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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
talk to me about motorcycles
DH's younger cousin just bought a motorcycle - and I'm not talking about something small... more like a Harley. I know she is taking classes to be a responsible driver, but I can't help but worry about her safety. I don't have much experience with motorcycles because my uncle almost died in a pretty horrific accident where an 18-wheeler hit him on his bike. He is still permanently disfigured from that. She still has her car, so she'll be more of a weekend rider. Any thoughts on the safety issue? Is it any more or less safe to ride one around in central Austin?
Business Cat.
Re: talk to me about motorcycles
one of my very good friend's father was killed in a motorcycle accident in october. A car made an illegal turn into him. Left behind a wife and three children... it was tragic and my friend will never be the same.
Motorcycles make no sense to me. But that's me.
ETA: In Austin.
"The House We Built."
A journey of building the dream.
DH had a Harley and it was basically his "weekend" vehicle. He liked to ride (with friends) in the Hill Country, etc. He hardly ever rode it in/around town.
IMHO, Harley riders (esp. those that take safety courses, etc.) are pretty safe. It's the other drivers you have to be careful of.
Yeah, this is my concern.
I guess I just want to be more educated about what it's really like to ride around here before worrying myself silly. My uncle's accident was no fault of his - the truck driver was just tired and not paying attention.
Owning my own Harley is a life-long dream of mine. DH doesn't have a bike yet, either....but someday we will both be cruising those back country roads on our scooters
Ditto others - a good driver is perfectly safe on a bike. Other drivers suck sometimes. It would take a long time before I would be brave enough to take a bike on city roads. But there are a lot of bikers among our family and friends, it never even crosses my mind to worry about them.
My mom has one and I am constantly terrified. When she first got it a couple of years ago I would lay in bed at night and think of all of the bad things that could happen. I was so upset that she offered to sell it so that I wouldn't worry anymore.
But, then I realized how happy it makes her. She waited to buy one until us kids were well out of the house and estalished as adults. She's a safe driver and its more of everyone else on the road that I am concerned about. However, even if (knock on wood) something horrible were to happen, it makes me happy to know that she did something she loved and had dreamed about since she was a teen. I can't relate, but I can appreciate that she's willing to take the risk for something she loves.
you should pm HSartteach on the baby board and 2bmrslove. They both gave me some really good advice about biles when DH was thinking of getting one.
i had a bf almost die in a moto accident so even after i took a moto safety course w/dh, i'm still very against them. i fell off during the course and got hurt (no perm damage, just a couple of banged up legs that took weeks to heal). That sealed the no-bike deal for me and dh did not get one.
i agree that it's the other drivers you have to worry about, but even so, it isn't a matter of IF you get in an accident; it's a matter of WHEN. IMO bikes are just asking for trouble.
I agree with PP. Other drivers are the main worry for me. But worrying isn't going to do anything. DH and I ride together every so often( more once we get a sissy bar) and I feel safe. He uses his bike for his normal transportation and has had a few people cut him off but nothing too crazy.
As long as she takes safety classes, wears a helmet and drives safely, she should be fine.
Aw come on, don't say that. I can understand if you don't feel safe on a bike, but there are lots of people who ride all their lives and never have an accident.
I agree that if it is something that a responsible adult really wants, there is no point in having a negative attitude.
Since we've been together, DH had a Harley for about 4 years, then switched to an Enduro, then sold and is now considering a touring (BMW) motorcycle. He also has a 450 and (my) 150 dirt bikes for weekend fun. While he is the safest driver I have ever known, I do agree that that isn't the factor that will saive theirasses.
The roads around here are pretty wide. When you get out in the country, there is pretty good visibility and factors have been addressed (such as reduced speed limits) in less-safe areas. DH hated riding on I-35 and wasn't a fan of MoPac. Avoiding those was a major factor in him feeling safe on his bikes. If she's just riding it on weekends and as a hobby, it will be easy to avoid those roads and odds are, she won't want to be there anyways. Plus the weather around here is really fantastic and perfect for riding. We have quite a few months of sunny weather with infrequent rain.
Also, in terms of safety, I have heard the classes are really good at teaching you more than riding- they teach you how to jump, swerve, etc. DH has wanted me to take one of the classes for awhile, but I'm still too chickensh#. So while you are still around other drivers, it isn't the same as getting in a car and being cautious- you are given the tools to respond to the situations.
Good luck to her!
I don't know any of them, or at least not any of them out of their 30's. My parents rode with a club when I was growing up, and we (my brother and I) rode with them all the time. I'm not afraid of them or feel unsafe, but it's a good idea to be aware of the risk and respect the potential danger of the situation.
I know more than a handful of people with motorcycles. Every. single. one. has been in an accident on their bikes, whether minor or major. That's just my experience. You are just as likely to get in an accident on a bike as you are in a car - and most of us have been in at least one car accident in our lives. The problem with a bike is, if you get into an accident, you're much more likely to die.