I want a streetbike

[motocrossjake12]

hey guys i wanted to know all the dangers of getting a streetbike and all the safety precautions. if there are any out there who have a streetbike it would be much appreciated if you could tell me if it is as dangerous as everybody says. have you been in any accidents or anything? please share.

[Shoei_391]

I've seen too many vidoes of bikers getting plowed by people who ran a light..

[Freak]

Lots of idiots on the roads that don't respect you when your on a bike. One thing you have going for you is you ride dirt bikes. What do I mean by that???? Most people that crash on the street are from locking up the brakes and freaking out when that back end breaks loose. They panic. If you ride dirt, your use to the back end breaking loose. Someone runs a stop light and your toast. IMHO riding dirt before you hit the street will give you better skills on the pavement. Like I said thou, someone does not see you or they run a light and the out come will not be good. Ride smart and always ride on the defence.

[kwmotocrosspunk]

im also in the process of getting a street bike, and please mods and everyone, excuse my language but the point is clear, Watch the F out for everyone around you, cause they dont give a damn! not to be biased or sexist but women+cell phones+an SUV(or really any car, but especially bigger vehicles)=suicide


take a safety class offered in your area, i will hopefully be taking one next weekend, defiantely worth it, and it could possibly help with insurance, especially for us young'ns

[char393]

Definitely take the safety class. I would like a streetbike as well, but honestly, I feel scared in my truck sometimes, let alone on a bike.

[mxmama393]

Well, this is as good a place as any to voice my opinion on street bikes. I may offend a few folks with it, but it is what it is. I think anyone who has loved ones and rides a street bike is selfish! I may be bitter, and I am sorry if I am. It’s just my opinion.

Call me a hypocrite if you wish. But a perfect example just died last week...

A school mate of my daughter’s father rode a street bike; a couple weeks ago he got hit by another car. I don’t know all the details, but from what I understand he got "tapped" by some vehicle. After that he lost control and ended up under an eighteen wheeler.

Last week the news was he was going to live and be paralyzed from the waist down.

Well a few days later all his organs just started shutting down and eventually he was on full life support. He has a wish not to live on life support. So you know the story.

It’s been one week since his death. What kind of thrill is so great that he should take that risk? I don’t understand!

You can be the safest most skilled street bike rider ever to ride on earth, but you stand no chance against thousands of pounds of moving steel! No doubt in my mind if he were in a car, he would be better off. If it’s your only mode of transportation, that I can understand.

Look at any accident between 2 cars; now imagine one vehicle being a street bike. It’s the law of tonnage, common sense.

There are risks in dirt riding too, but at least you’re all on the same field with the same weapons so to speak.

Just ask your self one thing; do you want your life to be the responsibility of others? Because when you ride a street bike, it’s everyone else’s job to keep you alive.

[yz250guy]

I also would love to have a streetbike, but like Char, it scares me to think about the other drivers on the road.

MXMAMA--I agree with you, but the fact is, dirt or street, anytime you throw a leg over that bike you are risking life and limb. (However, your chances of serious injury or death is greater on a streetbike)

Anytime I go out for a trail/track ride, I keep in mind that I have to go to work on Monday and ride as safe/sane as I can. I have a family that counts on me to provide for them. I'm not the fastest guy out there, but I sure do have fun.

[Freak]

Not trying to scare you, but check this out. These are very graphic, so I want to caution you before you look. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[yz250guy]

Originally Posted by Freak

Not trying to scare you, but check this out. These are very graphic, so I want to caution you before you look. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Exactly why I would be scared to get a street bike. Nice post, Freak.

[Shoei_391]

Well when I went for a ride on an R1 I did feel secure actually. And I do plan on getting a street bike when I'm old enough. But I plan to ride safely..I know that doesnt mean much..with all the idiots on the street.

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by Shoei_391

I plan to ride like THERE IS someone trying to kill me.

Then you better stay in the grass

[yz250guy]

Originally Posted by Shoei_391

Well when I went for a ride on an R1 I did feel secure actually.

Yep, you'll feel secure right up until the second that you don't feel secure, and by then, it will be too late.

