Motorcycling = selfish?

Hmm. Not sure what you're getting at there.
I have 4 kids and they're not all mine. I can't say I've ever felt selfish with regards to any of them; whether I liked it or not

Taking care of them isn't. I mean the act of deciding you want a child then creating one.

Originally Posted by Ed

Horrible story, that. My wife received a call from the police when I came off. They said 'your husband's been in a motorcycle accident, please come to the Princess Royal immediately' - and that was it - so I can understand why Anne was so upset, she didn't know that I wasn't at death's door.

Selfish - well maybe.

When i had my accident, i told maria i was fine (i was so it was the truth) but even if i had 2 broken legs, over the phone i would only have gone as far as "im fine, my legs are a bit sore so im goi ng to the hospital but im fine, come down and get me"

rictus said to me to always tell your other half your fine until they actually see you, its not good telling them "darling, ive had an accident and my legs are broken and i've dislocated my arms!", because they'll just have a horrible image in their head and everything

Im bound to say the same as others, but i truly believe its not selfish, you have to do things you wanna do in this life cos you dont get long then its too late.

What is selfish imo is not being responsible, taking unnecessary risks, putting other road users at risk.
If you have loved ones at home then do all you can to ride as safely as you can and stay alive without taking the fun out of riding.

I couldnt live with myself if i took somebody out as a result of my stupidty when it could have been easily avoided.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by specialone

What is selfish imo is taking unnecessary risks,
*quote edited*

You mean like motorcycling?
If you use a motorbike when it's not absolutely necessary you're statistically raising the likelihood of you being killed. Thing is if we looked at everything like that life would be no fun, so just do what you enjoy, make yourself as safe as possible and enjoy - that's my view anyway.

I thought most actions a human takes are ultimately selfish as most are driven in order to feel a pleasant little surge of dopamine when you know you've just done something nice...or likewise crazy!

I reckon people need to throw every stat out of the window, excpet the answer to the question...

"You, being somebody who rides a motorcycle, what is your most likely statistical cause of getting seriously hurt of dying prematurely?"

Biking is dangerous, but I agree with the earlier comment of its no more selfish than rock climbing or surfing, etc.

Yep, in general agreement with everything that has been said. There are lies, damn lies, and statistics. I am about to cycle 7 miles home. I am about 5 or 6 times more likely to be killed on my push bike than on a motorbike (per mile travelled) but you don't get people going on about how dangerous cycling is. everything carries a risk, but I don't think it's fair to say one form of transport is more selfish than another just because of statistics. The story is very sad, I read it this morning and it made me really think about my riding, but then I love it so much that I think giving up would make me resentful of those who I gave it up for. I am a careful rider (or try to be) and that's the best I can do to minimise the risk. if I had kids I might stop winter riding and do more track days but I couldn't give up all together.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

You mean like motorcycling?
If you use a motorbike when it's not absolutely necessary you're statistically raising the likelihood of you being killed. Thing is if we looked at everything like that life would be no fun, so just do what you enjoy, make yourself as safe as possible and enjoy - that's my view anyway.

Dave, thats exactly what i was saying, im not preaching to everybody wrap yourselves up in cotton wool, but c'mon, certain people on bikes (not meaning anyone off here btw) take bigger risks and when you see them you know they are more likely to come a cropper than someone who doesnt.
Its also the numbers game imo, you ride like a **** for 20k a year as opposed to someone riding relatively safely doing 4k then law of averages they are more likely to get hurt or killed than the 4k rider.


You can do a whole host of activities (unnecassary ones i might add just like riding) fairly safely or dangerously, not just biking.

[skeetly]

Right. I'm feeling better about it now
Cheers for that.
Maybe we all need to give it some consideration now and again.
Maybes its healthy to consider ones mortality with this sort of thing.

Originally Posted by skeetly

Right. I'm feeling better about it now
Cheers for that.
Maybe we all need to give it some consideration now and again.
Maybes its healthy to consider ones mortality with this sort of thing.

I do agree with that mate. IMHO it is what makes, keeps us alive be it from everday things to extreme sports. If not you keep pushing things, The limit will come. The consideration comes with age (not that I old or wise) I can remember doing silly things as a kid, teenager. No sense no care, that's dangerous and foolish.

A check now and a again is healthy and ensures you keep yourhead when riding, flying diving working in my case.

Everbody will do it at different times for different reasons. Riding is fun, life without fun is not living.

[jamesterror]

My mum worries most about me, parents policy is they don't fund it so it has nothing to do with them...

When I came off, first person I rang was my mum and I told her "I've came off my bike, but I'm fine, totally fine just a bit shuck up", and asked if she'd come meet me to make sure I was safe riding back with a third of a gear lever, luckily I wasn't in a bad way.

I'm selling my bike in the coming weeks, for financial reasons unfortunatly, but my hope is to get back on one the following year (2011) when I'm on placement, however there are no circumstainces that I'd sell my bike on behalf of anybody else, so if I'm selfish for something I enjoy, so be it.