Hello Bill,
As a long time rider myself I have to agree with you about the joys of
riding. I can't imaging NOT riding. I was the Safety Officer & Road
Captain for the local HOG Chapter for several years and wrote safety columns
every month so I had to spend a lot of time thinking about and researching
motorcycle safety.
The Hurt Report is an excellent resource and I encourage anyone interested
in starting (or even if you ride currently) to study the report, and get
real training. Some of the bottom line findings of the report are;
That new riders have problems. New and unlicensed riders are way over
represented. (Most of those probably self taught, instead of receiving
training.)
Drinking and riding are a deadly combination. Riding requires more
attention, coordination and judgement than driving.
Target fixation is a real problem. Look where you want to go, not at what
you want to avoid.
Not understanding "countersteering" can cause you to turn INTO what your
trying to miss. (If you're interested in the physics, contact me off line.)
A final note of my own; I would never suggest for anyone to not wear a
helmet while riding, BUT if helmet usage was as big a factor as advocates
state the statistics would be incontrovertible, and they're simply not
(believe me, I've studied the issue extensively). I wear a helmet most of
the time and have a whole shelf full of helmets, so don't think this is
coming from some Ludite. Let those who ride decide.
Dale C.
They may be the Vincents of today, but they sure aren't as pretty!!!
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Subject: Motorcycle Safety, and Speed
Hi Folks, further to my message earlier today promoting the joys of
motorcycling, wanted to make this Free Offer to anyone who is
interested.
Lotta people, when they think about riding a bike, think "Danger".
True, the injury and death rate for street and road motorcyclists is
around four to five times that for car and truck drivers. BUT a lot of
us silver foxes have survived many decades of this fun with little or no
injury; in my case 45 years now.
The point I am getting to is A Big Help in this regard is the classic
Hurt Report (good name, eh?) published in "Motorcyclist" magazine in
1979. This is a scientific study of about 900 motorcycle accidents in
Southern California done by USC Prof. (and motorcyclist) Dr. Harry Hurt,
a specialist in vehicle safety, with a
big Federal Grant. It tells with solid data what gets people into
accidents, and thus what to watch out for and not to do. When I read
it, I'd already had over 20 years riding experience, but there were many
valuable points made that had never occured to me. Also some black
humor such as one or two sad cases where a rider had his girlfriend on
the back, and his wife spotted them and hit them with her car, killing
both. The fruits of Adultery.
Bottom line is, if anybody wants a copy of this very readable Hurt
Report, contact me off List and I'll mail you one gratis.
SPEED. Just received my copy of the ECTA Newsletter, which new Editor
Lionel Williams is doing a fine job with. I was struck by the fact that
downright flotillas of these new 1300cc Suzuki Hayabusa sportbikes are
showing up at Maxton, more and more all the time. Stock, modified
unblown, and turbo versions, all with stock-looking bodywork. Speeds
are ranging from 180 or so, clear up to the best at the September meet,
of 225+ (rider Barry Henson) on the standing mile course, into a
headwind.
This makes it clear, if it wasn't before, and I'm sure that my Vincent
pals won't mind me saying so, that the Hayabusa is the Vincent Black
Shadow of today, as the 125 mph Shadow was in the '50s. Anybody can
walk into a Suzuki dealership and for a very reasonable price, ride out
on a 'Busa, down to Maxton, and run these speeds all day long. Day
after day, apparently, with little or no wear or harm to the bike, yet.
Apart from worn-out back tires.
I also have to say that we should recognize that all the fellas who ride
these fast bikes over 200 at Maxton, Bonneville and El Mirage are a
SPECIAL BREED. It's not too much to say that as long as America is
well-stocked with men like this, she need fear NO FOREIGN ATTACKERS!
Cheers from Ardun Bill in the Great Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA
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