tell people that don't like bikes that they are wrong, because they are not......we all have friends who have been killed in a bike accident, regardless of fault and those are friends that we would do anything to have back in our lives.

What I feel people need to do is find a compromise and for neither side to be selfish. I am petrified of getting that call about Dan, but I enjoy being on the bike too, so I would be a hypocrite if I asked him to stop.
I am petrified of my mum and dad getting that call about me as I really don't think they'd cope after what the family has been through, but I enjoy the bike and don't want to give it up.

So, if you are a rider who listens to your loved ones, understands their concerns and so rides responsibly every time you get on your bike, therefore minimising risk, I don't think you're being selfish.

If you don't care what your loved ones think because you like your bike, you want to ride it and if you want to cross the lines on a blind bend to pass a sunday driver on a road you don't know and at 30mph over the speed limit every time you go out.....then yes, I think you are being selfish.....and a nob!

If you want to go super fast and show off what an amazing rider you are and how you would be lapping Rossi, Stoner and Pedrosa...then go do it on a trackday....not on the roads that you have to share with the rest of us. Sometimes even the best of riders get caught out through no fault of anyone and we are all left to miss them.

If you can ride your bike, enjoy it and ride safely.....don't ever feel guilty.

[Spiderman]

any of us could get hit by a drunk driver, weather we are on a bike or walking down the pavement wrapped in cotton wool.

Biking is as selfish as any other individualist sport like rock climbing, surfing, snow boarding etc imho. They all have risks and we do them cos we enjoy the buzz. We all also go into them with the best intentions and the most appropriate gear we feel we need and hope to come out the other side unscathed.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by skeetly

I guess everyones seen the bbc crash map by now.
It led me to this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8344025.stm

Married, kids, dogs cats.
Am I being selfish risking life and limb on what is really just a hobby?

No I've not seen the map.

Linky?

Motorcycling is as selfish as driving a car or using any other form of transport, including your legs

What is actually selfish is people expecting other people to always ferry them about with no thought that the other person might be busy (parents with teenagers prob understand this alot! )

its also selfish being the owner of a spotless GSXR 750, a spotless VFR400R and a nearly finished XT250 and not letting your son have a go

I choose to ride motorcycles because it is a more convinient method of transport for me. I think its selfish to buy a big landrover and not share it with other people, just use it for yourself

[skeetly]

Doh. Feel a bit daft now

Obviously I am as good as Rossi and Stoner but I do try to ride safely.
Phew. Thought I might have to sell the bike there.

Wife worries about it and wishes i didn't but she wouldn't make me get rid.
She's been on the back so it's not all bad.

Originally Posted by Stu

No I've not seen the map.

Linky?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8401344.stm

I thought it was posted here but might have been elsewhere.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by skeetly

Doh. Feel a bit daft now

Dont be silly, you asked a bunch of bikers so we're all bound to say this. Ask a bunch of black cabbies in london the same question and i bet you most will say "all bikers have a death wish as far as i'm concerned"

Its all about where you stand when you look at the subject. Never feel silly for asking for opinions mate.