[Shoei_391]

Pretty much . You cant make any mistakes on a bike..

[yzernie]

I've ridden street bikes since I was 15 years old and I rode them for many years at work. I have been down once but did not get hurt.

The bottom line is you have to always ride defensively. I don't think accidents happen as a result of people "don't give a damn" about a motorcyclist. People in cars, trucks or whatever are looking for a similar sized vehicle and not a motorcycle. When they look into their mirror for a lane change and do not see a BIG vehicle they initiate their action. This is exactly why you HAVE to be on the defensive all the time.

Mama,
I understand your point of view but the harsh reality is accidents happen...regardless of what we are doing. You ride a dirt bike, therefore you are subjecting yourself to injury or the worst case senario, a fatal encounter with another rider or the terra firma. If your logic extended to all of life we woud never leave or go outside of our homes. There are substantially more poeple killed in car/truck crashes than motorcycle crashes. IMHO, we cannot go through life being afraid of what our future holds for us yet, we do need to be aware of potential risks in whatever we do.

[The Baron]

I rode street bikes when I was younger and was nearly killed at least a few times, one time really bad. I almost ended up under an 18 wheeler because he turned out in front of me. Another time a lady just merged over right into me, etc, etc, etc. Nearly every single day someone almost ran into me.

If I lived in a small town I'd ride one, but in the city it's just plain crazy! I was on the freeway in bumper to bumper traffic once just sitting there. All the sudden I hear tires squeeling and turned around to see some car sliding toward me with the brakes locked up. They stopped short enough to leave me about 2 inches of comfort room between them and the car in front of me, total. People don't pay attention when they drive. They just put it on auto pilot and assume way too much. Motorcyclists are generally really safe, conscious motorists, but you can't control the person in the other car who's sending a text message between grubbin' on their burger and finding their favorite CD.

[91YAMAHA91]

I would love to ride a street bike but plain and simple I know too many people that have been ran over or hit by a car. Pretty much always the cars fault. cars just dont see or give a hoot about bikes. I live in a small town and I still wouldnt ride one out there.

[motocrossjake12]

hey guys thanks a lot. i really appreciate all the responses. especially yuou mxmama. i do want to get a streetbike and i love my parents very much and i also love this girl who used to be my girlfriend and i know she cares about me too so i dont want to selfish. i am only 16 and ive seen a couple guys at school with street bikes too. i live in littlerock, ca and its not very crowded around here, or that much at all in the Antelope Valley. but all of your posts have convinced me that i would rather spend the money on a better car. thanks a lot again.

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by motocrossjake12

hey guys thanks a lot. i really appreciate all the responses. especially yuou mxmama. i do want to get a streetbike and i love my parents very much and i also love this girl who used to be my girlfriend and i know she cares about me too so i dont want to selfish. i am only 16 and ive seen a couple guys at school with street bikes too. i live in littlerock, ca and its not very crowded around here, or that much at all in the Antelope Valley. but all of your posts have convinced me that i would rather spend the money on a better car. thanks a lot again.

You just made my week!!!! Very responsible thinking!! Now if you EVER get the bug again, promise to come back to this thread!

[the_privateer]

Originally Posted by mxmama

when you ride a street bike, it’s everyone else’s job to keep you alive.

I could not disagree more with this statement, this attitude on a bike is what will get you into trouble. If you are safe and know what you are doing, the risk is pretty close to the same as in a car or on the mx track. If you wear the appropriate gear and know the abilities and physics of handling a bike, and you understand that you must be ready to make defensive manuvers as if you are invisible out there, you will be fine. There are few things in life more beautiful than a Sunday morning ride through the Ozarks, the grass still wet with dew, the stellar mountain views, miles of twisty asphalt, and the sound of the motor, that makes it worth the risk to me. I'm sure I would feel differently if I were in LA battling bumper to bumper on the 405 or whatever but I'm not. Bottom line: There is a whole list of things much less enjoyable that are much more likely to kill you, motorcycles are barley a blip on the radar

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by motocrossjake12

i would rather spend the money on a better car.

I think you are making the right decision for now. Maybe in a few years you can rethink the option.